~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTES FROM THE VALLEY - Special Edition "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me." Psalm 23. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Friends and Family, What follows are the new inputs I've received for Tuesday, October 16th. The second article of the Charles Colson series on understanding Islam, Charles Stanley's open letter to the terrorists, and a few more exchanges on differing opinions. There's more, including an excellent perspective on prayer, but I'll forward that tomorrow to keep this at least reasonably short. I pray these "special" editions are proving helpful and I thank everyone for sharing their thoughts and articles. Stay strong in spirit and humble in prayer. I am as always - your brother in Christ, Steve Hall ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BreakPoint with Charles Colson Commentary #011016 - 10/16/2001 Understanding Islam's Ideology and Worldview: Islam Series 2 Americans are confused about how Islam -- a religion that we've been told is known for peace and morality -- can spawn the vicious murder of innocents in the name of God. The key to understanding those who committed the atrocities in New York and Washington, and those who supported them, has to do with the Islamic worldview. For most Muslims in America, Islam is simply a religion. Muslims believe in the six articles of Islam and practice the required "Acts of Worship" which include prayer five times a day, fasting through the month of Ramadan, and, if possible, a pilgrimage to Mecca, where Muhammad founded the religion in A.D. 622. There is, however, another aspect of Islam that many seem reluctant to acknowledge. Islam is more than a religion: It is an ideology with a clear socio-political agenda. As Dr. Samuel Schlorff, an expert on Islam with Arab World Ministries puts it, "The truth is that there is another side to Islam, a side that embraces violence 'in the way of Allah.' . . . It holds that all men are created to live in submission to Allah, as prescribed by Islamic law. Muslims believe that Islam's destiny is to extend its control until the whole Dar al-Harb [which means "House of War" -- that is, the whole non-Muslim world] is subject to Islamic law in an Islamic state, and this includes the use of force." Islam, we've been told, is related to the Arabic word meaning "peace." This is correct, except that the word means a particular kind of peace. A better translation is "surrender" or "submission." It describes the peace when a vanquished soldier lays down his arms in submission. And so the very name, Islam, has militaristic connotations, and in this lies the root of radical Islam. That root then grows in the soil of the Islamic worldview. Muslims view God, Allah, as absolutely transcendent. While Christians understand that the Lord God reveals himself through the Scriptures and preeminently in the Incarnation, Muslims insist that Allah never reveals himself in that way. He primarily reveals his will. Muslims also believe in the inherent goodness of people as over against the Christian doctrine of original sin. Christians understand that we are incapable of following God's law and are thus in need of salvation, a fundamental difference. Muslims believe that we don't need salvation. What we need is guidance and that guidance is the Islamic law, an all encompassing system that controls every aspect of everyday life. (It is administered, by the way, by religious leaders.) As Dr. Schlorff puts it, "The model requires a Muslim government to provide the legal and social framework necessary to facilitate submission to the law. There is no separation between the sacred and the secular, between church and state. This community is one, universal, and cohesive, representing for Muslims the kingdom of God on earth." And all people of earth are called to submit, for based on this worldview, any who do not submit are living sub-human lives and are impeding Islam's utopian vision for the world. Christians certainly talk about submitting to God, but we do not mean what Muslims mean. Now all Christians should respect law-abiding Muslims in this country. But we also should understand our differences. It is all in the worldview, and our differences are very great. For further reading: Dr Samuel Schlorff, "Can you explain for me the Mindset of the Islamic Terrorist?" Arab World Ministries, 2001. http://www.gospelcom.net/awm/new/tragedy/mindset.htm Dr Samuel Schlorff, "Muslim Ideology and Christian Apologetics," Missiology, Vol. 21, No. 2 (April 1993). http://answering-islam.org/Christians/schlorff2.html Copyright notice: BreakPoint may be copied and re-transmitted by electronic mail, and individual copies of a particular BreakPoint e-mail transcript may be printed, provided that such copying, re-transmission, printing, or other use is not for profit or other commercial purpose. Any copying, re-transmission, distribution, printing, or other use of BreakPoint must set forth the following credit line, in full, at the conclusion of the portion of BreakPoint that is used: Copyright (c) 2001 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Prison Fellowship Ministries(R) may withdraw or modify this grant of permission at any time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An Open Letter to Terrorists and Those Who Harbor and Support You From an American Grandfather: I am told by the leaders of my government that you are intelligent people. In light of your actions, I am having growing difficulty believing that. At the very least, it has become increasingly obvious that you lack a fundamental comprehension of my psychology as an American. I hear on our news broadcasts that your rage is fueled by my support of Israel. It has never been about nationality or religious faith - never