ISLAM: Labour lies, Muslim muddle

Sir, After arriving in Baghdad to promote Ken Bigley's release, one of the UK Muslim leaders Dr Hussein said he believed in the 'power of prayer'. Is this authentic Islam or were his words simply an attempt to hijack Christian language in order to deceive viewers about Islam's true character? If Muslims believe in the power of prayer, why is Islamic history red with the power of the sword? Because 'militant' Muhammad's piety was very different from the 'moderate' Muslim cleric's. Indeed, also providing a charter for today's terrorists and suicide bombers, the Prophet declared:

"The sword is the key of heaven and hell: a drop of blood shed in the cause of God, a night in arms, is of more avail than two months of fasting or prayer: whoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven: at the day of judgement his wounds shall be resplendent as vermillion, and fragrant as musk; and the loss of his limbs shall be supplied by the wings of angels and cherubim."

In his double reference to Islam at the Labour Party Conference, the Prime Minister distinguished between militants and moderates, insisting that the former represent a 'perversion' of Islam. Did Muhammad therefore 'pervert' his own teaching? If not, then Mr Blair is guilty of misleading the nation over Islam as he misled us over the war in Iraq. In his speech, he also affirmed the Government's intention to introduce so-called 'religious hate' legislation. Does this mean that attempts to correct the misinformation of both the Prime Minister and so-called Muslim moderates will become a criminal offence?

Yours faithfully,

Dr Alan C. Clifford
Pastor, Norwich Reformed Church  

ISLAM: ITS FUNDAMENTAL EVIL

Dear Friends,

The widespread national and international response to my protest against Islam has been both encouraging and instructive. Encouraging in that not one e-mail has been negative; instructive in revealing a variety of reasons for opposing Islam. Not all my supporters have been Christian. Several are Jewish, some are atheists. Not all Christians subscribe to my Reformed Protestant Faith. Unitarians and Roman Catholics have expressed appreciation for my stand. It is clear that many rightly perceive Islam as a threat to democracy, free speech, civilized values and religious freedom. I too share all these concerns and would defend them to my last breath.

However, while my agenda is determined by a Bible-based faith, I recognise that many couldnt care less. Concerned to eat, drink and be merry, the average amoral Westerner has little or no time for formal religion. Such decadent indifference is no match for the fanatical fury of militant Muslims determined to impose their ideology on the world. To imagine in the wake of the ill-judged recent war in Iraq that our debased democratic values can be introduced in that chaotic country is naïve nonsense in the extreme. After secular Saddam, Muslim militants will never rest until their diabolical will is realised. This will have enormous and alarming consequences for the rest of us, as I argued in a letter to the Times (March 26, 2003) just days after the war actually commenced (see Attachment 1)

. As for the pc secular liberal intellectuals, they are annoyed by my protest. And why? By calling Islam evil, I have challenged their pseudo-tolerant post-modernity by implying that there is a true religion that is good. I say pseudo-tolerant because everyone is tolerated except allegedly bigoted Christians! If people criticise the Bible thats ok but woe betide you if you criticise Islam! So, up with such hypocrisy we will not put! Opposed to this hostility to Jesus Christ, I have no doubt or hesitation in affirming the absolute truthfulness of the authentic Christian Faith. It has inspired everything that is true, pure, good, kind and decent, including the liberty to dissent from such a faith as I possess! Consequently I believe that this Faith alone has the power to guarantee the legitimate concerns expressed by my e-mailers.

From the re-issued statement below, readers will understand why I believe the Roman Catholic religion is in no position to aid us. In addition, much of the collapse of Christian conviction in the West is due to the cancer of theological liberalism. For me and millions of others across the world, Islams chief evil is its blasphemous denial of the deity of Jesus Christ. Relegated to a place among the prophets, His identity as God made man is spurned. It is therefore no wonder that so-called liberal Christians who deny the uniqueness of Christ as the Way, the Truth and the Life(John 14: 6) welcome Islam simply on the basis of its monotheism. Such betrayal is widespread. In another published letter to the Times in 1997, I challenged an Anglican bishop as follows:

Sir, The decision by the Right Reverend Alan Smithson, Bishop of Jarrow, to suspend his Lenten Bible reading in favour of the Koran (report, February 14) is outrageous. Would Muslims tolerate the reading of the Bible instead of the Koran during Ramadan?

While the study of other faiths is useful in discouraging prejudice and hatred, no amount of scholarship can place the Koran in the same category as the Christian scriptures. The Bible contains all that is necessary for western civilization to rediscover its soul.

A religion which is persecuting Christians in the Sudan and elsewhere, which demands tolerant treatment in the Western world while itself stipulating barbaric penalties for criminals, has little or nothing to teach those who value the Bible as the inspired Word of God.

Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford is typical of the Christian betrayal of our times. Lamenting on Radio 4s Thought for the Day (17 September 04) that the wells have been poisoned, he himself is a contributor to the multi-faith poison which has robbed the West of its authentic Christian heritage. I challenged him on this in another Times letter (May 1, 2000; see Attachment 2).

Reflecting my own deepest convictions, it was the purest, most powerful and cruelly-persecuted Reformed Churches of France which had the clarity and courage to expose the fundamental evil of all that Islam represents. Until we identify the problem as they did, we cannot begin to address the Muslim menace in any effective way. Persecution is always counter-productive as well as cruel. In the battle for the mind, truth must oust error. Loving yet straight-talking engagement with Islam and its sympathisers must commence. In short, the Church must return to the Gospel and preach it with renewed conviction. If it fails in its calling, one thing is certain. Unless we oppose fire with fire, faith with faith, Islam will destroy us all.

