Last Friday night the Tulsa Ice Oilers Hockey team played the Mississippi River Kings at the Downtown Convention Center.  It was “Support our Troops Night”, and both teams wore special cammo jerseys.  Ironically, the Blue Star Mothers had a booth set up in the hallway outside the ticket counter.  Blue Star Mothers are women who have a child currently serving in our Military, or a child who has served in the past.  So - why is that Ironic?  It sounds like a normal Friday night in America. 

were turned away after waiting in line to attend the debate.  Bomb sniffing dogs patrolled the hall.  Convention Center Security Officers, as well as Tulsa Police Officers wearing body armor on the outside of their uniforms were too many to count.  A source with TPD told me that the SWAT Team was “staging” in the underground parking lot in case there was an incident.  It did feel a bit more like Amerika, than the good old USA.  Men in cammo battle dress, carrying automatic weapons were also seen.  They could have been special Law Enforcement, but they appeared more like Military.  About 35 of our Heartland group were among the fortunate ones to make it inside Convention room A.  Some had to stand in the back and down the sides of the room, but at least they got in the door.  

How did we arrive at this?  What precipitated Muslims hosting a Christian / Muslim Debate?  What could have spurred several thousand people to show up on a Friday night when security and safety were in grave question?  It all began with an incident on September 11, 2007.  That’s right, it was the sixth anniversary of 9/11.  Pastor Reza Safa was leading Tulsa’s Fisherman’s House Church in prayer.  They were preparing to walk about one mile from their Church building to the site of a City-wide “Peace March” to commemorate 9/11.  As they prayed, they were suddenly interrupted by three Islamic men who entered the building and began to challenge the Pastor  to a debate.  One Muslim was clicking his camera all around the group.  It seems that Reza’s comments to a local magazine had angered the Muslim community.  Community Spirit Magazine had asked several community leaders to answer the question: “Can Christians and Muslims be friends?”  Reza Safa, a former Shiite Muslim who is now a Christian Evangelist and local Pastor, had answered in the Negative.  It was politically-incorrect, and even religiously-incorrect, but Safa was just being honest.  Of all people, Reza Safa should know the best answer to such a question.  Christians can be friendly to Muslims, but when Muslims murder Christians all around the world, it does put a damper on any level of potential friendship they might achieve.

Witnesses to the events of 9/11/07 say that the Islamic men were loud and intimidating when they interrupted the Christian prayer meeting.  They demanded an immediate answer from Safa, and demanded a date be set for the debate.  Other Muslims stood outside the Fisherman’s House Church holding signs and demanding a debate as well, waiting to harass the Christians on their way to the “Peace March”.  Pastor Safa obliged the Muslim challenge none the less, and ultimately the date was set for last Friday night, January 25, 2008. 

The “Can Christians and Muslims be Friends?” Debate began with the Moderator explaining that Reza Safa had graciously accepted an apology backstage from those Muslims who had interrupted his prayer meeting on 9/11.  I think that fact alone proves that Christians can be friendly and forgiving toward Islamic folks.   It also shows a familiar Islamic tactic:  Be arrogant and pushy until you get what you want… then apologize.  Christians are forgiving, so use that characteristic against them.  Their mission had been accomplished – Reza had agreed to their debate.  

The Tulsa Islamic Society had Imam Jamal Badawi flown-in from Nova Scotia, Canada to debate Reza Safa.  Badawi is an internationally known educator, author, and Islamic leader originally from Egypt.  Strangely enough, Badawi has been linked to such groups as the Muslim Brotherhood and other individuals who appear on the FBI terror watch list.  How someone like him gains approval to fly into the US from Canada is beyond me.  Local Pastor Reza Safa was born in Iran.  He was converted to Christianity in Europe as a young man.  He currently heads up Nejat TV, an outreach to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Islamic nations via satellite.  He preaches in Farsi, the native language of Iran.  So it was Badawi verses Safa for the evening’s debate.  Each man would have a half hour to speak, then a fifteen minute rebuttal to the other’s remarks.  Going in alphabetical order, Badawi spoke first. 

