ISLAM: WESLEY'S WORLD WARNING
Dear Friends,
As the third anniversary of '9/11' approaches, I am concerned to re-issue my statement WESLEY ON ISLAM. In the aftermath of the Beslan atrocity, I believe this message is more relevant now than it was three years ago.
The Methodist
leader John Wesley (1703-91) was mightily used of God during the Evangelical
Revival of the 18th century. His tercentenary was celebrated last year. Together
with his brother Charles Wesley, George Whitefield and others, John Wesley was
instrumental in rescuing the UK from the kind of influences which produced the
violent and atheistic revolution in France in 1789.
The social and political reforms of the 19th century - including the abolition
of slavery - would have been inconceivable without this great Christian revival.
For further information see J. Wesley Bready's 'England Before and After Wesley'
(1938). That the American Revolution did not take the atheistic course of the
French Revolution is chiefly due to the same powerful evangelical and social
influences of the period. On both sides of the Atlantic, the preaching of the
Gospel of Christ had an enlightening and transforming impact upon society.
Faced with the threat of Islam, the world needs the same divine deliverance enjoyed by the 'free world' three hundred years ago. Without it, the future is bleak. An astute student of history and observer of events, John Wesley saw the significance of Islam in his day. Before he is forgotten for another century, his remarks are worthy of our consideration again. If you share my concerns, please forward this message to your friends.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. May God bless you!
Yours faithfully in
Christ,
Dr Alan C. Clifford
WESLEY ON ISLAM
The challenge and comfort of Christianity
Throughout his long and effective ministry, John Wesley (1703-91) frequently lamented the damaging impact of nominal Christianity. Truthless, faithless, loveless and lifeless Christians provide the best excuse for others to reject the claims of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What Paul said of the Jews has often sadly been true of Christians: 'The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you' (Romans 2: 24). How often have modern Muslims taunted so-called 'western Christians' for the moral decadence of their affluent and immoral lifestyle! This is not a new or exclusively Muslim criticism either. Regarding the corruption of the early Eastern Church just before the 7th century rise of Islam, John Wesley remarked that 'Surely Mahometanism was let loose to reform the Christians!' (Journal for 5 August 1754). If God permitted the rise of Islam to bring judgement on corrupt Christian civilization, the current Muslim menace may be viewed in the same way.
Of course, secular prosperity tends to encourage the cancer of religious nominalism and indifference. Christ's parable of the Rich Fool says it all (see Luke 12: 13-21). Affluence easily robs believers of spiritual sincerity and vitality, and even morality. But what has been true of Jews and Christians, is also true of Muslims. They too have been seduced and 'softened' by the material comforts available in the West and can be just as charming and cultured - and corrupt - as some nominal Christians. They often distance themselves from the past and present violence of Islam in the same breath as reminding Christians of their equally-violent and crusading past.
However, there is a
problem. While the Bible condemns the selfish materialism and persecuting
outbursts of Christians (chiefly Roman Catholics but sometimes Protestants too),
the Qur'an [Koran] urges physical violence in the name of Allah and the spread
of Islam. While western Muslims seem to pose little physical threat to their
non-Muslim neighbours, they are not consistent with the profile of a good Muslim
according to the Qur'an. The terrible truth is that what happened in the USA on
September 11, 2001 is fully consistent with Qur'anic teaching.
Thus, the nominally Christian West faces two challenges. First, the spiritual
and moral debilitation of its own decadent and hypocritical Christianity
(creating a void which many uninformed and cynical westerners fill with Islam);
and second, the full and frightful consequences of Islamic revival and progress.
Despite the disclaimers of many so-called 'moderate' Muslims following the
horror of September 11, John Wesley would remind us today of the true character
of Islam. We ignore his words at our peril:
Ever since the religion of Islam appeared in the world, the espousers of it...have been as wolves and tigers to all other nations, rending and tearing all that fell into their merciless paws, and grinding them with their iron teeth; that numberless cities are raised from the foundation, and only their name remaining; that many countries, which were once as the garden of God, are now a desolate wilderness; and that so many once numerous and powerful nations are vanished from the earth! Such was, and is at this day, the rage, the fury, the revenge, of these destroyers of human kind.
The Doctrine of Original Sin, Works (1841), ix. 205.
