This week, LinkedIn
discussion groups under “The Teaching Professor” include one entitled, Class Discussion: Are we on our own path to Sharia Law? According
to the introduction, “Surveys show one in three Americans are worried about
Sharia Law coming to the U.S.A.” One
responder, Howard Doughty, criticized the deplorable example America has set
for the world through its interference in the Middle East and concluded, “Forget
Sharia Law (which is no threat to America) and look in the mirror.”
I
disagree with Doughty’s claim that Sharia Law is no threat. America has prospered because most of her
people individually exercise respect for the rule of law out of an ingrained
moral conscience. Therefore, it would be
hard to envision how current quality of life would be sustained or improved if
moral behavior were instead coerced by the state. Even the liberal Huffington
Post is quoted as saying about Sharia Law, “Some Islamic scholars
argue that true Islamic belief
cannot be coerced by the state, and therefore belief in Shariah should
only come from the individual and not be codified by the state.”
Having
emphasized the importance of moral convictions as a basis for obeying laws, I do
agree with Howard Doughty that Sharia law is not a “DIRECT threat to
America." Instead, I believe a more
direct threat is coming from within America’s (dissolving) borders. The direct threat is from failure of those in
positions of leadership in Washington and on down through our state and local
governments, churches, schools, civic organizations, and families to believe
and exercise leadership out of a belief in moral absolutes. How often do you hear a courageous leader
stand and speak with a voice of moral clarity?
America’s founders recognized the fallibility of mankind and the existence of
God as Creator and Giver of the moral code as summarized in the "Golden
Rule" and Ten Commandments. These
moral standards provided the foundation and structure within which western civilization
could prosper. Crucial to this success
was the belief that rights are from God Who is worthy of our praise and
worship; and, the belief that freedom depends upon individual obligation to love
our neighbor. Americans elected leaders
in every sphere of authority from federal government to local communities, and generally,
these leaders challenged us with a voice of moral clarity and the character to
back up their words based on Judeo-Christian principles.
Dial forward to 2015, and it is clear that Christianity has relinquished its
influence through compromise, hypocrisy, and disrespectful words and actions
that are not winsome to an increasingly secular culture. Consequently, many have dismissed the relevance
and value of Christianity. Increasing
numbers deny God and the moral absolutes that had distinguished America as
"exceptional" and "good."
Instead, America is being led and influenced by moral relativism and
liberal progressivism that spews its own inconsistencies and much
hypocrisy--pressing for women's rights in America while refusing to condemn
Islamic enslavement of women wherever it becomes dominant; pressing for rights
of the defenselessness while condoning the abortion and mutilation of babies
and sale of body parts; pressing for the rights of minorities while ridiculing
members of minorities like Ben Carson who demonstrate that even the poorest can
succeed when individual moral responsibility is exercised. Instead of ridiculing those who succeed as
examples of how life could be, liberals cower in fear of losing a voting
constituency. Not to be excused, many
conservatives are complicit in this scenario of moral laxness. Although at
least some conservatives profess to operate from the moral high ground, yet for
fear of being disliked, many lack the moral backbone to be a voice of moral
clarity or to stand up for the Constitution.
So, I am not nearly as concerned about Sharia law as I am about the current
moral decay in our nation. Our leaders
lack moral resolve and courage, refuse to enforce the laws of the land, and
even undermine the respect and authority of our men and women in uniform who
put their lives on the line to deter crime on our streets. God help us!
In agreement with Howard Doughty, we SHOULD look into the mirror, and remember
that God is looking at us and our actions as well. Let us pursue God’s Word and rely on the Holy
Spirit’s power to discipline the person we face in the mirror every day (James
1: 23-25). And, based on our own growing
moral character and desire to please God, let us study to identify and elect
leaders who will speak and act in ways that uphold the U.S. Constitution. And let us hold our leaders accountable
through regular communication (e-mail, social media) to uphold state and local
laws supportive of strong families and supportive of the poor and minorities
who seek to improve their lives through honest efforts. Only in these ways will God honor America and
help us preserve individual freedom against threats of coercion from within and
from beyond our borders. If America is
in danger of falling under Sharia Law or something more oppressive, it is
because we are failing to maintain the moral provisions that have preserved and
united our nation through many difficult storms.
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