This column is usually written about political issues or events. In a way this one is too, for it seems that the liberal left doesn’t understand the basis for the outrage against the building of a mosque near the Ground Zero sight. They claim freedom of religion is being infringed upon as though opponents don’t believe everyone should be free to worship as they please. But as has already been said a thousand times, it’s not about freedom of religion. I believe it’s about understanding the capacity for people to love.
Every religion has its dogma, and every faith has its practices, but when all the beliefs, doctrines, and tenets are laid bare, a peculiar truth rises from the fray: The Judeo – Christian God of Israel loves sinners. In fact He loves them so much that he gave His only son so that anyone who believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life. No other religion makes that claim because no other religion claims a god that loves sinners.
What about Allah? Does he love sinners? According to the Quran he does not. Q.3:31-32; 7:55; 61:4 Proclaim: "If you love Allah, you should follow me." Allah will then love you, and forgive your sins. Allah is Forgiver, Most Merciful. You shall obey Allah and the messenger." If they turn away, Allah does not love the disbelievers… You shall worship your Lord publicly and privately; He does not love the transgressors (sinners)… Allah loves those who fight in His cause united in one column, like the bricks in one wall.
In July of this year, 25 year old Maryam Ghorbanzadeh was convicted of adultery and although she is pregnant, was sentenced by an Islamic (Allah, Sharia based) court to death by stoning. However, given her condition the sentence may be changed to death by hanging, the customary method of execution for such heinous crimes.
The New Testament tells of another woman caught in adultery. She was brought to Jesus when he was at the temple courts, near the Mount of Olives, teaching. Citing the Law of Moses, with regards to stoning as a penalty, the teachers of the law asked Jesus what he had to say. After a few moments of writing in the sand he answered "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:1-11). Of course no one is without sin and so one by one beginning with the oldest they walked away. Jesus asked the woman if anyone present was condemning her and she replied "no one sir." Jesus replied, "Then neither do I condemn you, go and leave your life of sin."
The love of Allah for the sinner and the ungodly is totally missing from the Quran. In fact Allah’s love is very self-centered and limited to those who love and fear him first. In contrast, the love of God is given to everyone freely. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). If the god of Islam doesn’t love sinners and professes to love only those who love him and fear him, how could Muslims possibly demonstrate love to others? They cannot, for they cannot give what they have not received. Their inability to selflessly love others is clearly reflected in their desire to build a place of worship at a site where Allah’s contempt for sinners has been forever etched.
Every religion has its dogma, and every faith has its practices, but when all the beliefs, doctrines, and tenets are laid bare, a peculiar truth rises from the fray: The Judeo – Christian God of Israel loves sinners. In fact He loves them so much that he gave His only son so that anyone who believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life. No other religion makes that claim because no other religion claims a god that loves sinners.
What about Allah? Does he love sinners? According to the Quran he does not. Q.3:31-32; 7:55; 61:4 Proclaim: "If you love Allah, you should follow me." Allah will then love you, and forgive your sins. Allah is Forgiver, Most Merciful. You shall obey Allah and the messenger." If they turn away, Allah does not love the disbelievers… You shall worship your Lord publicly and privately; He does not love the transgressors (sinners)… Allah loves those who fight in His cause united in one column, like the bricks in one wall.
In July of this year, 25 year old Maryam Ghorbanzadeh was convicted of adultery and although she is pregnant, was sentenced by an Islamic (Allah, Sharia based) court to death by stoning. However, given her condition the sentence may be changed to death by hanging, the customary method of execution for such heinous crimes.
The New Testament tells of another woman caught in adultery. She was brought to Jesus when he was at the temple courts, near the Mount of Olives, teaching. Citing the Law of Moses, with regards to stoning as a penalty, the teachers of the law asked Jesus what he had to say. After a few moments of writing in the sand he answered "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:1-11). Of course no one is without sin and so one by one beginning with the oldest they walked away. Jesus asked the woman if anyone present was condemning her and she replied "no one sir." Jesus replied, "Then neither do I condemn you, go and leave your life of sin."
The love of Allah for the sinner and the ungodly is totally missing from the Quran. In fact Allah’s love is very self-centered and limited to those who love and fear him first. In contrast, the love of God is given to everyone freely. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). If the god of Islam doesn’t love sinners and professes to love only those who love him and fear him, how could Muslims possibly demonstrate love to others? They cannot, for they cannot give what they have not received. Their inability to selflessly love others is clearly reflected in their desire to build a place of worship at a site where Allah’s contempt for sinners has been forever etched.
