Reproach of Men

Some things are just utterly sickening to find out about. The story in Bangladesh’s The Daily Star, dated Thursday, Feb. 3rd, 2011 is one of those sickening stories you pray you never hear about, let alone have happen anywhere near you.

What happened? Well, the gist is that a terrible crime was committed against a fourteen (14) year old girl – and then horribly compounded by the followers of a sick, twisted, demented religious system.

In brief, the fourteen year old was raped by a 40 year old cousin. This was bad enough. However, lest we forget, or are ignorant, in Islam, if a woman is raped – it is automatically her fault – and rape carries the same penalty as adultery – death (or 100 lashes if you are not married). Now, you can argue that 100 lashes does not constitute a death sentence, but let’s see you take the 100 lashes given by a strong man using a cane. If you are not dead when he is done, it will be a miracle.

So, the local religious leader promptly issued a fatwa calling for 100 lashes for the 14 year old (and nothing of note for the 40 year old), which was then carried out by persons in the village. The young girl died after 80 lashes.

Now precisely what did the young girl do wrong? We can ask lots of questions as to why the LORD allowed this. But perhaps we would be better served asking the question as to why such a religious system is allowed to continue unchecked and unhindered? Regardless of where it is in the world, Islam is Islam, meaning that Islam remains the same, no matter where or when we find it.

Hence, understand these things about Islam, as they are indisputable tenets of that religion:

• The woman is always to blame.
• Women are little better than property.
• If you do not agree with Islam, you are a blasphemer subject to be put to death.
• Living peacefully with Islam means being converted to Islam.
• Pedophilia is okay. Rape is okay. Having a mistress is okay. Having more than one wife is okay… just DO NOT blaspheme Muhammad.

Now, there are those who will rush to the defense of Islam and swear up and down that these things are not true. . .

However. . .

Tell that to those who have been (and are still) being forced to convert to Islam under pain of death.

Tell that to the little girls who are subject to forced circumcision.

Tell that to the women and girls who have died in innumerable “honor” killings.

Tell that to the innumerable Christians, Jews and other “infidels”1 who have been subject to systematic persecution, up to and including being put to death.

Tell that to the “dancing boys” of Afghanistan.

Tell that to the countless girls and women who have been raped by Muslim men who yell “Allah Akbar” while raping them.

And all of this sanctioned by the religious leaders of Islam.

You know, ordinarily we would call all the above criminal behavior, worthy of severe penalty, up to and including death.

Only, when it is done under the cover of Islam, we just shrug our shoulders and go on as if nothing happened.

At what point will we realize that a religion as destructive as Islam cannot be allowed the liberty to exist and flourish? You know, religions which require human sacrifice are illegal in America. Why can we not see that a 14 year old was sacrificed to satisfy a religious tenet?

And we are told that fundamental, Biblical Christianity is a religion of hate and meanness.

1. Some are truly infidels, and some are perhaps not, but is that a reason to deprive them of life, liberty and property? [↩]

NOTE: This is one of my few digressions to something not specifically and expressly addressing Scriptural doctrine. However, it is quite needful to call attention to this particular item as it affects everyone, not just Israel and the Jews.

Today (1/11/2009) Arutz Sheva, Israel National News reported on an incident in Duisburg, Germany. The report was partially pulled from The Muqata blog, an Israeli blog that is tracking minute by minute (as circumstances warrant) events of the War in Gaza. One of the readers of that blog sent the following description of events in Duisburg:

Today, 10.000 people demonstrated against Israel here in my hometown Duisburg (Germany) and to express their solidarity with Hamas.

So, my girlfriend and me put two Israel flags out of the windows of our flat in the 3rd floor. During the demonstration which went through our street the police broke into our flat and removed the flag of Israel. The statement of the police was to de-escalate the situation, because many youth demonstrators were on the brink of breaking into our apartment house.

Before this they threw snowballs, knifes and stones against our windows and the complete building. We both were standing on the other side of the street and were shocked by seeing a police officer standing in our bedroom and opening the window to get the flag. The picture illustrate this situation. The police acquiesced in the demands of the mob.

The video below is of the incident in Duisburg:

The problem here is that the German police focused on the wrong thing to get rid of the problem. Instead of controlling the demonstrators and correcting their behavior, the police chose to allow them to become more violent and did not disperse them when they refused to calm down. The police also did not choose to forbid any form of demonstration that was not peaceful. Instead, they chose to violate the property rights of a private citizen, all the while empowering evil and proving that violence does effect change.

Smart move — real smart. I suppose when the Muslims demand the towns and cities in Germany observe Sharia law as applicable to all Germans, that they will cave the first time Muslims are violent. It seems to me that someone else used that tactic in Germany some years ago, and got what he wanted.

I also seem to remember that when all was said and done after using those tactics to gain power, all Germany lay in ruins.

See what you can achieve when you accommodate evil.

However, since I am not so accommodating, here is my message to Muslim demonstrators worldwide:

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST HAMAS

Its not coming down or being removed. They are the seed of Jacob, the son of Isaac (which is the son of promise), the son of Abraham.

GET OVER IT

Now, if only the Jews would know and understand that the Saviour was crucified 2000 years ago in Jerusalem and believe the Gospel (a few do, but most not — just like the rest of mankind), it would be a good day indeed. It wouldn’t hurt for all the Muslims to forsake the wickedness of Islam and believe too. It sure would make for a far more peaceful world.

This is not about “won’t read,” but about “can’t read.”

Today, AFP reported the following from the Middle East:

“Nearly one in three people in the Arab world is illiterate, including nearly half of all women in the region, the Tunis-based Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation said Monday.”

It is impossible to state how distressing this report is. Why? Because it highlights the real problem with the Arab world – ignorance. Moreover, without the ability to read, one cannot actually sit down with the Scripture and see what it states for themselves. They cannot honestly compare texts such as the Koran and the Bible and see the inconsistencies between the two. Though the Muslim claims that they must believe the Bible, and that they accept the Bible, there are glaring inconsistencies between the two. Only when one can read, can actual comparison be made, and the Scriptural command to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (I Thessalonians 5:21) be followed.

Instead, those who cannot read are left at the mercy of those who would “teach” them. One of the most precious things the LORD God has given us is the ability to read and understand what we read. He did this for us because our LORD is a LORD of words and desires to communicate the truth to us through His written word. But without the ability to read, this becomes impossible. One is trapped in a prison of ignorance, unable to learn the truth for themselves and become free.

The LORD God has much to say in His word about the fact that He desires that we know for sure who He is and what He has done for us. So much so, that he insured the following passages were carefully set in His word:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:8-11)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:31-36)

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:46-48)

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:2)

Why does the LORD state these things in His word? Because he wants us to know Him and what He requires of us. Moreover, He wants us to be able to determine the truth for ourselves. The LORD is ever desirous that we are able to read His word, then ask Him for understanding. He will honor the one who asks truly wanting to know and understand.

It is no accident that there is such a parallel between the word of God (the Scripture) and the Word of God (the Lord Jesus Christ). Though the Lord Jesus Christ does not walk among men today, we have His word whereby we can assuredly know Him and all He has done. After all, the LORD God moved Jeremiah to write the following passage to give us the assurance that we can personally know Him through His word:

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

But how can you if you can’t read?