Several are the important lessons learned from last year’s “Brave German Woman” incident.
Context: On November 10, 2013, a Muslim imam was invited to give the Islamic call to prayer inside the Memorial Church of the Reformation in the city of Speyer, Germany—a church dedicated to honoring Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.
“When the brave German woman, whose real name is Heidi Mund, heard about the event, she prayed,” reports CBN News. Not sure what she would do upon arrival, she grabbed her German flag emblazoned with the words “Jesus Christ is Lord” and headed for the concert:
“Until the imam started with his shouting [“Allahu Akbar!”], I did not really know what to do. I was just prepared for what God wants me to do,” she told CBN News.
Then the Muslim call to prayer began, and Heidi said she felt something rising up inside her.
“I would call it a holy anger,” she recounted. “And then I rose with my flag and I was calling and proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord over Germany”…
And she repeated the words of Martin Luther in 1521 after he refused to recant his faith in scripture alone: “Here I stand. I can do no other” and “Save the church of Martin Luther!”
Video shows another concert-goer trying to calm her by saying, “This is a concert for peace.”
Mund can be heard responding in German, “No it’s not! Allahu Akbar is what Muslims scream while murdering people! Don’t be fooled! Don’t be fooled! This is a lie!”
She was thrown out of the church.
“They should have thrown the imam out and not me because I am a believer in Jesus Christ, but he serves another god. This Allah is not the same god. And this is not the truth.”
“This ‘allahu akbar,’ they use it when they kill people,” she argued. “This is, for me, worship to an idol, to their god. And when a Muslim calls ‘allahu akbar’ in a church, that means this church is not a church anymore, it’s a mosque.”
For more details on this story, check out CBN News’ various interviews and videos of and with Mund.
Now for some lessons concerning the significance of this anecdote:
Mund’s observations about the phrase “Allahu Akbar” are spot-on. Islam’s war cry, signifying the superiority of Muhammad’s religion over all things, the takbir (“Allahu Akbar”), is habitually proclaimed in violent contexts, specifically attacking and slaughtering non-Muslims, whether beheading “infidels” or bombing churches.
Muhammad himself used to cry it aloud prior to attacking non-Muslim tribes that refused to submit to his authority and religion.
Accordingly, Mund’s outrage at hearing an Islamic imam hollering out Islamic supremacist slogans is justified. Proclaimed in a church, “Allahu Akbar”—which in translation literally means “Allah isgreater [than X]”—means “Allahu is greater than the Judeo-Christian God of the Bible, and Father of Christ.”
And assuming the imam proclaimed Islam’s credo or shehada as is standard in the Muslim call to prayer (that “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger”) that too is tantamount to declaring that the biblical God is false, and the message (or Koran) delivered by Muhammad—which includes a denunciation of Christ’s divinity, death, and resurrection—is true (see for examples Koran 4:157, 4:171, 5:17, 5:116, 9:30-31, 19:35).
This is precisely what the vandal who earlier painted in Arabic the phrase “Allahu Akbar” across the door of another German church likely had in mind.
Yet despite all this, despite the fact that only two or three generations ago, almost every Christian would have been incensed to hear a Muslim shouting Islamic slogans that by nature contradict Christianity inside a church, Mund was chastised by fellow Christians for her stand and kicked out.
This speaks volumes about how far Western European nations have plummeted into a cesspool of moral relativism, where even in prominent churches Christian truths are attacked, and those who take a stand are ostracized for being “intolerant”; it speaks of the naivety and nihilism that predominate in the West; of the effects of years of brainwashing and indoctrination in the name of “multiculturalism,” crippling the ability to think rationally; of how political correctness has censored not only words but the ability for people to connect-the-dots in the quiet of their own minds.
There is, however, a flipside to all this: Mund’s video denouncing the imam “went viral,” says CBN News, signifying its appeal; and many who saw it interpreted her actions as “brave”—hence the appellation. “Bravery” often refers to an act that, while laudable, few have the courage to do. That this title is so naturally and widely applied to Mund suggests that there are many who agree with her; they just lack the same courage, or conviction, to take a vocal stand—hence why she is the “Brave German Woman.”
The fact is, beneath Western Europe’s nihilistic veneer, many there would agree with Mund’s sentiments. Not all are sheep. But due to the aforementioned forces—decades of indoctrination in militant secularism/atheism, multiculturalism, Christian-bashing, and political correctness—they are unable to articulate their grievance.
Yet, whether they are able to express it or not, they remain disgruntled at Muslim affronts and weak responses from European elites.
After all, Muslims hollering Islamic slogans inside European churches is not quite an infrequent phenomenon. Last Christmas, the Chaplain of Royal Holloway University invited a veiled Muslim woman to read Koran verses during church service, again, despite the fact that the Koran contradicts the key tenets of Christianity.