about Jew vs. Arab. I thought you would finally have understood that when I sent my children into harm's way in order to protect the innocent citizens of Arab Kuwait from the savage wolf who would devour them for his own gain. It has everything to do with the lessons taught to me by my father - and his before him for many generations before the white man came to this land we call America. I have a vivid memory of coming home, as a boy of about nine years of age, and telling my father of feeling helpless horror as I watched the neighborhood bully unmercifully torment a boy even smaller than myself. My father reflected for a long moment, then quietly inquired of me as to what I had done about it. I said that I had watched until it was over and had then come home. The look in his eyes penetrated me to my core for he had never looked at me in that way before. He said that he was deeply ashamed of me and he sent me to my room with instructions to think about what had happened. It seemed hours before he came to my door. He sat beside me on my bed and, for a painfully long while, he said nothing. When finally he spoke, he explained, "There will always be among us dishonorable men who are devoid of humanity and compassion. They are but naked animals and an empty shell of what truly is a man. They attempt to fill their emptiness by the exercise of power over others, thinking that it makes them whole men. Often they are enraged that they do not even understand their own emptiness, what it is that they lack. When these men are also cowards, they disguise themselves as sheep among the flock and attack from the shadows. This is the vilest form of sub-human behavior for even animals attack openly when they must attack. When humanity and integrity are present in a man, he expresses them as compassion. When compassion and strength achieve perfect balance within a man, they manifest as wisdom. The compassionate man feels the pain of others. The wise man protects others from pain. For, if you watch and do nothing to protect others, who will come to your aide when you alone remain and the bully comes for you? Some things are far more important than your personal safety and freedom from pain. If ever again you see someone being hurt, protect him, even if you are certain to be injured in the process. Then I will know that I have truly raised a man" Anyone who understands the impact of this lesson - and how deeply it runs in the man I have become, will understand my unflinching willingness to sacrifice my children in defense of Arab and Jew alike when they are threatened by the bullies and cowards of the world. And please do not insult my intelligence with claims of Jewish treatment of Palestinians. I am old enough to retain vivid memories of 1948. I remember the excitement of the Jews over the prospect of governing "with" them. Their reaction, and that of their neighbors, was to attempt to finish what the Nazis could not -repeatedly. Intelligent men? I, for one, am stunned by the monumental stupidity of your arrogance. Did you actually think that only Americans would occupy the World Trade Center? You have but fired the first pitiful salvo of World War III for the entire world is now preparing to come after you, your host, your financers and your supporters. And please, do not listen to what I say. You would do far better to watch the sky. I must say that I owe you a profound debt of gratitude. Not for what you have done or what you have unleashed upon the world, but for what you have accomplished. For not one among us could have accomplished it. On Monday, September 10, 2001, we were a divisive, apathetic nation. Our young people had nothing by which to identify with our history or heritage; our people were divided by factions of religion and skin color; our government was polarized and paralyzed by political party affiliation, able to agree upon nothing; the military had difficulty obtaining volunteers and most of us simply changed TV channels in response to Red Cross pleas for blood donations. Your actions have changed all of that in a way that has occurred only twice before in the history of this nation - once in 1776 and again on December 7, 1941. The worst in the worst of Allah's children has brought out the best in the best of Allah's children and, for this, I thank you. Since your cowardly act, Muslim, Jew, Christian, black, white, yellow and brown have stood shoulder to shoulder for hours in the hot sun to donate blood for the injured. Our government has suddenly become totally united in it's purpose. Our military is having difficulty handling the flood of volunteers from among our young people. Our flag makers report that there is no way humanly possible that they can keep up with the demand - shipments are sold out within minutes. You have accomplished a miracle that only God could have anticipated. And, it would seem, the hand of God was present even in the date that you selected for your attack, for you could not have chosen a date more in keeping with a reawakening of American pride and purpose. There is in America a nationwide system for seeking help in times of emergency. Every American knows that, when threatened, he can pick up any telephone and dial 911 and help is immediately on the way to assist and protect him. By selecting September, (our 9th month), 11, 2001 to exhibit your cowardice, you unwittingly placed a 911 call that has brought all of America together in a way that brings tears of joy and pride to my eyes. No longer is our battle cry, "Remember Pearl Harbor!" Thanks to you and your kind it will now and forevermore be, "Remember 911!" whenever the innocents of any nation find themselves threatened by cowards with guns. I do not, for a moment, deny that you hurt me. Far too many parents and children now go to bed wondering where their