Thursday, October 26, 2006

Truth lost out of context

Egyptian born Taj El Din Al Hilaly, the Imam of Lakemba and the first and only Mufti leader of Australia’s 300,000 Muslims arrived in Australia from Egypt, on a three month visitor’s visa in 1982. He was sponsored into Australia by the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and has dual citizenship: Egyptian and Australian.

Hilaly is a mufti of many masks; Anti-Semite, jihad supporter and extremist, and occasional virulent critic of Australian and western society.
Most people have already heard or been insulted by the outrageous inflammatory comments of Hilali:
In the religious address on adultery to about 500 worshippers in Sydney last month, Sheik Hilali said: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?

"The uncovered meat is the problem."

The sheik then said: "If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred."

He said women were "weapons" used by "Satan" to control men.

"It is said in the state of zina (adultery), the responsibility falls 90 per cent of the time on the woman. Why? Because she possesses the weapon of enticement (igraa)."

Waleed Ali said Sheik Hilali was "normalising immoral sexual behaviour" by comparing women to meat and men to animals and entirely blaming women for being victims.
Of course the typical excuse of self justification occurs by claiming he was being taken out of context. The trouble is when one reads or hears the whole speech then the full context is available and known which does not contradict what he said. Is this the example that the mufti wants to teach Muslims on how to treat women?

Hilali is no stranger to controversy nor stranger to the old chestnut excuse of being taken out of context:
Foreign Minister Downer: ‘He [Hilaly] talks out of both sides of his mouth. When there was initially a suggestion in the media that he had called for a jihad, a spokesman for Hilaly said that his words had been taken out of context’.

Interviewer: ‘Well, that’s not true’.

Foreign Minister Downer: ‘Exactly. That did not turn out to be true. We got a copy of the speech, we translated the copy and it’s pretty obvious…that he’s been calling for jihads and suicide bombers to kill innocent Israeli men, women and children. He’s been praising September the 11th as Gods work’.

On 9 March [2004], on Al-Aribya, TV in Arabic he claimed:
‘Australia is a multicultural society, and is not the property of Howard or the foreign minister. I am an Australia citizen like him…. If he thinks Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, then I disagree with him’. Interviewed by the ABC, Sheikh Hilaly predictably and routinely claimed he was ‘taken out of context’ and claimed he was merely reading a poem. Like most poets, he did not support suicide bombings except ‘in the right circumstances… Against an army, not civilians’ a false distinction as Sheikh Hillay knows. Especially in the ‘context’ of suicide bombers and martyrdom operations conducted by Hezbollah, his favourite terrorist organization, against Israel and Western targets.
When interviewed on ABC by Geraldine Doogue in early March 2004
He responded: "Of course, you are talking about two different environments" and added that "when addressing an Arabic community I am using the high literary Arabic language".

How convenient. It's just that no other prominent Muslim in Australia appears to experience such language-induced misunderstandings.

To some, Al Hilaly's presence in Australia is an example of what is wrong with multiculturalism. Born in Egypt, he arrived in Australia on a tourist visa in 1982 from Lebanon and declined to return home. Soon he was making extremist comments which culminated in a manifestly anti-Semitic address at the University of Sydney in September 1988 where he accused Jews of trying "to control the world through sex, then sexual perversion, then the promotion of espionage, treason and economic hoarding".
The history of Hilali in Australia is not a pretty one.

Should there be a future for him?

How does he think he could justify comments and beliefs?

Is there any truth to what he claims or is it later retold out of context?

It seems he is following his usual doctrine of ex contextus.

I think a lot of Australians (even those of the Muslim persuasion) would like to tell him where he can jam his context.

Check out Dogfight for more info.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Book Review - Waging Peace on Islam

Publisher’s Description
How can caring Christians approach Islam? Relations between Islam and the West grow more polarized. At a personal level, many Christians are scared about meeting Muslims. We should start by seeing Muslims as people. "When Muslims are sceptical of our creed, confused by our message and wounded by our warfare, the most credible witness left is our lives” stresses Christine Mallouhi. “Muslims need to see Jesus, and the only way most of them will see him is in us."