Sometimes Muslims “invite” themselves to churches. Thus, days ago, also in the UK, a Muslim man—“dressed like a terrorist” and wearing a bandana with the Arabic phrase, “Allahu Akbar”—entered a church during service and started yelling things like “this is rubbish, you should be preaching Allah, turn to Islam, we send boys of 10 to war.”
And last Easter in France saw a Muslim man dressed in traditional Islamic attire enter a church during mass, set up his carpet next to the altar and start reading the Koran.
This is to say nothing of the violent crimes and rapes Muslims are increasingly responsible for in Europe.
The point is, more and more Western Europeans are becoming disgruntled, even if most are not yet “brave” enough to show it, and even if the powers-that-be, including media and government, continue to downplay and suppress them.
Days ago, for example, Britain’s Liberty GB party leader Paul Weston was arrested and is facing up to two-years’ jail time simply for quoting Winston Churchill’s unflattering observations about Islam in public.
In short, time will tell whether the powers-that-be will allow legitimate criticism of Islam to vent in Europe, or whether they will continue to suppress it—until the simmering cauldron of discontent spills over in ways much more dramatic than quoting Luther or Churchill, as has happened all too often in European history.
Raymond speaks about the “Brave German Woman” incident with CBN News:
citycat says
I’d say the simmering cauldron of discontent, by the looks of things.
CogitoErgoSum says
Here is a link to an article at the Gates of Vienna website concerning some of Martin Luther’s thoughts on Islam. Would the Lutherans kick even Martin Luther out of church if he dared express such ideas in the pulpit today? Apparently the English would jail Winston Churchill…….so why shouldn’t the Germans do something similar with Martin Luther. What a world we live in!
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2007/02/martin-luther-on-jihad.html
Jay Boo says
When Muslims pull THESE STUNTS some dhimmi appeasers are cowed.
But take heart because Islam also comes out into the open and reveals the shameful face of its false prophet’s willful disgrace.
voegelinian says
Unfortunately, Martin Luther thought that the Pope and his supporters were worse than the Muslims (“Turks”). While the Muslims kill the body, and must be opposed on a civil level, Luther agreed, the Pope and his supporters are capable of damning the soul for eternity through their supposedly false Christian teachings.
Were Martin Luther alive today, and were there an actual Anti-Islam Movement up and running, I would recommend he be relegated to the back room by the Xerox copier as the Movement’s Man Friday, to get coffee for others, use the Movement van for runs to the Office Max to pick up supplies, light filing and phone work, etc.
gravenimage says
This is true. As a medieval German, though, Martin Luther had no direct experience with Mohammedans—he might have reassessed things a bit had he lived in Spain, Sicily, Greece, or the Balkans.
Jay Boo says
This is just another typical fork-tongued Muslim shamelessly probing for weakness while calling out Allahu Akbar and feigning good will.
The lock-step boot-lick (COEXIST theology) appeasers lurched into action to attempt to stop this woman from proclaiming “Jesus is Lord”
Islam is so RUDE
Muhammad had no honor or class.
Muslims follow his example.
Kepha says
The MacManusites (to use the name of a cleric who has come in for justly earned abuse in these pages) are of the mind that they are the big, broad-minded liberals governed by enlightened reason who must keep the barbarians at bay. By “barbarians”, they mean their compatriots and co-religionists who don’t see things their way. The people who threw Heidi Mund out of that church in Speyer are thorough MacManusites.
Jay Boo says
Interesting neologism ‘MacManusites’
Whatever they are they grovel for approval because they typically view their faith in political terms, thus they have no foundation.
Joseph says
With respect, the problem I have with this is that Robert McManus is only a bishop. Someone with far greater authority in the Church has said things just as bad or worse than what Bishop McManus has said.
The Pope himself [Francis] has officially declared: “Authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.”
(Evangelii Gaudium #253)
In the very same paragraph of this Apostolic Exhortation, [Pope] Francis then chides the faithful: “…our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us to avoid hateful generalizations…” (EG #253).
By these two astounding statements, Pope Francis demonstrates a profound ignorance of the true nature of Islam.
And he is the HEAD of the Church[?]
So, yes, of course, Bishop McManus was wrong to quash discussion of the more violent aspects of Islam. He was equally wrong [and rude] to cancel Robert Spencer’s speaking engagement. And in doing so he acted like a true dhimmi. I get it and I could not agree more.
But let us not stop with criticism of a Colonel when the General himself is as much or more a part of the problem.
Perhaps a more apt moniker would be “Franciscans”. Oops, already taken. I dunno, “Francisites”? “Francists”?