How far and wide has this miserable delusion spread over the face of the earth! Insomuch that [Muslims] are considerably more in number (as six to five) than Christians. And by all accounts, ... these are also, in general, as utter strangers to all true religion as their four-footed brethren; as void of mercy as lions and tigers; as much given up to brutal lusts as bulls or goats: so that they are in truth a disgrace to human nature.
The General Spread of the Gospel, Works, vi. 261.
These facts dictate that the Islamic religion should be fearlessly and fervently opposed. John Wesley's brother Charles even composed a hymn on the subject. Perhaps not one of his best, and long since deleted from Methodist hymn books, a strong case may be made for its revival. Its 'non pc' poetry is refreshingly direct and timelessly true:
For the Mahometans
Sun of unclouded righteousness, With healing in thy wings arise, A sad benighted world to bless, Which now in sin and error lies, Wrapt in Egyptian night profound; With chains of hellish darkness bound.
2 The smoke of the infernal cave, Which half the Christian world o'er-spread, Disperse, thou heavenly Light, and save The souls by that Imposter led, That Arab thief, as Satan bold, Who quite destroy'd thy Asian fold.
3 O might the blood of sprinkling cry For those who spurn the sprinkled blood! Assert thy glorious Deity, Stretch out thine arm, thou triune God! The Unitarian fiend expel, And chase his doctrine back to hell.
4 Come, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Thou Three in One, and One in Three! Resume thy own, for ages lost, Finish the dire apostasy; Thy universal claim maintain, And Lord of the creation reign!
Charles Wesley
from Hymns for the People called Methodists (1874), 443
Having recently celebrated the tercentenary of John Wesley's birth, we may well surmise what he would say about the events of September 11, 2001: "I told you so!" Doubtless he would add that unless the spineless and spiritless West truly turns to Christ with head and heart, lip and life, talk and walk, then what has happened elsewhere in the past will happen to us in the 21st century. May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy upon us!
Of course, a greater judgement than Islam could ever inflict on the world is coming. We await the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who will judge the world in righteousness. Then Muslims, merely nominal Christians and others who have rejected Christ as God, Lord and Saviour will tremble in dread and despair. Still, in this eleventh hour and fifty-ninth minute, mercy is available for everyone - including penitent Muslims, as John Wesley eloquently reminds us:
He willeth not that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; by repentance, to
faith in a bleeding Lord; by faith, to spotless love, to the full image of God
renewed in the heart, and producing all holiness of conversation. Can you doubt
this, when you remember, the Judge of all is likewise the Saviour of all? Hath
he not bought you with his own blood, that ye might not perish, but have
everlasting life? O make proof of his mercy, rather than his justice; of his
love, rather than the thunder of his power!
He is not far from every one of us; and he is now come, not to condemn, but to
save the world. He standeth in the midst! Sinner, doth he not now, even now,
knock at the door of thy heart? O that thou mayest know, at least in this thy
day, the things that belong unto thy peace! O that ye may now give yourselves to
Him who gave himself for you, in humble faith, in holy, active, patient love! So
shall ye rejoice with exceeding joy in his day, when he cometh in the clouds of
heaven.
The Great Assize, Works, v. 173.
Dr Alan C. Clifford
Pastor, Norwich Reformed Church
ISLAM DEBATE
Dr Clifford's Answers to Questions from Gerhard Wilts of the Nederlands Dagblad
1. Do you think this debate will be helpful to reach Muslims?
Did not the Lord Jesus Christ teach us to Beware of false prophets (Matthew 7: 15) as well as declaring the message of Gods love (John 3: 16)? And is Muhammad not one of the worst false prophets of all time? This being so, warning and invitation must both be part of our evangelistic strategy in reaching Muslims. This being Gods truth, it must be helpful, unless we think we are wiser than God! All I have done is to tell it as it is, chiefly for the benefit of those who are ignorant of the true character of Islam. In seeking to reach Muslims for Christ, this can only be on the basis of truth not ignorance, real love and not peace-at-any-price sentimentality. For Muslims to become Christians, repentance is as necessary for them as for everyone else. They have to repent (Gk metanoia = to think again) of Muhammads teaching and ethos when they embrace the message of the Gospel.
