Recently and regretably I’ve come across suggestions that Muslims do not make good American citizens, or that all terrorists are Muslim. This is untrue. As Christians we need to guard against this kind of irrational and unbiblical fear mongering. The biblical doctrine of common grace does not allow us to paint with such wide and unloving brushes. 1The Christian theologian, John Murray, says “common grace” is the answer to the following kinds of questions,
“How is it that men who are not savingly renewed by the Spirit of God nevertheless exhibit so many qualities, gifts and accomplishments that promote the preservation, temporal happiness, cultural progress, social and economic improvement of themselves and of others? How is it that races and peoples that have been apparently untouched by the redemptive and regenerative influences of the gospel contribute so much to what we call human civilisation?”
Murray notes that God not only restrains evil, but He also
“endows men with gifts, talents, and aptitudes; He stimulates them with interest and purpose to the practice of virtues, the pursuance of worthy tasks, and the cultivation of arts and sciences that occupy the time, activity and energy of men and that make for the benefit and civilisation of the human race. He ordains institutions for the protection and promotion of right, the preservation of liberty, the advance of knowledge and the improvement of physical and moral conditions.” (Westminster Theological Journal; 5:1, November 1942).
According to the FBI, not all Muslims are terrorists. Here is a pie chart I came across at Loonwatch which makes a helpful reference to a FBI report on Terrorism in the United States:
Do you believe, or have you heard others say that Muslims do not make good American citizens or that all Muslims are terrorists? How do you respond to these kinds of misrepresentations?
See:
Jesus, the Prince of Peace
References
