[This article was written by an unknown author in months following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. It is instructive in terms of how Christians should relate to Muslims in times of crisis like this. Editor].

As Islam has captured world attention since September 11, 2001, it is imperative that Christians understand the Islamic roots for such atrocities. They claim that these terrorists are not true Muslims and only represent a minority of extreme fundamentalists. It seems that this message, expressed in the media, is winning the sympathy of many Americans.

Indeed, all Muslims are not terrorists nor do all support violence in the name of Allah. However, many Muslims are not aware of the political agenda of their Muslim leaders who base their views on the Quran, Hadith and Shari’a. It has been observed that many Muslim leaders in the public media have condemned Bin Laden and his terrorist acts. Yet in their speeches in mosques they have condoned the attack on America and have seen it as a victory for Islam.

As a coalition of concerned Christians who work among Muslims, we feel the responsibility to respond in a way that communicates God's love without compromising the truth. These are some of the ways we need to respond:

1. Self-evaluation and Repentance: Whenever we face calamity the Bible instructs us to humble ourselves, repent from our own sins and turn to God (2 Chronicles 7:14.).

2. Compassion and Love: When Jesus saw the crowds in Matthew 9:35-38 he did not condemn them as evil. He had compassion on them because they were "lost and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." We certainly must show compassion toward the many Muslims who live in our neighborhoods and who face hardships in these difficult days. Many of them sincerely think that their religion is peaceful. We need to extend hospitality and care to our Muslim neighbors. No innocent Muslims should be blamed for the atrocities of Muslim terrorists.

2. Truth in Love: Our love for Muslims is not complete unless we share the truth with them. To claim that there is no connection between violence and Islam is to deny history, Islamic law and the teachings of the Quran. Many Muslims are not aware of the numerous verses in the Quran and many Hadith narratives which not only encourage but demand that Muslims kill, torture, and harass Christians and Jews.

4. Islamic Platform: Muslim activists have been given a platform as high as the White House, as broad as the media, and as deep as many evangelical churches. We urge all leaders in churches and Christian institutions not to give Muslims a platform in their churches or classrooms. If you need a speaker there are many competent scholars of Islam among the thousands of missionaries and Christian workers. Giving Muslims a platform among the Christians is endorsing their religion and giving church members the wrong message about Islam.

With these points in mind let us now examine some of the issues under discussion.

Islamic Concept of Peace: Muslims want us to believe that Islam is a peaceful religion. They base their claim on the Arabic meaning of "Islam." The word for peace in Arabic is Salaam, not Islam. Islam literally means "to surrender." Those who faced Muslim invaders were given two choices "surrender or die."

Those who chose to surrender were given the choice of converting to Islam or paying the Jizya which was a protection tax extracted from those who consened to live in submission to Islamic rule. These belonged to the "House of Peace" (Dar-us-Salaam).

All others belonged to the "House of War" (Dar-ul-Harb). America and all western countries are in the "House of War" until they are fully under the control of Islam.

Islamic concept of Jihad: Muslim leaders are quick to explain that Jihad does not mean "Holy War." They stress that the word refers to striving for the cause of Allah by study and personal devotion. This may well be true if only the literal meaning of the word in Arabic is considered.

However, Muhammad's exhortation to do Jihad is almost always in the context of fighting the infidels, namely Christians, Jews and pagans, by both military and non-military means. Non-military means of Jihad against non-Muslims include harassment, harsh treatment, extracting protection tax, and compelling non-Muslims to convert to Islam. If all this pressure does not bring them to submission, then death is their destiny.

Further, Muhammad elevated the value for Jihad above everything else except belief in Allah. He taught that Jihad receives the highest reward and is the surest way to gain access to paradise if the "fighter" dies. Survivors are rewarded with material booty collected from their defeated foes. Islamic tradition records Muhammad saying that he desired to return to life again and again just to do Jihad for the cause of Allah (Hadith Bukhari 1:35 & 4:386).

Islam as more than a religion: Whether Muslims are aware of it or not, Islam is not primarily a religion. By their own teaching deen, (religion) is only one aspect of Islam which refers to the ritualistic practices. Other aspects of Islam are Iman (beliefs,) Shari'a (Islamic law) and Umma (the worldwide community.) These four divisions of Islam are fully intertwined.

