op-ed by Brannon Howse 

I am saddened and heart-broken that people from conservative Bible and reformed institutions and churches think that holding a dialogue with a Jihadi imam in a church is acceptable. But to some, it now appears to be.

I have been writing and speaking on radio about Yasir Qadhi for several years, so it is not like I went looking for this controversy. I found it because I was on YouTube listening to speeches by Yasir and stumbled on videos of James White in a church in my hometown facilitating what was described as an “interfaith dialogue.” In fact, I downloaded a video of White explaining his desire to be engage in interfaith dialogue with Qadhi.

Common Ground?

By watching just the first two minutes of James White’s opening statement to the church, discerning people will see that this is not a debate (White says as much. See for yourself at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm7tHTXd8pk) but rather a spiritual enterprise that involves talking about God, Jesus, the crucifixion, divine revelation, and other such theological topics. Participating in this sort of event with non-believers clearly violates the teaching of 2 John 9-11 and 2 Corinthians 6:14. 

In the video, White says he and Yasir will dialogue in hopes of finding where they agree and even notes that he senses a kindred spirit with Qadhi (see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLZ8jCCfbfc&feature=youtu.be). According to White, they both believe in divine revelation, and in introducing the “dialogue,” he asks all believers to pray for what is about to happen. But I would have to ask: “Is that Christian or Muslim believers he just invited to pray?”

During the on-stage interaction between the two men, White claims Yasir as his “mentor” on a part of Islam ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o2iTSA0pD4 ) and that the Jihadi imam has been a primary influence in his study of Islam. Why on earth would he allow that to occur? (But he has: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEswVXDdc). He even asks Yasir to make a video for Christians to learn about the “true face” of Islam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGjLjI21G5Y).

White opens the interfaith dialogue by saying that he wants Christians to learn the truth of what Islam is about, direct from an imam (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YL9zUno7FGo&feature=youtu.be). Yet the Koran openly teaches that a Muslim can lie (taqiyya) to the “infidels” (that’s us, folks) to gain the upper hand. Thus, it is foolish to think a Jihadi imam will give the unvarnished truth. We have already documented that he talks out of both sides of his mouth. For more on this issue, check out this great article on taqiyya and how the liberals are wrong when they try to redefine its true meaning: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/6587/carson-taqiyya-dissimulation

But that’s not all. White permits Qadhi to spout lies about the Koran, Jesus, and the cross without defending our Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life for His bride, the church (https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=3CnI1kPCtm0), and during the event, White even allows Qadhi to invite people to visit a mosque. He also gives Yasir the opportunity to lay out the five pillars of Islam. In the process, Yasir claims that Jesus taught Islam, and White does not refute him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mxTy0bhZek)! White never counters by offering the gospel and never refutes massive misrepresentations of facts about the Koran. 

John Guandolo is a former FBI agent and counterterrorism expert. Chris Gaubatz —Infiltrated the Center For American Islamic Relations office in Virginia. Chris obtained over 12,000 pages of documents from Hamas/CAIR and over 300 hours of covert audio/video recordings. After hearing of the debate over the James White and Yasir Qadhi interfaith dialogue, John and Chris weighed in with an excellent article. In part John and Chris write:

[quote]…evangelical minister James White who publicly states a primary influence in what he knows about Islam comes from Muslim Brother Sheikh Yasir Qadhi, leader of the Memphis (TN) Islamic Center.  The New York Times calls Qadhi  “one of the most influential conservative clerics in American Islam.”  By “conservative” they must mean “jihadi-like.”

Qadhi is a sharia scholar and works inside the Muslim Brotherhood’s Movement calling for the implementation of sharia and an Islamic state here in America.

Specifically, Qadhi is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA).  Qadhi is also the Dean of Academic Affairs and an instructor at the al Maghrib Institute, which has produced a large number of jihadis over the years including Tarek Mehanna, Ramy Zam Zam – the leader of the “Virginia 5,” Daniel Maldonado, Nuradin Abdi (founder of the Al Maghrib’s Ohio Chapter), and others.

