A Clash of Idols: A Christian Perspective on Crushing the Head of the Serpent.
Any Islamic culture must view Western culture as an idolatrous and imperialistic force for keeping Muslims under control. Such a view must have some truth in it and it feeds the narrative upon which Jihadist Islam is radicalized into holy war.
Millions of Muslims live outside the domain of Islamic countries. They exist within the liberal and secular cultures which, at heart, they must despise as idolatrous. They can do no more than pay lip service to the secular values which, in principle, champions personal freedom and freedom of speech. Their radicalized brethren must fear they will be seduced by these values.
Western culture has had a Judea-Christian heritage but for several generations its foundations have been vitiated by post Christian and Post-modern views of self-determination. Scriptural imperatives are seen as anathema in an age where scientific enterprise, individual pluralism and diversity are to rule the human species.
But, on a metaphysical level, there is a sense in which Western secular culture cannot but clash with the Judeo-Christian narrative which defines good and evil. Its analysis of human self-sufficiency and self-determination is obviously self-limiting and it therefore cannot escape the argument that moral good and evil can only be exhaustively defined by God.
After all, having been made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1 v 27) mankind is wired up to an understanding of Ultimate Authority and this drives the religious propensity of all mankind. Even though this knowledge of God is suppressed no individual can escape its force because our sense of self is always correlated to our sense of God. (Romans 1 v 18-19),
This act of suppression does not prevent mankind from attempting to justify its own interpretation of reality; indeed, it cannot but attempt to handle the knowledge of good an evil with its own god-like certainty. That god-like certainty is itself an act of idolatry and it can only have one outcome, a violent and deadly struggle with other so called ‘certainties.’ In other words, a “clash of idols.”
History is redolent with bloody examples. New ‘certainties’ are created when hostile systems of reality are forced into a deadly clash for survival. Like new empires which overcome old empires they survive by consuming their predecessors. Such life and death struggles for power are not characterized by loving enemies and doing good to those who hate you but by the hellish imperative of ‘homo homini lupus.’
Terrorist acts against the West are deliberately aimed at violently ending the existence of those who appear to be ‘innocently’ living out the idolatry of their ‘self-sufficient’ and ‘self-determined’ lives. They are thought to be living in ignorance of what their governments do in their name. This provides an underlying narrative which justifies the ‘certainties’ of holy war against unbelievers.
The clash between religious idolatries and secular idolatries is as much a clash between opposing man-made ‘certainties’ as between empires struggling to achieve world domination. Differing views about the nature of good and evil requires that each side can idealize its own ‘certainties’ and demonize those of its rivals.
Western cultures, which are liberal and secular, are no less self-certain, self-righteous and self-satisfied when they oppose any Biblical definition of good and evil. Its interpretation of reality requires certainties which accuse Christianity of being divisive and intolerant. This is odd when a Biblical definition of good and evil judges all mankind to be morally fallen. Indeed the starting point for all Christian discussion about good and evil is “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3 v 23).
How can Christianity be regarded as divisive and intolerant if it treats all people on the same basis? Even the remedy for mankind’s condition is equally directed at all people. The Apostle Paul, speaking to the Athenians at the Areopagus on Mars Hill, said – “In the past God overlooked such ignorance (around idolatry), but now commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17 v 30).
Communist ideology maintained that man, basically good in nature, is at mercy of a capitalist system which always engineers material and cultural slavery. Its own remedy, to deal with its definition of reality, was to impose its own slavery over the masses in the name of communist ideals. Favour was given to party members and many opponents were killed or put in labour camps.
It can be no coincidence that radical Islam has called America the Great Satan and no coincidence that Americans have called states which have supported terrorism (and weapons of mass destruction), as an ‘axis of evil’ (President George W. Bush 2002 State of the Union Address).
Early Protestants called the Pope the anti-Christ and Roman Catholics fired its anathemas down on anyone who did not accept the supremacy of the Pope over all Christendom. It is no coincidence that the ‘god-like certainties of racism, nationalism, fascism and communism have all resulted in the death of millions of people.
It is now no coincidence that Sunni and Shia Muslims can see each other as mortal enemies. Each is determined to crush the head of the serpent and each ends up making that serpent more powerful. However, Journalist Ruqia Hassan, who died in Syria in 2015 for criticizing ISIS, states – “The only thing the secular man remembers from the Qur’an is that God is the most merciful, and everything comes from that,” she wrote. “The only thing the extreme Islamists memorise is one verse – to be tough with infidels and merciful to believers – but to the extreme Islamists, everyone is an infidel, whether Muslim or not.” The Guardian – 14.01.2016.
Western culture is no less filled with a certainty about demonizing its enemies. It has an unquenchable thirst for seeing the ‘head of the serpent (Satan) crushed.’ We love to see it done in our films and in our literature. No doubt it will be done in the latest James Bond movie, and in the latest rendition of Star Wars; just as it was done in Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.
That an ancient spiritual force lies behind all personal evil is itself a very ancient narrative. Satan, (meaning adversary), along with all the demonic angels, are masters of deceit. Strife and division are its chief weapons against all mankind; especially by producing self-righteous certainties in fallen men; the road to hell is said to be paved with ‘good’ intentions.
Ironically, it is that evil personality whom the secular mind has largely relegated to the role of myth. There is a multi-million pound industry catering for appetite for TV and films and about a supernatural world of demons and those personalities who fight them. Nowhere have I ever seen any recognition that Jesus Christ has already crushed the head of the serpent.
The nature of all idolatry is self-defeating. As Psalm 115 puts it -:
“Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.
The work of men’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.
8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.
Behind every idol worshiped is a demon deceiving and encouraging a sacrifice of worship. (1 Corinthians 10 v 20).
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2 14-15. (katargéō – verb meaning- bring to nought; make of no effect; annul; abolish; make invalid; abrogate; make completely inoperative; render powerless.)
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Revelation 5 v 6.
“The seven eyes that are before the throne” take special notice of hell, who come in, and come out, for there is a deep counsel there against us. In this consideration, Christ numbers all the footsteps of devils.” Samuel Rutherford ‘The Trial and Triumph of Faith. Odom Publications page 389 – 390.
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3 v 8
Die Welt 27.09.15 article by Freia Peters Political Editor
Islamists threaten Christians in refugee camps:
Christian refugees are in German asylum centers assaults exposed by fanatical Muslims who live under Sharia law. Fundamentalists even threatening them with murder.
“One would have to protect the family,” says Simon Jacob by the Central Council of the Eastern Christians. Stories like this no longer surprise him. “I know a lot of reports of Christian refugees who are under attack. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” says Jacob. “The number of unreported cases is high. We must expect further conflicts that bring the refugees from their homeland to Germany. Between Christians and Muslims. Between Shiites and Sunnis. Between Kurds and extremists. Between Yazidis and extremists.” Jacob argues that the refugees initially accommodate separated by religions. But this could not be a long term solution.
Jacob calls for the formulation of a German mission statement, in which the fundamental values of democracy and a pluralistic society are anchored. Religious freedom. Freedom of speech. Equality between men and women. “We need a clear statement, as well as an orientation aid for refugees, and to help them to distinguish themselves against extremists,” says Jacob.
“Of course, refugees bring their own experiences of conflict, for example between Shiites and Sunnis or Christians and Muslims,” said the renowned migration researchers and historians Klaus J. Bade. He calls for the forthcoming integration issues socio-political visions and future-oriented concepts. He also calls for a higher model, with the Germans, but also the refugees can identify – and must. “This is the price that each immigrant has to pay, who wants to live in Germany.” Bath Calls Affiliate guidance that are tailored to the country of origin at the integration course.
