hoping for a different muslim response

Many Christians have criticized the Muslim protests over Pope Benedict’s speech on 12 Sep 06. It makes sense for us to contemplate what a more appropriate response would have been. It also makes sense for us to turn the tables and put ourselves in their shoes.

Imagine, then, one of the world’s leading Imams issuing this statement:

Show me just what Jesus brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.

Of course it’s ludicrous to suggest that Jesus advocated violence. He rebuked Peter for hacking off a soldier’s ear in an attempt to defend Him (going so far as to heal the soldier who had come to arrest him!) (Luke chapter 22), and He taught consistently that we must love our enemies (Matthew chapter 5).

Yet horrible things have been done by Christ’s followers to spread the faith — the Crusades and the Inquisition come immediately to mind. And so this charge should be neither deflected nor attacked. Rather than burning the Imam in effigy, a proper response would sound something like this:

Although Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew chapter 28), He never advocated or condoned violence toward this end. Tragically, however, throughout the centuries some misguided believers have committed terrible atrocities in His name. The Imam is right to speak out against such violence, and I join my voice with his.

Not only is it illogical to suppose that something as deep and sincere as faith might be coerced by threat of violence, such a threat contradicts both the message and the mode of the very author of our faith. Jesus commanded His followers to love our enemies (Matthew chapter 5). He emphasized the non-compulsory nature of faith time and again with the phrase, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew chapter 13). He commanded that His message be spread through preaching and acts of service, and stipulated how His followers should treat those who do not believe: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town” (Mark chapter 6) — no sword, no curse, just a symbolic dust-shaking. Indeed, Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified rather than impose faith on those who opposed it.

That’s not to suggest that Christ’s message is easily rejected. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus continued after His dust-shaking command, “it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town” (Mark chapter 6). But that is a matter between Jesus and unbelievers. Christians themselves are expressly forbidden from violent action: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him: if he is thirsty, give him something to drink’” (Romans chapter 12).

Any Christian who commits an act of violence, then, will have to answer to God for it. Such Christians must also be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including capital punishment for murder and any other case that warrants it, as explained in Romans chapter 13. Although it is possible to commit a violent atrocity and yet remain a Christian — for salvation does not come to us through moral goodness, but instead through repentance and belief in the forgiveness offered in Jesus Christ — yet it must be emphasized that any Christian who acts violently is absolutely misguided about the nature and teaching of our Savior. Their actions reflect instead the character of Satan.

As a Christian, I am ashamed that violence has taken place in the name of Christ, I am grieved to think that it may continue, and I call for it to end immediately.

I hope that is worded strongly enough, and I hope for a similar call from Muslims around the world. Pope Benedict may have been unwise in his wording, but not in his message. Protesting one without supporting the other leaves the entire world wondering how serious Muslims really are about their religion of peace.

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As a practical application of the above, when I heard that Kansas University professor Paul Mirecki reportedly was beaten by two men who opposed his anti-creation beliefs, I sent him this email on 7 Dec 05:

Professor Mirecki:

I just read about the attack you suffered Monday morning at http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/12/06/creationism.class.ap/index.html , and I would like to express my sympathy and sorrow.

I am a six-day creationist. That counts for little in your book, I know. But I want you to know that I absolutely deplore what happened to you, and have called on my blog for all creationists to pray for the capture, prosecution, and imprisonment of your assailants. I have also prayed that you will heal quickly and well.

Best wishes to you for the holidays and throughout the coming semester.

(Incidentally, if you look for that post on this site you won’t find it — I decided not to bring it over from my old blog in light of the later controversy over whether the attack against Mirecki ever occurred.)