Yasir Qadhi has been the keynote speaker at numerous prominent Muslim Brotherhood organizations (eg ICNA), works closely with terrorist organizations like Hamas and its leaders and has a long track record of publicly defending known terrorists such as:  convicted terrorist leader Sami al Aria, convicted terrorist Ali al-Timimi, American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh, convicted Al Qaeda terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, Tarek Mehanna, and others.

Yasir Qadhi was a trustee at the Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas’ Islamic Society of Boston founded by Al Qaeda financier Abdurahman Alamoudi.  This is the same ISB which nurtured the Boston Marathon bombers.

Yet, James White publicly stands with Qadhi and lashes out at anyone who brings these facts to light.  It appears Mr. White has not read MB doctrine…

“The chasm between Islam and Jahiliyyah (gross ignorance/unbelief) is great, and a bridge is not to be built across it so that the people on the two sides may mix with each other, but only so that the people of Jahiliyyah may come over to Islam.” [Milestones, Sayyid Qutb]

UTT continues to encourage all readers to know, digest, and understand that there is no “version” of Islam which does not mandate war against non-muslims (jihad) until the entire world is under Islamic rule. [end of quoting article]

https://www.understandingthethreat.com/utt-throwback-thursday-are-you-still-listening-to-the-imam/

In an interview with by Alex Nitzberg, Chris Gaubatz reveals a startling fact:

[Quote] According to Gaubatz, CAIR uses “interfaith dialogue” to propagate their narrative and “CAIR and other Muslim Brotherhood groups” purposely “get closer to the law enforcement” after terror attacks by offering “sensitivity training” and volunteering to serve as a “liaison” between police and Muslim communities.

“Their whole purpose with this narrative war is to shut the discussion down because if you can shut the discussion down…and distance Islam from any part of the problem, then the people that are charged with protecting citizens are always looking elsewhere for the problem…and the problem is, and always has, been rooted right in Islam and right in the Sharia, they’re intertwined.” [End Quote]
http://www.worldviewweekend.com/news/article/chris-gaubatz-infiltrated-cair-undercover-found-interfaith-dialogue-tactic-stopping

From Bad to Worse

James White opened the evening by saying to the two men would find out where Christians and Muslims agree and disagree. The flyer that promoted the event declared the purpose of the evening to be that both men would “discuss the agreements and differences that Muslims and Christians share.” 

Despite the promise of highlighting both agreements and disagreements, on Numerous occasions when Yasir Qahdi spewed lies about Islam and Jesus Christ, James White never disagreed. Thus, Christians and non-Christians alike are left to believe that a Christian minister agrees with the lies and blasphemy about our Lord and His Word. Are you now seeing why interfaith dialogues—as opposed to honest debate—are dangerous? Not to mention that this was more than a dialogue; it was a spiritual enterprise in a church, and that is a direct violation of 2 Corinthians 6:14, 2 John 9-11, Romans 16:17, and Ephesians 5:11. 

James White knows this radical imam has preached that Christians are filthy and that their property and lives can rightly be stolen in Jihad 

(https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=bYgVvKoS0lA). Yet White defends this Jihadi Imam and wants to have an interfaith dialogue with him?

I believe James White has proven he is not only not an expert on Islam but has a very hard time teaching the Bible in context. On his radio program, he distorted the Word of God by declaring that Isaiah 64:6 somehow justifies Yasir Qahdi’s preaching on Jihadi in which he calls Christians filthy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_x1QzPv0Q).

But is White really so unskilled in how to exegete the Word of God that he does not understand that Isaiah 64:6 does not declare someone so filthy that another is justified in taking his life and property? Are the James White robots and groupies so programmed by their leaders that they cannot recognize the simple fact that he is handling the Word of God in a most egregious way—and for the purpose of defending an Imam who is preaching jihad? If they cannot see White’s clear Biblical error in handling this one verse of Scripture, then I think we can now understand why they accept White’s truckload of errors, distortions, and subterfuge concerning this current debate. 

