Is Islam tolerant?  Is Islam just a religion?  Are all Muslims the same?  Is America becoming a Dhimmi nation?  These are a few of the many questions posed and answered at the latest Truth Exchange symposium. 

Many Americans see a dichotomy between their genuinely friendly Muslim neighbors and those we would consider “radical” or “militant” Muslims.  The two images do not connect.  In many cases, this dual-view is warranted.  Yet, as we know, there are times where it is not warranted.  Such as those militant Muslims who were responsible for 9/11 or like the so-called martyrs who are not just obliged to end their own lives, but are compelled by a relentless pull to step onto packed school buses or enter into public squares to take the lives of the innocent as well.  This “relentless pull” is the nucleus of all Muslims, it is the Qur’an.  Whether a radical, a moderate, a traditionalist, or puritan, the Qur’an is ground-zero.  “It has the power to pull people back…as it is considered their divine inspired book.”[i] It is with this in mind, that we must be exact in our understanding of Islam according to the Qur’an.  As opposed to understanding Islam according to one’s personal thoughts. 

There is only one Qur’an.  Depending upon the multiple fractions within Islam, there are varied and extreme interpretations of the one book.  For many moderate Muslims in America, they simply want to be modern.  They want to fit into the American mainstream.  They want the American dream.  Therefore, when they come to chapters within the Qur’an, such as Sura 9:5 that commands Muslims to “…fight and kill the infidels wherever you find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them…” they must reject it as not being relevant for 21^st century Muslims.  In fact, a moderate will quickly say that this passage of divine scripture, along with the many others, were just for Muhammad’s time period.  Yet, in the same breath, they would also declare that Muhammad is the Last Prophet.  Meaning, his words and writings are final and eternal.  Both words, final and eternal, points to Muhammad’s writings as extending through time and are as relevant to the 21^st century reader as they were to the 7^th century reader. 

This is one of many problematic ways of thinking by those who would consider themselves moderate or tolerant Muslims.  Their problem is that the Qur’an is not tolerant.  Yet, they interpret, re-interpret, and exclude various portions that do not fit with who they want to be. 

C.S. Lewis said in his book The Problem of Pain “From the moment a creature becomes aware of God as God and of itself as self, the terrible alternative of choosing God or self for the center is opened to it.”[ii]  Specifically for the moderate Muslim, the center is Self.  They, themselves, are the center and from it they begin to create who they want to be.  They want to be mainstream, they want to fit into the American ideal, they want to be nice, they want to be tolerant of others, and so they begin to piece together portions of the Qur’an that will allow them to be who they want to be.  One of the many problems with this form of thinking is that there’s no point of gravity.  Nothing keeps them in orbit.  Starting with self is always challenging, as we are all fickle.  One minute we’re hot and the next we’re cold.  But, what keeps us grounded, rooted in a way of thinking, and dictating how we choose to interact with one another, if not a moral code that is woven through every fiber in our bodies?  Even if a wrong is committed, there’s an involuntary alarm that announces to all of our bodily senses, a violation is in progress.  Now, whether over time and with much practice, we dull our senses to the wrong being committed is another story.  But, as stated earlier, for the Muslim, the Qur’an is considered ground-zero – their moral code giver.  It is the nucleus of every Muslim.  What keeps a moderate Muslim from going down a slippery slope? 

From even a cursory study of Islam, it quickly emerges to the forefront, that those who are radicals are more in-line with their belief, more in-line with the teachings of Muhammad as seen in the Qur’an and Hadith literature, than those who would take a more tolerant, gentle, or moderate viewpoint of Muhammad’s teachings.  So, try as we may to modernize Islam, in the end, it is what it is.  It is the study of this Islam, Islam of the Qur’an, which we will pursue over this multi-part series.

Truth Exchange Ministries, in conjunction with Trinity Baptist Community Church, hosted a discussion on Islam of the Qur’an:  Understanding the Unavoidable.  DVDs are now available at www.TruthExchange.net.  Starting with the varied interpretations of Islam, this multi-part series will look at the many sides of Islam.  

[i] Dr. Robert Greer speaking at Truth Exchange.  Dr. Greer is the author of “Qur’an Revealed,” “What the Qur’an Revealed?,” and “Leadership Secrets of Muhammad.”

