It is true.  More and more Westerners are becoming Muslim, and for those who lived through days of 9/11, Saddam Hussein, and others, the question is why?  And how?  One only needs to look and see that almost every terrorist group in the world is more likely than not Islamic, that women who walk around in death shrouds and the majority are denied education are oppressed, and that rape coincidentally seems to increase as Islam migratory presence increases.  So what is the draw?

First, Middle Eastern culture in general has two extraordinary values — hospitality and generosity.  These are Godly values and they have these in abundance.  In many countries in this part of the world, you are lavished upon as guests.  Oftentimes you don’t need to pay for anything as they will give you free food and gifts.  And you are treated like royalty.

There persists in some places what is even called a “covenant of salt.”  In general, eating with them is that you are a welcomed guest, and they will protect you with their life.  We saw that with Marcus Luttrell who is a Navy Seal that was injured.  A village received him and when he was hunted down, the village rose up in his defense.  You always defend your guest.  Their hospitality is so far beyond what we can even imagine.

This sense of warmth and welcome is what people feel when they travel to these lands.  They experience this generosity of heart and culture and life.  It is wonderful, Godly, and very endearing.  It is not fake either.  It comes deeply from the heart to care for the guest.  It is their honor.

It is with this that foreigners are deeply endeared.  It is deeply heart-compared and refreshing.

The problem is that what is seen as treatment of the guest is equated as to how all people are treated. But it is not necessarily true.  Yes, they do have codes of care for one another.  But it doesn’t mean women in the home are treated the same.  It doesn’t mean that a man who has questions about Islam can ask without threat to his life. It is actually the culture of the people.

Foreigners need to understand that the treatment of the guest is a cultural expression of great honor.  It does not mean that this is Islam.

Secondly is the sense of community.  The sense of community is two-fold.  The Middle East, Central Asia and other nations are group cultures.  When you are in the group, they will defend you even if you are wrong.  They may have conflict within the group, but when there’s a problem, the group will rise in our defense because you are one of them.  If only political world leaders understood this, there would be perhaps more caution.

But also this comes out of a sense of works-based righteousness.  We see this in things like Mormonism as well.  When you must be together daily and regularly as part of your salvation, your time together bonds you.  You do life together, you form friendships, and and your social fabric comes at the mosque, the ward, or whatever place of worship demands your regular presence more than just one day a week.

This sense of community is deeply missing in the West.  We are becoming very high tech and lose touch even with our own families.  Christianity is often seen as a once a week thing and not a regular point of connection throughout the week.  Whereas in Islam, the prayers together, the mosque attendance, etc… happen at a near continuous basis.

Third, people are often lead to think nice =.truth.  If Muslims are nice, peaceful people, then there must be some truth.  In fact, there are millions of Muslims that are incredibly kind, serve their community well, and would never hurt a fly.  Muslims are some of the most wonderful people on earth you will ever meet.

It’s the same with Christians.  Some Christians are wonderful.  Some are downright terrible human beings.  This doesn’t make the faith true or false.  It comes down to what the texts say and is it true of not.

Islam is becoming an increased global issue.  We need to be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.  Muslims are worthy of our love just as much as any person.  Anything less is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Loving one another is the way of Jesus.

But it does not mean we have to receive the ideology of Islam. It is directly opposed to the teachings of Scripture.  Islam denies the deity, the death, and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Bible says these are foundational to belief.  So let’s be wise.  And loving.