Here is the full speech by Yasir Qadhi preaching about the filthiness of Jews and Christians and that unless they submit to Islam their property can be stolen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7cadZL0FHY&feature=youtu.be.

White offers this platform time to a man who serves Satan—and who has openly preached jihad, and worked with individuals and groups that national security experts say have ties to Islamic Jihadi causes (http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/261733/muslim-who-apologized-cursing-jews-featured-terror-joe-kaufman).

White also allows this Jihadi-teaching Imam to paint himself as something he is not while sitting in a church. What’s worse, it’s a church in my town where we actively oppose the interfaith dialogues that liberals and Muslims try to force upon the community. Those of us who do not accept and applaud these ecumenical events are called names and maligned for working to protect the truth of the gospel. Then a man who has portrayed himself as a defender of biblical truth comes to town and surrenders the spiritual battle to someone like Yasir Qadhi! This unthinkable compromise leaves Christians in my community to think those of us who have tried to hold the theological line for truth are, indeed, “haters” who don’t want to see Muslims come to salvation. And the abomination is posted on line for all the world to see—which brings us to the need for articles like this. There is no longer any way to handle this privately. 

We cannot privately correct public false teaching. Despite what the theological pretenders of the evangelical elite declare, honest contenders of the faith like me are left with no choice but to lift up a shout of clear and unequivocal dissent, lest our silence be an implicit endorsement of the White travesty that was permeated with the spirit of antichrist. 

I believe James White has sold out the clear mandates and restrictions of the Word of God for the sake of his own self-promotion. His interfaith dialogue benefited James White to the detriment of the gospel, the Bride of Christ, and the unsaved. He has refused to repent of his spiritual enterprise even after being presented with the clear teaching of the Word of God on this manner by numerous Christians. In addition, White has yet to accept the Islamic facts presented by the following experts:

Shahram Hadian—A Former Muslim now Christian Pastor. Watch this: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/tv/video/evangelical-minister-calls-jihadi-imam-mentor-says-he-senses-kindred-spirit-him-during

Usama Dakkok —Arabic speaking translator of the Koran. Watch this: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/tv/video/evangelical-minister-calls-jihadi-imam-mentor-says-he-senses-kindred-spirit-him-during

Robert Spencer—Islamic scholar, author, and frequent radio guest. Read this: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/06/christian-minister-james-white-has-kindred-spirit-in-jihadi-imam-yasir-qadhi

John Guandolo—Retired FBI agent in counter-terrorism that specialized in investigating Jihadi groups in America. Read this: https://www.understandingthethreat.com/utt-throwback-thursday-are-you-still-listening-to-the-imam/

Chris Gaubatz —Infiltrated the Center For American Islamic Relations office in Virginia. When that office was shut down by CAIR in an effort to conceal reported criminal activity, Chris was invited by Hamas/CAIR leaders to work at their headquarters office in Washington, D.C. During his time there, Chris obtained over 12,000 pages of documents from Hamas/CAIR and over 300 hours of covert audio/video recordings. The undercover work by Chris resulted in the writing and publishing of the book Muslim Mafia that has been promoted by Sean Hannity on his radio and television program. Read this:  https://www.understandingthethreat.com/utt-throwback-thursday-are-you-still-listening-to-the-imam/

Joe Kaufman—An expert in the fields of counter-terrorism, foreign affairs, and energy independence for America. He has been featured on all major cable networks, including Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, PBS and C-SPAN. Joe has been instrumental in getting terrorist charities shut down and terror-related individuals put behind bars. Exactly one month prior to the September 11 attacks, he predicted the attacks by stating in an article that “the 1993 World Trade Center bombing was no aberration” and that it would happen again. Read this: http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/261733/muslim-who-apologized-cursing-jews-featured-terror-joe-kaufman

This is just a brief list of experts I could document. Apparently, James White, his fans, and all of his compromised evangelical good ol’ boys that are working to salvage the dismantled credibility of James White think they are smarter than all of the experts. But make no mistake, James White and the evangelicals defending him are Islamic dupes when they refuse to side with the men listed above who are proven experts in their fields, some of whom have served our country with distinction in the military and all of whom have put their lives on the line for the love of their fellow Americans and in defense of our national security. 