loved ones are. And, yes, I am momentarily reeling. But it is from the sudden realization that I share the planet with anyone capable of such an atrocity against the humanity of so many nations. In his Inaugural Address in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy said, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." He was talking about the liberty of all men, of all faiths, of all nations. You need to understand that the truth of that statement is the very fabric of who and what I am. I wish neither to rule nor to inflict injury upon the innocents of any nation. I am the lion who sleeps with God's lambs to protect them from ravenous wolves who would devour them. Your 911 call has awakened the lion and now I hunger for the flesh of wolves. In closing let me state, Muhammad taught that Allah is a God of love- yet you have the unmitigated gall to bastardize Islam to suit your own personal, unholy agenda. Who now is the infidel? Sincerely, The Reverend Charles Stanley 121 Windemere Drive Hertford, North Carolina, USA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: "Blessing Makwangwaidze" Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 1:02 AM Subject: RE: WHAT HAS OUR LORD SAID? Dear Steve, Maybe l missed the whole point of Christianity when l repented. It maybe good for me to mention that l don't personally think Bin Ladden is innocent. My whole point yestaday was that you be careful not to put yourselves in the positions of Sumuel or who ever. In short this was my messege to you as a Christian: THE GOOD LORD HAS A MOUTH, l was merely stressing the point of hearing from GOD BECOZ HE CAN TALK. Maybe we believe in different "GODS". l am sorry if l offended you in my mail, l will not comment on the issue again. ---------------------- Dear Blessing, No, no, no! You did not miss the whole point. And we are totally agreed upon the need for prayer and seeking God. Never confuse the passion of a Christian for offense. We are family and our opinions will be as diverse as our backgrounds. That is what makes us strong - that God can use each of us as unique parts of a whole, which is the Body of Christ. I just read in your words a leaning towards putting God and His responses to our prayers into a box that limits Him - limits what we are willing to accept from Him. And I feel passionately that would be wrong. And so the passion of my response. God has many names because there are many facets to who He is and the relationship He desires to have with us. But still, all the same God. He sends us often as Lambs. But no longer to be sacrificed to the sin of this world. That sacrifice has been made once and for all by Jesus Christ. He also sends us as Lions to the defense of the weak and to stand against evil. I hear too many Christians hiding from that role in fear and it grieves my spirit. Yes, we will be mighty when we stand with Christ at His second coming. But He equipped us and expects us to be strong and victorious now, knowing that He gave us His name and His authority to act until He does come again. There are times to be meek and gentle. There are times to stand strong in faith and run the race, fight the good fight, "resist" the devil. But, as you so correctly said, we can do nothing without first hearing from God and being in submission to His will - His leading. And finally, NEVER be silent in your beliefs. Not to me or anyone else. To do so would rob the Body of Christ of the "blessings" God brings through you to the rest of us. With love and respect - I am your brother forever, Steve From Florence Campbell: Dear Steve, Unfortunately, Blessing has a point in stating that he has seen the evil that our nation has brought on others. I'm sure you are aware of what the big oil interests are doing in Nigeria and some other countries. They have such a desire for profit that they pay the Nigerians who work on the dangerous oil platforms far too low a wage. Similar things are happening in other countries. However, we cannot state that the profit motive which leads corporations to take advantage of their employees is an example of Christian ethics or Bible standards. I agree that this is a war with very high stakes. I believe many people are still reacting with the ANGER and FEAR which you mentioned several weeks ago, and neither one of those will give men the clear insights which President Bush is asking us to pray for. He faces a very cunning foe, with the cunning of the devil himself, for satan is behind every false doctrine which has ever been promoted. But God has promised that if any man "lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not." James 1:5 I believe that God can give that wisdom to President Bush during this battle. ________________________________________________ Copyright © 1998-2001 by Stephen J. Hall - Weekly letters of encouragement to Christians written by Stephen J. Hall unless otherwise indicated. Notes from the Valley and Humor from the Valley are meant to brighten your day and encourage you along the way. Most of "Notes" and "Humor" are a collection of items provided to me by subscribers and friends. Credit is given to both the contributor and to the true author, where known. If you are blessed by them, please feel free to make copies and pass them along to others. If you have something you'd like to contribute to a future edition or would like to ask us a question or make a comment, please contact us at: sossteve@... ________________________________________________ Your love, God, is my song, and I'll sing it! I'm forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I'll never quit telling the story of your love - how you built the cosmos and guaranteed everything in it. Your love has always been our lives foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world. (Psalm 89:1-3 The Message)