The Global Pew Report On Islamic Extremism Points To An Open Window Of Opportunity For Christians; A Harvest Of Souls

by JC Alexander

The recent Global Pew report shows that even Muslims are concerned with extremism. But what does that mean? Is it a loss of faith in extremism that has caused this reversal? The same report shows a loss of confidence in bin Laden. It seems they had high hopes that Ossama would soundly defeat the western infidels, strengthen Islam in the Middle East and perhaps raise their religion to greater glory around the globe.

None of that has happened. While most civilized human beings interact with Muslims on a personal or professional level and judge them as individuals and not as part of some great terrorist scheme, the religion itself does not always fare as well. It is treated with suspicion and even with eye opening clarity as the laws and dictates of the Koran are finally viewed by the western world at large.

While it is sometimes promoted as a religion of peace, the very pages of the Koran serve as a constant reminder to Muslims that Christians and Jews are the enemy of Islam. Despite that, Muslims who have been exposed to Christians on a large scale tend to have a favorable opinion of them. Contrast that to an almost universal negative view by Muslims of Jews, with favorable ratings ranging from zero percent in Lebanon and Jordan to a high of only eighteen percent in Turkey, and Christians come off looking like saints in the eyes of Muslims.

As we dig deeper into the Pew report we find a few things that are somewhat startling, but with a positive side as well. While support for extremism has declined among Muslims, several of the reasons seem to be fear and self preservation. “When it hits too close to home it becomes a threat to me and mine.” Another reason is that many Muslims view living under strict Shari’ah law as being the ultimate extremism, and therefore, oppose extremism on that basis. They want to be Muslims but they don’t want to be judged by laws that are primarily lifted straight out of the Koran. And who can blame them? Who wants to live life with the Taliban watching everything you do, ready to pounce at any lapse of judgment? Shari’ah law provides for the removal of any part of your body­eyeballs, limbs, tongues, sexual organs and even heads and the buttocks, as a punishment for wrong doing. In some instances, any one of the five senses can be destroyed as punishment of law breakers. Who in their right mind would want to live like that?

Muslims also have a growing desire for democracy and freedom, but many want it under an Islamic theocracy. The only problem is the more Islamic it becomes the more freedom and democracy you lose. What they really want is the freedom and grace of Jesus Christ, they just don’t realize it. They want a moral society, but they want it by the laws of Islam as long as Islam is on their own terms, rather than by the grace of God and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

Christians have a growing opportunity to break past the lifetime of training that Muslims have experienced and reach deep down into the hearts and yearnings that are no different from our own, and present to them a new way of life that is filled with grace, mercy, peace and joy, as opposed to a life filled with legalism and fear laden peer pressure.

It’s time for Christians to act and show the Muslim world the love of Jesus Christ before the window of opportunity closes. The Bible is very clear that the Middle East; including Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan; and parts of North Africa, particularly Libya and Ethiopia will be a part of the ten nation alliance that will one day overthrow Israel and turn against Christians with the one we call Antichrist at the helm. Those Muslims who continue to support bin Laden, strict Shari’ah law, suicide bombings, terrorism and Islamic governance are the more vocal and domineering forces in the Muslim world and will be the ones who embrace the brutal tactics of a supreme leader who will lead them against Israel and Christians. It’s the others who need to be reached before it’s too late.

The forces of evil threw a hard first punch on 9-11, but God is the one that will throw the final knockout blow by delivering millions out of the kingdom of darkness, but only if Christians enter through the open doors that God is providing.

The overall effect of 9-11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the war on terrorism and the tsunami of last year has been a greater awareness between the Christian and Muslim cultures, which has been a good thing for Christians.