The 223rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) kicks off this week (June 16-23). It promises to be an orgy of progressive delights — from bashing America’s immigration policies to demonizing fossil fuels to trashing Israel while apotheosizing Palestine to global warming warnings to the horrors of white privilege to the blessings of intersexuality to the condemnation of hate speech in all its forms. What Christian in his/her right mind would want to miss such a momentous event? Surely in all this, the biblical message that Jesus Christ came to save sinners will receive some passing mention….
One of the overtures of special interest to me has been proposed by the Presbytery of Carlisle (Item 07-01 on the GA docket). Entitled “On America’s Interfaith Context and the Church’s Challenge,” this overture contains seven recommendations for action. Six of them are the kind of vapid directives one might expect from a moralistic, progressive bureaucracy, and offer nothing that other mainline denominations have not also chattered about.
The seventh , however — directive number two in order –breaks new ground and would launch the PCUSA boldly into new territory with regard to interfaith activity. It reads:
Condemn all religiously inspired and motivated violence, prejudice, discrimination and hate speech, and in particular anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim behaviors and language.
This sounds very PC on the surface, but in fact would mandate that the PCUSA would have to condemn Islam as a religion and its “holy book,” the Qur’an.
Since 9/11/2001, there have been over 33,000 deadly attacks around the world carried out by Muslims in the name of Islam. No other religion approaches even one percent of this figure over the same period. The bromides bandied about that the perpetrators are not really Muslims or that they have wrongly interpreted their religion beg the question: Why have so many gotten their religion so wrong, if indeed they have? Why is the religious violence we see around the world overwhelmingly associated with Islam? Surely if this PCUSA overture passes, the denomination will quickly issue an official condemnation of Islam’s “religiously inspired and motivated violence” as seen over the last two decades (not to mention its bloody history over the last 1400 years). I will wait with bated breath….
Religiously inspired and motivated…prejudice will also be in the crosshairs of the PCUSA. So the common references to Jews as “descendants of apes and pigs” which echo through mosques around the world every Friday will be condemned, as will all the other epithets targeting the Jewish race for being the source of all the world’s evils. Indeed, the PCUSA will necessarily denounce the Qur’anic teaching that the Jews are the enemies of Allah, and the Hadith reports where Muhammad declares that the Day of Judgment will not come until the armies of Islam hunt down and exterminate all Jews from this world, per the decree of Allah. The anti-Jewish prejudice inherent in Islam will face the scorching condemnation of the Presbyterian Church USA. I can hardly wait.
As regards “religiously inspired and motivated…discrimination,” the yet-to-be approved overture will lead the denomination to excoriate Islam over the third-class status of dhimmitude within the Islamic state, where non-Muslims are allowed to live (except for polytheists and atheists, who are forced to become Muslim or face immediate execution) in subordination to Islamic law and with extremely constricted rights compared to their Muslim neighbors. Likewise, the discriminatory, Shari’a-compliant, hefty, annual poll tax (jizya) levied on all dhimmis will face the withering censure of the PCUSA. Of course, since this is an obvious “justice issue,” the denomination will make its denunciations of Islamic discrimination a first-order priority. I expect a public proclamation by Stated Clerk J. Herbert Nelson, Jr. by the end of this month. If he asks, I would gladly help him compose it.
Lastly, Overture 7-1 would require the PCUSA to condemn religiously inspired and motivated…hate speech. Primary among PCUSA targets would have to be the Qur’an, which serves as the principal source of hate speech against non-Muslims for almost a quarter of the world’s 7.6 billion people. Finally a mainline Protestant denomination will censure the hate-filled portions of the Qur’an that fuel Muslim loathing toward the unconverted world. Here are a few examples to give them a running start:
- “You are the best of all peoples,” (3:110) the Qur’an says to the Muslim community, while “Those who disbelieve from among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein forever. They are the worst of creatures” (98:6).
- The non-Muslim world is variously characterized as diseased (2:10), perverse (2:99), stupid (2:171) and deceitful (3:73).
- According to 8:55, “Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve, and they will not believe.” As a result, the kuffar are compared unfavorably with dogs and cattle (7:176, 179), dirty (9:28) and ignorant (6:111).
- The Jews merit these descriptions, but as noted above they garner even more hate speech from Allah. As descendants of apes and pigs (because in the past Allah transformed them into these subhuman animals as punishment for their unbelief (see 5:60, 7:166, 2:65), they are especially corrupt, filthy and helpers of the devil (4:76).
- As a result of all these odious decrees and descriptions, Muslims are warned repeatedly not to take unbelievers as friends, for they are “unto you open enemies”(4:101; see also 4:144; 5:51; 58:22; 3:118; 60:4).
