Dear Lady saying Monster Energy Drink promotes Satanism and interrupting Muslim prayers,

I am astounded and appalled at your attitude, naivety, and outrageous actions. You have become famous for two things recently: A video saying that Monster Energy Drink is Satanist (Video Here) and walking in on a Muslim prayer service at the National Cathedral (Article/Video Here). I would address you by name, but have not found your name anywhere. I apologize for the impersonal address.

First of all, Monster Energy Drink does not have 3 vavs. It has three scratch marks. If you really, really wanted to push things, you could say that it has the final nun or Nun Sofit (Which in Hebrew Gematria is 700 or 2100 with three) as listed in the picture to the right. Your ignorance is not doing anything to promote Jesus. Your ignorance is turning others away from Jesus. I’m a (former) Youth Pastor. Do you know how many of my teenagers I saw post that video? Do you know how many of them actually believed anything you said and/or mocked you? If anything, you are promoting the true American Evangelical mentality: Christians are ignorant bigots.

Your statement on the mark of the beast shows even more that you have failed to critically analyze and understand Revelation within its apocalyptic literary context. You are so eager to analyze another company but you fail to analyze your own Bible. If you really want me to explain in detail what I mean by apocalyptic literature, I encourage you to read a few books first: (1) Revelation Commentary by Mitchell Reddish and (2) Revelation by Gordon Fee. Then, if you still have questions, you can email me at [email protected].

But your escapades didn’t stop there. You decided to make your face known by walking in on a Muslim prayer service at the National Cathedral. Now, let me make something very clear here: I don’t think Muslim prayers should be brought into a church. However, if a Muslim prayer service is going on in a church, one should not go in and start screaming about how Jesus died on that cross. I’m going to assume you know nothing about Islam so let me start with some basics:

(For an excellent book on Islam I would highly encourage you to read Dr. James White, “What Every Christian Needs To Know About The Qur’an”. And although I can’t suggest it because I haven’t finished it, I am currently reading through Miroslav Volf’s “Allah: A Christian Response”.)

Muslims do not believe Jesus died on the cross. They also cannot stand that Christianity believes in 3 gods (The Trinity):

“O followers of the Book! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium (Jesus) is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a Spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three.” Surah 4:171

So let’s just be blatantly honest and hypothetical here. Let’s say Muslims invited Christians into a Mosque to pray. And let’s say Christians were praying and a Muslim walked in saying, “Allah Akbar” and began shouting, “Allah is God, there is no Trinity and Jesus didn’t die on the cross.” Would you believe him or her? Would that get you to change your mind? Let me answer for you, it wouldn’t. You would think he or she is a radical Muslim who wants nothing to do with you and only wants to promote his or her religion. Here is my point: You are that radical person who only wants to promote your own belief system.

The problem is that Jesus has so much more to offer than that. Why not apply what Jesus did? Why not invite all of those Muslims over to your house or out to dinner and share a meal together. You can research ahead of time to see what common ground exists between Islam and Christianity and begin to dialogue. THEN you can share your testimony and what Jesus has done for you. Going in guns blazing isn’t brave, as some have suggested; it’s dangerous and harmful to the Gospel of Jesus. The only place Jesus overthrew the tables (literally and figuratively) was in the Temple or synagogues of his own people. That being said, the only place where one should “overthrow” the tables is where Christians are meeting who are sharing a perverse Gospel. Not that I think that would solve anything, but that’s a different blog post in and of itself. (Disclaimer for Christians reading: please don’t go in to a church this weekend with whips. You think I’m kidding, but people have used my words against me in the past).

Here’s my underlying point: If we want to see people come to faith in Jesus, we need to dialogue. We can share our own experiences with what Jesus has done through us and others, and in that we can and are sharing the Gospel. But we must also remember that Jesus will build His Church. It’s about His Kingdom, not our own. Paul knew this well. When he gave his speech at the Areopagus in Athens in Acts 17, he knew their religious systems and did his homework, as it were. He also went to the synagogues there and “reasoned” with them. If Paul had gone in their shouting and screaming that Jesus is Lord, no one would have listened to him. But he was respectful to those around Him and dialogued with them. Was he still rejected? Of course. Was he still laughed at and beaten? Of course! BUT, many also came to know Jesus because his ministry was employed by the Spirit, with respect and through educating himself on other belief systems.

I want to encourage you to do your homework. Your ignorance and disrespect to others around you won’t bring others closer to Jesus. You will only push them away. It is unfortunate. You are a sister in Christ. I share these things to help you turn your unfortunate and not-so-good fame into a real ministry that others can truly benefit from. You are clearly a bold woman who loves Jesus and I am not denying that. But now is the time to act with wisdom. Your viral Monster video is a joke to so many who have watched it, which is a shame. Think about how much greater that video would have been had you spent more time promoting the Gospel of Jesus, than trying to demonize a corporation (Which still may be satanic, I reserve the right to be wrong, but so are a lot of other corporations that are just as bad). A video may not have gone viral, but you also wouldn’t have turned so many people away from Jesus. Think about how much closer some of those Muslims might be to turning to Jesus as Messiah and Lord had you invited them over for a dinner, rather than screaming about things they don’t believe. I urge you to act with wisdom in your future ministry endeavors. If you are truly led by the Spirit, then please let Galatians 5:22-23 be your guide when dealing with not-yet-believers.

“Be very careful then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” –Ephesians 5:15-17