2. Some people say: Dr Clifford should shut his mouth, because it causes more tension. Do you agree with it?
No, I do not agree I should shut my mouth. This is a strange attitude in a culture which claims to welcome freedom of speech. People who reject what Ive said seem only interested in free speech when opinions conform to their own prejudices! This betrays either hostility to the Gospel or cowardice in proclaiming it. Tension already exists because truth about Islam is being suppressed by the prophets of political correctness. We have been too silent for too long. Tolerance has a limit. Judging by all the e-mails I have received, there is an easing of tension among those who feel that their just concerns about Islam have been ignored. Had Luther and Calvin shut their mouths about the evils of the Church of Rome there would have been no Reformation - with all the consequent blessings of a free society (which we are fast losing). Since they viewed Rome and Islam as great evils, the reformers would be very vocal in our day. To be Reformed is not to be silent, saying Peace, peace! when there is no peace (Jeremiah 6: 14).
3. How can people believe that you love them, while at the same time you criticise their deepest feelings and condemn their faith? Is it necessary to use such strong statements?
Is it love to leave people in their soul-damning ignorance? Is it not love to tell them that Christ rather than Muhammad is the only way of salvation? What are these deep feelings and what is the character of this militant faith which demands such respect? Those who are wedded to the hateful rhetoric of the Quran and the Hadith are not entitled to respect if their loveless faith dismisses the rest of us as infidels to be punished with Jihad. Indeed, their religion deserves much stronger statements than I have used.
4. Don't you think there is a difference between political Islamists and moderate Muslims? Does it make sense to you?
Yes, there is a difference. Indeed, if more liberal Muslims are open to the Christian message, a more moderate approach is acceptable. But more zealous Muslims must be met with a more zealous and uncompromising Christianity. Such are becoming more vocal in the West. However, the chief problem is that until moderate Muslims openly reject and repudiate the violence of the Quran, we cannot be sure that at some stage even moderates might not become terrorists. If a seemingly moderate Muslim accepts the Quran without question, then he is not really moderate at all. A smiling tiger is still a tiger!
5. Yesterday I spoke to a Christian from Bangladesh, a Muslim nation. He said that Christians must reach out with love to Muslims. He choose to talk with his Muslim neighbour starting with Abraham and Jesus (Isa) in the Quran. That will be an eye-opener for Muslims and more respectful to their religious feelings. What is your opinion?
Yes, I recognise that many Muslims might be ignorant of these links between the Quran and the Bible just as many Jewish people are unfamiliar with the Old Testament. Such people might well be open to a more gentle way of instruction. A point will come however when the superior claims of the Bible will demand a renunciation of the violence and superstition of the Quran. Reaching out in love cannot evade such questions. If it does, then the Christian you spoke to is not acting out of true Christian love. See my first answer on this point.
6. The amount of anti-Islamic e-mails to NNREC is increasing. Do you have any responsibility for that?
Quite possibly. But I do not apologise for that, neither am I ashamed of anything I have said. I cannot apologise for the true message of Christ. If non-Christians use my protest to further their own anti-Islamic agenda, I am not responsible for that. Every non-Christian e-mail I have received has received a Christian reply from me.
7. You get a lot of support from everywhere. What is the common sound of that support?
Yes, the national and international response has been truly amazing. I can hardly keep up with it. It has all been positive, with no exception. The common ground has been a sense of relief and gratitude that I have had the courage to speak out against Islam. They thank me and promise to pray for me. Many encourage me never to back down. Even the non-Christians including Jewish people assure me of their support and appreciation. The Christians are thankful that I am not afraid to say what all cowardly Christian leaders should be saying but are not.
8. How is reformed church life in Norwich? Are you scared, threatened or so what?
Our own congregation and other friends are very supportive, which is most encouraging. Up until now, I have received no threats from anyone. Local Norwich clergy have so far said nothing. Of course, this might change so I am not complacent about the situation. That said, I enjoy the peace of God and am loosing no sleep! The prayers of many across the world are being answered in this respect. So, the witness continues. My prayer is that, in the light of the Islamic dimension to all the terrorism taking place, many will be woken up by my protest to open their Bibles and discover the way of salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ. This being my concern, I have no other agenda but His! So, consistent with my love and concern for all humanity, I continue to oppose Islam. The only antidote to this evil religion and its barbaric ethos is the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dr Alan C. Clifford
Norwich Reformed Church
4 September 2004