Dearborn, Michigan is a hot spot for alleged Christians, charlatans and money grubbings who want to make believe they are "fighting the good fight" against Islam. What I mean by this is Dearborn is a safe place for these fake "Christians" to fundraise. Acts 17 Apologetics fits the bill.
The group comes to Dearborn during the Arab Festival, which is a festival sponsored by two non-religious organizations, one of those groups being the Chamber of Commerce (hardly an Islam loving, Imam promoting organization). And why would the Chamber be interested in an Arab Festival? Perhaps because at least one third of Dearborn's population is Arabic and it is a great way to make money for local businesses and the City of Dearborn. I could be missing something here, but isn't it a normal practice to try to help businesses sell goods and increase tax revenues for your city or town? By doing so, wouldn't these places use what makes logical sense? Dearborn has a large Arab community, which is rather unique in North America, so maybe the City and businesses can cash in on it?
Anyway, Acts 17 Apologetics has put it on themselves that they are "the chosen" to proseltyze the Arabic people or anyone else who may show up at the festival. The problem is, they don't want to follow the laws of the City of Dearborn and then they want to lie about what really occurred in the City of Dearborn (but, this leads directly into fundraising for the group).
For example, the City allows any religious to participate and even prosletyze at the event. Typically, both Christian and Muslim organizations will set up a tent or booth during the event to promote their beliefs. There is also a "free speech zone" which provided free access to promote their message at the festival. This space is also used by different religious groups. Yet, in the Acts 17 Apologetics literature, this is never mentioned.
On June 18, 2010 the group was aggressively confronting passers-by and were arrested for Breach of Peace and Failure to Obey a police officer. The group was acquitted on the Breach of Peace charges, but one was found guilty of failure to obey a police officer. Yet, this is what is used by Acts 17 in the media, I am pretty confident as their fundraiser. For some reason, Acts 17 Apologetics claims to be Christian, but seem not to know Scripture. Take Romans 13:1-7 for example--
1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
But, as I mentioned for this group it is a money and attention raising event. Therefore, they sued the City of Dearborn with the help of rightwing Thomas More organization and low and behold--the ACLU!!! That has got to be one of the irony of ironies right there. This may end up in the Acts 17 (and at least the Thomas More group) to take money away from the City of Dearborn causing us to have to cut more services because some fringe group wants to harass Arabs in this city. It also keeps them in the media, locally at least. Which they and their groups will make bigger than a mountain through the Internet.
The City of Dearborn has set up laws and policies that many other cities have set up for big events. Policies that everyone abides by but Acts 17 Apologetics. But, Acts 17 is not harrassed, oppressed or victimized because they are allowed the rights of every other group who wants to prostletyze this event, they just don't want to follow the law like the other groups. A local group of Dearborn Christian ministers attempted to contact Acts 17 Apologetics and since there was no response, released this letter in 2009 after reviewing the groups escapades during the Arab Festival that year. Here is the link--
http://www.fairlanealliance.org/downloads/letter_concerning_acts_17.pdf
I think the ministers write a good letter but the glaring part that struck me is Acts 17 Apologetics is about promoting Acts 17 Apologetics. They use Jesus as the means to their end. I see these people as another one of the false groups making money and noteriety off of Jesus Christ.
Acts 17 Apologetics is another outside group that feels they have to invade Dearborn during the year to allegedly "save Christianity" from the evil Muslims. I am guessing they make quite a haul from their unknowing donors (and some even knowing donors who want to stir up trouble) for their brief trip to cause dissension and strife.
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