Since James White is apparently too scared of the facts we have presented to debate either Shahram Hadian or Usama Dakdok, he has decided to spin right-wing conspiracy theories by saying there are powerful forces behind Brannon Howse that are feeding me talking points. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-ufXqUGX_A
But I ask: Who is using me, James? The CIA, NSA, the military industrial complex, the GOP, Fox News, CFR, the Jesuits, or Masons? Exactly who, James? Sadly, Mr. White has apparently reached the same level of desperation as did Hillary Clinton a few years ago when she blamed all the known facts on a “vast right-wing conspiracy” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwtkorQKGFE).

The True State of Evangelicalism

In other bizarre background on this story: James White called Yasir Qadhi someone who is moving to the left even though in May of 2017 Qadhi invited people to hear Siraj Wahhaj speak at the Muslim school in Memphis at which Yasir works. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWpATBRv9-w&feature=youtu.be

According to numerous news reports, Wahhaj is an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. He is also reported as being a defense witness for the Blind Sheikh, Omar Abdel-Rahman, at his trial. The Blink Sheikh was the former leader of terrorist organization Gama’a al-Islamiyya. In addition, the New York Post reported on November 12, 2009 that “Siraj Wahhaj has defended the convicted WTC bomb plotters, called the FBI and CIA the ‘real terrorists,’ and said he hopes all Americans eventually become Muslim.” 

http://nypost.com/2009/11/12/1993-wtc-plotter-in-mike-meet/

Now, discerning people: If Yasir Qadhi is praising and promoting Siraj Wahhaj as a speaker at his school, why would James White sense a kindred spirit with Yasir?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLZ8jCCfbfc

Why would James White want to learn anything about Islam from Yasir and invite others to do the same? Why would James White want Yasir to make a video from which Christians could learn about the Islam according to Yasir? Why would James White let him sit in a church unchallenged and invite people to a mosque? Why would James White stand in that church in my hometown and declare it an honor to have Yasir Qadhi speak to a group of Christians? 

Have the ignorant defenders of James White chosen to not only betray God but also betray their own country? This is not defensible at any level biblically or from a national security standpoint. Yet, the executive director of a major radio Bible teaching ministry has openly stated on Facebook regarding my radio and television programs on the James White and Yasir Qadhi interfaith dialogue: “Mr. Howse’s critique is overblown and exaggerated to a shameful degree.”

Really? How so? Does this executive director whose ministry airs on hundreds of radio stations in America know anything about the facts I have presented, along with the facts presented by a former Muslim, translator of the Koran, former FBI agent, Islamic scholar, and national security experts that I have interviewed or quoted on this very topic? This particular ministry leader continues the Facebook attack on my ministry and the programs I conducted with Usama Dakdok and Shahram Hadian: “Whereas, if you took the time to listen to the gospel presentation James White gave in the mosque where he spoke, it shouldn’t be hard to find a great deal that edifies.”

Straw man alert! First, he changes the subject from the interfaith dialogue at the church in my town to a meeting at a mosque. Clearly, this individual is either not real bright or knows he is being deceptive in his attempts to justify the sinful spiritual enterprise of his friend. Secondly, even if the gospel were given, that does not justify a spiritual enterprise such as the interfaith dialogue that took place between minister White and Qadhi as forbidden. Thirdly, the very pastor that this man works for has preached numerous sermons available on YouTube in which he denounces interfaith dialogues, ecumenicalism, and any kind of public event, meeting, service, or program that seeks to find agreements or common ground with unbelievers when discussing God. Thus, this man’s actions are not only hypocritical but flat out indefensible.  

