Is America Islamophobic?

Today I went to the local drug store to return and iPOD dock that I bought & did not work.  While in line,  I decided I'd browse the magazine & book section to see what they had and came across the newest issue of  Time Magazine, the headline read "Is America Islamophobic?: What the anti-mosque uproar tells us about how the U.S. regards Muslims written by Bobby Gosh.   This article contains interviews from Muslim-American Citizens native and internationally born and their thoughts on post September11th feelings toward Islam & the Mosque/Cultural Center two blocks from "Ground Zero"  which has caused negative and controversial reactions.  

The reason I'm writing this note is  because as a Christian in Modern America it's difficult to express your tolerance of someone else's faith when so many of my "co-laborers" preach hateful messages regarding the faith of Muslims.  There is a campaigned among many Evangelicals to reclaim this country for God, while I do agree that the founding fathers of this nation believed that God exists I, by the  foundation of this country's wealth and prosperity, do not believe that this country wholly belong to the Lord.  Thomas Jefferson did believe  God, but he fathered quited a few children from sexual encounters with slaved women.  It's very frustrated to excuse the  blatant wrong-doings of others, notably our founding fathers, for the sake of proving  something that's simply  not true.  

Jesus told us in the Gospels that we will know who's His b y the fruit that the bear Mat 7:16-20  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

We will know who belongs to the Lord by their fruit.

Muslims while I do not agree with what they believe, I really don't feel as though we should hate-bash what they believe and use fear tactics to remove them from being accepted by people who are ignorant of them.  A "friend" told me that the Anti-Christ will be of the Islamic faith and that it's a dangerous religious ideology.  I'm not exactly sure about that statement, I did have a moment to reflect on my reaction  to what he told me and it was a spirit of fear and anxiety, that  Islam was going to take over the world and that we would ALL have to convert to  Shari'a  (Islamic) Law.

Christianity is being threatened by this faith, I will admit, but not by it's growth which is admittedly rapid, but the fact that we will lash out and spew hate for this belief ( I am guilty of this), instead of gaining an understanding, and understanding does NOT, i repeat DOES NOT  mean conformity. It means to gain knowledge of something that you did not previously understand. And as Christians we NEED  to be doing that so when we encounter and have the opportunity to witness we will be able to defend our faith with meekness and love. Not ignorance and fear.

In conclusion, we must educate ourselves, have discussions and most importantly, be prayerful about ways that we can express the image of Christ to Islam and to the world.

God Bless