- Therefore, Muslims are commanded to fight against the unbelievers, inflicting harshness on them (9:123); or in the words of the Qur’anic golden rule, “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. And those with him are severe against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves…” (48:29).
- Curses are indeed a powerful form of hate speech. Since Allah himself calls curses down upon Jews and Christians (and all who reject Muhammad’s claims), divine hate speech against other religious groups is canonized in Islam. If Allah speaks hatefully toward the non-Muslim world, how can his followers not imitate him?
After leaning long and hard toward a gospel-denying universalism, the PCUSA seems poised now to condemn the religious teachings of a rival faith. To be fair, it has to be said that this unintended exclusivistic drift is not being nourished by a true belief in the gospel but by a mindless pursuit of “progressive justice,” which holds that anything negative said about anyone or their beliefs must be “hate speech” (except when said against Christians, of course), and as the cause du jour it must become one of the PCUSA’s pet pursuits.
Unfortunately, one of the other fabrications commonly accepted by the progressive left is that all religions, including Islam, are peaceful at heart. Hence, Overture 7-1 assumes that any “religious hate speech” will arise from those perverting their religions, not practicing them faithfully. Unfortunately, as those who know Islam well can testify, religiously inspired and motivated violence, prejudice, discrimination and hate speech is endemic to the heart and culture of Islam as taught and practiced by the prophet of Arabia.
Read the rest here.
Malcolm (South Afric) says
The sad facts about Christianity, some of the hierarchy have moved away from Christ the King in many ways and moved towards the the appeal of the popular idol, of self importance of being accepted in Mainstream Media.
The abandonment of the flock to wolves to win popular appeal or recognition.
The flock will win.
Mateen Elass says
The Shepherd will win, and as a result the flock will participate in that victory!
Lydia Church says
This is a perfect picture of the apostate, harlot church, poised to receive her king, the antichrist! That is exactly the platform he is riding in on! (She is actually riding him…)
All of the following are abominations to God:
*interfaith
*other religions
*joining with other religions in any way, condoning them, validating them, etc.
*bashing the true gospel, denying it, claiming there are ‘other ways to God,’ etc.
*hating on the truth and true Biblical doctrine and those who preach it
*being ‘loving’ in the sense of loving falsehood, sin, and apostasy and not warning against it
*inclusion, tolerance, dialogue, relationships with what God calls sin
*calling the truth ‘hate speech’ and issuing pogroms against such speech and speakers
*homosexuality
*abortion
*pretty much everything else mentioned in their official agendas…
“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” ” Revelation 18; 4
“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.”
Revelation 17; 4-7
It is the apostate church, the bride of the antichrist.
Lydia Church says
By the way, it transcends all denominations, they are all converging into the harlot unless a few resist and remain faithful to Jesus, as individuals or groups.
Michael Copeland says
Wake the flock up.
Malcolm (South Afric) says
@Mateen & Michael
Encouraging, keep the faith.
Keys says
LOL !
This reminds me of the zookeeper being very fond of rum.
***********
Somethin’ tells me it’s all happening at the zoo
I do believe it
I do believe it’s true
The monkeys stand for honesty
Giraffes are insincere
And the elephants are kindly but they’re dumb
Orangutans are skeptical
Of changes in their cages
And the zookeeper is very fond of rum
Zebras are reactionaries
Antelopes are missionaries
Pigeons plot in secrecy
And hamsters turn on frequently
What a gas, you gotta come and see
At the zoo, At the zoo, …..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6xKLBne1CoI
Julea Bacall says
Well it started out great but then they ruined all progress by saying no anti Muslim. At least they know enough about the Qur’an, it seems, to admit how antiSemite it is and it makes the threats against Jews but how can we enforce stopping of that without any anti Muslim reality? Or did I just read in that they must know. (Maybe they just meant treat Muslims with the same respect as we would Jews. BUT ONLY if Islam CHANGES itself into one of at least 3 religions of Abraham (dropping the Supremacy thing) believing in one Supreme entity they call Allah but we call Gd or one of the many names that means The Creator who we cannot understand.Only if they give up the fear and PUNISHMENT/death threats and barbarism of Sharia, But they will never ever do that, never and will continue with their bigotry and political or violent Jihad and we must be anti Muslim because of their threats and dangers So how can we NOT be anti Islam or anti a Muslim filled with Islam as identity/excuse.
No, this is a baby step but yet skirts the issue completely. Gee I almost hoped.
dan christensen says
Just ask the pope – he feels solidarity with all hungry and suppressed people until the point where it costs him money. He is an expert in TRUE islam and is bound to become the first islamic saint, second only to Moe himself.
Tim Fuller says
False Prophet maybe?
