No 9/11 Mosque

Warning: this is political and this is controversial.

Here is an interesting video statement by Mike Evans on why it is inappropriate to have a mosque in such close proximity to Ground Zero in NYC. I can't say I'm 100% in agreement with Mike Evans and his ministry as a whole, but he has some very pertinent, truthful and thought provoking words in this piece. He's on target here. I encourage you to watch the video.

This is controversial only because our nation bows at the altar of political correctness and tolerance and is unwilling to have an honest dialogue about realities in our world. We need to wake up. We need to tackle the hard issues. We need to face them head on not run from them. We can't afford to hide behind a veil of tolerance and expect these problems to go away. If left unaddressed, matters will proceed from bad to worse.

Our governmental leaders would have served the citizens of our nation, (especially the family members, friends and other traumatized people associated with the 9/11 victims), as well as the world better if they had taken this opportunity to point out the complete and total religious restriction and persecution that is so prevalent in most Islamic nations today, e.g. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Sudan. There is little to no religious liberty and freedom to exchange truth claims in Muslim countries. The only "sharing" that takes place in Muslim countries is that which is favorably disposed to or subservient to Islam. Islam fears truth and so they try to stack the deck.

We have to stop drinking the cool aide of "peace" being offered by Islamic strategists. Jihad is not peaceful. The Bible says "peace and safety" will precede "sudden destruction" in the End Times (1 Thess. 5:3). Could this be part of that?

Erecting a mosque hundreds of feet from Ground Zero is the height of insensitivity to those still grieving and in shock over the 9/11 attacks. That is true for the Islamic proponents. That is also true of politicians sitting in their ivory towers and rendering comments that no one is asking for. When politicians chime in with comments that are motivated by narcissistic pride and political strategy more than a genuine desire to help they pour fuel on the fire of controversy and salt in open wounds. Politics and politicians are not the answer.

This is also a perfect example of how Islam has and will continue to take advantage of the "freedoms" of our nation to bully and promote their way into prominence. Look at what is happening in Detroit and other enclaves of Muslim presence in our nation. Sharia law is coming my friends; it's coming on American soil.

What should we do? Practically, we should sign the petition accompanying the Mike Evans video in order to voice our opposition to the building of the mosque at Ground Zero. If they are going to build anything on this sight why not build a memorial to the victims? What about giving priority to rebuilding churches destroyed at Ground Zero on 9/11? We should contact our government representatives to express our positions. We should use our gifts of writing and communication. Someone has said, "The pen is mightier than the sword." We should pray for open doors of ministry like Paul did (Col. 4:2-4). Pray and seek the Lord on how He would use you in such a time as this. Get involved.

But more importantly, we need to pray. Pray and prepare to minister to the Islamic community. They need the gospel. We need to be informed. We need to know how to share the gospel with Muslims. We need to be aware of what is going on and have a prepared plan in place to respond. We need the empowerment of the Spirit for such a time as this.

Remember what we absolutely should NOT do. It would be absolutely wrong to react in violence, vengeance, and virulence. The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:20). We can be righteously angry. It's possible to be angry and not sin (Eph. 4:26). That means we are righteously angry but use that anger to motivate us in a holy way. That is possible. (Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 5.) But we need to be careful to follow in Jesus' steps and act in a Christlike way. Jesus will not be a party to that which is out of line with His will and way. If we fail to follow in His steps we will find ourselves alone on the battle field surrounded by the enemy. That's not a good place to be.

What we need to do is pray and follow the leading of the Spirit to determine the route He wants us to take. The Spirit will lead us to speak truth in love. We need to make our feelings known and stand firm but not lower ourselves to a Jihad like tirade. Christ has a higher calling than that for us. Walk worthy of your calling Christian! (Eph. 4:1f.) We need to keep our composure and pray for God's guidance. He will show us the way. Martin Luther used to say, "One with God is a majority." The majority we have with God will win every time. We need to trust Him. We need to understand this is a spiritual battle that requires spiritual weaponry (2 Cor. 10; Eph. 6). Remember, love never fails (1 Cor. 4:8).

I pray God guides and empowers us. No matter what happens the God of the Bible will reign supreme. We are moving toward a time when, "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11). That time can't come soon enough. God bless you all.