The Bonfire of False Religion

Well, it's over! The angry little church in Jacksonville, Florida will not burn copies of the Koran on Saturday as they had promised. Yes, they have enjoyed free worldwide publicity. But they were denounced by nearly everyone on the globe from one of our most respected US generals to former presidents to the Pope! The FBI paid a personal visit to the pastor. The church website was dropped by the web provider. Their hometown threatened to bill them for additional hours by the police force. The Associated Press vowed not to cover the book burning in print or images! Death threats came in from all around the world. Perhaps this shocking assault on world peace is behind us once and for all.

Of course, I'm pleased this misguided little church in Florida has changed their plans. In a nation where burning the US flag is a civil right protected by the US Constitution, this was never a question of civil rights. As controversial columnist Ann Coulter explained, it's a question of kindness. It's not kind to burn a book that is sacred to some of your neighbors. So I always objected to this hostile publicity stunt, and always considered it not very Christ-like.

But did anyone notice the universal outrage? Generals were appalled! Religious leaders were horrified! Politicians rushed to go on the record! In fact, if the truth be told, most Christians across the land were deeply offended by the idea of a Christian Church burning the Koran- even though most of us agree the book is demonic. (All false religions are, of course.)

Truth is, just about everyone realized this was not what followers of Christ should be doing. We all instinctively acknowledged that Christians stand for love, kindness and compassion- not burning books treasured by our neighbors. Even irreligious Americans know this about the church of Jesus Christ. We don't respect the Koran, but if we disrespect people of the Islamic religion, we will never be able to build bridges of relationship to bring some of them to Christ. So we don't burn their misguided holy books. We wouldn't want them to burn copies of the Bible, so let's abide by the Golden Rule.

Meanwhile, around the globe, Muslims demonstrated violently. Signs called for death to all Americans. Political and military leaders here and abroad insisted that burning the Koran would lead to attacks on US troops, bombings of US properties, and the execution of American citizens around the world. Muslims around the world would be so outraged that the level of death and destruction would be incalculable! Muslims who have not been involved in terrorism before would be driven to jihad by one insignificant little congregation in the USA burning copies of the Koran which they had purchased with their own money.

This has been the most shocking act of violence threatened by a US Church in more than a decade- burning a few copies of the Koran. We have been assured it would prompt Muslims to go rioting and killing and burning all around the world. Okay, let's accept that as a fact. So why are Christians in the US called fanatics and narrow minded zealots? And why is Islam constantly heralded as a "religion of peace?" Why are US Christians most commonly labeled as "angry people who cling to guns and religion" by American intellectuals, while followers of Mohammed are protected as a noble religion with a history of enlightenment?

Don't miss the point here! I am not suggesting that Muslims are evil and that we should despise them or burn their sacred books. To the contrary, I urge you to love your Muslim neighbors, build compassionate relationships with them and pray for Christ to reveal Himself to them. I am simply reminding you that the World is two-faced and hypocritical. Unbelievers in the US and around the world know they have absolutely nothing to fear from Christians. They simply resent us because we remind them of something they would rather forget: one day they will die and stand before God.

Never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Islam has never been a religion of peace, but Jesus Christ continues to reign as the Prince of Peace. Let's stop cowering in the corner.

Selah.

Learn more about Tim's new book Treasure in the Sand
at www.TreasureintheSand.org