Subject: Christianity and Islam Part 11 – Liberalism’s Blindness to ISIS Hatred of America

Psalm 139:19 “Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, you bloodthirsty men.”

At the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism on February 18, 2015, President Obama gave his vision on how to end Islamic terrorism: “If we’re going to prevent people from being susceptible to the false promises of extremism … countries have to truly invest in the education and skills and job training that our extraordinary young people need.” Our President believes the answer to eliminating the evil of ISIS is education and job opportunities. More education and job training means fewer violent Islamists.

Almost nine months after that speech, eight ISIS terrorists wearing explosive vests and carrying AK47 assault rifles murdered 130 innocent people in Paris. As police closed in, they shouted “Allah Akbar” (“God is great”) just before detonating their vests. All in the name of Allah and their hatred of us, the infidels.

Our President subscribes to the opposite view of King David in Psalm 139:19. While David’s answer to the bloodthirsty evil of ISIS would be to destroy them, Obama’s answer is to seek to understand ISIS. This is American liberalism in its full-fledged glory – taught to our youth in universities and touted in our media.

Unless you think Obama is alone in his fantasy, here is an all-too-frequent response on social media to the mass murders in Paris: “These (Paris) attacks are a tragic result for humanity and I hope they convince us to come together as people. I think retaliation would only further entrench conflict. If we truly want to solve the problem of terrorism we have to be more culturally understanding and tolerant… It’s only with such deep thinking on both sides with true understanding of the opposing cultural structure that comes with expanded empathy that we can begin to make peace. For now, just love people.”

I think former Ronald Reagan said it best: “The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant: It’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.” Understanding ISIS is not very difficult – they prefer violence because of a broken moral theology, not because they lack education or job skills. And certainly not because, as Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders claims, of “the effects of climate change.”.

I take people at their word. The best way to understand ISIS is to evaluate their words. Here is part of their statement after they claimed responsibility for Paris:

“In a blessed battle whose causes of success were enabled by Allah, a group of believers from the soldiers of the Caliphate (may Allah strengthen and support it) set out targeting the capital of prostitution and vice, the lead carrier of the cross in Europe — Paris. This group of believers were youth who divorced the worldly life and advanced towards their enemy hoping to be killed for Allah’s sake, doing so in support of His religion, His Prophet (blessing and peace be upon him), and His allies. Thus, they were truthful with Allah — we consider them so — and Allah granted victory upon their hands and cast terror into the hearts of the crusaders in their very own homeland. Eight brothers equipped with explosive belts and assault rifles attacked precisely chosen targets in the center of the capital of France. The targets included the Bataclan theatre for exhibitions, where hundreds of pagans gathered for a concert of prostitution and vice…Paris was thereby shaken beneath the crusaders’ feet, who were constricted by its streets. The result of the attacks was the deaths of no less than two hundred crusaders and the wounding of even more. All praise, grace, and favor belong to Allah. Allah blessed our brothers and granted them what they desired. They detonated their explosive belts in the masses of the disbelievers after finishing all their ammunition. We ask Allah to accept them amongst the martyrs and to allow us to follow them.”

ISIS is not an ideology needing cultural understanding – it is a hate-centered theology that glories in the indiscriminate slaughter of innocent people. In ‘Unveiling Islam’, Dr. Ergun and Emir Caner explain that a central tenet of Islam to hate Allah’s enemies: “The Muslim is called to passionately hate those who stand against the expansion of Allah’s cause: ‘O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as friends, offering them your love while they have disbelieved in what came to you of the truth, having driven out the Prophet and yourselves only because you believe in Allah, your Lord. If you have come out for jihad in My cause and seeking means to My approval, take them not as friends.’ (surah 60:1).”

America needs a King David, or a Churchill, or a Reagan. We should have woken up after 9/11. We must face ISIS head on, because they have become bolder by our passivity and are telling us we are next.