By Charles E. Carlson [Chuck Carlson gives further insights on this article in our podcast: Missionary Preps Mainline Christians for War on Islam]
Christians in mainline churches are now being targeted by guest speakers from several outside sources that have the effect of promoting new wars on Islamic states, currently, the mysterious ISIS. The most self-serving among these messengers are professing missionaries to Muslim controlled countries, including Pakistan and the African state of Sudan. Among those propagandized and targeted for donations are traditional Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Evangelical Covenant, and Churches of Christ congregations.
Israel lobbies, Including AIPAC, are also organizing Rabbis from local Jewish synagogues to solicit invitations to speak in local Christian churches to tell Israel’s side of its several attacks on, and occupation of Gaza.
Perhaps, most inexplicable is an effort to bend the mainline Christian churches toward Israel by a benevolent organization that provides mainline pastors with costly, free junkets to Israel, with no strings attached. Almost every hour of these tours is said to be smoothly controlled by the Israel Military, which presents its agenda.
For over two decades, Christian Zionist occultists like Pat Robertson, the late Jerry Falwell and John Hagee’s Christians United For Israel [founded in 2006], have systematically targeted dispensational teaching churches with anti-Muslim propaganda in the guise of loving Israel. The largest is the Southern Baptist Convention. It, plus the Pentecostal and Assembly of God movements and Independent mega-churches, have become the Israel-first cult’s largest supporters. All these Zionist friendly churches have in common the belief that, “the Political State of Israel is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy,” which invariably leads to the support of US wars against Islamic states, including Iraq, Afghanistan and now the undefined state of ISIS. Mainline churches, in contrast, believe and teach that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament and that God’s plan does not involve politics or real estate. Zionists, including John Hagee, have been all but locked out of the doors of the mainline churches on account of this giant chasm in theology.
Lately, touring Mail-order missionaries have learned to avoid the phraseology that marks them as dispensational, such as remarks about a coming rapture, battle of Armageddon, and end of the world theology. They are increasingly penetrating mainline churches where they raise money for themselves, while painting Islam as a vicious enemy of Christianity. Some traditional churches, spurred by publicized Muslim brutality by ISIS, and hoping to learn what is going on in the Middle East, are beginning to accept both self-promoting Missionaries and Jewish speakers into churches. Congregations are subjected to exaggerated, war incitement, and Muslim vilification, in high-powered fund-raising presentations. Muslims are painted to be brutal slave owners holding Christians. Unwittingly, mainline church leaders, by listening to them, are playing into the hands of American business and military factions that benefit and prosper from each successive war. Jesus called his followers to be “peacemakers,” to love one’s neighbor, even our enemies. These principles are being sublimated to self-serving, hatred of Islam in some church presentations.
Using an alias, “Pastor” Mujhid El Masih speaks on behalf of Voice of the Martyrs
A case in point is Pastor Mujahid El Masih, who says he lives in Aurora, Colorado and states he is associated with the $40 million Voice of the Martyrs, and was an invited guest for two performances at a Colorado, Church of Christ on Sunday, Nov 23, 2014. He set the tone of mistrust and hatred of Muslims by announcing he was compelled to appear under an alias, and did not allow a video recording (only the audio and his PowerPoint presentation [2]). He suggested that he is a man marked by Islam. In his private session, which the church did not record, but which this writer did, Masih told a story of spotting an Imam from a mosque in Colorado, while flying home. He said he feared and prayed that his plane would not be blown up. The suggestion was, clearly, that this Muslim congregation leader was, possibly, a potential suicide bomber.
Masih told his spellbinding story of persecution as a non-Muslim in Pakistan, 13 1/2 years ago, when he was about 25. He claims to be a naturalized US Citizen, and calls himself “Pastor.” According to his own 2013, Mission Report on his own Faith Covenant International, [1] he has started “almost 300 new churches throughout Pakistan”…and “36 families (averaging 6-7 members each) were freed from slavery in the brick factories.” The report further claims, presumably during 2013, “12,845, made a decision for Jesus Christ to be their savior…2397 were baptized…9011 experienced physical healing.” Masih’s claim of faith healing is found in his literature, but is clearly a Pentecostal belief that Masih did not mention at the Colorado, Church of Christ. [2]
The congregation where Masih appeared is primarily a mainline, traditional one. Speakers there do not preach about, or wait for a future “rapture,” nor speak of end of the world prophesy and its beliefs, nor do not teach that its pastors and elders have power to heal sick people, though they assert that Jesus and some apostles did. In broad general theology, traditional churches teach that Jesus is already here, and that they are required to take His words seriously and attempt to follow them here and now, which leads to active missions.
