Inconvenient Truth

Our news outlets have been filled with reporting of many injuries and deaths as a terrorist blew himself up, killing and injuring many others in the Manchester Arena. You will also recall the terrorist who drove straight into pedestrians at Westminster Bridge near to the mother of all parliaments. Do you also remember the killed and injured when a lorry was deliberately driven straight into Israeli soldiers, and the crowds enjoying a Christmas Market in Berlin when a vehicle was driven straight into them? These are not isolated occurrences but I feel we are becoming numbed to the attacks. What about the recent Turkey and Paris club attacks, the hijacked plane forced to land in Malta and the Tunisian beach shootings to name just a few? There are many, many more.

Have you noticed the trend adopted by the media as they report these atrocities? First of all, they don’t like to call them terrorist attacks. Then slowly, they will say it was an isolated incident, followed up by the statements that they are perpetrated by the insane, deranged who don’t represent the majority of good people. Eventually, when there is no other way to tell the inconvenient truth, it will be reported as the work of Islamists. The tag ‘extremists’ is added to have you think these are very out of the ordinary occurrences by a mad few.

Do yourself a favour. Take a Google search on Islamist terrorist attacks, and when you have done that, tell me these attacks are isolated or only the work of a few extremists. While you are at it you will be able to compare terrorism from non Islamic sources, only to find there are hardly any. We are told frequently that we must not blame the many for the wrongs of the few. Can I ask how many ‘few’ terrorist attacks it will take before we stop saying they are a form of extreme Islam, and we should not make the obvious link from Islam the so called religion of peace, to its troops who are all called Muslims (like it or not)?

If you know anything about Islam, you will know that it is certainly NOT a religion of peace. It was born out of conflict, and jihad is a recognised, basic, and fundamental part of its faith. Their terrorism strikes out at any infidel who should disagree with their form of Islam. Can we make it clear that ALL of the Muslim-ist attacks are carried out in the name of their God Allah (and it’s NOT the same God of the Christian faith), and in their stated quest to establish a worldwide Islamic caliphate with Sharia Law in any way they can. There is a fear that the Christian church has been sleepwalking into oblivion, afraid to speak out should we be called intolerant. Our ‘free’ governments do not help the situation. We need to ask ourselves, who are the ones who are intolerant? It would be a step in the right direction if we woke up and became honest, and less politically correct. There is a war going on, and it was not started by any other people of faith but the muslims of Islam.

Final thoughts. Have you noticed a mass uprising of ‘ordinary muslims’ marching against these atrocities? The occasional cleric or academic speaking platitudes do not count. Did you know that Islam allows lies to be told and used on its behalf as long as they are for the greater good of their religion? Secondly, has there been any report of droves of muslims who know all this and leave Islam for any other faith, or none at all, effectively saying ‘not in my name’? No, me neither. It’s time to wake up!

I am getting tired of hearing that steps are being taken to find the source of the terrorist’s radicalisation. Spare me that fake news, because we all know without a doubt where the source lies, and it is with Islam, and the blind allegiance of the Muslim believers, who all use the same ‘holy book’ as the reason for their actions. And anyway, the suicide bomber or anyone who dies in the quest, is told they will go straight to their heaven, and the family left on earth will be granted a pension for life because of the sacrifice paid by their hero. Get the picture? Good. Now we need to wake up to the truth and light of the only Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Yes, everything is made clear by the light. This is why we say, “Wake up, you who are sleeping! Rise from death, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14

9/11/01 and 7/7/05

As Christian people and nations, let us never forget that the message of love, forgiveness and hope is not reflected in other faiths in quite the same way, and certainly not by the Islamic religion. The evidence of the differences are clearly seen on many occasions, but for the USA and the UK, particularly on these dates.

Some apologists would have us distinguish between those who have been radicalised, and the ordinary peaceful Muslims, and we must be careful how we speak because the Christian voice is the one which is labelled as racist and intolerant, and that is in spite of the clear evidence to the contrary. Can we please be done with this media misinterpretation and injustice now?

