Pastor's Update
Defending The Faith
By Dallas E. Henry
Sep 22, 2006, 08:17

If you have been aware of the news this week, you know that Pope Benedict came under fire for a speech he gave recently.  It contained a quote from the fourteenth century and caused a violent reaction from the Muslim world. 

Here is the quote that the Pope included in his speech.  It was from Professor Theodore Khoury, written in 1391:
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".  The Pope, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. "God", he says, "is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature.  Faith is born of the soul, not the body.  Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...".

Click [HERE] to read the entire speech.

Chuck Colson wrote about the Pope’s speech and the media reaction in the Tuesday edition of Breakpoint.  You can read the article by clicking [HERE].

Rev. John C. Rankin, Founder and President of the Theological Education Institute, regularly debates issues like this in his “Mars Hill” Forums.  The question of a current Forum is: “Is Islam Willing to Embrace Hard Questions?”.  His article appeared in the RECORD this week.  You can read it by clicking [HERE].

In case you haven't noticed, Christianity has been under attack in America and around the world.  Enemies of the Faith know how to neutralize Christianity and erode its foundation.  When skeptics remove the Creator in favor of secular humanism, they effectively cast doubt on the Bible and ultimately the Gospel message. 

There are shocking attacks on Christianity shown on the American Family Association’s web site.  Check out at: http://www.afa.net/  You will read about NBC’s broadcast of Madonna set to mock the Crucifixion of Christ, Wal-Mart asking for and receiving permission to join a homosexual marriage group, and Rosie O’Donnell on ABC stating that “Christians are no different than murderous radical Muslims.”

The time has come for Christians to stand tall.  We do have answers!  As Christian leaders we need to equip our people with information to defend the Faith against the onslaught of skeptical claims.

Contrary to what some might like to insist, Christianity is not the religion of "an eye for an eye."  It is the religion of Jesus, who refined the Old Testament law down to two commands: love your neighbor as yourself, and love God with all your heart.  No matter where one reads in the accounts of Jesus, the only conclusion one can come to is that Jesus was about love.

So where does the Church stand when it comes to violent actions by the disciples of Mohammed?  Interesting, isn't it, that Muslim fanatics use the idea of holy jihad and rewards in paradise to recruit people into terrible acts of destruction, and in Christian circles there is the solemn assembling for prayer and seeking of protection for the troops and leaders in their mission of war while basically remaining silent while the church is under siege?  The church is not silent about many other subjects such as AIDS, physical abuse of various kinds, hunger and even immigration.

In 1945, the anti-Nazi German pastor Martin Niemoller wrote the following:
"First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."

I suppose this famous statement could be updated for Americans:
“First they came for Israel, and we didn't speak up because we weren't Jews. Then they came for Lebanon's Christians, and we didn't speak up because we weren't Maronites. Then they came for France, and we didn't speak up because we weren't French citizens. Then they came for Sudan's blacks, and we didn't speak up because we weren't Sudanese blacks. Then they came for us, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for us.”

There is a stark difference between the reaction of Muslims to the slightest negative reflection on their religion and Christianity which has experienced much more than slight negative remarks.  We Christians remain pretty much silent when our faith is attacked.  We have allowed enemies of the Christian faith to remove America's rich Christian heritage from our public school history books, and for that matter, God and the Bible are no longer welcome in public schools.  Instead we have studies in Islam, homosexuality, abortion, sexuality and globalism.

Can you help the League?

I am asking individuals and churches to support the League.  The League does the hard work of influencing lawmakers -- work that most people don’t have the stomach for.  That work is extremely important.  The State of Maine has seen the positive result of that Biblical witness.  The League can’t do the job without adequate resources.  Individuals can send regular offerings to the League and churches can support the League as a local mission with regular support.

Please feel free to contact me if your church is interested in getting more information about including the League in your missions budget.  It would be greatly appreciated at this time.

Voter Guide

I am excited to inform you that the League has just launched its online voters guide.  It is easy to use and can be accessed by going to the League’s website.  Once you are there, click on “Search for candidates” at the bottom of the page.  They are listed by town in alphabetical order so the inquirer can easily locate their candidate.  The information on that candidate can be printed for anyone interested.  Some churches print out the information for the candidates that represent all the towns where their congregation lives.

Join us at the League Banquet

Please accept my invitation to attend the Civic League's annual banquet at the Senator Inn, Augusta, Friday, Oct. 6th, at 5:30 PM. 

Besides a wonderful meal and warm Christian fellowship, you will be inspired and challenged by the presentations of two speakers, Pastor Sandy Williams of First Baptist Church of Freeport, and Coach Dave Daubenmire of "Pass The Salt" ministries.  They will each make a presentation on the subject, "Is this a Christian nation?  Two Perspectives."

Your church or ministry can also be a table sponsor for the event.  The Evangelical pastors group in my area is going together and sponsoring a table with each church contributing a little.  Perhaps your pastors group would consider doing the same.  For more information click HERE.  You will also want to click on Coach Daubenmire's website and listen to a podcast of his radio show.