Julea Bacall says
First thing to work on with US attitude is the false Profit thing we see from Islam. None of it is worth what it gives. Our Corporations should not be there. Let France/Germany destroy their selves. We have to get out. Israel only. I still hope Africa can be saved.
jusswonderin' says
Some prophet, whose name eludes me, has suggested that Francis will be the last pope.
gravenimage says
I’m afraid this was a fraud. He was pretty spot on until the date of publication–then things got pretty vague…
These sort of “prophecies” were very popular in the 16th century.
Isntlam says
Wishful thinking. They will never condemn Islam regardless of its hateful content. Islam is the religion of peace to them. They will only condemn criticism of Islam.
Mateen Elass says
Did you read to the end of the article, or just the headline???
Susan B is getting really mad@# says
I read the whole article and see only a slight hint of hope that the PCUSA will take on islam. I’m putting my money on that PCUSA will give islam the usual pass and blessing. The conference is happening now so the results should be available soon enough. I really really want to be wrong.
Isntlam says
I read it. There is zero chance they will criticize Islam. The truth doesn’t matter to them.
Mateen Elass says
+1
WPM says
It seems all major Christian leaders are in the mode to appease Islam .When their made job should be leading their flocks to Christ and protecting them from a faith {Islam} whose main sources the Koran and the Hadiths commands their followers to kill or subjugate all followers of Christ. When Islam slanders Christ as not only not the son of God, but an avenging Christ who at the end of time will kill all Christians.
Malcolm (South Afric) says
@ WPM
Good points.
Here is an example of how the secular media objects to a christian message.
Perhaps this is where the influence resides in sanitising Islam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2BRV-LekRE
No Muzzies Here says
They didn’t mean for this to condemn Islam, but once they realize that the logical outcome of their proposal is the condemnation and outlawing of Islam, they will quickly change their minds. There is no way they are going to act in accordance with reason. Instead, their very leftist nature will come to the fore, and prevent them from doing what is right and just. Apologies will follow.
gravenimage says
I hope so–but many do not seem capable of following reason and logic at all.
Opinionated says
People are waking up to islamophobia, they are reading the Holy Quran for themselves, so sad it’s not working out for islamophobes on JW.
It’s great the church ⛪ is talking to thousands of people, hope millions of Americans will listen and isolate the islamophobes – let them choke on their hatred. ??
Cicero says
People are waking up to Islam. Instead of hiding behind victimhood muslims must engage in self reflection eg why is there fear of Islam ,why is there pedophilia , attacks, massacres of others by muslims. What provokes such arrogant vicious hatred of non muslims. Only if muslims engage in such rational enlightened actions will the poison of Islamic preaching be defanged. Islam and muslims can then come in from the cold and join the rest of humanity
The Giant says
That will NEVER happen. Muslims dont take personal responsibility instead they blame someone or something else other than themselves. its part of narcissistic behaviour handed down to them by “the greatest human being who ever lived.”
Tommy R says
This confirms my decision to have left the denomination I was born into, that my family supported wholeheartedly for centuries, that they fled their home country for. The PCUSA is no longer Christian.
Susan B is getting really mad@# says
“It promises to be an orgy of progressive delights — from bashing America’s immigration policies to demonizing fossil fuels to trashing Israel while apotheosizing Palestine to global warming warnings to the horrors of white privilege to the blessings of intersexuality to the condemnation of hate speech in all its forms.”
I was hope filled when I read the heading, however, those hopes were dashed when I read the first paragraph. “trashing Israel”, “apotheosizing Palestine”, “the horrors of white privilege” etc. Please someone tell me this will not just be a PC event with bells on? “Condemnation of hate speed in all its forms”, that alone sounds like support for the made up word of Islamophobia.
“Condemn all religiously inspired and motivated violence, prejudice, discrimination and hate speech, and in particular anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim behaviors and language.”
“This sounds very PC on the surface, but in fact would mandate that the PCUSA would have to condemn Islam as a religion and its “holy book,” the Qur’an.”
My guess is that the Presbyterian Church will only reinforce all the PC dogma that is destroying the west. There is no “anti-Muslim” motivated violence so why compare nothing with the very real “anti-Semitism”.
I will wait, but I do believe you will see some more kowtying to islam and leftist dogma endorsed by the Christian churches who seemed to have abandoned their back bones and brains somewhere along the line. And you wonder why people are abandoning churches. The only hope Christians seem to have is outside the church, not in it.
Rarely says
I, for one, will not hold my breath.
David Stephenson says
The PCUSA is one of those “interfaith” lunacy churches that bring in mosque members for get together events to show their diversity and inclusivity. The mosques never reciprocate, but no one talks about that glaring detail. I will not be holding my breath for any changes.
