Islam As The Enemy? A Christian’s Fiercely Misguided Attack on Unity

Dear Mindful Leader,

Every so often, I receive messages from well-meaning friends that push me to reflect deeply on my faith and what it truly means to walk in the light of Christ. For Christians, and equally for Jews and Muslims, adhering to a higher standard of Mindful Ethics isn’t just a passion of mine—it's a Godly mandate. Here on LinkedIn, I’m committed to spreading this message of unity, integrity, and spiritual excellence, despite the challenges that sometimes come with it.

Recently, I was sent a direct message that struck a chord.

It came from someone I deeply respect—a fellow Christian I know to be devout in his faith. Out of respect for him, I will not disclose his name, but I believe it’s important to address the misguided beliefs contained in his message, especially given the tone and content that were, quite frankly, hurtful.

This brother in Christ is someone who, like many others, holds strong and very angry (negative) feelings about the events of 9/11 and the role of Islam in our world today.

However, I believe his view is steeped in misunderstanding, and it's my duty as both a friend and fellow Christian to respond in love and humility.

Below, I will share his message and my response—unedited. The aim is not to tear down but to correct in love, hoping that we all may reflect on our biases and grow in understanding.

The DM I Received:

"The cowardly Muslims brought down the Twin Towers and murdered nearly 3,000 individuals of different ethnicities on 9/11. Many more innocent people have died from respiratory issues, and others have contracted cancers who worked on the cleanup from 23 years ago. The Muslim/Islamic religion is not based upon Abraham's teachings, but Satan's, and they do not believe Jesus is God's Son. Their Koran contains tenets on how to cut off fingers and toes of those who do not agree with their religion, and how to conspire and lay in wait to murder so-called infidels. Their wicked prophet Muhammad, who they will kill for, was not spiritual, some say he was a pedophile. The reward they promise their martyrs is a diabolical lie and yet you place them alongside Jews and Christians. You may as well support Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler and the Catholic Church that tortured and murdered multiple millions of their fellow brothers/sisters/neighbors whom God created. You just don't get it because you believe in manmade customs, traditions, and Satanically influenced doctrines which Jesus NEVER taught, instructed or preached. You said you felt bad receiving a negative commentary from someone but I feel very sad that you have been duped/deceived."

My Response:

I appreciate your message and the sentiment behind it. I can see the depth of emotion you feel regarding the events of 9/11 and the harm that radical extremists have caused.

I also feel that pain, as any person with a heart would.

Thousands of lives were tragically taken on that day, and many more have suffered long after.

These heinous acts were indeed committed by extremists claiming to act in the name of Islam, but we must be careful not to paint an entire religion or its followers with the same brush. In this, I must humbly disagree.

Let’s first consider a historical and spiritual truth: Muslims, like Christians and Jews, worship the God of Abraham.

This is a point of deep connection between these three monotheistic faiths. While our understandings of God may differ in some ways, the foundation remains the same—our faiths are linked by a shared spiritual ancestry. In Genesis 17:20, God speaks to Abraham about his son Ishmael, saying, “And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.”

Islam traces its lineage through Ishmael, just as Judaism and Christianity trace theirs through Isaac. This shared history is undeniable, and it is the same God who made this promise.

Now, I understand your anger, and there is no denying the terror wrought by radical Muslims.

However, it’s important to remember that radicalism is not limited to one faith.

Just as there were radical Muslims who destroyed the Twin Towers, history tells us that radical Christians were responsible for horrific acts during the Crusades. Entire cities were sacked in the name of Christ, and countless Muslims and Jews were slaughtered. Consider the massacre at Jerusalem in 1099, during the First Crusade. Reports from that time describe the streets running red with blood.

These were radical Christians—men who believed they were doing God’s will, but their actions stood in stark contrast to the teachings of Jesus.

We must be cautious in labeling an entire faith based on the actions of a radical few.

If we did that, Christianity would also bear the burden of atrocities like the Spanish Inquisition, where Christians tortured and executed those deemed heretics. Jesus himself warned against such behavior. In Matthew 7:1-5, He said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Jesus was calling for humility and self-reflection, not for us to sit in judgment of others or to condemn entire peoples.

Yes, the Quran contains verses that, when taken out of context, seem violent.

But if we are honest, the Bible also contains passages that could be used to justify violence. In Deuteronomy 20:16-17, God commands the Israelites to completely destroy certain cities and kill their inhabitants—men, women, children, and animals. In Leviticus 24:16, it is written, "And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death."

