Brother Andrew: What they think is mainly negative but what they want from the West is of course Coca-cola, the technology and computers. What they see on television Hollywood-style is exposing our way of life which they deeply resent. I think the main reason for their aggressive action and attitude towards us is their protest against our lifestyle.
Why should they be offended? Because it is being exported by the people who go there, the businesses we conduct there and when they switch on television and they can watch through the internet and website or when they visit our countries they see the immodest way of dress and the loose way of living and they say we don’t want this because we want to keep Islam pure.
I think that is a very good motive in itself and we should really take this into account that they have a reason, which we might not agree with, but they attack us because they feel we are exporting our wrong immoral lifestyle to their close, puritan society. That is why they fight more than anything political or religious it is the lifestyle issue. It is within our power here to change it and not because of their pressure but because of the demand of our holy God.
CP: Why do you invite Christians in your new book to join you in the “good jihad?” Is this an appropriate use of the word given almost all non-Muslims are so fearful of the term?
Brother Andrew: I don’t use that term too much publicly when I’m in the Middle East. It is literally quoting from the Bible because Paul said ’I fought the good fight‘ and in the Arab Bible it says ’I fought the good jihad.’
Everybody there is aware of the concept of the two jihads – the real jihad they say is the one you fight with your heart to follow the decrees of Allah and the rules of the Koran. The other jihad corresponds with things like 9/11, but that is only for the few that do that.
I think we have to distinguish between the jihad of extremists and fundamentalists which is only a small part of the Muslims and the good jihad which all of them and us have to fight – against sin and self. That is why we use the word jihad.
CP: What message or thought do you most want your reader to carry away with them after reading your book?
Brother Andrew: There is a church in those countries and that our first reaction when we see something terrible happen – whether it be an earthquake, a tsunami, or bombs dropping or insurgencies or other acts of terrorism – the first question should be if there is a church. That is what I want every Christian to think.
Second, is ‘what can I do for God’s children there?’ And the third is that people who read and hear me will get in touch with the people described in that book by getting onto our website and getting more information on how to get in touch with www.secretbelievers.org and get all the instructions they need, including linking up with churches and Christians there. That is the best way we can encourage them and keep in touch.