Whatever label you want to put on the people who carried out these, and almost every terrorist act, they are Muslims. They read and study the same Quran. They revere the name of their prophet, and venerate their false god. They all want Sharia Law. They all believe in an Islamic world state. Meanwhile we seem to have conveniently forgotten who the real enemy of religious freedom is, and it is clearly not Christianity. I think it is time we stopped putting ourselves down and making excuses for the guilty. After all, we already have been given the truth.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Peter 2:1

Now that we know this, how did Jesus say we should react? No one said it would be easy, but this is the way of Christian love, and love conquers all, as we also read in 1 Corinthians 13.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45

Extremist

More than 200 young girls have been kidnapped from school in Nigeria by an Islamist group who have announced that the girls will be sold, and their crime? They should not have been in school. Are we getting used to this kind of extremism, and accepting that it ‘just happens’? After all, it is so far away and doesn’t affect most of us.

What about 9/11 and 7/7, are we getting used to the idea that these atrocities ‘just happen’ and we can’t do much about them? What about a young girl, shot in the head by the Taliban because she spoke out about the right of girls to be educated? What does the name Lee Rigby mean to you? What about shooting Christians as they come out of church? And while I am at it, what about mock crucifixions, beheadings, and hands being chopped off in a barbaric way? We are in grave danger of getting used to these atrocities, and accepting them, with some very senior politicians even being apologists for their groups and actions, calling Islam a religion of peace.

Can I make a suggestion? How about we drop the words ‘militant’ or ‘extremist’ from the descriptions ‘Islamist Militant’ or ‘Islamist Extremist’, and while we are at it, what is the difference between a Muslim and an Islamist? They use and refer to the same ‘holy book’. Maybe we should only and always refer to all of these groups as Muslim, after all, they are all cut from the same cloth, and go to the same mosques, and many become radicalised under the brainwashing of the leaders there. I would even accept the name ‘Muslamist’ as a description.

So, what does it take for us to wake up? If not the thought of 200+ young girls being kidnapped, sold and abused by Muslims, what will? While writing this, the news carried another story of more young girls being abducted in Nigeria by the same group, and for the same reason and purpose. If these events don’t touch your heart, you are already dead inside. Anytime soon, I expect to see a politician or Imam on TV saying they do not represent the normal Muslim population. Really? Where is the Muslamist backlash? How big a minority or tragedy do you need?

Malala

Malala Yousafzai is a name that will not be forgotten. The name belongs to a brave young girl who was targetted by the Pakistani Taliban to be shot because she wanted to be educated, and wanted her friends to have an education too. She almost paid the ultimate price, but she survived the bullet to her head, and what is more important, she lives to tell the story, and unbowed, continues to fight for education for all, right across the world.

The terrorists miscalculated. Their plan to silence a young girl who only wanted to hold a pen and notebook, and learn, has backfired and has gone global. This made me look carefully at our vision of education in the UK. For the most part, although thankfully not all, young people here don’t think school is cool, and they will readily complain about almost anything to do with their teachers and lessons. But then they didn’t pay such a high price for their education, did they?

In the years that are coming, who do you think will benefit from their education? Those who moan about it, or those, like Malala, who survive a murderous attack, bounce back, and appreciate the gift that education is? I have already placed my vote.

Like others, I was inspired by this 16 year old birthday girl, who held the UN audience captive by her words, but mostly by her spirit. She didn’t give up. But for me, the most telling part was that she didn’t want revenge on her would be assassins. She wanted peace, forgiveness, and education for others just like her. She got her forgiving attitude from her faith and her parents. We ignore the power of these at our peril. Parents, make sure your example and words deliver the proper messages to your child(ren).   

This was not a Christian message, but very much based on her Islamic faith. I would not and could not defend Islam, but I do recognise courage when I see it, and I applaud that in Malala. Oh, and when you watch her speech, you cannot miss the thanks and praise she gives to her ‘god’, in spite of the fact that her shooter was also of that same faith. She took the chance to make, not only a political, but a religious statement at the same time. Two lessons jumped at me. Firstly, the general attitude of our own youth to education in the UK, and secondly, how quickly she forgave in the name of her ‘god’. I would pray for these attributes to be translated into our secular society, and Christian faith communities in our own nation. Is that too much to expect?

