This last Friday morning I listened to a popular morning show on the radio and listened as the host played and picked apart portions of a recorded lecture by the the recently killed Al-Qaeda operative Anwar Al-Aulaqi. I have not provided you with either the recording of the lecture nor the full transcript of the host's dialogue and comments. However, my message (reproduced below) to the host, an outspoken Christian, should give enough information for you to see where I'm coming from and what compelled me to send him this message. The type of analysis he gave was not unique in any way, but giving a critique of that type of analysis/critique has been on my mind for a while - and I chose to do it this time. I have left out the host's name and the station's call sign, but if you were listening to the same station on Friday morning you will know to whom it was addressed to and which station I was listening to. Hopefully it provides some food for thought. Thoughtful comments are welcome.
My e-mail letter is reproduced below in blue:
[Host's name],
First off, let me tell you I listen to you on [station call sign] almost every morning - and agree with you on most things. Secondly, I'm a Christian, married, homeschooling father of four. I'm convinced that our nation and its leaders ignore the face and goals of Islam to our great peril. I'm on your side. However, I have to gently rebuke you as a brother for the method in which you analyzed a speech/lecture of recently-killed the Al-Qaeda operative Anwar al-Aulaqi this morning.
1. You portrayed the submission aspect of Islam as if having a strong submission aspect alone makes a religion suspect.
2. You portrayed the "if Allah commands it, it is good" type of instruction seem as if it is unworthy of a true religion.
3. In the example al-Aulaqi gave of the hypothetical command of Allah for a 20-year old to stand on one foot for the rest of his life, you made it seem as if it was totally unreasonable for an almighty God to give a command like this and definitely unreasonable for an adherent to follow it.
4. You made a joking comment (not your exact words) to the effect of "That makes me want to sign up!" - as if Truth is like ice cream, and we should simply choose what looks most tasty and pleasurable.
The problem with your line of critique is that these same types of arguments can and are used against Christianity! It weakens our Christian witness and does not honor the God of Truth who is Truth Himself to judge Islam by a different standard than you are willing to use for Christianity. Christianity has a strong submission element. We are slaves of Christ - even as we are also free. If God commands something, it is good. Think of the conquest of Canaan. Was that good? Yes it was. Have God's people ever been asked to do some seemingly crazy things? Yes. Consider God's command to Abraham regarding killing his one and only son Isaac. Consider the various strange commands/requirements that God gave to the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel had to lie on one side for a great many days and then the other. He had to bake a special bread that God originally had commanded him to bake using human dung. He had to roam around naked at one point. I'm sure you get the picture! Concerning my #4, remember Jesus telling the rich young ruler to give away all he had and follow him? Would THAT naturally make one want to "sign up"?
If we want to confront the opposition, [host's name], we can do much better than present things in such a way that they undermine our own position. We need to be able to use the same standard(s) with our own position, or else we're just not being completely honest. We need to honor the God of Truth by not appealing to these types are arguments that are much too easy - but in reality are harmful to our own cause in the long run.
I hope this did not come off as too hard. Iron sharpens iron - and this will be good for the kingdom. At least that's the idea I'm after.
All The Best,
Dan Sorenson
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