A few posts ago, I reported on Christian-on-Muslim violence taking place in Dearborn, Michigan. I am sorry to report that hatred against Muslims, from so-called "Christians," continues. This time, it's in Tennessee.
The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro continues to await official clearance to open, after enduring years of legal wrangling. In the meantime, the center has been vandalized repeatedly, and some Tennessee politicians have pledged to fight the mosque as part of their political platform. Lou Ann Zelenick is on the record as saying "I will work to stop the Islamization of our society, and do everything possible to prevent Sharia law from circumventing our laws and our Constitution." Republican representative Diane Black, in the same article I linked above, is on the record as opposing the mosque, saying that a "Jihadist viewpoint" must be kept out of American communities.
The Murfreesboro Muslim community, on the other hand, just wants their house of worship to be made available to them in time for a major holiday - in the case, Eid al-Fitr, the breaking of the fast of Ramadan.
It seems that, whenever the words "Muslim" or "Islam" or "Mosque" make their way into a conversation, American Christians immediately go to fear of Sharia Law and/or Jihad. Obviously, the wounds from September 11th, 2001, still sting, since those behind the attacks were zealously in favor of both. Similarly, the Muslim community itself bears the scars inflicted upon itself by the likes of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban; were it not for the more violent and militant among its followers, Islam likely wouldn't be so feared in the West.
However, to automatically equate Islam with Jihad, Sharia law, violence and terrorism is to make a huge mistake. Al-Qaeda and the Taliban no more speak for all Muslims, or even most Muslims, any more than the Westboro Baptist Church or the Christian Identity Movement speak for all Christians, or even most Christians. The actions of those who commit hate or violence against others in the name of Jesus Christ put a black eye on all Christendom; similarly, those who commit hate or violence against others in the name of Islam put a black eye on all peaceful Muslims.
Is is quite possible that there may be "Sharia Courts" coming to a legal jurisdiction near you in the future. However, that does not mean that Sharia law is going to replace U.S. Law. Think of a Sharia court as binding arbitration; all of the parties agree to to have their case heard by an independent arbiter that they agree on, and they agree to abide by the decision of the arbiter, with the force of law behind those decisions. Lest anyone conclude that a Sharia court is a second set of laws that operates along side, and in opposition to, U.S. law, I'd like to remind you that any Christian may take their complaint against another Christian to be heard by a Christian arbiter and have his ruling be handed down based on Biblical law. Christian Arbitration has existed in this country for decades. Should Muslims not have the same right as Christians to have matters settled by their own standards (if all parties agree to it)?
However, discounting for the moment fears of Jihad and Sharia law, there is a much more appalling factor going on in the Tennessee Mosque case. That is, the simple matter of hatred. For a Christian to deny a Muslim the right to build a house of worship is to violate the principle, laid out in Luke 10:27, of treating others the same way you would want to be treated. If a Christian group were denied the right to open a church because of the opposition of Muslims, the cries of "Persecution!" would be heard from every rooftop. So why is it OK for Christians to use law to keep Muslims out of their community, but not OK for Muslims to keep Christians out of their community? The answer, of course, is that it is not.
I call upon the Christians of Murfreesboro - indeed, Christians everywhere - to do three things. First, stop equating Muslims with violence and oppression. Second, stop trying to use the force of government to impose your will against other groups, and let the Muslims have their mosque. Third, and most importantly, respond to your Muslim neighbors not with hate, vandalism, and ostracization; but with love, open arms, and hospitality (Romans 12:13). Invite a Muslim friend into your home for a cup of coffee, or for a play date with your kids, or for a neighborhood celebration.
We (Christians and Muslims) may never fully understand each other, and our differences remain great. However, Christ is not honored when we treat others - even others who worship different gods and live according to different moral codes - with anything less than absolute, unconditional love.
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