Clearly, Masih’s focus was on building his mailing list and raising money, which he wrapped around his repeated and bombastic professions of his faith. Pastor Masih claims to have told his story to some 500 churches, making him a very busy fellow. He leveled denunciations at Muslims in general, and he attacked local Denver Muslims specifically. He preached to the assembly in typical Pentecostal style, soliciting “Amen” after many of his most controversial statements. He claimed Jesus personally called him to service in a “loud voice” with instructions, “just as he did to Paul in the New Testament.” At the sermon end, Masih solicited a donation and the church helped by taking a special collection for him. Each one present was faced with a decision: should he write a check to Pastor Masih, or does one dare to doubt his story, which is truly miraculous, if true.
A friend asked me later if it is possible to verify Mujahid El Masih’s story. Masih operates his mission ten thousand miles away in a place where few have contacts, nor speak the language. How does one verify that he has 300 churches operating in Pakistan and 50 in India, or if one gives $1500.00, as he requested, is there really a family of six or seven brick-making slaves who will, in fact, be freed?
There is no practical way to know if any such charity as his exists in Pakistan. Charity watch organizations only report financial data from federal tax filings, and do not authenticate on-the-ground mission activities. Charity Navigator, does not list Masih’s Faith Covenant International, but it does keep track of Voice of Martyrs.
There is but one way to test Masih’s mission for truthfulness, and that is by examining his words. Is he telling the truth about the little things? Pastor Mujahid El Masih fails the truth test. Several statements he made about US Muslims and the Qur’an are provably false, or outrageous and flagrant exaggerations. Pastor Masih runs to hyperbole, as do many mail-order missionaries. The more dangerous Muslims can be made to look, the more exciting their missions become. Let us look at a few bold statements Masih made about two verses he claimed to be from the Qur’an that were displayed on the screen in Arabic, which he translated to English. The passages he displayed were titled Surah 9:29 and Surah 98:6, both from the Qur’an. Masih spoke, translating as follows: “the Qur’an promises those who die in Jihad will be rewarded with 72 virgins for wives in paradise.”
However, in this author’s Arabic and English Qur’an, as well as, in the searchable, online Noble Qur’an, neither of the displayed Arabic text say anything about jihad, Paradise or “72 virgins.” Furthermore, a search of the online Qur’an brings up a few sites that mention “virgins” but none remotely like the context Mr. Masih quoted as a reward for killing. It would seem he simply depended on no one present being able to read Arabic and he told us what he wanted the Arabic text to read. [3]
Masih’s next statement, alleged to be on the screen in Arabic was: “Murder the Christians and Jews and keep them in (unintelligible)…Christians and Jews are animals.”
But nothing close to this is found in the English version of either Qur’an texts displayed on the screen. Surah 9: 29: comes closest, translated to English, reads: “Fight against those who: (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
This may not sound like religious freedom to us, but it is a far cry from ordering Muslims today to “Murder the Christians and Jews.” At best, Pastor Masih grossly exaggerated.
What is Surah 98:6? It is generally about spiritual death, punishment and rewards from God, (the Arab word for God being “Allah.”) Para (6) reads in English in the searchable Noble Quran: “Those who disbelieve among the people of the book and among the polytheists will be in hellfire to dwell there for aye, for they are the worst of creatures.” Para:7 those who have faith and do righteous deeds they are the best of creature.” [3]
Thus, the Qur’an says non-believers will go to hell, much as many Christians claim. These verses are reminiscent of the sheep and goats parable in Matthew 25 of our own New Testament. But it does not say Christians are to be “murdered” as Pastor Masih claimed.
