IS, the Taliban, and Islam!

It’s Not Just False Doctrine!

Richard Hollerman

We fear that some people naively think that Islam must be opposed because of certain false doctrines that are being promoted. They may emphasize that this is an aberrant teaching, that it was promoted by a false prophet, that it denies a massive amount of truth, and so much more. But there is more to it that this.

Just today, in the local newspaper, we read this headline: “Islamic State claims bombing at wedding; 63 dead.” The article went on to say that an IS suicide bomber from Pakistan killed 63 people (including children, women, and civilians) when these innocent people were celebrating at a wedding in Kabul in Afghanistan.

Along with the 63 people murdered in cold blood, there were 182 reported wounded. It was supposedly “the deadliest attack in the capital this year.” The article went on, “Stunned families buried the dead, some digging with their bare hands. One wounded survivor, Mohammad Aslim, still wore his bloodied clothes the day after the blast late Saturday. He and his friends had already buried 16 bodies, among them several close relatives, including a 7-year-old boy.” (Fort Worth, Star-Telegram, August 19, 2019)

We continue reading: “Nearby, a man named Amanullah, who lost his 14-year-old son, said in anguish that the explosion had mangled the boy’s face so badly he could no longer recognize it.” He said, “I wish I could find the pieces of my son’s body, and put them as one piece into the grave.”

We continue to read: “The bomber detonated his explosives near the stage where musicians were playing and ‘all the youths, children and all the people who were there were killed,’ said Gul Mohammad, another witness.”

The article then went on to make reference to a Taliban car bomber who killed a great number of people on August 7. This explosion killed 14 people and wounded 145—“most of them women, children and other civilians.” Regardless of who was involved, this is a massive amount of murder!

In our reading and relating of these grizzly facts, we must keep several things before us. First, as terrible, even horrible, as these explosions may have been, with the loss of many lives and the bloodshed, this is not the worse of the situation. It is one thing to lose a physical life (Hebrews 9:23), but it is far, far worse to lose one’s eternal felicity with God! Jesus plainly said, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36; see also vv. 14-18). To lose one’s physical life is bad; to lose eternal life is utterly worse!

Second, we must realize that various Muslim groups are involved in this mayhem. IS is only one of them. The Taliban is another. And there are others. As wicked as this sort of deed may be, there are millions of Muslims who are willing to participate in this sort of murder. Taking the words of Muhammad as their starting point, they are willing to kill not only “unbelievers” (those who don’t believe in Muhammad and the Qur’an) but even other Muslims!

Third, we must realize that eternal life and spiritual death are involved here. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We must also remember that “the deeds of the flesh” will keep one from entering the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). God’s Word is quite clear that “No murderer has eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). Those who commit “murder” are “worthy of death” (Romans 1:29, 32). The person who blew himself up in this atrocity surely went to hades himself (Luke 16:23-28), but those who died in sin whom he murdered also went to hades, but will one day go to hell or the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).

Fourth, it is important for us to remind ourselves that people can be wrong. We know this by thinking of the various religions to which we have been exposed. And this situation can tell us the same thing. We have little doubt that these people think that they are right—even when they are absolutely wrong! They think that they will immediately go to the Islamic Paradise—even when they will be cast into hades. This reminds us of the passage in God’s Word, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Fifth, we must remember how much God hates hypocrisy! Jesus condemned hypocrites in no uncertain terms in Matthew 23. When an organization like IS condemns others, they condemn themselves far more. When they put down others, they are guilty of far more atrocious evil themselves. As Paul put it, “You have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things” (Romans 2:1). They not only do the same things, they do far worse.

Sixth, their murderous attitude and actions reveals hearts that are filled with hatred and bitterness. And Scripture says that “He who does not love abides in death” (1 John 3:14b). The evil, hatred, and murderous attitude manifested is not of God but is of the spiritual enemy that will drag one down to hell.

Of course, much more could be written about the IS and their widespread murder, but this is sufficient for us to see that there is nothing good in this religious organization. By this, we are not condemning every Muslim. While it is true that Islam is a false religion and those who are consistent in following Muhammad will be willing to kill others, especially non-Muslims, we are glad that there are some Muslims who are not consistent and don’t follow the example and teachings of their leader. For this we are glad.

If you are with the IS, the Taliban, or any other terrorist organization, or are part of Islam in general, we would encourage you to renounce this belief and way of living. You may want to read a little book by John Klaassen entitled Engaging with Muslims. Or a somewhat more involved book is entitled No God but One, by Nabeel Qureshi. A third book is Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi. They are worth reading.