Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Lessons from history: Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator"



Charlie Chaplin produced "The Great Dictator" in 1940, a commentary on Adolf Hitler at a time when countries sought to appease the regime. We are now facing another holocaust which people dare speak about: Islamic persecution of non-Muslims and women. The West is disturbingly reticent on the fruit of orthodox Islamic theology because of fears of being labeled a racist/bigot. But the truth  is staring us in the face and we are guilty of not standing up for human rights. If you want to know Hitler's ideas, read Mein Kampf. If you want to know what Islam is, read the Quran.

But isn't terrorists beliefs (Islamism) different from the real (peaceful) Islam? No. Real Islam is found in the teachings of the Quran and the life of Muhamad. As Silas from Answering-Islam.org explains,

"Real Christianity patterns itself after Jesus and real Christians obey Jesus’ commands.  Real Islam patterns itself after Muhammad and real Muslims obey Muhammad’s commands."

 So to be sure, our fight is against Islam. How, then, do you fight Islam? How do you separate moderate Muslims (Muslims like Zudhi Jasser who just want to bypass any historical evidence of Muhamad's example and live peacefully in a democracy) from Muslims who want to engage in violence as the Quran describes? First off, we need to arm ourselves with knowledge as to the teachings of Islam. We have the right to investigate what mosques and madrassas are teaching and keep Islamic law from entering our courts. We need to be vigilant as to which Muslim organizations are linked with Islamic terrorist organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood and where their money is going. In a free society, some will always choose to become violent and we need to prepare for that. But to continue to keep our head in the sand is pure foolishness.

More poignantly, this is a spiritual battle. Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American pastor sits in a brutal prison in Iran for his Christian faith. By human standards he's there unjustly, but according to God's purposes he's there to give the hope of Jesus Christ to the lost. Although Christians in the Muslim world are suffering immensely, that is where the Christian population is growing the most. Muslims are having visions of Jesus, undeniable experiences of his presence that have them leave Islam for the true and living God.

Ultimately, this spiritual battle will end with the coming of the Lord and His never ending kingdom. The prophet Daniel speaks of four kingdoms that will arise after Babylon before the Lord's return. I believe the last kingdom will be Islamic as all the nations the Lord battles in the end times are Islamic. Right now All Islamic nations are postured and preparing to destroy Israel (Psalm 83). Islam denies God the Father and the Son, Jesus (1 John 2:22). But God laughs! He has already given his son Jesus all authority! (Psalm 2).

God called Noah to warn of God's Judgement while he built the ark. 120 years and not one listened! God called Isaiah to tell them of the coming messiah and the Jews have largely rejected it. Regardless of how many reject, I will still sound the alarm.