The citizenry of Montgomery, Alabama, elected Steven Reed as Mayor in October. He defeated former Congressional candidate David Woods, a media operator who owns three TV stations, including Fox Network affiliate WCOV.
Mayor Steven Reed
Reed’s prior claim to fame was being the first probate judge in the state of Alabama to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses. His new claim is that he is the first Black Mayor in the city’s 200 year history.
“This election has never been about just my ideas,” said Reed, during his victory speech. He further said that Montgomery was going to be capital of a “New South.”
Prior to being sworn in, Reed took part in a prayer service at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, which gained notoriety at the start of the Civil rights movement for leading the Montgomery bus boycott and thrust Martin Luther King, Jr., in his first pastorate there, into the national spotlight. This was a highly symbolic prayer service for his radical agenda.
Reed also joined in an interfaith worship service to fulfill his mission of bringing people of various backgrounds together. This was another highly symbolic prayer service for his agenda.
Pastor at Reaching the Remnant Ministries, Rev. Dr. Wendy Coleman, said, “We just want to remind you again of our mayor’s vision of bringing all people together from all walks of life, all faiths, all beliefs to make this city better.” That point was driven home when Coleman announced: “We will be blessed now with readings from various sacred texts, including the Bible, the Torah and the Koran.”
WSFA-TV in Montgomery reported that “Hundreds gathered for the Unity Interfaith Worship Service, as sounds and scripture from different texts filled True Divine Baptist Church.”
Imam Abdur Sabree, from the Muslim Center of Montgomery, said, “I know that he will be a great mayor for all the citizens of Montgomery.”
It is not known to this author if Mayor Reed has read the Koran, or even the Bible or Torah. What is known is that the Koran and the Bible are at great odds with each other as they worship different deities. For example:
The Bible says at 1 John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
The Bible also says at John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
In fact the Bible states that Jesus is God himself: John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
This puts the Koran and the Christian Bible at immediate odds as the Bible states that Jesus Christ is not only the gatekeeper to the Almighty God, but is in fact God himself. The Muslims worship Allah and revere his prophet Mohammed, but the Koran urges Islamic followers to incite violence against all those who are not Muslim. The Koran states the following:
The Koran says at 2:191-193, “And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from where they drove you out; persecution is worse than slaughter. But fight them not by the Holy Mosque until they should fight you there; then, if they fight you, kill them — such is the recompense of unbelievers, but if they give over, surely Allah is all-forgiving, all-compassionate. Fight them until there is no persecution and the religion is Allah’s; then if they give over, there shall be no enmity save for evildoers.”
“We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allah of which 
He had not sent down authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.” Koran 3:151
“They wish that you should disbelieve as they disbelieve, and then you would be equal; therefore do not take friends from among them, until they emigrate in the way of Allah; then, if they turn their backs, seize them and kill them wherever you find them; do not take for yourselves any one of them as friend or helper.” Koran 4:89
“This is the recompense of those who fight against Allah and His Messenger, and hasten about the earth to do corruption there: they shall be killed, or crucified, or their hands and feet shall be struck off on opposite sides; or they shall be exiled from the land. That is a degradation for them in this world; and in the world to come awaits them a mighty chastisement.” Koran 5:33
“When your Lord was revealing to the angels, ‘I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers; so strike the necks, and strike every finger of them!” Koran 8:12
“Fight them, till there is no persecution and religion is all for Allah; then if they give over, surely Allah sees the things they do.” Koran 8:39
“Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to strike terror into the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them that you know not; Allah knows them. And whatever you spend in the way of Allah shall be repaid you in full; you will not be wronged.” Koran 8:60
“Then, when the sacred months are over, kill the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them, and confine them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayer, and pay the alms, then let them go their way; Allah is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.” Koran 9:5
“Fight those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and do not forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and do not practice the religion of truth, even if they are of the People of the Book — until they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.” Koran 9:29
“Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their possessions against the gift of Paradise; they fight in the way of Allah; they kill, and are killed; that is a promise binding upon Allah in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Koran; and who fulfils his covenant truer than Allah? So rejoice in the bargain you have made with Him; that is the mighty triumph.” Koran 9:111
“O believers, fight the unbelievers who are near to you; and let them find in you a harshness; and know that Allah is with the godfearing.” Koran 9:123
“When you meet the unbelievers, strike their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds; then set them free, either by grace or ransom, till the war lays down its loads. So it shall be; and if Allah had willed, He would have avenged Himself upon them; but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will not send their works astray.” Koran 47:4
Many verses are cited from the Koran so it is apparent that the verses are not “taken out of context.” Yes, the Bible has violent passages, too. Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch asked the questions, “Why, then, have there been nearly 36,000 jihad attacks worldwide since 9/11.” Many claim the verses listed above are taken “out of context.”
Interestingly, how could they be taken out of context in exactly the same way? And even though the Bible does have scripture passages that call for violence at times there is no widespread violence from those who follow those same Biblical passages. There is also no call for universal violence or to wage war against anyone who doesn’t follow Jesus. Yet, there have been nearly 36,000 terror attacks committed around the world against non-Muslims since 9/11 by groups adhering to and quoting such verses from the Koran.
There seems to be a one way street when it comes to outreach of various religious beliefs. There have been many instances over the past few years of supposed Christian churches allowing the Koran to be read in their assemblies. Most Christians have no interest in reading the Bible in the local mosque. At the same time, they aren’t interested in the Koran being read in the Church of Jesus Christ.
Michael Reed is Editor of The Standard, a pastor, businessman, and conference speaker.
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