This article is the #1 Top New Story on Yahoo! News on September 7th, 2010. Four more days and it's an all out assault, an enormous nation-wide and world-wide media pressure to get a pastor to stop doing what he thinks God is telling him to do.
Since when does the US government get to pressure citizens about their religious beliefs?
He wants to burn Qurans. He wants to offend Muslims. He wants to take a stand. So? LET HIM. Can't Muslims take some criticism like big boys?
Over 100 people have threatened to kill this pastor for his convictions? Over 100 death threats?! Yet he won't back down on his sincere convictions. I can respect that part. Immensely.
The US State Department has aligned themselves with Muslims on an one church event that left to itself would have been ignored by 99.999% of the world. I can't get it... the State Department meddling in a slightly quirky publicity stunt? Seriously?
I don't know Pastor Jones. But I'd pray with him, listen to him. Probably find a lot of common ground and common concerns. But I'd encourage him to do something different and more effective in fighting the battle against evil. Something like preaching the gospel, praying and fasting, befriending a Muslim who needs Jesus.
What's the Truth?
But at the root what sticks in my windpipe is this: he's a pastor, part of what he is saying is legitimate and biblical.
We are in a spiritual battle. Islam is a false religion and according to Scripture will deceive millions into a Christ-less eternity. I'd say that is evil. He is a pastor with spiritual and moral authority.
And his response if the shoe were on the other foot?
... if Muslims wanted to burn Bibles in the front yard of a mosque. "Of course, I would not like it," Jones said. But "I definitely would not threaten to kill them, as we have been threatened."That seems more sane and reasonable than demonstrations, threats of violence and a media smear campaign..
And it feels good to be back in the blogosphere.
4 comments:
This quote from the article caught my attention... "If this (burning of the Quran) happens there will be chaos in Afghanistan and being a Muslim, if we don't defend the Quran then what else we can do?"
What else can they do? What truth there is in that statement. I rejoice that my Hope is not in a physical book.
Totally agree with you Jim. This is all way way way ridiculous.
@Tim. Thanks for the comment Tim. Great point about our hope NOT being in a book.
The more I've dug into this the more shocked but not shocked that I am about Muslims devotion to their book.
They don't believe that it can be translated and still be holy, so any convert to Islam must learn Arabic to be a proper Muslim. How's that for culturally monolithic.
Also I have made it a practice when I meet Muslims to ask them sincerely what appeals to them about their faith. Interesting answers every time.
The owner of an oil change place near my house let me borrow a Quran and as he held it out he made me promise that I would wash my hands before I touched it and never touch it after going to the bathroom or having sex. He meant it when he said, 'This is a holy book.'
As you said, our hope is not in a book!
I have to disagree with you on this one.
The disrespectful act, had it gone ahead, would have resulted in the deaths of Christian believers around the world.
Right thinking Christians (and, yes, secular people as well) could see the foolishness of this stunt and rightly called for restraint.
I'm glad we and they did.
Thanks for the comment Al.
I agree that this pastor should be confronted about this stunt. Especially by right thinking Christians.
What irks me is the media attention and government intervention. That is ridiculous in a nation with constitutional freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
It appears as though the Muslims get freedom to express their religion but not this guy.
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