General Theology
Point of the Sword
by Clay Staggs
I’ve been thinking for awhile about the Fox News Channel Reporter, Steve Centanni, and his cameraman, Olaf Wiig, who were captured in Gaza a few weeks ago. Thankfully, they were eventually released. What has been on my mind is the way that they were forced to convert to Islam prior to their release, and the fact that this “conversion” was videotaped and released to the world. You can still see it on YouTube here.
I began to write this entry a few days ago with the idea that we in the West really don’t understand the nature of our enemies. However, I scrapped that entry and rewrote it because what we really don’t understand is ourselves and our fundamental natures.
I was puzzled that no one seemed bothered by these men’s forced conversions. A friend at work explained that this was because everyone knew it was fake. My friend is exactly correct. In point of fact, the kidnappers knew it was fake too. So why go through the bother?
Because Islam is a religion of works, not grace. In their theological world, converting at the point of the sword, no matter how insincere it may be, earns you religious brownie points. We look at the video and shrug it off as silly propaganda. What we in the West fail to understand (not simply acknowledge; I mean truly internalize) is that for radical Islamists, earning your way into heaven is a deadly serious business.
So why don’t we get it? I believe that we don’t get it because we can’t comprehend someone believing that forcing conversions at gunpoint or killing infidels earns you any favors from God. We in the Christian (or worse, post-modern) West can’t grasp that anyone would be that depraved. And that’s really the problem, isn’t it? We can’t believe that the enemy is that bad, because we really don’t believe that we’re that bad.
Posted by Clay Staggs at September 13, 2006 05:30 PM
So right. We may not commit ‘x’, but we’re certainly capable of ‘y’ & ‘z’. It’s easier for me to grasp equality of sin when using variables… not sure what that says about algebra… Actually, I suppose that our sin (and perhaps our righteous deeds as well)may appear to God as variables do to us. The point is, as you allude to, that although our practice should reflect our position in Christ, it does not change our position (in either direction).
On another note, for a satirical look at modern/postmodern reasons for depravity, check out the lyrics of “Gee Officer Krupke” from Bernstein’s West Side Story. Here’s a link: http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/w/westsidestory7630/geeofficerkrupke273788.html
Clay, That’s a terrific and profound post. Nothing I can add to your thoughts because you’ve nailed it.