Can There Really Be Freedom in an Islamic Republic?

A wildfire of democratic hunger is spreading across Arab lands. It is fueled by electronically savvy youth seeking freedom from economic poverty, political subjection and, if the truth be told, Islamic oppression.

It has been wisely pointed out that this uprising cannot be blamed on Israel as most Mid-East ills usually are. But the Iranian leaders are inclined to blame the United States for this in some convoluted accusatory reasoning. In this case, the United States should gladly accept the charge, realizing that the rage comes not from direct U.S. subversion. Rather, it is the inevitable result of human yearning coupled with awareness of free world democracy that is exemplified in our wonderful Constitution under the flag waving “o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

The major difficulty of these growing rushes toward democracy is that they are built on a shoddy foundation of Islamic fallacies—the incorrect belief that Islam empowers the sinner and frees him for wise preferential voting and stable government.

Islamic takeovers, such as the Iranian debacle of 1979, are described as “Islamic Republics.” When that ill-fated upheaval occurred, I went immediately to interview the head of International Missions, Rev. William Tarr, for our radio broadcast. Bill had spent years as a missionary in Islamic lands. In the interview, he mentioned that the Ayatollah had proclaimed Iran to be an Islamic Republic, but as far as he knew there was no such thing. He was correct. Islam knows no separation of church and state, much less ultimate elective power in its people. Imams are viewed as agents of God, and the Islamic beliefs that have made their way into Sharia law are to be imposed by the leaders, not debated by the masses.

These youthful freedom movements, as in Egypt and in growing numbers of other Arab countries, are well meaning but misguided. To build freedom on Islam is futile and likely heads the idealistic freedom fighters into the swamps of Sharia law.

Islamic democracy is a contradiction of terms, never known anyplace at any time. Islam is a pagan, 6th century dark age of scientific nonsense, demonic visions and political dictatorship. To think otherwise is to foster a growing erosion of stability at home and abroad.

We enjoy the freedoms and prosperity of present-day America because our founders built on the Holy Scriptures, upon the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Jesus Christ of the New Testament. Lest there be any doubt, read what former president John Quincy Adams said on the 4th of July in 1837:

“And why is it that, among the swarming myriads of our population, thousands and tens of thousands among us, abstaining, under the dictate of religious principle, from the commemoration of that birth-day of Him who brought life and immortality to light, yet unite with all their brethren of this community, year after year, in celebrating this, the birth-day of the nation?

“Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? That it laid the corner stone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity, and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies, announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets six hundred years before?”

Adams noted a unique Old Testament prophecy. “…This was indeed a great and solemn event. The sublimest of the prophets of antiquity with the voice of inspiration had exclaimed, ‘Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?’ (Isaiah 66:8). In the two thousand five hundred years that had elapsed since the days of that prophecy, no such event had occurred. It had never been seen before. In the annals of the human race, then, for the first time, did one People announce themselves as a member of that great community of the powers of the earth, acknowledging the obligations and claiming the rights of the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God. The earth was made to bring forth in one day! A nation was born at once!”

Adams continued that America was a Christian nation. “…[T]he Declaration of Independence announced the One People, assuming their station among the powers of the earth, as a civilized, religious, and Christian People, – acknowledging themselves bound by the obligations, and claiming the rights, to which they were entitled by the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God …”

Toward the end of his very long speech, Adams said,

“Why is it that six hundred years before the birth of the Redeemer, the sublimest of prophets, with lips touched by the hallowed fire from the hand of God, spake and said, – ‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound?’ (Isaiah 61:1). And why is it, that, at the first dawn of the fulfillment of this prophecy, at the birth-day of the Savior in the lowest condition of human existence, the angel of the Lord came in a flood of supernatural light upon the shepherds, witnesses of the scene and said, ‘Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people?’ Why is it, that there was suddenly with that angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men?’ (Luke 2:9, 10, 13, 14).

“What are the good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people? The prophet had told you six hundred years before – liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to them that are bound. The multitude of the heavenly host pronounced the conclusion, to be shouted hereafter by the universal choir of all intelligent created beings, ‘Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will toward men.’”

U.S. leaders are often unwilling to believe the truth, much less express it, that Islam and our republican system of constitutional government are perpetually contradictory. Perhaps it is the decades-old infiltration into American thinking that Islam is just another brand of fine religion. Perhaps there is the fear of appearing prejudiced, but the two foundations for civilization are mutually exclusive. To attempt a democratic superstructure on the sinking sands of illiterate, ecstatic ravings, said to be inspired by the angel Gabriel, is futile.

However, there is an amazing revival of Christian evangelism in Muslim lands. Millions are coming to Christ, many through the electronic breakthrough of radio and TV and the secretive and often death defying outreach of foot soldiers of the Cross. If the yen for freedom can be harnessed to the glorious freedom in Christ through His shed blood and victorious resurrection, there is hope for the Muslim world and hope for the rebirth of nations and a peaceful era. To this end we should pray and work.

An example is the “Son of Hamas” as he calls himself, who heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, received Him as Savior, renounced his life of violence against Jews and Christians, and now shares the precious fact that “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17). That is only is the basis for personal redemption and political freedom.

Dave Virkler