Burn, Baby, Burn

Some of you may have seen or heard the NPR item about the church in Florida that plans to burn Qu'rans on September 11. It is very sad. The NPR articles are available here: Fla. Minister: Sept. 11 Quran Burn Still Planned

The Church is a small church in Gainsville, FL, and they have received national and international attention. None of it good, I would say. (There were riots in Indonesia)

I thought about how to respond. I could shake my head and sigh, write a letter of protest that would probably be dismissed, or express my thoughts in as constructive a way as I could. That is what I have chosen. I made the following response on the church's "Ten Reasons To Burn A Koran (sic)" blog. Maybe someone will read it. I will also reprint it here for your consideration. God bless and help us all.


Burning the Quran
A response to http://www.doveworld.org/blog/ten-reasons-to-burn-a-koran

I was very saddened to hear of your church’s plan to burn the Qu’ran on Sept 11. Its not because I believe what it says, nor because I support Islam. I do not; I am a Christian, a pastor in Texas. The reason I am saddened is because by your actions and testimony, you deny the Christian gospel message of love and peace and add fuel to the fires of hatred. You have left the way of Christ, and followed the way of jihad, the holy war. You are becoming that which you profess to hate.

Jesus said, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27) And “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). Christ’s message is clear. It is the way of love.

I implore you not to follow the way of hate, which is not the way of Christ, but to follow instead the way of love, which he lived and taught.

In my community, the local mosque is sponsoring a prayer vigil, open to the community, on Sept 11 to bring people of all faiths together to pray for peace and for the families of those killed 9 years ago. That seems to me to be a much better, more Christ-like way to remember and mourn. How ironic that Christians are acting like jihadists and Muslims are acting like Christians. God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.