When Islam Silences Itself

Provocation and Invitation Islam silences itself, by its own choice, in the presence of Moses and Jesus. The level playing field for all ideas to be heard equally is defined by Moses, fulfilled in Jesus, but opposed by Muhammad. Yet, in an appeal to a deeper humanity, I eagerly seek for Islam to be fully heard, and to pose me their toughest questions concerning my biblical faith and its definition of political power. Provocation In A.D. 632, Abu Bakr, soon to become the first caliph in Islam, said: “Allah sent Muhammad with his religion and he strove for it until men accepted it voluntarily or by force.” The Arabic root here for “strove” is jihad. This is an original historical provocation, and virtually unrestrained for these past 1400 years. Islam is historically a one-way religion, the opposite of the level playing field. Whether you are born Muslim, convert or are coerced, even by the sword, you are not allowed to exit. Invitation But the biblical response is first asymmetrical, to give an invitation to freedom. In terms of public policy, here in the United States, it is not to ban Muslim immigration, nor to single out any religion or ethnicity, but to define the terms of our own constitutional and biblically defined liberties. Thus, a proposed Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Liberty Amendment: All citizens, visitors and other persons living in the United States, or its territories, must affirm the following: “I affirm that all persons living within the jurisdictions of the United States of America have full religious, political and economic liberty under the rule of law. “I thus affirm that all such persons are free to change their religious, political and/or economic affiliations as they see fit, free from any forms of coercion.” Muslims of goodwill affirm such an Amendment, and by definition cannot embrace jihad. For any Muslims of ill will, they will reveal themselves in opposition to such true and equal liberty. If this Amendment were to become law, and enforced across the board, the possibility of Islamic jihad within the United States will be nearly eliminated. And the United States always maintains its necessary prerogative to defend our liberties in the face of unrepentant jihad, nationally and internationally.