Yes, everyone’s had enough of my little political rants. 

Truth be told, I’m a bit over it too.  If I hear Tony Windsor or Rob Oakeshot speak again in the next two weeks I think I’m just going to have to shoot someone.

So, I decided to write about something that makes me happy for a change.  Something that makes me excited.

The problem is, I couldn’t think of anything because I can’t help but be distracted the absolutely woeful decision a Florida Pastor has made to burn a copy of the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Now, I realise I need to be careful here.  It’s a touchy subject but I want to get two points out.  Then you can all go nuts and call me crazy (yes, all two of you).

1: Burning a copy of the Koran is a decidedly un-Christian thing to do.

Yes, you read that correctly.  Anyone who publically announces that they’re going to burn a copy of the Koran because they believe it’s what Jesus wants them to do should pick up a copy of the Bible.

Have a look at what Jesus did when he was around.  Did he ever burn copies of books that denied the fact that God existed?

No.

Did he ever encourage people to destroy the possessions of people that didn’t believe what he believed?

No.

What in fact DID Jesus say about people that don’t believe what he believed?

He said that they are making a bad decision, however, he had more important business on his hands.  He was too busy telling people about what he believed to be true and telling people what we Christians call the ‘Good News” that whoever believes in Jesus can be reconciled to God.

In fact, Jesus was actually the one who ended up being killed by people that didn’t believe what he believed.

Perhaps this Florida Pastor should, rather than burning the Koran, start telling people that Jesus is Lord and Saviour. 

He should start proclaiming what Jesus proclaimed – that every person matters and every person is loved by God.

Sarah Palin actually made a reasonably good point about how deliberately provocative this decision is.  Palin wrote that burning the Koran is “insensitive and an unnecessary provocation."

She continued: “It will feed the fire of caustic rhetoric and appear as nothing more than mean-spirited religious intolerance. Don't feed that fire. If your ultimate point is to prove that the Christian teachings of mercy, justice, freedom, and equality provide the foundation on which our country stands, then your tactic to prove this point is totally counter-productive.”

Not bad right?  She’s actually spot on.

Jesus said he came to bring not peace but division, but he wasn’t referring to people going around and inciting hatred by burning copies of other religion’s holy books. 

He said he’d bring division simply by claiming what he knew to be true – that he is the Son of God.

Think about it – that’s a pretty divisive statement right there!  He wasn’t saying “Grab your torches and start a Koran bonfire”.

No.  He was telling his followers to proclaim the truth boldly.  To not be fearful of the persecution that would inevitably come, but to courageously say what they knew to be the truth.

2: There is a bit of a double standard at play here

Yes, you read that correctly too.

Bibles get burned everyday somewhere in the world.  Christians all over the world are persecuted and killed for what they believe.

So, I ask:

Where is the international condemnation of people that burn the Bible? 

Where is the international condemnation of those that persecute Christians for their beliefs? 

Where is the fear of violent reprisals from Christians who are marginalised, discriminated against and killed?

Answer: Few and far between.

Surely this is the best witness that Christianity is a peaceful belief system.  Not burning books… Hitler anyone?

If people are going to get up in arms and appeal for this Pastor not to burn the Koran, and yes, they should get up in arms about it, perhaps the next time someone kills a Christian simply because they believe Jesus is the son of God or they burn someone’s Bible…

Well…

Maybe that’s something to be concerned about too.

All I know is that this Florida Pastor is making a bad decision.

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