Yours faithfully in Christ,
Dr Alan C. Clifford

Can Islam Distance Itself From Violence

‘As a Christian minister in Norwich, I am gravely concerned at the deceptive and misleading information you published about Islam (Concrete, May 18). If the UEA Islam Society is trying to create a ‘new perception’ of Islam, will its members distance themselves from the intolerance and violence clearly sanctioned by the Qur'an and reinforced in the Hadith against Jews, Christians and others? The intention to ‘forge a culture of tolerance in a world that is quick to judge’ is welcome. However, such a democratic attitude is not consistent with Muhammad’s teaching. Indeed, the Saudi Ambassador made it clear last year that democracy and Islam do not mix. [If politics is the art of the possible, then Islam cannot possibly co-exist with liberal democratic institutions].

‘Furthermore, what about religious freedom, a basic feature of Western democracy? Are Muslims free to embrace a different religion if that is their choice? The answer is ‘No’. I am in receipt of a letter from an ex-Muslim lady who lives in secrecy here in the UK for fear of her life. The subjugation of women is another unwelcome feature of Islam, clearly and unambiguously taught in the Qur'an. Lastly, does the UEA Islam Society intend to urge Islamic governments to grant freedom to Christians, the very freedom Muslims expect here in the UK? I ask this in view of almost-daily reports of Christians being butchered for their faith by Muslims.

‘You will clearly see that my objections to Islam are not the ill-informed ‘quick-to-judge’ response identified in your article. Indeed, I make other very serious criticisms of Islam on our church website (www.geocities.com/nrchurch). Until the UEA Society and others face up to these criticisms, they cannot be surprised if the ‘old perception’ of Islam persists. The question is: can Islam really alter its image without repudiating the Qu’ranic basis of all it stands for?’

The Reverend Dr Alan C Clifford
Pastor, Norwich Reformed Church

Speaking personally, I was reminded that a stone was thrown at me when I visited a Blackburn church to speak about Islam in April 2005. One fears that the oft-stated 'clash of civilisations' will inevitably erupt with violence on British streets when expected demographic predictions reach a critical point. Irrespective of the naive incompetence of 'PC' government policies, it is the amazing and long-suffering tolerance of British people that keeps a lid on such terrible possibilities. But for how much longer?

As a Christian pastor, I pursue a mission which seeks the conversion of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Religiously and politically, I desire compassion for all and malice towards none. Whether people follow the dictates of a false religion like Islam or they prefer the decadent life-style of much modern British secularism, all need the life-transforming message of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I believe there is simply no realistic hope for the peace and stability of the UK without a revival of authentic Christianity. However problematic it is to penetrate the minds of today's white secular materialists, the Islamic threat is an altogether 'mega' problem. The relatively peaceable attitude of the Muslim majority is part of their strategy towards eventual fulfilment of the jihadic goal of global Islam. The 'militant-moderate' distinction is ultimately meaningless. While the Government bleats about 'integration', Muslims are only interested in 'domination'. Give them time and they will achieve it.

From my perspective, there is only one solution. If UK Muslims will not exchange the essentially-backward and barbaric tenets of their fanatical faith for the wonderfully soul-saving and civilising faith of Jesus Christ, they must emigrate to countries that share their outlook. For their safety's sake, I urge them to follow this advice. They must cease abusing the hospitality of our tolerant culture and, where applicable, the generosity of our social benefits. They must take their money, their mores and their mosques elsewhere. Otherwise, the consequences of the growing crisis in the UK will prove too dire for words.

Question: Is there a specifically biblical basis for demanding the migration of Muslims for their own safety? Is there any biblical authority for this line of thinking?

Reply: Next to an evangeIistic concern for all, I am primarily concerned for the peace and stability of UK society (see Jer. 29: 7), which is under threat from the presence of an alien religious and political ideology. Besides the constant threat of UK-based Islamic terrorism, two fundamentally opposed cultures cannot coexist in one state without creating intolerable friction.

The evil intent of global Islamic jihadism with its determination to impose shari'ah law on subject nations, makes it impossible long term for us to 'lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence' (1 Tim. 2: 2). While Christians under the Roman Empire were urged to submit to the Government (see Rom. 13: 1-7), Islamists intend to overthrow our UK democracy. Since Islam is at war with the West, we dare not permit them to live in our midst any more than we would have tolerated the Nazi invaders.

Thus biblical and common sense (see Acts 26: 25) dictate that, to avoid civil war, it is mutually beneficial for the Muslim population to emigrate, for their safety and ours, unless the UK is prepared for a system of apartheid with entire regions being occupied by Islamic communities. Abraham and Lot were 'brethren', yet since 'strife' demanded a 'separation' (see Gen. 13: 8-9), how much more should Muslims 'separate' themselves from a host society they have absolutely no intention of integrating with. Otherwise, it is impossible to 'live peaceably with all men' (Rom. 12: 18).

In conclusion, I refer the reader to my two publications:1. CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM & BRITISH POLITICS (a lecture given at Oxford to the Campaign for UK Conservatism Conference, 2005) 2. ISLAM - The Current Threat to the British Isles (a lecture presented in London to The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, 2006)For further information see the websites of Norwich Reformed Church (www.nrchurch.co.nr) and Charenton Reformed Publishing (www.christiancharenton.co.uk).