[ii] C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, chapter 5

As often stated, “sin grows”.  When we accept a little sin in our lives, it never stays “little”.  It will always grow, until it consumes our lives.  Likewise, when we, as a people, accepted the idea that a woman can choose to save or kill a life we accepted a “little” sin.    

We rationalized our “little” sin away, by forcing ourselves to believe that what ever she is carrying inside of her is small and meaningless.  Besides, no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and no one should be forced to suffer from a mistake.  We said to ourselves and to our children, “as long as she aborts within the first 3 months of her pregnancy the “thing” in her is not real. It’s not a life.”

• Sin grows, introducing Partial-Birth Abortion.  According to the Library of Congress, the Senate introduced the “Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act” of 2007.  In it, Congress defined Partial-Birth Abortion as an “abortion in which the abortion practitioner delivers an unborn child’s body until only the head remains inside the womb, punctures the back of the child’s skull with a sharp instrument, and sucks the child’s brains out before completing the delivery of the dead infant.”

•  Sin grows still, introducing After-Birth Abortion.  According to a recent article published in the Journal of Medical Ethics entitled “After-Birth Abortion:  Why Should the Baby Live?” the assertion is made that it is the right of parents to have their babies killed, even after birth, for whatever reason.[i]^,[ii]
  

• Not done yet, sin still grows, introducing Obama Care’s latest announcement.  It is not enough, that the billion dollar abortion industry receives federal funding, private funding, and money from individuals choosing to abort.  Just last week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that a minimum of $1 dollar a month from every Obama Care participant will help pay for someone’s abortion.  Specifically, it stated “To comply with the accounting requirement, plans will collect a $1 abortion surcharge from each premium payer…  The enrollee will make two payments, $1 per month for abortion and another payment for the rest of the services covered… Furthermore, insurance plans may only advertise the total cost of the premiums without disclosing that enrollees will be charged a $1 per month fee to pay directly subsidize abortions.”[iii]
  

Question:  why would they not want participants to know the breakout of what they are paying?  Even the banking industry must itemize fees.

Earlier last week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its most recent projections revealing that Obama Care’s costs will be nearly double what the President promised and Congress approved – from $900 Billion to $1.76 Trillion.  But independent analysts say the true cost will, in all likelihood, far exceed $2 Trillion over that ten-year span.

Prayer request:  Beginning March 26th, the United States Supreme Court will hear three days of oral argument on the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Law”, a.k.a., Obama Care.[iv]   Commit to praying over these 3 days.  Pray that God grant our leaders unprecedented wisdom, discernment, and courage.  Pray that God grant fellow Americans wisdom, discernment, and a sense of immediacy as we stand for Truth and begin to demand it from our leaders.

Click here to listen to arguments made before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of Obama Care.

Pre-order your DVD copy of the Islam of the Qur’an:  Understanding the Unavoidable dialogue today. 

Like “iron sharpening iron” we engaged each other in respectful, yet critical dialogue on the topic of Islam and what God has called each Christ-follower to do.

We are getting so much positive feed-back from those who attended the event.  Please click here to share your own experience at the event and what you intend to do with what you learned.

We are not “big-headed” Christians – just looking for more information, but not committed to using it for the glory of God.  Instead, we are informed believers who will INTENTIONALLY look for opportunities to share what God has equipped us to do.

The cost is $8.00 each.  If you would like to donate any amount so that we can offer these DVDs free of charge to those who are unable to purchase them at this time, we strongly encourage you to do so by clicking here.

Click here for Islam PowerPoint Presentation – compliments of Truth Exchange.

God bless…

Kathy Barnette

Adjunct Professor & Founder of Truth Exchange Ministries

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”   Edmund Burke

Wa Habibi (My Beloved)

My beloved, my beloved
What state are you in?
He who sees you, for you would cry
You are the one and only sacrifice

My beloved,
What blame have the nations put upon you?
They melted you with wounds,
To which no healing would do

When in the dark orchard at night
The God Creator kneeled and prayed
Life was praying with the One
Who gave life hope and prayer

The olive trees are crying
As the lips of men quiver
My beloved how will you go?
Has loyalty gone forever?

My beloved, my beloved
What state are you in?
He who sees you, for you would cry
You are the one and only sacrifice

We have confirmed Dr. Rafat Amari, an esteemed scholar and Director of the Religion Research Institute and Michael Urton from the Muslim Ministries Program at Wheaton College.  Also, available that evening is Dr. Bob Greer, a Judson University adjunct professor of Theology and author of Qur’an Revealed:  A Christian Critique, What the Qur’an Reveals, and Leadership Secrets of Muhammad.