Tensions in the room were tangible.  I was seated next to two Islamic men.  One had made it through security with a small red metal thermos.  He kept pouring shots of something into the little cup and acted jittery.  He and his friend got up and came back several times during the evening.  If they had walked off and left the thermos behind, I would have had to take action.  That is how thick the atmosphere was in the room.  I observed several of my trusted friends watching people’s behavior like a Hawk...  or like an Eagle, if you prefer.   

Among the most unusual statements Mr. Badawi made in his remarks were the following:  A) He said that Christians and Jews worship the same God as Muslims, his name is Allah.  Of course, this was simply his underhanded way of saying there is no God but Allah.  He implied that when Christians pray to Jehovah in Jesus’ name, we are really praying to Allah – we just don’t know it.   Everything this man said seemed to have a double meaning, which gave his comments a built-in deniability.  It is a skill which surpasses even the mastery of a liberal trial lawyer who chooses his words with cunning craftiness.  Years of Islamic indoctrination has developed Badawi’s talent of speaking in terms which can be interpreted several ways.  He always has a loophole through which he can escape dealing with the main issue.  Very impressive (if one can truly be impressed by deception, that is).  In reality, Americans are more impressed with straight-forward honest talk.  Plain speech is applauded in Christianity, unlike Islam which seems to be fascinated with intellectual double-speak.  B) Badawi emphatically declared that he would give 1 million dollars to anyone who could find one verse in the Koran which says Muslims cannot be friends with Christians or Jews.  He made the offer more than once.  Well Mr. Badawi, pay up!  Reza Safa showed you verse after verse on the power point screen.  He proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Koran says exactly that.  But Badawi plays a theological Shell Game.  You never know which shell the pea is under.  He deflects any hard facts with a simple Muslim two-step. It’s either: A) “You are not interpreting the Koran correctly”, or B) “I didn’t actually say what you just heard me say”.   

I can just picture Badawi at home with his family.  His wife is laying in bed next to him when she hears the unmistakable sound of him passing gas.  “Why did you break wind, Jamal?  That is disgusting.”  “What are you talking about, woman?  I did no such thing!”  “I heard you Jamal, and besides – the stench is horrible!”  “I smell nothing!  You are making the whole thing up!  We Muslims get blamed for everything!  You must take my word for it!  I am a famous Muslim Scholar, you know!  I am incapable of such common things.”  Basically this is what we witnessed on the platform Friday night.  Mr. Badawi wanted us to believe his version of the facts, rather than believing our own eyes, ears, hearts, and minds. 

It has been said that Religion is the Opiate of the Masses.  For the Masses in Islam, this is certainly the case.  Islam is all about CONTROL.  The very word: "Islam" literally means: "Submission".  The man doesn't lay his life down for his family, he Controls his family.  In about 5000 reported cases per year, Islamic men murder their own wives or daughters in so-called “honor-killings” with impunity – largely because they have not obeyed the dad well enough.  In similar fashion, Muslims are required to take the word of their Imam as ‘gospel’.  You can’t question a Muslim scholar, much like you can’t draw a cartoon of Mohammed and get away with it.  That’s why watching Reza Safa unravel Mr. Badawi’s lies, right in front of Badawi’s own followers, was such a treat.  It was like facing down a bully - right in front of his former victims. 

