Columnist Bradley R. Gitz wrote in his opinion piece in the June 10, 2013, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette concerning Islam [that] “the issue in all this isn’t so much the nature of Islam, about which we should be able to have honest discussion, as why so many among us feel such a desperate need to apologize on its behalf every time some jihadist beheads an infidel while shouting “Allahu Akbar.”

In the same issue, a letter write took a skewed view of the scriptures to arrive at a definition for “Christianity.”  The writer presented the idea that “a wide array of words like pagan, demonic, cruel, unholy, corrupt, brutal and false to describe such a religion and its god.”  The writer prefaced his remark with “I suspect most people would use …” The writer can suspect all he wants, but where does he find the authority to speak for other people?

There is a link between what Mr. Gitz wrote of Islam and the letter writer’s inane babbling. Repeatedly, columnists of the liberal persuasion, government and letter writers disparage the message of the Bible and either give Islam a pass, or sing its praises to the point of apologizing for the atrocities of that belief. In the apologies, such words as violent Islamists, not main stream believers or moderates etc are used. They refuse to see, much less admit, that Islam teaches violence and those who follow it condone the violence. When it is mentioned that the peaceful Muslims are afraid to speak out against the violence, then they are either quietly approving of the mayhem or are cowards.

Those who denigrate the Bible message dwell on God’s dealing with those who would destroy civilization with their unholy conduct. The message is salvation for believers and destruction for the wayward that will not change their destructive ways. Believers are blamed for the carnage that has occurred over the eons. While misguided zeal has caused the unwanted behavior of some, that type behavior is condemned by other believers just as much as the behavior of Islamists is condemned.  Yet, those who blame believers cast a wide net and include all believers. While it is true, that there are Muslims who do not openly advocate killing infidels, believers in God who understand the message do not quietly or openly advocate killing anyone (lawful execution is excepted).

One common denominator appears in all the verbiage written condemning Bible believers. Sin is the common denominator and seldom, if ever, is it mentioned. In the same manner, Islam does not deal with sin either. Sin is the reason that humans lost their relationship with God. Jesus made it possible to renew that relationship through what the letter writer wrote of his sacrifice as “that was created with a horrific, flesh-tearing, human sacrifice demanded by its god?” God did not demand that Jesus go to the cross. He went willing out of supreme love for God to do his will and love for his fellow humans. One can either accept God’s method and methods or reject them. The letter writer by his diatribe has rejected the salvation so freely given.

Islam promotes nothing but cruelty and death. It enslaves while God’s message in Christ liberates all who will obey the gospel and live the new life. Now the two burning questions need asking. One, what is the reason Islam is seen as being so great and the Bible message so wrong? Two, what are the reasons that otherwise reasonable people are so eager to avoid offending Islam while condemning the message of Christ? The answers are held by those who behave according to the questions. Their answers will reveal much about them.  

© 06-10-2013-DEC