On September 11, 2016 it will be fifteen years since the attack by radicalized Muslims on the United States.   As we gather together to remember and grieve this horrific event we must not neglect the history behind this attack.  Islam from its beginning was a religion of aggression.  The goal of that aggression was to have one universal Muslim caliphate where there would be global peace.  Those who were faithful to the teachings of the Koran would live in peace.  Those who were enemies of the Koran would be converted, killed or subjugated and pay a tribute.  This teaching you can find in the Koran.

 

On September 11, 1863 the Ottoman Empire laid siege to the Austrian capital of Vienna confident that they would subjugate another people group. The goal was to subjugate all of Europe.  The Muslims believed that the Christian values of tolerance and mercy were a great weakness.  They believed that one day the Ottoman Empire would stable their horses in the Vatican.  A small band of Austrian soldiers, along with the Polish army stood between the Ottoman Empire and the fall of Vienna.  The Muslim attackers numbered close to 200,000 experienced fighters.

 

On September 11, 1863, to celebrate their coming victory, and strike fear in their opponents the Muslims executed 30,000 Christian captives.  Then they set out to overrun and occupy the city of Vienna.   The Muslims met with a humiliating defeat.  The Polish cavalry executed a strategic charge and the cannons of Vienna stopped the Ottomans advance.  The Polish and the Viennese prevailed and after three hundred years of success the Ottoman Empire was stopped.  This marked the end of the expansion if Islam into Europe and slowly Islam began its retreat to the Mid-East.  I would encourage you to read more about this moment in History as you remember the attacks on 9/11/2011.

 

The symbolism of 9/11 was significant to a man who grew up with unlimited wealth in Saudi Arabia.  He was influenced by the desire of radical Islam for Jihad.  This means to go to war to establish one Islamic nation and establish Islam by force as the religion of the world.  Osama Bin Laden influenced by radical zealots recruited and trained terrorists to carry out his attacks against the United States.  His goal was to change the worldview of September 11.

 

The weakness the Muslims see in Christians is our greatest strength.  We value mercy.  We value tolerance.  We trust in the promises of God.  We do not fight and die to earn our salvation.  We are willing to fight and die to stop the spread of evil.  We are willing to risk all for the sake of Christ. Our salvation is rooted in God's grace.  God comes to us in Christ to claim us as his own.  Muslim expansion was turned back at the battle of Vienna.  History shows that Christians stood together against the spread of evil.  Reality is that in 1683 Christendom was divided because of the reformation and the decline of the Roman Empire.  Still Christians, severely weakened and outnumbered, turned back the  Ottoman Empire at the siege of Vienna.