How different are the words of Jesus in the New Covenant. In Mt 5:44 Jesus calls his followers to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus himself prayed for his enemies, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” He ordered Peter, “Put your sword back in its place (Mt 26:52) and then put the servant’s ear back in its place.

 

In the fatwa of Feb 23, 1998 five Islamic caliphates (including Bin Laden and Al Zawahiri) declare war against the United States quoting Surah 9:5 as justification: “Slay the idolaters wherever you find them.” In his video Ben Laden invites all people to become Muslim. Following the example of Muhammad, this is fair warning. If they do not surrender to Allah, jihad will be justified. The Fatwa states, "We -- with God's help -- call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it."

 

What it boils down to is that in the Qur’an Allah is a god whose love is conditional, “Allah, loveth those who put their trust in him” (Surah 3:159), and “Allah loveth not the disbelievers” (Surah 3:32). Allah commands, “Fight those of the disbelievers who are near you” (Surah 9:123). The disbelievers must convert, submit, or be killed.

 

In contrast, the Lord God demonstrates his love for us in that: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6). The Bible states emphatically: “God is love” [Greek: agape] (1 Jn 4:8 and16). His agape love is unconditional, unmerited, unfathomable, and unexpected. The Lord God “So loved (with agape love)the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). His agape love is pro-active  (2 Corinthians 5:19; Romans 5:6). His agape love is passionate, [Latin passio - to suffer]. It “ached” for us and was willing to suffer for us (Isaiah 53:5). His agape love is personal, (1 Timothy 1:15).

It is this agape love of God in Christ that moves us to forego revenge and compels us to forgive our enemies. What a difference: JIHAD or AGAPE!

 

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By Rick Richter, author of “TheQur’an and the Bible – A Comparison.”