COEXIST, Part 1

There’s a bumper sticker that I see all of the time in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe you have seen it as well. It is the sticker that says,” COEXIST”. Each one of the letters in the word is made to look like and symbolize different symbols from prominent world religions and ideals. The C is a symbol for Islam, the O is a peace sign, the E is a generic symbol for humanity, the X is the Star of David representing Judaism, the I is a symbol for the Wiccan religion, the S is shaped into the Ying Yang symbol representing Taoism, and the T is shaped like a cross representing Christianity. Isn’t that sweet???

I think not. Here’s the first problem: The fact that Islam is on the same sticker as a PEACE SIGN?! That’s a problem! Islam is NOT a religion of peace- period. It is a religion that at its core wants to eliminate every “infidel” by the sword who does not except that there is one god whose name is Allah and that Mohamed is his prophet.

This week there was a controversy over Franklin Graham being asked to officiate a special ceremony for the National Day of Prayer at the Pentagon in Washington DC. Why? Because in 2001, after the September 11th tragedy, Graham called Islam evil. He called it as he saw it. And now he can’t officiate a Christian prayer because of his opinion on Islam?

It’s not as if Islam has respect for Christianity or even Christian people. But I, as a Christian, have been called to love my enemy and my neighbor. And the Muslims around me are my neighbors and because of that I will love them and respect them, but I will not respect their religion. They are not my enemy, but the Bible tells me to pray for those who persecute me. And though I may not personally persecuted by Islam, I know that my brothers and sisters around the world are. And I will love and pray for Muslims around the world with great willingness and joy because of it. I love them and I hope the best for them and I want them to find an everlasting committed relationship with Jesus Christ.

I KNOW that there are probably many kind and loving Muslims all around the world that sincerely care for their neighbors, I’m just saying that their religion is not a religion of peace, and that a peace sign next to a symbol representing Islam is an oxymoron, and belittles people’s intellegence to propose that it (Islam) is (a religion of peace).