If taken without context, these passages could be twisted to justify terrible acts, just as some have done with the Quran.

The truth is that every major religion contains teachings that can be misused by extremists to justify violence.

But this misuse does not reflect the true nature of these faiths. The vast majority of Muslims, like Christians and Jews, seek to live lives of peace, love, and service to others.

The Quran, much like the Bible, also contains beautiful verses calling for kindness, mercy, and forgiveness. In Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:32), it is written, "Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely."

These are words of peace, not of violence.

Furthermore, the Quran acknowledges Jesus as a significant figure, even if Muslims do not believe Him to be the Son of God in the same way Christians do.

In fact, Jesus is mentioned in the Quran more times than Muhammad. Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet and respect His teachings, particularly His emphasis on love and mercy. They also believe in the Virgin Birth and that Jesus performed miracles. In Surah Al-Imran (3:45), it is written: "When the angels said, 'O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah]."

While we may have theological differences, there is a shared reverence for Jesus.

We must also remember that Christians and Jews have not always seen eye-to-eye. For centuries, Jews were persecuted by Christians, despite both groups worshiping the same God of Abraham.

This, too, was wrong.

Anti-Semitism, often fueled by misguided Christian beliefs, led to countless atrocities throughout history, culminating in the Holocaust. Yet today, many Christians and Jews have found common ground, recognizing that their differences should not be a source of division.

Jesus commanded us to love one another, and that includes those who are different from us. In John 13:34, He said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

This is not a suggestion but a commandment!!!

Jesus did not limit this love to those who look like us, think like us, or believe as we do.

His love was for all of humanity, even those who nailed Him to the cross.

In Luke 23:34, as He hung dying, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

If Jesus could forgive those who crucified Him, can we not find it in our hearts to forgive those who have wronged us?

I do not claim to have all the answers, nor do I wish to argue about who is right or wrong.

As Christians, we are called to walk humbly with our God, as Micah 6:8 reminds us: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Walking humbly means acknowledging that we do not know everything, that we are fallible, and that only God can judge the hearts of men.

Radicalism in any form—whether Christian, Muslim, or otherwise—is a perversion of the true teachings of God.

Satan uses radicalism to divide us, to make us fear and hate one another, and in doing so, he leads us away from the path of righteousness. But God calls us to be peacemakers. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." We are not called to sow division or hatred but to bring peace and reconciliation to a broken world.

I am not here to defend the actions of those who commit atrocities in the name of Islam, just as I would not defend the actions of those who have committed atrocities in the name of Christianity.

But I believe that love, understanding, and dialogue are far more powerful than hate.

We must rise above the anger and pain that 9/11 has left in our hearts and look for ways to build bridges, not walls.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 12:18, wrote, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." This is what we are called to do—to live peaceably with all men, even those with whom we disagree.

This does not mean we must accept violence or extremism, but it does mean we must approach one another with love, not hate.

I understand that it’s hard to let go of the anger and fear that 9/11 stirred in us.

But I believe that if we truly follow the teachings of Christ, we must seek to understand, not condemn, those who are different from us. We must recognize that radicalism does not define an entire people or faith. It is a distortion, not a reflection, of their true beliefs.

In this, I hope we can find common ground and walk together in the light of God’s love.

Conclusion:

As someone who is Godly and as a Mindfully Ethical leader, you are called to a higher standard of love and humility.

It is easy to react in anger and blame when we see the wrongs of this world, but our faith demands that we rise above and seek peace.

While we must acknowledge the pain caused by 9/11 and the actions of extremists, we must also recognize that this does not represent the heart of Islam or its followers. In the end, it is only through love, empathy, and understanding that we can hope to create a world where these divisions are healed.

Let us remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

In doing so, we honor the true teachings of Christ and live as the light in a dark world.

I leave you with this reflection, mindful of the weight of our words and the responsibility we carry as Christians (and as Mindful Godly Leaders).

May we all strive to be peacemakers, to spread love, and to walk humbly with our God.

In Faith and Service,

David

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? Published by: David Vogel, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

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This edition of Mindful Ethics was written with the sincere hope that we all reflect on our words and actions, choosing to be bearers of love rather than division. As always, I invite you to share your thoughts and join the conversation as we navigate these difficult but necessary discussions.