The Koran and Mr. Jones

I have pondered the unfolding situation of "Pastor" Terry Jones and his plans to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of the attacks on the United States nine years ago. By undertaking this action, Mr. Jones believes he will be advancing the cause of Christianity and revealing the heart of Islam as a violent and intolerant religion.

Around the world there is both an outcry and criticism of this plan. I am not sure if Mr. Jones was seeking publicity or if this is the product of his sincere belief that what he is doing is right, but this leader of an small group of people has garnered the attention of heads of state, religious leaders near and far and sparked protests in locations as distant from Gainesville, FL as one could dare imagine.

While I am certainly no supporter of Islamic ideology, and do feel that as a part of the Great Commission the Church is to evangelize the Muslims in our world, I do feel that this move is, and excuse my English, "retarded".

While military leaders point out the possible harm to our troops stationed in Muslim areas of the world, I think of the great harm that such a move would have upon both missionaries and believers around the world who are already paying a high cost for their stand for the Gospel. To further place them at risk shows the inability of this man to "discern the Lord's body".

Furthermore, why should we as Christians stoop to the lows presently occupied by those who oppose us. I do not have to crawl into a pig pen to tell that the pig pen stinks. I can do so, out of love, from a morally superior position. While the flags of our nation are burned and abused, and attacks against Christians around the world occur on a daily basis, there is no precedence for us to retaliate with similar behaviour.

Mr. Jones, you will ultimately do what you want, and you will ignore the pleas of politicians, common sense, the Scriptures and other religious leaders. Ultimately you will do what you want, and what you think your god has told you to do.

For the rest of us, with a passion for world evangelism, we will move forward in spite of the great harm to this cause inflicted by a very selfish and self centred man. We will unapologetically proclaim the Gospel to a lost and dying world, while showing them equally that the heart of our faith is not birthed in hatred but in love.

Lastly, thank-you Mr. Jones for allowing all of us the opportunity to search our own hearts to discover whether or not we would walk a path of anger and hatred with you or we would walk a road less travelled, while finding a few more travellers today that we expected!