In other words, the Islamic universal community is a political power that dominates by the exercise of Islamic law that is derived from and founded upon its beliefs. The religious rituals are the external expression of this system that both identifies those who practice them as Muslims and ties them together as a homogenous people regardless of their geographic or racial diversity. This makes Islam a socio-cultural and religio-economic political system. This is where the danger to non-Muslims lies.

Islam's Global Agenda: Muhammad taught his followers that all religions before him, including Judaism and Christianity, were good in their time. Islam, however, is the final and universal religion. Where Islam is dominant, no other religion is tolerated unless it agrees to submit to Islamic rule. This mindset permeates the mind and heart of Muslims. In fact, people and nations who refuse Islam are considered infidels, enemies of Islam. They belong to the "House of War."

Muslim clergy and laymen alike are commanded to engage in Daawa (calling people to Islam) which ultimately aims at establishing a universal political system under Islamic law. Throughout history this command has been carried out time and time again beginning with Muhammad himself who subdued all rival Arab tribes. In the first century following Muhammad's death, his followers stretched the power of Islam far and wide, reaching even India and China.

Today, fifty-six nations have a majority population of Muslims. They all belong to a worldwide alliance of Muslim states. Their major concerns are the consolidation of Islamic power in these nations and global expansion of Islam. Muslim leaders over the last few decades have openly spoken of their goal to spread Islam in the west until Islam becomes the dominant power. It is not surprising that Muslims are politically active on every level, nationally and locally.

Among the most powerful means of expansion have been the large endowments by Arab countries to American universities including prominent institutions such as Harvard University. Not infrequently, American politicians have innocently accepted huge monetary "gifts" to promote Islamic causes. Although we must never deny any religion freedom of expression, we need to beware of political activism that aims at destroying the very freedoms that bring them to power.

Persecution of Christians: It is well-documented that Muslim countries have had a very bad record in regard to violations of human rights. Wherever Islamic law is in effect, we find that many Christians are harassed, persecuted and even killed. From Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States, to Egypt and Sudan in North Africa, to Pakistan and Afghanistan, many Muslim countries have created and enforced intolerable conditions for Christians. Converts from Islam have faced even harsher treatment including torture and death.

Muslims typically are not aware of these facts. It is fair to state that not all Muslims have discovered the political dimensions of Islam. It is significant to note here that not one Muslim nation has been able to hold onto a democratic style government. Democracy and Islam are unable to coexist. Many governments such as Turkey and Egypt have been trying to establish themselves as democratic nations.

They are faced with strong opposition by the fundamental Muslim organizations. Some Muslims in defense of their actions refer to the Crusades and other atrocities committed in the name of Christ. What needs to be noted here is that when Christians commit violent acts they do so against the teachings of the Bible. But for Muslims it is part of their religious mandate.

God Loves Muslims: As Christians we believe that God loves sinners though He hates their sins. We too must distinguish between Muslims as people and Islam as a religion. God is love and has clearly manifested his love for us and for all people of the world including Muslims by sending Jesus to save the world from the grip of darkness. During these difficult days, let us reach out to our Muslim neighbors and friends with the love of Christ.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies. Many of them may be struggling with insecurity and mistreatment by nominal Christians. We need to affirm them that we do not hate them and that we understand that they are not personally responsible. However, no love is complete without sharing the truth that Jesus wants to give them a new life.

Call to Action: It is unfortunate that evangelical Christians have been almost totally silent. It is critical that Islamic teachings be known. This will serve both as a warning against what might happen if Islam wins its public relations campaign, and as a challenge for the church to step up to her responsibility to bring the gospel to the millions of Muslims in North America and the one billion world-wide.

We cannot continue to sit on the sidelines while Muslims gain access to our churches and our government as they promote an anti-American stance. Muslims have been thriving in our free democratic system. Yet in their countries they suppress Christian work and deny Christians the right of expression and assembly.

The recent attack on America is a wakeup call for the Church. Christians must wake up to this opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ toward Muslims who need to hear the message of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world.