Consider the fact that the US is trying to establish an American version of freedom or democracy in the Middle East. Now, consider the fact that Iraq doesn’t care one bit about subscribing to America’s definition of Democracy. As Richard Pratt asked today in class: “Do you really think that Iraq parents would like their daughters to dress like US girls do?” Further, do we really think Iraq is willing to allow American missionaries to come in their nation and convert their people to the Christianity of the West? After all, for a Muslim, Christianity is America and America is Christianity. And as far as they can tell, they don’t want that form of Christianity nowhere near their children. Well, here’s the deal, plain and simple: Democracy fails under Islam. Dr. Pratt commented briefly on this today, but let me go further than he did. Any form of majority rule (popular voice) in a nation that is led by anti-Trinitarian beliefs leads to tyranny of a satanic form (a little too strong; I don’t think so). As the Psalmist alluded: If there is no foundation, the house (nation) crumbles.The only form of true freedom is when all the peoples of the earth submit to One God, One Lord, One King. Any other form that denies this essential truth is condemned. Remember one thing, Islamic law (Sheri’a) is not desiring freedom for the glory of America, but for the glory of Allah. A Muslim Democracy as Pratt puts it, necessarily means the glory of Islam and allegiance to no other. The issue at hand is spiritual, not mere political though politics must and should be spiritual. Since Bush endorsed the Quaran in his Inauguration speech and logically equated it with the Law and the Beatitudes, then it is fair to conclude that religion is a neutral pursuit and freedom is a universal pursuit no matter if it is pluralistic or not. Jesus’ words of exclusivity did not leave room for this form of thinking.
I wonder what we are to make of Turkey and it’s relationship to this issue.
I am not fully sure about Turkey’s relationship with Democracy or Iraq, but I am certain that Turkey will attempt to send proselytyzers immediately to Iraq if a Shiite president wins.
for a Muslim Christianity is America and America is ChristianityNonsense. American “Christianity” has precious little to do with historic Christianity, and Moslems know it. American Christianity in its various forms–fundamentalist, Christian Scientist, evangelical, Mormon, etc–is as “Christian” as Islam itself.
There are oof course real Christians living in the Middle East, although thanks to American policies their numbers are being decimated.