Sadly, this is not the executive director of a mainline liberal ministry nor an evangelical organization that promotes social justice. This is the executive director of a ministry that works with the pastor of a huge church that has spent years correctly denouncing the unbiblical worldview of Rick Warren, Mark Driscoll, ecumenicalism, interfaith dialogues, and spiritual enterprises with unbelievers. Yet, apparently now that one of his long-time friends is caught doing the very things his church and ministry has exposed and refuted, he now uses liberal ad hominem attacks to give cover to a member of his good ol’ boy club. I believe this sinful, shameful, and hypocritical behavior not only brings shame on the ministry he represents but undermines the credibility of the very truth this ministry has represented for so many years. This ministry leader further states on Facebook that:

“we [apparently speaking for the ministry] don’t believe a critique of such things should call into question the fidelity of someone who has spent his life proclaiming and defending the gospel with more zeal and clarity than the critic could ever dream of summoning.”

Although this is just one of a few lies this man has publicly written about me, let me deal with just this one for now. I never questioned the entire ministry of Mr. White. To the contrary, I am on record on my radio and television programs acknowledging much of the good work by Mr. White in the area of the cults. So again, outright lies are used to do to me the very thing this man claims I have done to Mr. White.

My friends, this sadly reveals that the true state of evangelicalism is far worse than we knew. When the executive director of a Bible teaching ministry cannot control his anger and his appetite to enter into the middle of a legitimate and appropriate debate that does not concern him or the ministry he works for, it reveals a serious lack of discernment and common sense at the very least. The director of this ministry apparently cares little about the truth presented in this debate, the facts that have been confirmed, or the biblical mandates that have been violated. The concern apparently seems to be to try to rescue the decimated reputation of his friend James White and to let the truth and facts be condemned with liberal tactics and arguments worthy of Bill and Hillary Clinton and their mentor Saul Alinsky. It is sad such a leader seems to care more about the reputation of James White than he does the pastor whose sermons are distributed by the ministry for which this man works. It actually reveals that the warnings I sounded in Religious Trojan Horse were more accurate than even I knew at the time I wrote the book. 

Mark Those Men

Unfortunately, the executive director I mentioned above is not alone. The time has come to identify the men, churches, and organizations who defend James White in what 2 John 7-11 describes as an evil deed manifesting the antichrist spirit. Christians have a biblical duty to withhold support from such men or organizations unless and until they get on the right side of the Word of God on this issue. In fact, we are now being told that some once thought to be biblically sound evangelicals are suggesting that some of Worldview Weekend’s radio and television broadcasters should cease their ministry partnership with our network.

My friends, this “Christian mafia” is revealing its true heart that is far from concern for the church and its edification, equipping, and encouragement. For some of the ones being encouraging to part company with us, our radio and television platform is the only means of production and distribution for their programs. Many cannot afford to produce their own television programs. So if they are bullied into no longer partnering with us, they will no longer have a platform from which to equip, edify, and encourage the church. 

I believe such behavior reveals much about the heart of those defending James White in his unbiblical interfaith dialogue. It seems they would rather settle a score and attack our broadcast network and its supporters for exposing James White. They are apparently willing to deprive the church of solid biblical broadcasts in order to seek revenge on behalf of the good ol’ boy club of evangelical elite. What does this tell you about their motives and, ultimately, their spiritual condition?

Make no mistake about it: when these compromising, pragmatic evangelical elite attack Usama Dakdok, Shahram Hadian, Chris Pinto Jimmy DeYoung, and this network, they are attacking those of you who support this broadcast network and who agree with your unwavering biblical stand on issues like these. The truth is, I doubt any of our current broadcast ministry partners will surrender truth and walk away from their partnership with us. Their holding of the theological line will serve to further reveal and confirm to the church the men and their ministries we can count on to defend truth regardless of the cost. And it will show that these broadcasters desire to serve God and not the evangelical elite and their good ol’ boy club. 