Masih’s written appeal for cash for “slave redemptions” is all too familiar and has been in the past shown to be a major fraud in Sudan at the very time when Mujahid El Masih says he was first associated with Voice of Martyrs 13 1/2 years ago. The story of the slave repatriation was enormously profitable for certain missions and churches and was first exposed in our own 1999 edition, Missionaries, Mercenaries, Missiles and Money. [4]
Masih made several aggressive and dubious statements about local Muslims in his pre-sermon, closed session with the Colorado Church of Christ bible study group. Pastor Masih’s website is named For Love Of Muslims, and he repeatedly proclaims how much he loves Muslims, while interspersing statements about Islam, which included each of the following:
*Masih stated that the Parker, Colorado Mosque (the largest mosque in Denver) “operates a Al-Qaeda cell within”.
Since Al-Qaeda is on the official FBI Terrorist organization list, and Masih says he is a US citizen, he should be obligated to report it to the FBI, if true. The FBI maintains a website soliciting tips about terrorism. If the mosque does not have such a cell, his public statement is un-Christ-like, and probably slanderous and legally actionable.
*Masih asserted decisively that: Mohamed was a “pedophile” because he “married his 2nd wife when she was six years old.” He suggests modern Muslims are trained to think this is OK, thus making them a danger to children. Masih simply states the prophet of a billion Muslims is a sex criminal based on an ugly and indecent assumption.
*Masih stated that President Obama is a Muslim (has “seven Muslims on his personal staff, with himself that makes eight”). This politically charged, and reckless statement has been a common, never supported, internet rumor for years.
*Masih stated the Ohio election (did not say which one) used flip software to steal votes, suggesting President Obama was elected by fraud. Does Masih have hard and fast proof, or is this a reckless statement he thought would be politically popular in a Church of Christ?
*Masih warned those present not to trust “your Muslim friends, they will cut your throat when they get power.” I ask, what would Jesus say to this?
*Masih stated, the “Qur’an says Jesus will come back to kill the Jews.” He did not say where one can find this statement, and It turns out not to be in the Qur’an. A search of the online Quran for “kill Jews” or “kill Christians” or the like is not found.
Conclusion:
“Pastor” Masih’s message about his own mission, while possible, is not believable because his statements about himself and Islam are laced with many untruths. Masih’s statements about Muslims, whom he claims to love, are similar to John Hagee’s, of Christians United for Israel, who has been filmed praying for war and calling for a preemptive bombing of Iran. [5] The one difference is that Masih’s pitch for money omits any significant mention of Israel, either positive or negative. Hagee delivers a similar message but he lauds Israel in every other sentence. Hagee tailors his message to evangelical, dispensational Protestant churches that put Israel on the throne next to Jesus. Hagee accepts “Christian Zionist” as a label. Masih has tailored his message to mainline churches who are not particularly partial to Israel from any misapplied scriptural belief, and probably would not allow Hagee in the parking lot. If Christ followers would observe Jesus’ admonition to love others as we love ourselves, they would enjoy more peace of mind and probably would want to make a Muslim a friend.
Part II will discuss: Jewish Rabbi’s speech to Christ followers and its impact on peace as well as on the captive people in Gaza.
Notes:
[1] For Love of Muslims Report http://fortheloveofmuslims.org/2014/04/2013-annual-mission-report/
[2] Masih lecture: http://whtt.podbean.com/mf/web/pwihmb/El-Masih-VOM-Sermon-20141123.mp4
[3] Searchable Quran, Noble: http://www.noblequran.com/translation/
[4] “Missionaries, Mercenaries, Missiles & Money: The Untold Story of the War on the Children of Sudan,” Charles E. Carlson: https://whtt.org/missionaries-mercenaries-missiles-money/ and see, “Revisiting Sudan: Missionaries, Mercenaries, Missiles & Money”: https://whtt.org/revisiting-sudan-missionaries-mercenaries-missiles-money/
[5] See “John Hagee With Benny Hinn: Praying for War in the Name of Jesus” and Christian Zionism: The Tragedy & The Turning, Part I – https://whtt.org/christian-zionism/
Chuck Carlson gives further insights on this article in our podcast: Missionary Preps Mainline Christians for War on Islam