About the Author
Christine A. Mallouhi is an Australian author, speaker and a Christian member of a Muslim family. She has lived in five countries in North Africa and the Middle East, and spent time with Muslims in Asia, Southeast Asia and the Arabian Gulf. Along with her husband, an Arab author, she directs an association that publishes Arabic books. The Mallouhis currently live in Tunisia and in Melbourne, Australia.
Christine Mallouhi writes from personal experience of her life and contact with many famous (some might say infamous) people and hence it is more biographical and subjective than a précis of Islam and even at a far stretch would not be classified academic. Mallouhi goes to extended lengths of reiterating the life and ministry of St Francis of Assisi. Some connections with Francis and Islam were clearly established with some pertinent messages conveyed. Although historically interesting it did seem to be more of a filler and slightly disjointed.

If you are looking for a balanced perspective between Christianity and Islam with their core beliefs explained and compared then another book may be more helpful. The basic tenets of Islam are explained basically but there is no real comparison with Christianity nor the major components of belief that are diametrically opposed. Mallouhi seems to concentrate on the similarities, the sincerities and the spirit of Muslims in their faith but fails to point out the one and only true path of salvation. Numerous times Christ is referred to as a prophet by Islam but nowhere was this challenged with the Incarnation.

From the appearances and information that the West glean of Islam through normal media exposure there are obvious discrepancies and incomplete information of truth, lies, and half-truths. Mallouhi goes to lengths to perhaps try and even out or balance the weight of blame. There are various examples throughout this book of what the Palestinians and Muslims have suffered at the hands of Israel and the West but without wishing to denigrate or invalidate their experiences Mallouhi has not provided a balanced outlook and borders on the biased approach. Mallouhi reports about her contacts with Arafat and his wife but fails to mention the known terrorist activities committed by Arafat and his followers. Mallouhi, defending her position, says “..the violence has not been one-sided and Palestinians have also perpetrated violent attacks on Jews. I have not related any of these stories because they usually made front-page news around the world and I believe this will continue to be so. I have told the Palestinians’ story because they are the oppressed whose voice is still not being heard.” Earlier she mentions an incident where some Christians were talking with Muslims and when discovered by local Police the local Muslims were told “We will tell you what you must believe and you do not need to know any more than that”. There is propaganda, pre-suppositions, personal perspectives and selective reporting on all sides influencing everyone's opinions. This book is no exception.

Mallouhi is critical of the Christian Wests’ ideological views on Islam and critical of the many verbal, written, displayed, and encouraged militaristic terminologies and expressions of warfare or battle against the scourge of Islam. Yet at the same time fails to see the irony of the militaristic connotations implied through the title of her own book.

Mallouhi correctly advises through the experiences of history that Muslims cannot be converted to Christianity by force but only through the example of following Christ in His love and His grace. “[The] militant approach causes offence to Muslims and does nothing to draw them closer to Christ.” As Francis prayed, “Almighty eternal, Just and Merciful God, grant us in our misery that we may do for your sake alone what we know you want us to do, and always want what pleases you, so that cleansed and enlightened interiorly and fired with the ardour of the Holy Spirit we may be able to follow in the footsteps of your Son and so make our way to you by your grace alone.”

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Ramp into Church


Just about everyone knows the story of Noah and the Ark. Everyone (except Noah and his family) were considered to be utterly corrupt in the eyes of God who decided to destroy them all and start over again. It must have been bad in those days and we think the world around us is bad and yet we still go on living.
(How long O Lord?)

Imagine a story comprised of 6 episodes or time periods.

Episode 1 - Mankind is corrupt. The wickedness of the world. God decides to start over again.

Episode 2 - Noah is identified as righteous and unlike the wickedness surrounding him. He becomes the hero (human hero) of the story.

Episode 3 - The building of the ark. In Noah's case a long time - that's a big ark to build. A time of construction.

Episode 4 - Once the Ark is built comes a time of gathering in of his family and all the animals to be saved from destruction. The means of salvation is ready. Clouds forming. A sense of looming anticipation and urgency as time is so short.

Episode5 - Catastrophe. The rains and the floods just keep on coming destroying everything in its wake. There is death, disaster and judgement.

Episode 6 - Floods subside to a new world and new start. A new life full of peace and contentment.

So often we tend to think that we are living in Episode 6 where everything to us is fine, peaceful and we have no problems. But what of those around us. Are we not actually living in Episode 4 where our means of salvation is already and waiting?
Are we not supposed to be gathering in as many as possible to save them from the impending destruction?
Are we not supposed to be helping as many up the ramp into safety as possible?
What is the ramp up into the Church and how do we show and help others up the ramp?

