Sunday, February 05, 2006

Worldview Clash

The Muslim uproar over the cartoon depictions defaming Muhammad show us that the root of the issue is a war of competing worldviews. The Islamic worldview here stands out in stark contrast to the Christian worldview. When Muhammad is ridiculed in a cartoon Muslims become enraged and riot, burn and kill. When the Lord Jesus Christ was spit upon, flogged, beaten and ridiculed he cried out to his Father, "Forgive them for they know not what they do!" Here is the underlining difference between Christianity and Islam: Christianity offers grace and peace while Islam only offers law and slavery. John Piper has some thoughtful words on this worldview clash (HT: Between Two Worlds):
Am I missing it, or is there an unusual silence in the blogosphere about the Muslim outrage over the cartoons of Mohammed. To me this cries out for the observation that when artists put the crucifix in a flask of urine, Christians were grieved and angered, but not one threatened to kill anyone. Our longing is to convert the blasphemers with the Good News of Christ's death and resurrection, not kill them. Our faith is based on One who was reviled not just in cartoons but in reality and received it patiently for the salvation of the cartoonists. These riots are filled with intimations about the glorious difference between Christ and Mohammed, and between the way of Christ and the way of Islam. And the cowing of the press around the world and the US government is ominous for the fear we are under of Islam--not just extremist Islam. I do not respect the teachings of Islam which when followed devoutly lead to destruction. So I have been pondering which will take me out first, Islam, Uncle Sam, or cancer. No matter, all authority belongs to Jesus. I just want to bear faithful witness to his glorious gospel of peace to the end.

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