The Latest “Christian”–Muslim Conflict at Dearborn

It has been reported in the press that the latest on-going conflict between a group of “Christians,” who label themselves “Bible Believers,” and local Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan has been settled in court.

Back in 2012 the “Bible Believers” contingent showed up at a festival the Muslims hold in Dearborn on an annual.  The Believers were there to supposedly proclaim the gospel, which did not turn out well.

The Believers were most likely taking their cue from Nabeel Qureshi, David Wood, and the Acts 17 Apologetics crew a couple years prior, when they were unjustly dismissed from the festival by hoodlum security employed by the Muslims and a Dearborn police force that repeatedly violated Qureshi’s Constitutional right of free speech.

The big difference between Qureshi and the Bible Believers is that Qureshi made a good-faith effort to communicate the Christian gospel, whereas the copycat Bible Believers did not.

Nevertheless, the results were the same and a lawsuit followed, which finally turned in the favor of the Believers, although one has to wonder at what cost.

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You see, the Believers showed up with loud speakers blaring, in your face placards, and a pig’s head stuck on a stick!  Yes, a pig’s head on stick!

Looking more like street thugs than Christian ministers, the Believers shouted their message of condemnation, humiliation, and intimidation, which resulted in an expected hostile Muslim reaction.

Within a few minutes of opening up their verbal barrage water bottles, eggs, milk crates, rocks, and trash were being flung at the Believers, many of which hit their mark with some of them suffering bloody injuries.

Shortly thereafter, the Believers were warned not to use their megaphone by Wayne County sheriffs deputies, even though basically nothing was done with those in the Muslim crowd throwing their projectiles.  This became particularly evident when the Believers started to leave.

Eventually, the Believers were instructed by law enforcement to leave the premises altogether under the threat of being charged with engaging in disorderly conduct.

Court decision aside, in my humble opinion, these “Christians” had no business being at this festival other than to stir up trouble.

They were nothing like Nabeel, David, and the Acts 17 contingent in 2010.

Second, we have a major problem in America when it comes to providing special protection for Islamists.

Although the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals eventually got it right in terms of free speech, it is clear that lower down on the legal ladder they are not getting it right, and if we are not careful, as Americans, it will not be long until mob rule under Islamic Sharia will replace the right to speak out against it.

Third, if the Islamic problem—and yes, it is a problem—is ever going to be addressed and done so effectively, then it is not going to be done with blow horns bellowing out thoughtless, religious clichés and sound bites.

Muslims are people just like all human beings are and they have their ideas about truth and reality just like all humans do.

Unless those ideas are sensibly addressed and destroyed (2 Cor. 10:3-5) under the weight of their own contradictions and inconsistencies, then no amount of Jesus-speak is going to do anything other than alienate the listener and fan the flames of hostility.

There was nothing sensible about what these Bible Believers did at this Muslim festival.

Now that the court has ruled against the Muslims, you can bet your bottom dollar that a reprisal is on the way, and the Dearborn Police will be dealing with something much more severe than a bunch of young, punk, kids throwing water bottles.

And it all started when a group of genuine Christians were counterfeited, which is ironic, given that Islam is a counterfeit of Christianity.

Go figure.

About the Author

Paul Derengowski, Ph.D.
Founder of the Christian Apologetics Project PhD, Theology with Dogmatics, North-West University (2018); MA Apologetics with Honors, BIOLA University (2007); ThM, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2003); MDiv, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2000); BA Pastoral Ministry & Bible, Baptist Bible College (1992)

1 Comment on "The Latest “Christian”–Muslim Conflict at Dearborn"

  1. Carl Smith | May 18, 2016 at 5:01 pm |

    Amen.

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