Where is our sense of urgency?

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Culturally Relevant

There is an increasing desire for churches to be relevant to society and their local community. Most pundits think this is a new concept but the Church and the majority of churches down through time have not only desired this but with it have also struggled.

On the one hand they admirably want to be true to God and His commandments and the message of the Gospel. At the same time they want to be attractive to the members of their community not attending their church. Sometimes proselytizing other churchs' members (some would call it poaching members) was the way to increase the membership roll, attendance (and income). Having a large church with thousands attending each weekend was just in itself an attraction which we see in the megachurches of today. If a church has thousands of members what are the inferences of what is actually being preached? For some churches it indicates man-made marketing ideas promoting themselves and for others it means that Christ's message of reconciliation is being heard.

What they tended to forget was that the message of the Gospel was Good News to the saved but to the unredeemed it was the worst news of all because it meant that the unsaved were doomed for eternal separation from God - or in other words the place of hell which doesn't get mentioned much these days. Why? Is it because that part is not attractive even though it is the truth? So many churches these days gloss over that part or worse still do not even mention the ultimate consequences of sin. Instead everyone wants to hear that they are going to be blessed and be prosperous.

How does the Church remain true to the message of the Gospel and be relevant to today. The Gospel itself does not need us to make it relevant to us. It remains what it is and should be told in full as it has been done for over 2000 years. When we delete, gloss over, placate, disregard, under emphasize anything of the Gospel message - then it is not the Gospel.
While we need to have a burning desire to take the Gospel to non-Christians, we also have to begin with an unwaivering commitment to the message, and a pragmatic realization that the message will not appeal to all. And we cannot compromise the message to those who will not hear it. Beyond that point we are no longer ambassadors for God, we're peddling a culturally-compromised message.
(Hat tip: Melinda - Stand to Reason)
Having and developing relationships with others is much more important than being appearing relevant. All the efforts to becoming culturally relevant tend to be facade constructions where the most pragmatic entrepeneur is the winner.

There are some great ideas of outreach and evangelism that have been used over the years - and there are equally some terrible ideas. Like come to church and win a car! Come to church - we have great music and pretty singers in the band!

There are some fantastic ministries that are made up of passionate people who work (even though they are dead tired) to serve the members of their church and their local community providing food, shelter, clothing, help and love. That is much more relevant than how many lights illuminate your church signboard.
Kindness is a potent weapon in combating spiritual darkness. Free gifts and acts of service break down barriers and build relationships; and as the barriers come down and the relationships build we should expect opportunities to befriend. As we befriend, we will on occasion find ourselves called upon to give that which has greatest value to us – our time; our schedules and ‘to do’ lists will need to be put aside as we seek to be relevant to that person’s needs. Sometimes all our spouse, our kids, our brother or sister, or our neighbour needs is a friend; and as we take the time to be that friend, God will reveal things to us that we otherwise would have missed.
It’s a fine line between gimmick and genuine, lifestyle and tool. Some cynical types will never agree that it can ever be anything more than a gimmick or marketing initiative, and while it is used and abused by people who treat it that way, such cynics will always have a case. However, I believe there is a quiet sub-culture of Christians who have been doing this stuff day in, day out, quietly loving their cities, communities, neighbourhoods and streets; they never shout loud about what they do, preferring rather to let their actions do the talking.(Hat tip: Andy - Servant Blog)
May we struggle against the influence of the world to be relevant and instead with the help of God and His sovereign will develop a servanthood relationship in living out the Gospel.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Desiring God Conference

If you are looking for a great sessional summation of the Desiring God Conference 2006 then take a link over to read what Tim is writing as he attends this conference.

This conference has notable speakers such as :



David Wells, Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, will set the stage on the theme, The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World.



Don Carson, Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, will speak on “The Supremacy of Christ and Love in a Postmodern World.”




Tim Keller, Senior Pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, will address “The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel in a Postmodern World.”




Mark Driscoll, the Lead Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, will aim at the topic “The Supremacy of Christ and the Church in a Postmodern World.”



Voddie Baucham, the founder and leader of Voddie Baucham Ministries in Texas, will tackle the theme “The Supremacy of Christ and Truth in a Postmodern World.”



John Piper will focus on “The Supremacy of Christ
and Joy in a Postmodern World.”




After the conference audio recordings will be available at the Desiring God website.