Treason

The name Edward Snowden is splashed all over the world media after he leaked US and UK State secrets on an unsuspecting public. The result is that we might not be able to sleep as easily in our beds, because the terrorists now know more of our previously hidden intelligence, than they ever knew before. Mr Snowden has handed those who would do us harm (and they do exist), a gift on a silver platter, and all in the name of ‘truth and openness’.

Our global communities of many persuasions, usually political, though not always (it creeps into faith circles too) place a lot of weight in the word ‘equality’. That word is being used in this situation, because someone has decided that information of all kinds should be in the hands of the people, and not just a few agents in the intelligence networks. This is a serious problem, and there are strong opinions on each side, but I started to wonder what would Jesus do (WWJD)?

Jesus lived in a time where His own country was under occupation and control of a foreign power. He was well aware of the tensions on the streets and in the political circles of His day. People were abused and beaten by the Roman Army, and summarily executed. There was a terrorist army of the day, and they were called ‘Zealots’, who also killed and maimed in the name of freedom and equality. Jesus lived inside this daily tension. What did Jesus do?

Two of the disciples had been Zealots. James and John were called the ‘sons of thunder’ in their community, and active in their own operational cells. Jesus called them OUT of this lifestyle, and into a new life. He did not associate any of His teaching with the terrorist groups of His day. In fact, it is significant to see what Jesus did NOT do. He did not support either side in word or deed, and He did not support anyone who did. In fact, when he was being arrested by these occupying army forces, and Peter cut off a soldier’s ear, Jesus put the severed ear back on, and rebuked Peter! I will leave you with a couple of texts and a thought:

Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ Mark 12:17 NIV

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV

Question: In our own day, should we resist elected governments to the point of treason, while keeping in mind the circumstances of the world in Jesus and Paul’s day?

Secret (or not) Service!

The British Secret Service, MI5 and MI6, seem to be in a spot of bother because they have been very secretive! Naughty, naughty, those people keeping secrets from us, eh? Imagine a Secret Service having the cheek, the audacity, to be secret. Ok I am going on a bit, but isn't the clue in the name? Secret! That must have something to do with it.


I thought we were in a war against terror, and that includes those who would want to harm us in this country, and that includes the terrorists. It may be an obvious point (well obvious to ordinary people, but not to the authorities) but don't the Secret Services have to be kept secret, so that they can protect us? The terrorists must be laughing all the way to their bombs, as we argue about how secret the secret service should be. As I recall, the last war had a saying, "careless talk costs lives". They couldn't have known what we know. They didn't have our well honed skills in security, where we don't have to worry about the enemy having to work at breaking our country, we do it for them! We tell them our secrets. After all that saves a lot of effort all round, and that way we help our nice terrorist neighbours.


Pardon me if I put another hat on. Hypothetically, would I would be too concerned that some dodgy wannabe terrorist is held in a camp for a few years.... I think not! Hypothetically again, would I be too concerned if our Secret Service questioned our nice terrorist wannabe friends, long and hard, and kept them from sleep? ... I think not! And yet again, hypothetically of course, would those nice wannabe terrorists be kind to any of their victims before they chop their heads off, or fly planes into skyscrapers full of innocent 'victims'? Maybe as many as 3,000 at a time?... again, I think not! 


Seems we have it backwards. The Secret Service is set up as a necessary safeguard for our good. Our country is free, but every freedom has a price, including our security as a nation. Others are not so keen that we keep it that way. They are the terrorists. So why are we so intent on protecting them? I can't help but think those nice wannabe terrorists are still laughing at the antics of our government officials, at the very highest level, protecting their interests instead of our national security.


Can we please let our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Secret Services do their job uninterrupted by politicians who can't tell a terrorist from the tooth fairy!!