Do you remember where you were and how you felt when you first heard about the attack on the World Trade Center? There was an eerie quietness that fell over the land that day. The United States—the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth—suddenly didn’t seem so invincible.
The first thing we wanted to know was what happened. Then we asked who did it and why. As the media and politicians rallied to give answers, we began to form a picture of what was behind the tragedy that still haunts us every time we hear the numbers 9/11. But there is one word that was behind this attack: deception.
The men who hijacked the planes that day were deceptive before they ever entered this country. They lied about why they wanted to come to America, who they really were, and what their intentions were. They used deception to blend in with our way of life until they had the opportunity to accomplish their real goal: to kill as many Americans as possible.
These men were Muslims. They were doing exactly what Muhammed did and what Islam teaches and practices to this very day. Muhammed used deception. He pretended to be a prophet of God in Mecca for about thirteen years and had little success. When he was invited to become ruler in Medina, he showed his true colors. That’s when he began killing anyone who stood in his way.
The religion of Islam has followed this pattern everywhere it has gone for 1400 years. And, tragically, this ploy has worked with mathematical precision with few exceptions. Muslims move into a country and act peaceful while they are in the minority. But once they have enough numbers on their side—even if it takes centuries—they do not hesitate to accomplish their mission: to bring the rest of the world into submission to Allah and the religion of Islam. The word Islam means submission.
Airport officials and customs agents weren’t the only ones who were fooled that day. Soon afterward politicians began to cover up the real truth about this religion. The President said that no one should blame Islam because it is a peaceful religion. We were warned not to point the finger at the religion but at the terrorists. The media quickly began using the labels “Islamic Extremists” and “Islamic radicals” to divert attention away from the real source of the problem.
But these suicide attackers weren’t extremists. They were just carrying out the aim of their religion. The Quran says, “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the last day” (Sura 9:29). It tells Muslims, “Therefore, when ye meet the unbelievers in fight, strike at their necks” (Sura 47:4). The jihad ordered in these verses is not based on self-defense. This is war against anyone who refuses to submit to Allah and his “prophet” Muhammed.
Since 9/11, the campaign of deception has continued to spread. Muslims number 1.9 billion worldwide and have made inroads into every part of our culture. Our highest military leaders and national defense officials refuse to admit the truth about this movement. But make no mistake about it. Islam is a political ideology more than a religion, and it is here to conquer, not to submit or coexist.
The problem is not simply that people refuse to admit this kind of violence exists. There is something deeper. They don’t want to face the fact that evil exists period. That’s why they are so shocked when something like 9/11 happens. That’s why they’re willing to listen to a political and media coverup of the truth. Most people are too busy enjoying their life to care. They don’t like to hear about anything that threatens their happy, safe life. Many know deep down that if they admit the reality of evil, they will have to face up to the sin in their life. The easier path is to buy the lies the devil sells and make excuses until evil slaps them in the face.
Behind all this deception is the devil. Satan “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). He is so deceptive that Paul said he “transforms himself into an angel of light” (II Cor. 11:14). He has done nothing but deceive from the beginning. Most people have always believed his lies instead of accepting the truth (Matt. 7:13-14; II Cor. 4:4). The devil told Eve she would not die if she ate the fruit and she accepted his lie because it was more pleasant to her than the truth. Why should we think our age is any different?
What about Christians since 9/11? Have we grown closer to God? Are we more serious about death? Have we fallen asleep to the evil that surrounds us? Almost 3,000 people lost their lives on that day. I would never think we shouldn’t grieve over that loss, but as Christians we must keep things in a biblical perspective. How many people have been deceived by sin since that date and have died in a lost condition?
It is good to have patriotic feelings of sadness and righteous indignation over what happened that Tuesday morning. But our feelings must rise above concern for the future of this earthly nation. Sin is the real evil, and it is very deceptive.
-Kerry Duke, Vice-President of Tennessee Bible College
