Thoughts On Islam's Intolerance and Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

I remember, as a young man, my zeal to defend Islam from (what in my mind were) ignorant Christians blinded by conservatism and patriotism. I remember, defending Islam in classes, reassuring my fellow classmates that all Islam meant was submission to Allah's will, and Allah, was well- God. I remember telling others that these men who flew planes into buildings were men who did not represent true Islam.

I was wrong.

The truth is that Islam does means submission to Allah's will, but Allah's will as written in the Qur'an is complete world dominance by the sword (Surah 8:39,9:29). The truth is that Allah is not the one and true living God of the bible. And, that those who flew planes into buildings, were just being consistent with 1) Islam's violent history, 2) What the Qur'an teaches.

Recently, I've been hearing plenty about Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, a 30 year old pastor who has been arrested and sentenced to death in Iran. What people don't know, is that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been detained since 2009. Pastor Youcef  has been convicted of apostasy. Inspite of his claim that he has always been a Christian. The clerics in Iran still see him as an apostate due to the fact that his ancestors practiced Islam. It seems though, that people don't know or forget, that Muslims believe that all people are born muslims or in a state of "Fitrah". That is, in Islam, we are born knowing that Allah is the one and true living God. And it is our parents, and or enviornment, that causes us to stray from that path (See: Sahih Muslim, Book 033, Number 6426). Using this logic, all people who turn to Christianity are apostates.

During June 2010 - January 2011, Elam ministries reported 202 arbitray arrests (alone in Iran) for Christians who publicly practiced their faith.

And this sort of persecution is not restricted to Iran. Pakistan, forexample, is infamously known for it's strict blashphemy laws.

If not dealt with by the Islamic government, Christians are often killed by vigilante Muslims for their so called "blasphemy". This is true Islam, once established in a state. Muslim apologists can continue, if they so desire, to quote Surah 2:256 " There is no compulsion in religion". But in the eyes of many muslims, this verse has been abrogated by verses like Surah 9:73, "O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed."

Pastor Youcef has been asked three times now, to repent of his Christian faith. Here is the dialouge as it is told:

Pastor Youcef-  "Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?"

Judge- "To the religion of your ancestors, Islam,"

Pastor Youcef - "I cannot,"

This is the hypocritical intolerance of Islam manifested. They'll cry injustice when there is debate in regards to ONE mosque being built near ground zero, but ignorantly and purposefully seek to avoid discussions over the violent history of Islam, and present day persecution of Christians in Islamic states.

Let us not forget, to pray for our brethren that are persecuted all over the world.

In Christ, awretchsaved

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