Monday, March 21, 2005

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON THE WISCONSIN CHURCH SHOOTINGS: "CHRISTIAN SUICIDE SHOOTER KILLS INNOCENT VICTIMShttp://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s05030108.htm By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

MILWAUKEE, WIS. (ANS) -- Following the recent deadly shootings at a non-evangelical church in Wisconsin, a Muslim scholar has penned an example of what he says a biased media report about Christianity may look like.

In an article distributed on Islamic bulletin boards and sites such as www.iviews.com  (http://iviews.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IV0503-2640),  Dr. Aslam Abdullah, editor in chief of the Muslim Observer and director of the Muslim Electorates Council of America wrote, “What if the media applies the same rules it applies to report incidents of violence in the Muslim world? What if the reporter happened to have biases against Christianity? What if he is totally ignorant of the Milwaukee religious profile and the American religious landscape?”

Abdullah wrote that the result may read something like the following story.

“A Christian terrorist kills seven innocent Americans including children and women. The terrorist act happened on Saturday at a (regularly scheduled) church service ... After killing the seven innocent people the Christian terrorist killed himself. Four died at the scene and three others died later of their injuries, police said. They ranged in age from 16 to over 60 year olds.”

Abdullah continued his tongue-in-cheek description.

He wrote, “The terrorist was described as a 45-year-old man who had been affiliated with the church ... for several years. The ... Church of the Living God (www.lcg.org)  is an evangelical church that observes the Sabbath on Saturday, not on Sunday. It was reported that the gunman had differences with the Church leaders on various religious affairs including the Christian Sabbath day. Experts believe that his act was inspired by several Biblical verses that promote violence in the Old Testament. However, no one has demanded a serious study on the issue of Biblical roots of violence. Experts also believe that the inspiration for the terrorist act came from the belief that the killing would be forgiven as Jesus has already died for the sins of all the Christians.”

Abdullah continued his satire, writing “Several experts on Christianity tend to believe that the rising violence in the US can be attributed to this belief. In a survey done by some experts it was revealed that most Christians believe that their sins have already been forgiven as the Son of God has died for their sin.”

Abdullah next quoted an “expert” selected by the media as possibly saying, “The rising violence and the indulgence of Christians in the killing, looting and cheating acts all over the world can be attributed to this belief. When people believe that they are not accountable to any higher authority as they have already been forgiven, they tend to commit excesses regardless of the harm they inflict upon people ... If the world wants to see a decrease in violence in countries with Christian majority, they have to look at the Christian theology of sin and crucifixion.”

Abdullah continued his hypothetical media report. “Seemingly, the incidents of violence are on the rise in the USA, after the re-election of Mr. Bush who is said to be a staunch evangelical born-again Christian. Experts feel that his re-election has emboldened several right wing Christians. Several religious communities are questioning the silence of Christian leaders and scholars in discussing the theology of the forgiveness of sin.”

Continuing to drive his point home, Abdullah said in his hypothetical media report that Muslim scholars have warned against generalization. “They said that the action of a few Christians cannot be used to condemn Christianity or blame all Christians for violence. They cautioned against viewing all churches as potential cells where violent and terrorist Christians hide. They argue that such a description of Christians or their churches will be a violation of the principles of Islam that promote respect for people of all faith.

“The Milwaukee terror act has created a climate of fear in religious circles all over the country. People fear that potential Christian killers and terrorists might be present in every religious gatherings, waiting for the right moment to strike against innocent Americans.

Abdullah concluded his hypothetical media report by writing, “Several Christian leaders, however, suggest that such acts are inspired by Satan, and they have no place in the official teachings of Christianity. Some of them blame the presence of other religions in America as a source of corruption of their faith. Others argue that by accepting Jesus as Son of God and God (Muslims and Jews don't believe in the concept of trinity) all people will be saved from hellfire. However, many Christians reject this theology arguing that people will be judged according to their actions, a position held by Muslims all over the world.”

Abdullah is naturalized U.S. Citizen who was born in India. He has a doctorate in journalism (www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/english/Guestcv.asp?hGuestID=A4Hc4x).

WHAT IS THE LIVING CHURCH OF GOD?

It is important to note that although Abdullah dubbed the Living Church of God (www.livingcog.org)  as evangelical, it is not (www.countercult.com/l/l43.html).

However, Abdullah was not alone. A number of media outlets such as (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4345827.stm and www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/11127224.htm) also described the church as evangelical.

Described by one newspaper as a “small, obscure church” (www.jsonline.com/news/state/mar05/309134.asp),  the Living Church of God is a splinter group, led by Roderick Meredith, of the formerly controversial Worldwide Church of God (WCOG) founded by Herbert Armstrong.

Meredith has reportedly said (http://home.datawest.net/esn-recovery/artcls/all_noth.htm),  “The Living Church of God is carrying on the teachings and practices ... of Herbert Armstrong more than any other group on earth! ... LCOG is the true Church of God which teaches and practices Apostolic Christianity.”

The Watchman Fellowship commented (www.watchman.org/cat95.htm#W)  that WCOG formerly rejected the essential doctrines of evangelical Christianity, denied the doctrine of the Trinity, the full deity of Jesus Christ and the personality of the Holy Spirit.

“The church epitomized the somewhat eclectic set of beliefs and practices that became known as Armstrongism,” the Watchman Fellowship wrote. “Beginning in the early 1990's under the leadership Armstrong’s successors, Joseph W. Tkach and his son Joe Tkach, this group has undergone remarkable doctrinal transformation. They now hold to a traditional evangelical position on the nature of God and the gospel, teaching the Trinity and salvation by grace alone, through faith alone. Large numbers of its membership have left to join splinter groups (such as Meredith’s Living Church of God) that still teach classic Armstrongism.”