Why Do You Hate Us?

In Israel for a study tour with some of my students, I’d gone into the coffee bar after a meal. There I met over a dozen Muslim men, leaders in the city’s Arab Quarter. They invited me to sit with them. So I did and we talked honestly, long into the night. “Why do Muslims hate Americans?” I queried. “We buy your oil. We are peaceful unless attacked. Is there something we can do to earn your friendship?”

One by one, the men began to speak frankly.

The first man: America is the great Satan. Your Hollywood makes corrupting TV shows that our youth watch. It leads them into poor values—sexual sin, greed, drugs, and rebellion. And we hate you for it.

Man two: You Christians worship three gods-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. True Islam worships the one true God.

Man three: We dislike America because you are hypocrites. You speak loudly of God, but act contrary to what you say.

And the fourth man: It’s because the USA is so arrogant. You do not listen to us. You dictate to us. Yet you do not know us.

The group went on to say it is becoming easier to radicalize our own citizens with Islam because of our behaviors.

Indeed, Malcolm Muggeridge observed, “It has been said that when human beings stop believing in God, they believe in nothing. The truth is much worse: They believe in anything.” True, as the western world turns from Christ to secularism, our youth, in their quest for meaning, are becoming disenchanted with materialism, the breakdown of the family, drugs and alcohol, and pornography. When they meet Muslims who actually believe their creed, they are attracted. Islamic criticisms of the decadent West ring true in their ears. And destroying America as an act of obedience seems a worthy jihad. Especially when a martyr is promised sixty virgins to enjoy in paradise!

Yes, it was quite an eye-opening night. And I still wonder if our foreign policy of killing mosquitos instead of draining the swamp is not up for some serious revision!

We have met the enemy and he is us—our own backslidden, arrogant, godless, sex-crazed selves. The solution is complex. But it must begin with our repentance.

The Reverend Stephen Crotts is pastor of Village Presbyterian Church in Charlotte Court House, VA. and the Carolina Study Center, Inc., a campus ministry, located in Chapel Hill, NC. Pastor Crotts may be reached at carolinastudycenter@msn.com.