Fwd: PUBLIC STATEMENT BY DR ALAN C. CLIFFORD
From: Alan Clifford ([email protected])
Sent: 30 October 2008 09:05:34
To: D.A. Fox ([email protected])
For your information and prayers. Best wishes, Alan C.
Sir, In view of the baseless abuse directed at me on certain Islamic websites, I wish to make the following points very clear:
1. I am not a priest.
2. I am not a Zionist.
3. I am not a member of the BNP.
4. While it is clear that my various writings on Islam are critical of the religion, it is totally false that I hate Muslims. Even postings on the websites in question deny any 'hate' element in my statements.
Last, being averse to the false tolerance demanded by today's 'political correctness', I am fully prepared for strong reactions to my criticisms of Islam. While I have the greatest respect for Dr Patrick Sookhdeo's scholarly and philanthropic contributions, I do not share his seeming refusal openly to challenge the falsehood at the root of Islam. Besides showing love to individual Muslims, I believe it is necessary to expose 'false prophets' (see Matt. 7: 15), including Muhammad and his ilk. Also, I believe it is naive to hope that Muslims will 'reform Islam, annul the Islamic apostasy law and condemn the persecution of Christians and converts from Islam' (Barnabas Aid, November-December, 2008, pull-out supplement). These cruel demands, being basic to the religion itself, can only be ended by a wholesale rejection of Islam. To promote such a rejection, it is necessary to demonstrate the superiority - at every level - of authentic biblical Christianity. I believe this task, however unpopular it is regarded, is one of the fundamental duties of our contemporary witness to our Lord Jesus Christ and His way of salvation. Anything less than this is a betrayal of all that is truly Christian.
Yours faithfully,
The Revd Dr Alan C. Clifford
Pastor, Norwich Reformed Church