I've been thinking a lot about this plan to stage a 'burn the Koran' day. I will say at the outset that, as a Christian, and as an American citizen, I view it as an outrage on every level.
First of all, the church as an institution has no business doing something like this. Its mandate is the gospel rightly preached, the sacraments rightly administered, and the exercise of church discipline (which is primarily spiritual) in the doctrine and life of its particular members. Yes, we are the "church militant", but our warfare is spiritual, against indwelling sin, the devil, and the ideas and philosophies of men. To burn the holy book of an admittedly opposing religion is a declaration of war – and the church is not in this kind of war business. I view this act as confusion at best and sin at worst. The church should call them to Christ, not taunt them into war against our neighbors (the state). Yes, evangelism includes a warning as well as an invitation. But is a warning borne of love, of pleading, of earnest desire for mercy to extended to the yet unconverted.
Secondly, as individual Christians, we are primarily pilgrims, not nationals of a "Christian Nation". We are ultimately foreigners even to the US, let alone to other cultures. To make such a swashbuckling taunt has clearly militaristic overtones, and is about as far afield as one could get from Christ's teaching. Even if Muslims do declare themselves to be enemies of Christians, what did Christ teach us about how to respond to our enemies? Did He mean it? "Hath God said?"
Thirdly, we as Christians are to be responsible citizens of our host nation. We are to pray for its peace, and we are to seek to live a peaceful and quiet life – we are not to provoke its enemies to attack. Some will say that even though it isn't wise, it is still their right to 'freedom of speech and expression.' No, sir. Absolutely not. This display of idiocy, irresponsibility, and misplaced malice gets filed under the same category as yelling 'Fire!' in a crowded theater. It is foolish and will cost the lives of our brothers, as well as our neighbors.
This misguided "pastor" of the ridiculously (and antithetically) named "Dove World Outreach Center" is absolutely wrong. Christians, fellow citizens, decry this act as confused, ignorant, and most of all as an affront to Christ and his teachings. Sir, by your words and your planned actions, you defame Christ Himself. Do not do this. It is vicious folly, it is sinful and dangerous, and to do this in Christ's name is treasonous.
gmail.com
I don’t disagree with a single notion of your post. But I believe light is being shown on this by the media as a distraction and to further denigrate Christians in our society as crazy wackjobs. I think that by acknowledging this guy and his 50 member ‘church’ we are legitimizing his percieved (errantly imo) influence and representation of the Christian world.
Ignore the trolls and they go away….
I truly could not have said it better myself. If we as believers are called to strive to be like Jesus while we are visiting this foreign land, I’m not sure how anyone who calls himself a Christian could possibly consider such a hateful, war-mongering act “Christ-like”. If you want someone to hate the Gospel and what we stand for this is probably the best way to do it.
This ignorant and foolish act is unbiblical, and directly conflicts with the very words of Christ in Matthew 5:43-48 [show] [43]"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44]But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45]so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46]For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47]And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48]You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)
: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors doing that? And if you only greet your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
This passage explicitly teaches loving your enemy, praying for them, and showing them hospitality: “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven”, the ramifications of this statement cannot be underestimated or ignored. This Florida pastor is doing both. By outwardly rejecting the gospel that Christ himself preached he is humiliating himself and his perish. More importantly he is exalting country above kingdom. This act is flagrantly sinful, and idolatrous in nature. Pray for him, his church and our enemies that they may know the truth, and that the truth would set them free.
Throwing this out there – but do you all have the same opinion about the dustup regarding the publication of the Mohammad cartoons?
I think the 24-hour cable news industry is a big contributor to the firestorm.
Is this guy related to Jerry (Jones, not Springer)
@Tim: I don’t think that drawing a cartoon is as obviously provocative and as direct a taunt as publicly burning their holy book. In fact, before that ‘dustup’, I doubt many non-Muslims even knew it was off limits to depict Mohammad in pictures. Agree that the media could’ve been held equally as responsible – no one would’ve even known about it – Muslims included – if not for the inflammatory-story-hungry-MSM.
I agree with you, Aron. I am constantly appalled by what some would call “religious acts” that are in all reality no better than hate crimes.
Only that one Dutch parlimentarian was murdered because of it, and the cartoonist who led the effort (for Freedom of Speech reasons) has had multiple attempts on his life averted by his constant bodyguard protection. Similar threats were issued to the worldwide press when there was going to be a “Cartoon/picture depiction of Mohammad” day.
But you didn’t answer the more important question….is Pastor Jones related to one of the Jerrys?
I like what you said about the “pilgrim” perspective. Good stuff.
@Tim: I have no idea. ha!