My point is that THIS is the discussion we need to be having within the Church: What precisely IS the Church’s official teaching on the nature of Islam? Because from all the information I can gather, I am beginning to agree with many Evangelicals, like Walid Shoebat, that Islam is none other than the very spirit of Anti-Christ spoken of in 1John 2.
So how does the ostensible “Vicar of Christ on Earth” get it so patently wrong??
MH says
I googled “Christian sermon delivered in mosque” (and variations and came up with nothing.
gravenimage says
“Brave German woman” indeed. Brava Heidi Mund!
From the article:
Video shows another concert-goer trying to calm her by saying, “This is a concert for peace.”
Mund can be heard responding in German, “No it’s not! Allahu Akbar is what Muslims scream while murdering people! Don’t be fooled! Don’t be fooled! This is a lie!”
…………………………….
Heidi Mund is a truth teller—this is *exactly* what screaming “Allahu Akbar!” means—it is is a cry of violent Muslim supremacy—and it should never be uttered in any church.
More:
And she repeated the words of Martin Luther in 1521 after he refused to recant his faith in scripture alone: “Here I stand. I can do no other”
…………………………….
This is how we should *all* stand against Islam, whether we be Christians or otherwise.
A small aside, but a nice bit of unintended symbolism: the brave German woman’s surname is “Mund”, which translates as “world”.
Semeru says
A small aside, but a nice bit of unintended symbolism: the brave German woman’s surname is “Mund”, which translates as “world”.
Mund translates as Mouth
Welt translates as World
St. Michael Defend Us says
Maybe it is akin to “monde” (world) in french?
gravenimage says
Well, Semeru is right—I am in error in this case, and rather embarrassingly so.
Notice, though, as usual, that he has no other function here than to sneer and troll for mistakes, no matter how small.
And why not? As a Muslim apologist, there are few other tacks that he can take short of overt advocacy for Islamic supremacy.
del says
Herz und mund und tat und leben
Brian Hoff says
Well in our mosque it we have than guest christian minister than a muslim behavor like that lady he or she will be ask to leave the mosque quietly.
St. Michael Defend Us says
HAVE you ever ACTUALLY had a Christian preach in your mosque?
Brian Hoff says
Not preaching but running to political office. At most mosque you donot talk when the Iman is talking on firday or other time he is talking, unless than emergry like there is than fire of than person needed medical then it is allow.
Jay Boo says
“Jesus Christ is Lord”
St. Michael Defend Us says
So, as YOU say, NO Christian has been allowed to preach in your mosque. You allowed in a Christian because he was a supplicant for the favors of the mosque attendees- he was seeking their votes.
So, conjecturing about how your congregation WOULD respond IF a Christian WERE allowed to preach, is pointless and deceiving.
gravenimage says
“Brian Hoff’ wrote:
Not preaching but running to (sic) political office.
……………………………..
in other words, a totally different situation—this Christian minister wasn’t at the Mosque spreading the word of Christ, but just appeasing Muslims and offering them political perks.
Was this even a Christian minister at all, or just a nominal Christian? I doubt that “DefenderofIslam” would know the difference.
Bradamante says
I truly don’t understand what you’re doing with the word ‘than’ in that sentence. Is it just being thrown in as a kind of space-filler?
PRCS says
Something told me she might be the same woman as in the link below, and at 5:20, I knew she was.
RodSerling says
This woman is fantastic. Shame on the interfaith tools for kicking her out.
Salah says
One brave American Woman: Ann Barnhardt
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2014/01/ann-barnhardt-islamic-sexuality.html
Jay Boo says
Let the COEXIST moral relativism preachers go to a mosque in someplace like Iran
and proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord”
Martin says
I propose that people nail a “95 Theses” critiquing Islam on its ethical, historical and literary errors, on the doors of mosques.
pongidae rex says
1914: The Divine right of Kings to wage war of ‘honor’.
1938: The Divine right of Dictators to wage war of absolute political power.
2014: The Divine Right of Muslims to wage war against European society and culture that harbors, supports and protects them.
Europe is on yet-another Death March. The Third one in a century. These people are self-hating fools.
Jay Boo says
ISLAM’S TAINT
The Muslim imam did not come in peace when he stepped up to preach.
His purpose of saying “Allahu Akbar!” in the name of Islam was to EXCRETE.
Jay Boo says
Muslims Bark at the Moon
Desert spirits spoke in twisted verse, a dance of words to recite, to recite.
Medina’s false prophet this rehearsed in a cave near Mecca veiled by night.
But the angel Gabriel saw his descent, and said “Pawn of Satan turn, repent, repent.”
But, sharia’s verse planted its infected creed fertilized by this false prophet’s made-up dream.
A vain attempt to partner with God almighty was dredged up from the lowest pit of his vanity.
Bloodied hands are now washed before prayers that incite
as hate speech is masked as devotion to recite, to recite.