The Moncton Herald

Public schools have changed their mission as educators in the same way they’ve altered the way their representatives teach math. Both are now much more complex and confusing. A perfect example of this is that while there are still some teachers who are solely focused upon a traditional form of education, others have fixated their attention on indoctrinating. The activists created by the universities have found their way into the schools and nothing has manifested this change more than hanging their flag in their respective classrooms.

Last year, this came to the forefront when the question of LGBTQ rights in schools in mandating of the use of preferred pronouns and encouraging the participation of children from public schools in Pride events was in the headlines. Some Christians made their dismay heard but that sound had little effect upon our governing bodies. Rather than a chorus, we only had a few scattered voices. It wasn’t until the Muslim communities erupted into protests in various cities and challenged the movement that some of the school administrators hit the proverbial brakes and began to rethink their approach. For some, the passion of Islam saved the day!

Fast forward a year, and we see this passion back in the news. Recent protests erupting throughout the world in allegiance with Hamas have once again shown that fire in full swing. In certain areas, these protests incited violence, even here in Canada and quite frankly our political leaders and university campus administrators seem confused as to how to respond. The protesters dared to even interrupt Pride parades in Montreal and Halifax which in our culture is equivalent to knocking down their god. What was fascinating was the sheer lack of an uproar by the secularist by this disruption. In these two recent events, we received a glimpse of the dynamic between radical Secularism vs what some would deem as radical Islam in Canada.

The Modern Secular Appeal to Islam

While some activists may have been shocked by the drive to repulse these LGBTQ school policies, (and perhaps a few the parade’s interference), it was to be expected. The secularists who were caught off guard really don’t understand Islam and only received a small glimpse into its zeal. But this begs the question: what can the Secularist do to tame the passion of Islam? Can the two parties really get along? What can the modern secularist worldview really point to to attract their Muslim neighbours and persuade them to embrace their beliefs and culture? What are they planning to unite with the average Muslim on? Is it embracing our country and its culture? Canadian culture which we’ve been taught to be ashamed of and its history?

In a country where the new ideology is largely based upon a paradigm that there are multiple cultures, and they are all equal so just celebrate everyone, is not a model that will work for very long. Those Muslims, born and bred in a completely different culture; a deeply religious people who have not been exposed to this “belief system”, will they really embrace this secularist mindset? Will they give up their values laid out in the Qu’ran for DEI? On a side note, we appreciate that there are practicing Muslims born and raised in a secular setting and they’ve adapted to this ideology, but the majority (and perhaps the more radical type) would rather see it fall.

Clarification

I want to stop for a moment to clarify a couple of points. With the statements mentioned above, I want to be clear that I’m not saying that we cannot have civilities between Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians or even secular neighbours. I’m perfectly aware that my next-door neighbour is not, to my knowledge, attempting to place his knee on my Christian neck and he is also probably not a member of ISIS, Boko-Haram or Al-Qaeda.  I like to think that he and his family are here to make a living and to raise their families like everyone else. Just the other day I had a very nice Muslim lady garbed in the full burka give my wife and I a most gentle and joyous smile while waiting in line at the supermarket to which we gladfully offered a smile in return. I have the pleasure of working a secular job with very kind and competent Hindus as well as Muslims. I can live beside my Muslim neighbour without worrying that he’ll kill my cat to antagonize me and surely, he doesn’t have to fret that I’ll sugar his gas tank as an act of aggression.

But the question becomes, if the circumstance would arise, that Sharia Law would become a possibility as the law of the land, let’s say by a referendum, would he then have a problem with it? I appreciate that he might not want to see harm come to me or anyone else but the fact that, as a Muslim, he would vote for this approach to societal governance. He would want to see Allah’s law applied which includes my demise. I’m not saying that all Muslims would find this appealing, but the question is how many would be consistent in following the law through?

This is ultimately the question that needs to be weighed. What does a Muslim, Hindu or Sikh majority look like? Is there tolerance for other religions or DEI? It’s not very hard to envision. As an example, look at the treatment of Christians in a majority Muslim country or even a Hindu or Sikh nation and you’ll see that the Christians get the short end of the stick. But the greatest mirage of this all is the notion that the secularists really think that their utopia can accommodate and bring peace to these various religious bodies. I submit to you that it can’t.

