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Why
the Church Should NOT Support Stopping Bombing During Ramadan Ramadan
is one of the five "pillars" or fundamental practices of Islam.
It is an annual month-long fast. From dawn to dusk Muslims do not eat
food or drink any liquids. At the end of each day there is a meal prepared
and families and friends come together. Along with abstaining from food
and drink, sexual intercourse is forbidden. During this time devout
Muslims reflect on the meaning of their religion and its role in their
lives. This fast is meant to bring Muslims closer to Allah; to calm
the wrath of Allah against the believer; to make oneself more righteous
by obtaining virtues such as patience, self-control, generosity (when
alms are given during Ramadan a believer is rewarded up to 700-fold
in heaven); to obtain forgiveness for various sins; and to obtain various
blessing from God for the fast both here on earth and in heaven. Historically,
during Ramadan Muslims have not abstained form warfare. In a battle
to conquer Mecca in 624 the "Prophet Muhammed" waged war during
the month of Ramadan. In 1973, Muslim armies from Egypt and Syria attacked
Israel on the same day of Ramadan that Muhammed conquered Mecca. Muslims
have waged many wars and battles during Ramadan and directly attribute
some to the fast including (but this is not a comprehensive list): Battle
of Badr 623/624; opening conquest of Rhodes 672; victory led by Tarik
Ibn Ziyad against the King of Spain 711; victory versus French Army
led by Louis the 9th who was taken as a war prisoner in Mansura, Egypt.
These are a few of the wars waged by Muslims during the month of Ramadan,
and this is by no means all of them. Recently
there have been calls for the USA to halt the bombings for the month
of Ramadan. Those in the United States government have claimed they
will not stop bombing for Ramadan, citing the numerous wars Muslims
have fought during this month. Bombing during Ramadan may incite Muslims
around the world to more hatred, that is a valid point that the USA
seems willing to risk. As
Christians we have no "Holy days" like the Islam does. Sunday
is not a "holy day." Neither is Christmas or Easter for that
matter. At least that is the way it is supposed to be for Christians.
There are no sacred days that are more holy than others, or days in
which we can draw "especially" close to God. Every day is
holy; TODAY is the day of salvation. Not Christmas. Galatians
4:9-11 But
now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you
are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish
to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days
and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have
wasted my efforts on you. I
can hear the objections now. What!? That will allow the USA to keep
killing people. We should use every available (nonviolent) means to
stop this war! Including arguing for respect of this sacred time for
Muslims if it means less murder. Are you out of your mind! Apparently
I am. I merely want to conform my mind to the mind of Paul. If we argue
for the cessation of bombing for Ramadan, we will seem to legitimate
the war as a whole. "It is okay if you kill and maim, just do not
do it during these sacred days." NO! We must speak truthfully.
It is never okay for any person to kill on any day. Secondly,
we do not want to make any day more holy than the next. We are explicitly
forbidden to do this by Paul (which includes Lent and other days the
church has made sacred in opposition to Scripture). We do not recognize
that one hour, one day, one month or year are more holy than the next.
Nothing is sacred in Christianity. The Gospel is the most sacrilegious
and irreverent proclamation this world has ever known. Nothing is sacred;
no part of YHWH's creation has any spiritual reality to it. There are
no gods attached to any piece of wood or to any days. There are no days
that are set apart as sacred. Creation is simply that: creation...stuff,
things, trees, air, time, etc. and no more. Thirdly,
using dishonest means to stop the war is not in accordance with the
Gospel. If we argue on religious grounds (not political) that the USA
should respect the annual Muslim fasting period out of some reverence,
then we do not take seriously the Muslim history of war and ask the
USA to respect something as peaceful that is NOT intrinsically peaceful
anyhow. We in effect lie to them, claiming what even Muslims do not
claim (especially in their historic actions.) No. If we want to speak
to government and call them to stop killing, we should do so honestly.
The Gospel does not respect sacred days or any idols. We should call
upon individual people in government to conform to Christ today, which
is the day of salvation.
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