Unveiling the Light

Our country is remembering the tragedy and murderous attack that took place five years ago. Nearly 3,000 innocent civilians died in a morally corrupt attack meant to place fear in the hearts of Americans and to disrupt our economy. Well, the economy has bounced back as strong as ever. At least in that aspect the terrorists failed. But, are we now a people filled with fear and incapable of battling the forces aligned against us?

In many ways the initial response to these attacks was vicious and determined. Afghanistan quickly fell and although it was not directly related to the terrorist attack, certainly our new lack of patience and tolerance led to the subsequent attack and overthrow of Iraq. However, a read of current American politics reveals an astonishing lack of fortitude by many Americans. If the problem can’t be solved quickly, we want to pretend that it is not there. Bring the troops home and … what? That is as far as they seem to go. What then?

To treat the threat of terrorism as a strictly law enforcement problem is to ignore the reality of our situation as revealed by history and by the publicly stated purposes of our enemies. They want us to convert or die and they state these goals clearly. As a Christian minister, I am always drawn first to peaceful solutions and the seeking of common concerns and values to avoid conflict with others. Certainly with the Muslims as a whole, this should be our country’s and the Christian religion’s emphasis. But with those radical Islamic terrorists, we need to understand that we are in a battle for our very survival.

We should note that the conflict between the Muslim and non-Muslim world has been continuous since the time of Mohammed. While many modern Muslims choose to interpret the prophet’s commands as a call to internal warfare to improve one’s self and conquer evil; for over a millennium the Koran’s division of the world into peace (those areas controlled by Muslims) and war, (those areas not controlled by Muslims) has led to a nearly continual battle with an expanding Muslim empire. Turkey and North Africa were once Christian homelands until conquered by the forces of Mohammed. The Crusades were a misguided attempt to win these lands back.

Only barely was the Muslim expansion halted at the border between Spain and the rest of Europe by a united Christian force while Constaninopol held them off in Eastern Europe for centuries until finally falling and becoming what is today, Instanbol. Spain itself was captured and kept under Muslim control for 400 years. It was also a very hard fought battle at sea that kept the expanding Muslims from invading Italy, with the stated goal of destroying Rome. Only the western jump towards a philosophy of science, and the corresponding great increase of its military might, has over the past few centuries put a halt to such Muslim attempts to expand its influence.

Now, powered by oil money, the ability to buy modern technology, access to modern weapons and the funding of a new radicalism, we find the Muslim religion on the march of expansion again. Many of the civil wars of Africa have been caused by its oppression of non-Muslims, often initiated by non-Africans hailing from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. Even Muslim countries at peace and with relatively pro western views are intimidated by the radicals around and within their numbers. Europe seems to be neutralized by the large Muslim population within its borders and we and any country that stands against radical Muslim terrorists find ourselves under attack and often isolated.

I am sure that most Muslims are peaceful but they or at least their leaders do harbor an intolerance of others religions. Christianity might be tolerated in some of their countries but one does not dare evangelize. Converts to Christianity are often criminalized and Christians are routinely subject to harassment, persecution and suppression. Freedom of religion is non-existent in any Muslim controlled country. This brings out the fact that this religion from its beginning has mainly relied on force and intimidation for expansion. Mohammed himself expressed this methodology.

Until freedom of religion is universal and terrorism is both condemned and suppressed by Muslims and non-Muslims alike, we are in a war for our survival. We should not gloss over the problem but neither should we be faint of heart. We need not live in fear. As a country we can look to the many challenges we have faced and overcome through history. For Christians we can always put our faith in our Lord and know that we are never abandoned. If we put our mind to it, there is great hope not only for our future but the future of the world. Freedom is powerful. Given the choice between oppression and freedom, people will always choose freedom. We simply need to make sure that choice is made available for all.

Five years after 9-11, we can look to our strong economy and the progress made against terrorists with comfort. At least now the war is being fought closer to where they live and not where we live. We must now find it in our hearts and in our guts to persist and not give up. We are blessed in this country and have a lot to defend. We also have a great many brave young men and women who are leading the way, coming forward and willing to sacrifice for the ideal of freedom and the importance of the individual. We should not let them down on the home front. This is our fight and our future.