Chuckles says
We’ll see. So far, this is opposite, of the way they’ve leaned in the past.
Westman says
The proper response to the idea that Muslims fully living the instructions of Islam will be peaceful and loving to Christians:
“Oh, yeah. Oooh, ahhh, that’s how it always starts. Then later there’s running and um, screaming.”
Keith says
While I still attend a Presbyterian Church, I gave up my affiliation with the PCUSA several years ago after earlier decisions by the General Assembly of Leftists. I am hopeful that after this years debacle, our church will finally decide to leave the PCUSA like hundreds of others have already.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
mithraist churches in the evil United States are fora for hate campaigns against Muslims and Islam as they did when evil United States led genocidal killings of Iraqis where unexploded cluster bombs were found bearing evil biblical verses of genocide .so, it will not surprise us that this mithraist church is leading this hate campaign against Muslims and Islam in the evil United States
Keys says
Once again, itace, you do not get it !
You have failed to understand the meaning of the article.
Geez !
6woods says
He’s a moronic muzzie. Don’t expect too much from him. It’s not his fault – it’s the inbreeding.
Susan B is getting really mad@# says
Ibrahim – what are you on about, God hates islam what sane person with a soul and conscience does not hate you female hating rape and murder cult? Good news, allah will be put in chains and thrown into the abyss for 1000 years. Can not wait, the world will finally know peace.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Susan B, Allah is the creator of all, including your Satan god (Holy Spirit) in yahweh and his wife Ashera hero gods who revolted. You and your Satan god will be casted into hottest lake of hellfire burning for ever
Susan B is getting really mad@# says
Ibrahim – the only thing that allah has created is death and destruction rape and murder. God will deal with your evil pagan moon idol, of that you can be sure.
Giacomo Latta says
**it*ace, let me tell you in a way you can understand. h8-phild muhslims lyk u shud look how menny dissblievor Muhslims a round; so menny nex not yet slit, must hurrry, start wtrh mom.
gravenimage says
Ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
mithraist churches in the evil United States are fora for hate campaigns against Muslims and Islam
…………………………..
Of course, as others have pointed out, Ibrahim itace muhammed is too stupid to have understood the ironic tone of this article. Surely, this should not surprise.
More:
as they did when evil United States led genocidal killings of Iraqis where unexploded cluster bombs were found bearing evil biblical verses of genocide .
…………………………..
Muslims have made this ludicrous claim before–yet have never, unsurprisingly, ever produced any proof. This is another Muslim canard.
More:
so, it will not surprise us that this mithraist church is leading this hate campaign against Muslims and Islam in the evil United States
…………………………..
In other words, *neither* of these things ever happened. Ibrahim itace muhammed once again exposes himself as a complete idiot.
gravenimage says
Presbyterian Church USA Poised to Condemn Islam, Muhammad and the Qur’an….
……………………..
I was about to applaud them, but reading the article I can see the reason for that ellipsis in the headline…
Older Canadian says
I thought that a Presbyterian believed that everyone has a predetermined distination in this life below. That is why their name is such. So this to me does not appear to fit into their core agenda.
Granddaddy says
The talk about socialism, racial injustice, “palestinian” rights, and interfaith nonsense. You can check it out at PCUSA.org. Click on “News & Media”, scroll down to “PC(USA) News”. Read it yourself. It reads like a political newsletter. What does this stuff have to do with Jesus? This is what people go to church for? I know they can do what they want in their church, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s just another fake.
Granddaddy says
They will never condemn Islam. Read their so-called “news”. It’s just a lot of fakery. They’re probably getting paid by the government to relocate “refugees”. It’s a big business with “Chrislam” any more, especially organized churches: they let the Devil in the front door, give him a robe, and invite him to preach. They’ve turned the church into a social club.
Matthieu Baudin says
Another institution progressively white-anted.
gravenimage says
I had to look up “white-anted”. I always learn new things here.
Politicianophobia says
LOL I do love the sentence by GI, ” Ibrahim itace muhammed once again EXPOSES himself as a complete idiot.”
Way to go GI, fitting for the Thighing Master. Thanks for the laugh.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Politicianophobia. 🙂
the thought offender says
Confusion results from considering the Islamic Civilization a simple religious persuasion.
Islam wants much more than sharing their divine blessings through aggressive proselytization. They want to replace all other civilizations, and even have any historical record of them erased.
Muslims are the only people I know who address historical monuments with sledge hammers and ordnance. Their incompatibility is homicidal, absolute and unchangeable.
Why were they ever permitted in our hemisphere?
Prof.Helen McCaffrey says
John KNOX, bless his soul, is rolling in the heather.