Let me detail the Islamic Shell Game I mentioned earlier.  In response to Badawi’s assertions, Reza put verses from the Koran on the big screen, and showed the audience several places where the Koran calls for violence against Christians and Jews.  (I’m still waiting for Badawi to make good on his Million dollar offer, but I’m not holding my breath).  Badawi’s reply?  “You are not interpreting the word ‘infidel’ properly”, etc.  Then Reza put excerpts of Badawi’s own internet teachings and books on the screen, which went to prove Reza’s point.  “You are taking my words out of context”, was Badawi’s reply.  “You must  go back to the original transcripts of the Koran and read the commentaries of the top Islamic Scholars who know the Arabic language.”  OK, says Reza – Here’s what the Top Islamic Scholars in Saudi Arabia say.  He put their own words up on the big-screen in power point.  These are the guys recognized by Saudi Royalty - in Writing - as being the top Scholars in charge of Islam in Mecca, which is the seat of the Muslim religion.  Reza put the published words of these Scholars on screen for all to see.  Amazingly, the Top Muslim Scholars agreed with Reza's interpretation on Islam, not Badawi's.  So was Badawi ignorant, or was he lying?  And if he is lying, what is his agenda?  It was obvious that Mr. Badawi was in Tulsa to pull an Islamic Snow-Job on gullible people.  What about Terrorists killing innocent Christians?, Reza asked.  Badawi says: “Those Terrorists are not following True Islam”.  Oklahoma Christians just aren’t that naïve.  Badawi found a different kind of Christian here than they apparently have in Nova Scotia, Canada.   We weren’t buying the BS he was selling.  But more importantly, Reza was making so much sense that even Muslims in the audience were starting to see the truth.  Christians from our group saw interesting facial expressions and whispering going on in the Muslim crowd.  Callers to my Radio Show on Saturday and Sunday told of conversations they had with Muslims who were impressed with Reza’s presentation.  In my opinion, Reza hit a Homerun.  He even used audience participation to illustrate the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and the fact that Muslims are lost in their sin without a Savior.  Masterful.  A tactic inspired by the Holy Spirit I’m sure.   Badawi spent all day Saturday at the local Mosque, doing theological damage-control to retain their Muslim followers.  Did I mention that the very word: “Islam” means “Submission”?

Religion is religion, no matter what flavor it might be.  In the Dark Ages, Roman Catholicism had largely absorbed the New Testament Christian Church.  Each Catholic church had one copy of the Bible on its platform.  It was written in Latin, and only the priest could read what it said.  Thus a Clergy/Laity system was established and people had to rely on the Learned Scholars to interpret and apply the Bible for them.  Sound familiar?  In essence, Islam is truly living in the Dark Ages.   Adherents to Islam are expected to take their Clergy’s word for everything.  We are told that only highly-educated Islamic Scholars who can read and parse the Arabic language can actually understand the Koran.  This is really nothing new.  Islam is not as Mysterious as they’d like us to believe.  It is a Scam that’s as old as man’s desire to Control other men.   

To summarize, I think Reza accomplished his mission by speaking directly to the Muslims in the crowd, exposing them to the Truth which their own leaders work hard to keep from them.  Ushers at the event were called “peace-keepers”.  Right.  These ushers passed out blank 3X5 cards so the audience could write questions for the speakers to address.  My question wasn’t on the top of the stack, apparently – but here it is: “If Muslims can be friends with Christians, and If Islam has nothing to do with Terrorism… Then why does every Terrorist I see in so many Military videos online shout: ‘Allah Akbar’ while firing a RPG at our Troops or detonating an IED?  Why were the Terrorists on 9-11 shouting ‘Allah Akbar’ in the cockpit as the planes hit their targets?”   Oh well, I know what Jamal Badawi’s answer would have been, anyway.  You cannot win a debate with a Muslim.  They do not play by the intellectual rules.  They change their position whenever it is convenient for them.  That’s why Reza said he had fasted all day and prayed for the Muslims who would be there to hear the Truth.  Fasting is not a religious work that makes you more holy.  It is a tool to deny the flesh so the spirit can be sharp.  Reza came with a ready spirit.  He did not fall for the verbal traps Badawi had set for him.  Being led by the Spirit, Reza was unpredictable to his human opponent.   He listened to the Holy Spirit and handled himself in a way that had a real impact on the Muslim people in the audience. 

Again – I think the Islamic Society of Tulsa should ask Jamal Badawi for their money back for flying him down here from Canada.  He did a poor job.  Yet I think he did as good as he could, given the chaotic religious Cult he was charged with defending.  He owes Reza Safa $1,000,000.00 because Reza absolutely proved that The Koran teaches Muslims to hate Christians.  I was thrilled to see the huge turnout for the event.  Muslims came from all over the regional area - but so did the Christians.  Believers got off their backsides and came out to support Reza and Stand Up for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was encouraging to see Christians in Tulsa - doing what Christians should be doing.  Honestly - I think many of us attended the Christian / Muslim Debate, halfway expecting a 'Hockey Game' to break out.  Apparently Law Enforcement expected it as well.  Instead, The Lord Jesus was glorified by His people and His Word was sown in the hearts of Muslims whom He loves.  Let's pray for that powerful Word to work mightily in their hearts.