What Bush Knows about Muslims
By J. James Estrada (02/07/06)
President Bush starts every day in office, as most Presidents’ in the nation’s history have done, with prayer. He reads the Word as well.
"Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." This passage from Luke 19 is relevant to the cartoon riots that are being carried out by Muslims in various places. Muslims, like all peoples who have not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, will eventually need to in order to make Heaven their everlasting home.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is welcomed into the home of Zacchaeus, who is described as the “chief tax collector.” In those days, tax collectors were hated (in those days?). When Jesus was seen with this man, the people began to mutter, “He has gone to be a guest of a ‘sinner’.”
Muslims are considered by some in the Christian faith as “the lost.” The same is said for those engaged in fornication, homosexuality, lying, slander, murder, etc. They are lost. Indeed, Christians before becoming Christians were lost. But these words in Luke 19, spoken by Jesus, say something different. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
What was lost. Not, was is lost. The difference here is profound. (And it has nothing to do with what the meaning of is is…). Jesus walked down the street one day and, it’s noted, Zacchaeus wanted to see who he was. Being short (we all fall short of the glory of God), Zacchaeus climbed a tree for a better look. Seeing his desire, Jesus called him by name to come to him.
The tax collector then said, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Just knowing that God knows your name will change your heart.
It is very hard for Christians to believe that God knows the name of every Muslim in the Earth. These people too are sons of Abraham. Yes, they follow a prophet not known in the pages of the Bible. Yes, some of them commit heinous acts and have murderous thoughts toward “non-believers.” But, they were lost. All they need to do is look to Jesus to be found.
I know that George W. Bush knows this. That’s why he refers to Islam as a “religion” of peace. By speaking life, death will flee. Blind hatred is just that, blind. When the hope is to reveal truth, it is best to have your eyes open to the eternal. Religion is a manmade product. Jesus coming to gather what was lost is Christianity.
Copyright 2006 J. James Estrada
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