One way we know we have won this debate for truth is that Muslim websites are now praising James White for his interfaith dialogue with Yasir Qadhi and attacking me and my radio and television guest Usama Dakdok for exposing James White’s grievous error. The first pro-Muslim website is: “Calling Christians to the Truth of Islam.” Clearly, the Muslims think White is helping them do that. I think White helped Yasir by not challenging all his false teaching. Unchallenged, the imam taught Islam in a church and misrepresented Jesus and the crucifixion. Add in Qadhi’s invitation to visit a mosque, and no wonder the Muslim website loves James White while trashing Dakdok and me for turning a spotlight on their agenda. We are very bad infidels, indeed.

(See more here: https://callingchristians.com/2017/06/14/the-intolerance-of-tolerance-white-qadhi-fallout/). And in case you need more convincing, check out this other pro-Muslim website that also praises James White and trashes Brannon Howse and Usama Dakdok: https://bloggingtheology.net/2017/06/13/sam-shamoun-a-hero-to-muslims/. Muslims love their pawn James White.

Wondering Who’s Right

It is troubling to see the growing effects of this so-called conservative evangelicalism. I see comments on my Facebook page from young people who are confused. They don’t know if what just happened with James White is right or wrong! They sincerely want to know, but they are puzzled because they see pastors, elders, and ministry representatives defending the deplorable and unbiblical.

I believe these Christians will have given away the credibility to write, speak or preach against Islam, false doctrine, ecumenicalism, or compromise within the church if they do not condemn this interfaith dialogue between minister James White and imam Yasir Qadhi. Their words will be empty and their authority undermined. Most of all, the credibility, purpose, and foundational principles of the New Testament church will have been compromised. The world will believe that representatives of the Bride of Christ are now aligned with them in cooperation and spiritual agreement for interfaith dialogue. The world will be left to believe that there is no clear theological distinctive worthy of separation or protest upon which the word Protestant was birthed. 

Untold millions have laid down their lives, refusing to align spiritually with the doctrines of demons and the spirit of antichrist. Countless faithful Christians have been tortured because they would not submit and denounce the faith. Millions have been willing to die rather than do what James White has willingly done. 

This current debate is ultimately not about James White, though, but about the Bride of Christ. It is about not compromising what we say we believe in contrast to what we do. As Vance Havner said, “We live what we believe; the rest is religious talk.” He also warned: 

The devil is not fighting religion. He is too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity, so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to speak out against it. 

Many deceived Christians are declaring that what James White has done is acceptable for the proclamation of the gospel and the efforts of evangelization. But again, Pastor Havner addresses this fallacious claim:

“I am more afraid of false revival than of no revival—a false revival with a false gospel, false evangelists, false converts, false joy. it will seem so genuine that it would deceive, if possible, the very elect. Many church leaders will endorse it. Other good people will be afraid to oppose it for fear that they might be fighting against God.”

Why would any Christian desire an interfaith dialogue in hopes of finding agreement with someone in the camp of Satan as described by Jesus Christ Himself in John 8?

Charles Spurgeon declared that “to pursue unity at the expense of truth is treason to Jesus.” He also preached:

“We shall not get back a strong race of Christians till we get back such a sturdy band of outspoken men as dare their reputation, if not their lives, upon the unvarnished testimony they give to the Truth they know, the Truth as it is in Jesus, the Truth as it burns in their own hearts and fires their tongues, the Truth as it commends itself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God!” (1903, sermon #2854)

I am willing to die to my reputation over this debate, and I will, in fact, consider it a high honor and privilege to be able to do so for the God who died for me. Will you join me in looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God? 

I certainly will not betray God merely to preserve my reputation with the evangelical elite who are revealing themselves to be empty suits spewing empty words. To not denounce this clearly unbiblical spiritual enterprise between James White and Yasir Qadhi is not only a betrayal of Christ, His gospel, His Word, and His bride, but also a betrayal of the sacrifice and martyrdom of millions of brothers and sisters who have gone before us. May it never be!