Similar to our Israel dialogue last year, this conference will be informative and is designed to encourage fellow Christ-believers to be busy about our Father’s business in effectively spreading the Good News of the Gospel.

Our discussions will focus around the Islam of the Qur’an.  However, Mike Urton will give a brief presentation on the diversity of Islam.   Dr. David Cook, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs for the School of Leadership and Business at Judson University, will provide a research piece to familiarize everyone on select terminology such as Twelfth Imam, Arab Springs, Caliph, comparing portions of the Shariah Law to the U.S. Constitution, and so forth.  Dr. Amari will present a historical review of “Abraham in the Qur’an, in the Bible, and in Archeology & History.”

This is most definitely shaping up to be a profound evening where the Spirit of God will have dominion.  Around each of these pieces will come questions, thoughts, and personal challenges.  We hope to see you there!            CLICK TO REGISTER

GOD BLESS

Due to technical difficulties, 1 of 2 DVDs is available for purchase.  As such, the 2nd DVD is now available for sale for $4.00 each. 

• Containing over 40 minutes of relevant dialogue
• Dr. Tim Sigler, Jerry Rose and others giving wonderful insights into the real issue that plagues the Middle East…and it’s not about the land.
• Ramifications of a United Nation’s vote

You don’t want to miss this and you will want to share it with a friend.  Get informed and purchase your copy today.                                                                              Buy today…

God Bless…

This past Sunday, we held our first ever Truth eXchange dialogue on Israel.  The grace and peace of God filled the Temple.  His presence was palpable.  Like “iron sharpening iron” we were there to encourage, to seek out God’s plans for our own lives, and for His beloved Israel. 

The panel brought tremendous insight into the supernatural longing, coded in the DNA of every Jew that compels them to Israel – a land under constant threat of harm, but one that beckons them home.  We discovered that the tumultuous climate, every Israeli and every Palestinian awaken to and send their loved ones into each morning, is not just about the Land only.  It is about so much more than Land. 

Get your own copy of the DVD today and share it with a friend.  BUY DVD NOW!

A very special “Thank You” to Jerry Rose, Dr. Tim Sigler, Missionary Micha Cohen, Bishop Dr. Michael Love, Dr. David Cook, Minister Karen Love, and Colleen Nolan for hearts of gold and a passion to surrender their best to Christ.  Each brought tremendous wisdom and perspective on the very important topic of Israel and God’s thoughts towards Israel. 

Lets keep the learning going.  Look out for the next Truth eXchange dialogue.

I shared with my church’s congregation last week, a little bit of my personal testimony in how God opens up doors of opportunities for me to walk in His purpose for my life.  I often hear people cry out to God asking “what is my purpose”, “what would you have me to do, Lord”?  Yet, they oftentimes don’t make the time to inform themselves.  Perhaps thinking, whatever equipping they need will fall on them by osmosis. 

The Word of God says, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).  The remedy to a “lack of knowledge” is to “study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that is not ashamed, (but equipped and skilled in) rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).  This is what the upcoming Israel dialogue is all about – equipping us for God’s plans for us and sharpening our minds for the battle.

Before I found myself in the center of the Mormon’s Temple Square Visitor Center explaining the difference between the Mormon’s Jesus and my Jesus, God placed a desire in my heart to study the differences between the two religions.  I did not know what I knew by osmosis. 

Before I found myself sitting in a plane for 4 hours next to a New Age believer, God placed a desire in my heart to know what I believe and why I believe what I believe.  It was obvious to me, this man has a heart that is seeking Truth.  But, unless I took the time to sharpen my understanding of what God’s Word says about Truth, I would have failed in my attempt to show him the path to real Truth.

Before I found myself sitting next to a Palestinian refugee at a banquet 3 weeks ago, God placed on my heart this conference.   We are engaging in dialogue to this day.

God bless and I hope to see you there…

Register Here…

 Click here to register NOW for our upcoming Israel conference on Sunday, Oct. 9th:  Israel – Inside and Out.  Registration starts at 3:30pm and discussions will begin promptly at 4:00pm.  The vision behind this conference is to engage minds to think critically about the world around them from a Biblical perspective. 

First 100 to register on-line and attend event will receive a complimentary gift (first come, first serve basis)