How should Christians react to the European Cartoons of Mohammed?
Dear Reader,
Biblical Christians take their modus operandi (manner of living) from the Bible first and foremost. We read in the Bible that if we wish others to do good to us then we in turn should be good to them. Here is how Jesus put it: (Mat 7:12 KJV) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. The Bible also tells us to be kindly disposed to one another, tender hearted and forgiving. Let’s read this in Ephesians: (Eph 4:32 KJV) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. There are many other similar injunctions telling us to be kind and respectful to one another; and in general Christians seek to put these injunctions into practice in their daily lives.
Therefore, concerning the cartoons, as Christians we should respect these people and not publish things that will offend them. However, respect and kindness among nations and peoples are a reciprocal matter. One group of people cannot expect the other group to be respectful and kind while they themselves are violent, belligerent, and disrespectful. The behaviour and actions of the Muslims over the cartoons’ affair is very disrespectful, unnecessary, violent, ungodly, and illegal. Maybe it is not illegal in Muslim countries to riot over such matters; but in the western countries it is certainly illegal and indictable. We follow the rule of law and take others to court if they defame or scandal or libel us or our character, we even now have hate crimes on the books in some countries for anyone disparaging another’s religion. Muslims living in the west must follow these procedures or suffer the legal consequences for going against them. The question we ask is, do Muslims respect the beliefs and religions of other non Muslims? Maybe some might, but let’s look at the follow experiences we have seen in our world society.
When the Muslims (Taliban) took over Afghanistan, among the first things they did was to destroy the statues of the Buddha; they put the guns to them and totally demolished them. This was infinitely more heinous and disrespectful of the Buddhists than the cartoons were to the Muslims. The Buddha was a holy man just like Mohammed. Both are held in high esteem by the respective nations. Yet the Buddhists did not react as evil and violent as the Muslims did over cartoons. The Muslims are constantly killing Christians in Indonesia, Pakistan, and other Muslim countries, yet we do not react violently and murderously in the west over these acts. Take the situation in the Sudan. In Darfur many innocent Christians are being butchered by the Muslims, yet we in the west do not react violently as the Muslims do over small matters.
Muslims dress in suicidal uniforms and butcher, maim, and deform innocent men, women, and children. They even have their little children and girls don suicidal belts to maim and kill others. All in the name of their God! In fact the Qur’an encourages the killing of non Muslims unless they seek peace and submission; you can read this in the Qur’an; just turn to Sura 9 and read on. Or do a search and you will find commands to this end. Why cannot Christians preach and practice their religion in Muslim countries like the Muslims can do in the west?
If the Muslims want respect, and if Islam is a peaceful religion then the Muslims must show respect, reciprocity, and peace to other people and to their own people when they convert to other religions. Right now even a blind man can see that Islam not a peaceful religion. In fact some Muslim countries prohibit on the pain of death the adoption of another religion by a Muslim. It is okay for a non Muslim to become a Muslim, but for the Muslim to become a Christian would require his death in some Islamic societies. Is this fair? Is this Godly? Is this respectful of others? The Danish cartoons were not intended to be offensive in themselves. A Danish Imam, according to reports, made up other offensive cartoons and showed those as well to the people in the Middle East, and instead of just ignoring the people, they went on a rampage, just like they did when the Egyptian ferry boat sank and killed hundreds of people. If the Danish cartoons were very disrespectful then why would Iran want to prolong the matter by retaliating with offensive cartoons themselves? Must one wicked action solicit another? Where is the godliness, kindness, and forgiving spirit among Muslims?
It must also be remembered that the Danes did not seek to insult Islam; they probably were not aware of prohibition against drawings of Mohammed, even though the Muslims have in the past drawn pictures of Mohammed himself. According to one Imam the reason for not drawing pictures of Mohammed is that the prophet said that it would lead people into idolatry. I am sure Mohammed would not have reacted in such an ungodly manner as these people have done. And seeing the Danes were ignorant of this fact, the reaction of the Muslim governments was totally ungodly and disrespectful to the west.
If it is true that the Danish Imam put in other wicked and evil pictures of Mohammed and lied saying that the Danes had drawn those, then I can easily understand the anger of the Muslims; but I cannot accept their behaviour. Why don’t they try to get to the bottom of this and find out if indeed a Muslim, the Danish Imam, had actually drawn these offensive cartoons? Finally, the Muslims must by now recognize that the west are not all Christians. Our western media have been anti-god, anti-Christ, and down right blasphemous. They have published crosses of Christ in a frame of urine! They have insulted Christianity on numerous occasions. We Christians react by letters, the courts, and by not supporting enterprises that indulge in these wicked activities. Muslims in the west must of necessity learn to behave the same way, or if they cannot then they can always return home.
Also, Muslims that migrate immigrate to the West must of necessity respect and obey the good laws of the West. Like us westerners who disagree with our government they should resort to the courts and the law. We can also choose to be arrested and jailed for God’s sake. This will a witness against all ungodly governments and societies in the day of judgment. Muslims must not expect to come to the West and change the west to be like the countries they are running away from. Both Muslims and Christians should accept the freedom in the west to speak against, in a kindly manner, each one’s religious views and never resort to violence and mayhem. After all, can’t God defend Himself? Won’t He recompense everone for his words and actions in His own time? Let Him do so and not we for Him.
To summarize, then, Christians must always seek to be kind and godly, even under wicked and evil treatment; we should seek to be respectful of others even though they disrespect us. Our Saviour Jesus Christ tells us to pray for those that hurt us and despitefully use us; Jesus encourages us to forgive them. Here are the words of Jesus: (Mat 5:44 KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Christians must always seek to live by these standards, even if their friends the Muslims hurt them and despitefully use them; or if their own people, the liberal, godless people of our society persecute us. By loving our enemies we show that we are of God. By being brutal we show that God is not dwelling in us but satan is. Again, here is what the Bible tells us: (1 John 4:8 KJV) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. And again, (1 John 4:16 KJV) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Let us seek, therefore, to be kind to our Muslim friends and godless westerners; and at the same time let us dialogue these groups to show them a kinder and more godly way of reacting to wickedness. God bless.
Pastor Ron is a retired Adventist pastor. Reach him at ron.hende@gmail.com with your comments.