Dear John, Jim and Doves,Yesterday, I read a post which disturbed me. It was an article from Agape Press which defended the many pro-islam comments uttered by George W Bush. http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2004/jim713.htm
Each of us in the US must make a decision about who we ought to vote for this November. Most Christians will likely vote for Bush. It is not my intention here to argue that. For a Christian to stand up for a person's politics is one thing, to defend a person's non-Christian doctrine is quite another. What bothers me is a leader, or anyone, confessing to be Born Again, yet proclaiming Christians and muslims worship the same God. This article apologizes for Bush's remarks about Islam. Saying that he doesn't really mean them and that he is compelled by his position to stand up for the muslim faith. In the article there is a quote, "He feels he has to say these things -- and maybe if you and I were president, we'd have to do the same thing." Would we? Does it make a difference what in what occupation we work?
Our President has hosted Iftaar dinners at the White House, visited mosques, and given speeches to honor and defend Islam (equating the Muslim god with the God of the Bible, honoring Mohammed as a "prophet" and the Qu'ran as "holy"). He has often mentioned Islam as a peaceful, good, and moral religion. Following, I am sending a list of remarks about islam spoken by George Bush.
The President has offended the Only True God by violating the First and other Commandments that clearly require reverence for the Triune God alone. However noble his motive, George Bush is bringing upon America the guilt and consequences of IDOLATRY.
Matthew Henry, wrote of Exodus 20:3ff,"[Men] must not bow down to [other gods, even] occasionally, that is, show any sign of respect or honor to them, much less serve them... by... any act of religious worship...
"God [is a]... a jealous God... This intimates... His hatred of idolatry and all false worship, His displeasure against idolaters... He resents every thing... that looks like, or leads to, idolatry... If God is jealous... we should be also, afraid of offering any worship... other than as He has appointed in His word..."God looks upon [idolaters] as haters of Him, though they perhaps pretend love to him; He will visit their iniquity... He will very severely punish it, not only as a breach of His law, but as an affront to His majesty... He will bring such judgments upon [such] a people as shall be their] total ruin... Though He bear long with [them], He will not bear always."
Christians have a duty to pray for the President and to protest his exaltation of "other gods."
May God have mercy on our country, ybic, Jethro
President George W. Bush:
"Some of the comments that have been uttered about Islam do not reflect the sentiments of my government or the sentiments of most Americans. Islam, as practiced by the vast majority of people, is a peaceful religion, a religion that respects others. Ours is a country based upon tolerance and we welcome people of all faiths in America."
Remarks by President George W. Bush in a statement to reporters during a meeting with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan
The Oval Office, Washington, DC
November 13, 2002"We see in Islam a religion that traces its origins back to God's call on Abraham. We share your belief in God's justice, and your insistence on man's moral responsibility. We thank the many Muslim nations who stand with us against terror. Nations that are often victims of terror, themselves."
President Hosts Iftaar Dinner
Remarks by the President at Iftaar Dinner
State Dining RoomI do say that freedom is the Almighty's gift to every person, I also condition it by saying freedom is not America's gift to the world, it is much greater than that of course, and I believe we worship the same God.
Joint conference held by Prime Minister Blair and President Bush at the Foreign Office on Thursday November 20, 2003 *
"Islam is a vibrant faith. Millions of our fellow citizens are Muslim. We respect the faith. We honor its traditions. Our enemy does not. Our enemy doesn't follow the great traditions of Islam. They've hijacked a great religion."
Remarks by President George W. Bush on U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan
Presidential Hall, Dwight David Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.
October 11, 2002"Islam is a faith that brings comfort to people. It inspires them to lead lives based on honesty, and justice, and compassion."
Remarks by President George W. Bush on U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan
Presidential Hall, Dwight David Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.
October 11, 2002"All Americans must recognize that the face of terror is not the true faith -- face of Islam. Islam is a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. It's a faith that has made brothers and sisters of every race. It's a faith based upon love, not hate."
President George W. Bush Holds Roundtable with Arab and Muslim-American Leaders
Afghanistan Embassy, Washington, D.C.
September 10, 2002"If liberty can blossom in the rocky soil of the West Bank and Gaza, it will inspire millions of men and women around the globe who are equally weary of poverty and oppression, equally entitled to the benefits of democratic government. I have a hope for the people of Muslim countries. Your commitments to morality, and learning, and tolerance led to great historical achievements. And those values are alive in the Islamic world today.
President George W. Bush Calls for New Palestinian Leadership
The Rose Garden, Washington, D.C.
June 24, 2002"We're taking action against evil people. Because this great nation of many religions understands, our war is not against Islam, or against faith practiced by the Muslim people. Our war is a war against evil. This is clearly a case of good versus evil, and make no mistake about it -- good will prevail."
Remarks by the President George W. Bush at a Town Hall Meeting with Citizens of Ontario
Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, California
January 5, 2002"The teachings of many faiths share much in common. And people of many faiths are united in our commitments to love our families, to protect our children, and to build a more peaceful world. In the coming year, let us resolve to seize opportunities to work together in a spirit of friendship and cooperation. Through our combined efforts, we can end terrorism and rid our civilization of the damaging effects of hatred and intolerance, ultimately achieving a brighter future for all."
President's Message for Eid al-Fitr
December 13, 2001"According to Muslim teachings, God first revealed His word in the Holy Qur'an to the prophet, Muhammad, during the month of Ramadan. That word has guided billions of believers across the centuries, and those believers built a culture of learning and literature and science. All the world continues to benefit from this faith and its achievements."
Remarks by the President George W. Bush At Iftaar Dinner
The State Dining Room, Washington, D.C.
November 19, 2001"The Islam that we know is a faith devoted to the worship of one God, as revealed through The Holy Qur'an. It teaches the value and the importance of charity, mercy, and peace."
President George W. Bush's Message for Ramadan
November 15, 2001"All of us here today understand this: We do not fight Islam, we fight against evil."
Remarks by President George W. Bush to the Warsaw Conference on Combating Terrorism
November 6, 2001"I have assured His Majesty that our war is against evil, not against Islam. There are thousands of Muslims who proudly call themselves Americans, and they know what I know -- that the Muslim faith is based upon peace and love and compassion. The exact opposite of the teachings of the al Qaeda organization, which is based upon evil and hate and destruction."
Remarks by President George W. Bush and His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan
The Oval Office, Washington, D.C.
September 28, 2001"The terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself.
President George W. Bush's Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People
United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
September 20, 2001"The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war."
Remarks by the President at Islamic Center of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
September 17, 2001Unless otherwise noted, all quotes taken from official The White House website <http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/ramadan/islam.html>.