I have never been happy about a mans' demise. If he were an enemy; if he opposed me or has wronged me, no joy is presented before me when such a person dies. However one instance has been significantly closer to 'joy' than I should ever admit. Though I do feel guilty for this, I almost feel as though it was a justified feeling.
Throughout his evil reign, Osama Bin Laden bore the field jacket of a (likely fallen) United States solider as he made statements such as "It is the duty of every member of Islam to kill Americans." His lips often gently curled into a smile as he spoke of the murder of Americans. Yes, I can definitively say that this man was brought to justice - even by the standard of his own Qur'an.
I believe I can spare most, if not all readers, a chronicle of Bin Laden's evils. (Google: 9/11) After September 11th, 2001, the Islamic Qur'an was brought under great scrutiny. While initially justified, I do believe that I would stand in hypocrisy if I approached this book with a negative outlook (as I accused those who call the Bible 'evil' of doing).
I do not believe that the Qur'an is an evil book, nor do I believe that Islam is an evil religion. (Know that I am not saying this out of fear of persecuting Muslims. If anything, I am tired of the over-sensitivity. I am speaking with complete honesty and objectivity.)
However, the Islamic faith teaches salvation by works. (Which, honestly, strikes me as ironic considering that Allah is regarded as a God of grace and forgiveness.) The verses below are absolutely indicative of this.
"Then those whose balance (of good deeds) is heavy, they will be successful. But those whose balance is light, will be those who have lost their souls; in hell will they abide," (23:102-103).
"And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul is wronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it. And We suffice for reckoners," (21:47).
"They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, give them any weight," (Qur'an, 18:105).
It seems that the radical Muslims will couple worked-based salvation with other verses, such as:
"Fight and slay all of the infidels." Surah 9:5
"So when the sacred months have passed away, then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and keep them under observation, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.
I am not a Muslim radical, but the very existence of such a person indicates to me that they believe killing an infidel is a 'heavy deed'. However, the terrible mistake that they have made is taking a contextual and situational command and applying to the modern day and thereby forming their evil agenda. (Source)
History has proven that radical groups can be formed through a few misinterpreted texts and a motivational speaker. (Bin Laden misinterpreted the Qur'an, Hitler misinterpreted the teachings of Charles Darwin.) Salvation by works has made it incredibly easy for leaders to motivate their people. Hey, you get a spot in heaven if you murder this non-believer!
Salvation by works is not something that the Bible has indicated, however, ironically, it is something that Catholicism teaches. A motivational speaker could just as easily take Mark 9, Lev 20, Joshua 6, out of context. Who is to say what Pastor Terry Jones is going to tell his church? Who is to say what any preacher will teach their followers?
Anger or hatred can corrupt any man. The most righteous of men can commit an act of evil. Salvation by works can easily transform into a radical movement. The Bible, in fact, condemns such a teaching. Romans 4:5 is just one of many examples: But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God. The central doctrine of the Bible is that Jesus Christ paid the debt of our sin. It makes absolutely no sense, and is an insult to His sacrifice, that we continue to try to pay it.
Just days ago, I was preaching that Catholicism is just as valid as Christianity. But after doing research of the Catholic teachings, I say this: I would prefer that a man be atheist than anything that teaches salvation by works. Salvation by works is a tactic of the enemy.
We need to read the Bible for ourselves. Our lives need to be as reflective as the life of Jesus Christ as we can possibly make it. We need to aim for His holy standard, but still have the humility to know that we will never reach it, for no man can match the glory of God.(Romans 3:23)
Righteous works are the fruits of salvation, not the cause.
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