NOTE: This is Part Ten of a series. For your convenience, the first nine parts are linked below, followed by today's article.

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part One

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Two

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Three

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Four

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Five

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Six

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Seven

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Eight

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Nine

True or false: Arab nations only object to America because of its support of Israel.

ANSWER:  False!

 Have you ever witnessed a Middle East chant?  The crowds shout, “First we will fight the Saturday people, then we will fight the Sunday people!”

Jerusalem Prophecy Digest Vol 19

“Saturday people” refers to the Jews with Saturday being an obvious reference to the Jewish Sabbath. Sunday, of course, points to the Christian community, the day they attend church, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus.

The Muslim world does not hate America because of Israel. Indeed, the Muslim world hates us for the same reason it hates Israel and this reason, (if you’ll pardon me for speaking a painful truth) is Muslim.

You are now very prepared (over prepared) for the next section of our true/false quiz.

True of False: The Koran is a peaceful book, and its author, Mohammed, was a peaceful man.

ANSWER:  False!

I know this smacks against the popular disclaimers of the day. I know we are supposed to say that Islam is actually a very peaceful religion and that only a handful of terrorists are misrepresenting the religion. May I make the most important suggestion you will ever hear?  Stop worrying about what sounds Politically Correct and concern yourself a little more with what is going on in the world. Wake up, before it is too late!

After all, on what do we base the premise that Islam is a peaceful religion?  Why do we keep repeating that statement as though it were true?  I’ll tell you why. Because Muslims keep telling us how peaceful they are!  That’s it!  But they do not offer a shred of evidence.  What Muslim government would we point to today as an example of human rights in action?  And how many countries of alternative governments with large Muslim populations are getting along peacefully with their Muslim citizens?  Maybe its time we pay less attention to what Muslims say and more attention to what they do!

The Arab world does not hate us because of Israel and the Arab world does not hate us because we want their oil. The Arab world hates us because they serve a hateful religion. Period!

The following quote is from Ramon Bennett (a Christian who lives in Israel, not a Jew or Arab. This quote is from the early 1990’s, long before 9/11.  This brave writer tried in vain to warn a sleeping Western Civilization:

 “I have expressed for a number of years my belief that Islam is the Western world’s most potentially dangerous enemy.  Long before the collapse of the Soviet Union and its Communist ideology, I had said that communism did not nearly equal Islam’s threat to the west.  I have repeatedly warned of what lies ahead unless definite steps are taken to curb the increasing momentum of fundamental Islam, but my warnings have thus far fallen upon deaf ears.”

 (Philistine, Ramon Bennett, Pg. 42)

Undoubtedly you will want to tell me that there are millions of peaceful Muslims in the world.  Indeed, you have met many of them. I believe you. I have met many peaceful Muslims as well. But this does not mean there is any such thing as a “moderate Muslim.”  It means there is such a thing as a nominal Muslim. What is the difference?  Just as there are people who consider themselves Christians, simply because they were born in America or have some kind of church background and just as these people have no real knowledge or understanding of Jesus Christ and His teachings, likewise there are literally millions of people who are born into Muslim countries, who would call themselves Muslims if you asked for their religious affiliation, but who, in reality, have no idea what the Koran actually teaches.  On the other hand, one who genuinely understands the Koran realizes it leaves no room for moderation. I have interviewed many Muslim scholars on my radio show. Some of them are ex-Muslims and even ex-terrorists.  Others were brought up in the Middle East and had a broad exposure to Islam. They will all tell you the same thing:  One who understands the Koran understands the commands to conquer the world in the name of Islam. They are to offer people the choice of converting or dying. This is the destiny of their cause. This is the teaching of their prophet, Mohammad. If they say otherwise, one of two things is going on:  They are lying (and they are actually taught that the ends may justify the means during a time of warfare) or they have not truly studied the Koran. When terrorists site the Koran, they are not “hijacking” a peaceful religion and they are not misquoting their scriptures. Neither are they pulling anything out of context. Instead, they are being brutally honest.

So yes, there are peaceful Muslims, many peaceful Muslims. But these are Muslims who understand Islam about as well as The World Council of Churches understands and obeys the Bible. In terms of honest, literary criticism, the terrorists are reading the Koran more honestly and more accurately than the nominal Muslims. In terms of safety and irony I am grateful that so many Muslims are in fact nominal.

I once shared the gospel with a nominal Muslim from Saudi Arabia. I met him at Cal State Stanislaus. He was there as an exchange student. Eager to learn more about the Bible and wanting to give his life to Jesus, he still took Jesus’ command to count the cost very seriously.  I’ll never forget the words of this brave young man. “You need to understand.  If I become a Christian and return home and if it is discovered that I am a Christian, they will cut my head off, literally!”

He did become a Christian and he did return to Saudi Arabia, our “allies,” that “peaceful Muslim country” that “helps us” in the war on terror. I do not know what ever became of my friend.

I have met many such Muslims who hunger and thirst for God, who want to live in peace like so many others.  I have no quarrel with them. In fact, they have my respect.  But saying that I have met peaceful Muslims is not the same as saying that Islam is a religion of peace and this is a very important distinction to make.

When a religion has a body of scripture, it is actually quite simple to determine the religion’s teaching. To settle this question, we must look to the source, the Koran itself.

Read Part Eleven in tomorrow’s blog:

The Truth About Israel and Palestine: Part Eleven

Bibliography

1) From Time Immemorial by Joan Peters

2) The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Middle East

Conflict by Mitchell G. Bard, Ph.D

3) Philistine, by Ramon Bennett.

Also From Bob Siegel

Hezbolah Wants Israel Dead. So What Else is New?

Politically Correct Quiz

Jihad Drill

How a Reformed Jew Became an Evangelical Christian Part One

How a Reformed Jew Became an Evangelical Christian Part Two

How A Reformed Jew Became an Evangelical Christian Part Three

How a Reformed Jew Became an Evangelical Christian Part Four

How a Reformed Jew Became an Evangelical Christian Part Five

The Bob Siegel Show can be heard every Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM on KCBQ 1170 on the dial or KCBQ.com to listen live over the Internet.

Call in toll free number if you want to join in the program with questions or comments:

1-888-344-1170

Bob’s website is: www.bobsiegel.net

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