What is it that attracts immigrants to the United States? The common answer is "economic opportunity and political freedom" and it would be safe to include religious freedom as another reason. Regardless of the underlying reasons immigration from some countries is significantly up in recent years. Of particular interest to Christians is immigration from Middle Eastern countries, nations that are predominately Muslim, in which religion and politics are closely interwoven.
Why is this a significant issue? Simply because immigrants from these countries are likely to have far reaching political and social impact in the communities where the immigrants settle (Read Latest Update). A recent news report by Elizabeth Shogren of the Los Angeles Times quotes two men who hold opposing views of immigration's impact on Americans. The men, Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies, a group based in Washington D.C., (a group that supports limits on immigration) and James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute "did agree on the basic findings of the report: that Middle Eastern immigrants are on the rise and that more of them are Muslims. Zogby and Camarota also agreed that one of the likely effects of having more Muslim immigrants voting in U.S. elections is that U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East will probably become less tilted toward Israel. The increase in Muslim immigrants was noticeable this year when three Democratic House members from Michigan, where numbers of Muslim immigrants are high, were among the 21 voting against a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in its fight against Palestinian militants."
The news report goes on to cite Daniel Pipes, director of another Washington D.C. organization called the Middle East Forum, which Shogren described as a "think tank that seeks to promote U.S. interests in the Middle East." Pipes, was quoted as saying, "U.S. authorities have to do more to prevent even a small number of militant Islamic activists from slipping into the country as immigrants, visitors or students. This is our enemy; we must not let it into our house." Pipes also "asserted that most of the institutions created by Muslim immigrants are Islamist and are working against mainstream American principles." One could ask, what exactly, are these mainstream American principles that Pipes is so concerned about? Maybe in the 1950's these were clearly defined but the value-waters are really muddy today thanks to the significant immigration over the last 50 years. Classic Christian America is more of a hodgepodge of ethnic, religious and civic rights as defined by the courts during the turbulent 60's and 70's. Immigration has been a force behind these changes and now America is faced with factors influencing Muslims in any society where they choose to live and their immigration "has jumped from 15 percent in 1970 to 73 percent in 2000"
Clearly committed Christians have two options from which to choose: First, to view the Muslim immigrants as evil Islamics or second, to view them as a ripe mission field right here in our own backyard. Pipes is correct in one thing some of these are indeed our enemy and desire nothing but the destruction of America and its conversion to Islam. But even these militants are targets for Christian warfare using the weapons of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps, if prior to September 11, 2001 some Christians had taken the bold initiative to reach out to those who would commandeer the aircraft that destroyed the World Trade Center buildings and presented them the Gospel of Christ (assuming the terrorists would have talked with the Christians) the events of 9/11 would have been vastly different. What is needed are Christian Commandos who are not afraid to put on the whole armor of Jesus Christ and go into the camp of the enemy - where the battle must be waged if it is to be successful.
It matters not whether Zogby or Camarota or Pipes are correct in their view of the Muslim immigration issue. What does matter is what the church does to reach these more than 1.5 million per year immigrants and convert them to Christianity. The Muslim Mission Field is now here, staring us in the face, and God is asking us what we are going to do about it! What is your response?
Source: Page 6A of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Thursday, August 15, 2002, Los Angeles Times report by Elizabeth Shogren.
Muslim Journalists response to Terrorism by Islamic Militants
(Excerpts taken from a story on: page 5A of the St. Paul Pioneer Press - Sept 9, 2004 and page 2E on Sept 15, 2004)
The brutal siege in Russia, where hundreds of school children, teachers and parents died at the hands of Islamic Jihadists, caused a backlash and harsh criticism by noted writers & journalists throughout the Muslim and Arab World.
The most telling comment came from Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, general manager of the satellite TV station Al-Arabiya: "It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims". Writing in the Pan-Arab newspaper Al Sharq al Awsat, al Rashed stated, "What a pathetic record. What an abominable 'achievement.' Does this tell us anything about ourselves, our societies and our culture?" Writing in the Jordanian daily, Ad Dustour, Bater Wardram noted the propensity in the Arab world to "place responsibility for the crimes of Arabic and Muslim terrorist organizations on the Mossad, The Zionists and the American intelligence, but we all know this is not the case." In Saudi Arabia, Khaled Hamad al-Suleiman wrote in the government daily, Okaz, "The time has come for Muslims to be the first to come out against those interested in abducting Islam in the same way they abducted innocent children. ... This is the true jihad these days, and this is our obligation, as believing Muslims, toward our monotheistic religion."
About all I can say in response to the above comments is: It's about time! Terrorists, hiding under the cloak of Islam, will only be defeated when the peoples who call themselves Muslim get off their rear ends and strike back at the cells and training camps located in their own backyards. After all, they know exactly who and where these extremists are and it's time the citizens of Arab nations take action. It is not the responsibility of the Americans and nations of the Western world to remove criminals from inside the borders of Arab nations. The events of September 11, 2001 have forced us into this roll. I for one, am sick and tired of seeing Iraqis hurling hate at America and it's allies. We are not at fault! The acts of terror are committed by their own neighbors and they have failed to expose them while these murderers hide in their midst. But I doubt they ever will - Muslims stick together because they view the West as their enemies.
As long as Iran and other fundamentalist driven Muslim nations provide funding and sanctuary to these terrorists they will continue to kill and maim - even other Muslims! Although hatred for the West is partly driving these terrorists, the primary motivation is a yearning for an Islamic utopia. If you want to fully understand the dynamics responsible for the seemingly endless number of people willing to blow themselves up for their beliefs you should read the book, Answering Only to God by authors/journalists Geneive Abdo and Johathan Lyons. The authors lived in Iran from 1998 until 2001 when they were forced to leave and over the years interviewed hundreds of Iranians and fundamentalist clerics. Simply put, the goal of the Islamic Fundamentalists is to make Islam and its laws the only authority and guide for society in all Arab and predominately Islamic nations. The desire of America to promote Democracy in the Arab world is, to the terrorists, a direct attack on what they are trying to achieve. They are willing to die in an effort to force Islamic nations to accept their version of Islam.
