A few years ago 19 men hijacked a number of aircraft in US airspace and deliberately crashed them into a number of targets. There must have been a number of people working behind the scenes to enable this dreadful event. Maybe 50 people in total? From that dreadful day we have seen a wave of hatred for Islam fuelled by a desire for revenge coupled with ignorance about what Islam actually is. How many have died, have suffered because of the response of the 'West' to the events on September the 11th?
On September the 11th this year pastor Terry Jones from the Dove World Outreach Centre plans for his church to hold a 'Burn A Koran Day' to send a message to 'the radical element of Islam'. His church has about 50 people in their congregation. How much hatred and desire for revenge will be ignited by his event as the message is picked up by Muslims throughout the world who will not distinguish between the views of this pastor and the 'Christian West'?
In the book of Matthew Jesus clearly calls us to be peacemakers.
Jesus doesn't call us to be stupid either. Obviously the message isn't getting through.
On September the 11th this year pastor Terry Jones from the Dove World Outreach Centre plans for his church to hold a 'Burn A Koran Day' to send a message to 'the radical element of Islam'. His church has about 50 people in their congregation. How much hatred and desire for revenge will be ignited by his event as the message is picked up by Muslims throughout the world who will not distinguish between the views of this pastor and the 'Christian West'?
In the book of Matthew Jesus clearly calls us to be peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.His call is to be peacemakers. Not peacekeepers. Not warmongerers. Not vengeful.
Jesus doesn't call us to be stupid either. Obviously the message isn't getting through.
I'm uneasy about this. Much as I have posted recently on the Koran and Mohammed, I wouldn't participate in burning either, otherwise I'm no better than them.
ReplyDeleteThere's debate and opposition, and then there's incitement. Unfortunately those receiving the retribution won't be Jones and his flock.
ReplyDeleteIt just goes to show that hatred begets hatred, and it will go on escalating until real Christians put a stop to it. Vengeful Christians burn the Koran, which may provoke move vengeful Muslims to behead some Christians, which will provoke more vengeful Christians to drop bombs on more Muslim wedding celebrations, and so it goes.
ReplyDeleteThere's a wise response to this from Pastor Sam Lee at http://is.gd/f27kL
ReplyDeleteI agree, burning the Quran is an ugly thing to do.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to ask, why do you not give Islam and Muslims the courtesy of a capital letter? Of course it may have been a typo, but you did it twice, so maybe it's not.
Do you know I was typing away and realised I hadn't capitalised those words. It did register but I suppose I was lazy. Then when Steve posted it noticed it again. Now you've posted about it so I've tidied things up and given courtesy where it's due.
ReplyDelete