Islam vs. Secularists

For the moment, I’m going to continue picking on Radical Islam and secularists. The problem with the West is that it is fundamentally ignorant of Sharia Law and what it knows of Sharia it abhors. Sharia controls every aspect of human activity whether judiciary, economic and even moral with a tight grip. Yet, what can the secularist really say? What counterargument can they offer against it based upon their worldview? Why is Sharia Law so abhorrent if there is no spiritual alternative to replace it?  The secularist society wants the freedom for a woman to wear yoga pants and a belly top in public rather than a head-covering. Unlike in some majority Islamic nations, they want their women to vote in the next election and to get an education on par with their male counterparts. They want their gay men to be celebrated rather than thrown from a rooftop. But what they can’t account for is the underlying reason why these freedoms matter. Where do these come from outside of the inside of their evolved brains? They are under the impression that they can simply point to science and the wisdom of Hollywood actors to sway the Islamic community into a stagnate religion that just bows to their superior intellect. They truly believe that their moral claims are going to resonate to the extent that the Muslim will recognize their religious and moral irrelevancy. It’s altogether obvious that they’ve not understood Islam and while certainly some Muslims are moderate (and thankfully so), the majority will not choose the glamour of secularism. They’ve not understood that Islam is a deeply rooted cultural identity that won’t be wooed by our politicians or sages. They do not conform, they conquer.

The Bulwark

Secularists are increasingly applying their values through government enforcement and attempting to erase the root of Western society, the Christian faith, from their ranks. They will allow you to worship your god, whether of Islam, Judaism or Christianity so long as you acknowledge that the emperor or prime minister is Lord, and your god is kept in the closet. While this has largely worked with Christians, I’m skeptical it will work with Muslims. I submit to you that it unquestionably won’t. You can’t fight a religious system claiming truth that is willing to impose itself upon you without a truth religion to counter it. The secularist can make moral claims but has no foundation to substantiate them. You need to fight Allah with Yahweh. I’m not insinuating we enter into a holy war fought with swords and nukes, but a war of truth (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

The Bulwark in Action

So, how does a Christian respond to these issues? Christians need to examine themselves, firstly as individuals but more importantly as a community. Why were the Muslims the main protester against the gender question in the schools with only a few specs of Christians nearby? Why did the government largely ignore the voice of the church? To fight this moral inversion, we need the church to find its passion. The bride of Christ needs to awake from her slumber and cry out to the living God. Here are a few things that the Christian community as a united people can do:

1. Pray for your leaders and your nation (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
2. Pray for your Muslim neighbours.
3. Be a living testimony to others with charity and sharing the gospel with a heartfelt concern for them. Let them mock you and your beliefs, but don’t stop heralding God’s word to a lost humanity.
4. Recognize that truth exists and that you have it in your possession in the word of God.
5. Place Jesus Christ on His throne in your life and especially in your church, not simply as lip service, but have Him in His rightful place. Every decision should have His Lordship and will in mind.  
6. Stop thinking of your church as a building, and think of it as a people who are responsible to build a kingdom together on this earth.
7. Speak out loudly and in unity against moral evils. It shouldn’t be a scrap of Christian protesters with poorly made signs doing the job. The church should call out sin and be brave enough to name them. Never compromise your beliefs no matter what!
8. Pray for the pastors of your churches. Pray that churches without a pastor call men who are called of God to a ministry rather than a paycheque (Judges 17:7-13). Pray that they live up to their responsibility to tell Herod that he can’t have her (Matthew 14:1-12).
9. Worship and do so loudly. The church should not limit its worship to the inner walls of its sanctuary but become a spectacle for all to see.
10. The church should be something of beauty and its people should recognize its significance. It should entirely reject the notion that it is not an essential service to its community no matter how much our leaders insist. With that said, your community should know that your church exists, and it should be more than simply a sign on your front lawn. The church should engage society and expect a much more negative reaction than positive.
11. Organize speakers on the Christian response to Islam. Read the Quran, understand what your Muslim neighbour believes and engage the Muslim with Jesus and His gospel especially in light of their beliefs about Christianity.