Daniel Sommer on the History of Islam

Islam is sometimes referred to as the “religion of peace,” even though violent attacks are regularly carried out by Muslims in the name of Islam. The reality is that the history of Islam is a history of violence in order to advance the religion. What we see happening across the globe in our generation is nothing new. A century ago in his book Plain Sermons, Daniel Sommer contrasted the religion of Christ and the religion of Mohammed (Mohamet). Even then, the violence inherent in Islam was evident.

Daniel SommerBut before we consider this question further we need to contrast Jesus Christ with Mahomet, and with all other founders of new religions, whose influence has been lasting. Jesus Christ is the only one who never authorized his followers to fight for him by using physical violence, or to fight in carnal warfare. The record of His earth-life informs us, in Luke 9:51-56, that certain of his disciples wished to know whether they should call fire down from heaven to destroy the people of a certain village in Samaria, because they did not receive him. But He rebuked them, saying, ‘Ye know not what matter of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’ Besides, in John 18:36 we learn that Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.’ Contrast this with the example of Mahomet, who, after making a few converts by promises of fleshly enjoyments in this world and the world to come, armed them and began to wage a carnal warfare to make other converts. His history of success is one of fleshly indulgence and of bloodshed. This is the very opposite of the history of the success of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mahomet’s success was decided by the FLESH, while the success of Christ was decided by the SPIRIT. Thus it was; thus it is; and thus it will be. Therefore the success of Christ, and that of Mahomet should be CONTRASTED, but not COMPARED. They are OPPOSITES, and not RESEMBLANCES.

Here we may consider with advantage a remark of Napoleon Bonaparte. He said in his speech on the divinity of Christ, which he wrote a brief period before his death, ‘Caesar, Charlemagne, and I, founded empires. But upon what did we found them? Upon FORCE. Jesus Christ alone conceived the idea of founding an empire on LOVE.’ But the empire of Mahomet was founded upon FORCE, and is maintained by FORCE. The same is true of other empires, both religious and secular, and they are therefore the opposite of the kingdom of Christ. Such empires will be overthrown” (Plain Sermons, p. 209-210).

The wise man wrote, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Or, as Sommer wrote, “Thus it was; thus it is; and thus it will be.” We need to direct people to the real religion of peace. It is the religion of Christ, the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He came to bring peace between man and God through His sacrifice on the cross (Ephesians 2:13-16). This is real peace, and it is only found in Christ (Romans 5:1), not Mohammed or any other founder of a human religion. Jesus Christ “is our peace” (Ephesians 4:14).


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