Koran Burning

UPDATE:  Media outlets are now reporting the event is being called off.  This does not invalidate my thoughts on the subject, but hopefully healing can now occur and true Christian love can be shown to the world.


A church in Gainesville, Florida has been receiving lots of media attention recently.  The church is planning on burning Korans on September 11th.  I admit at first I was not necessarily against this, but not supporting it either.  I cracked a few jokes about it, but in hindsight that was not the right thing to do.  So here is my official statement concerning this event:  I do not, nor will I ever condone such an event from this day forward.

I think it is sad and appalling that those who claim to be Christian would espouse such disdain with an in your face attitude toward another group.  At the same time I am not agreeing with Islam or its tenets.  However, if we are to follow the commandment of Christ in Matthew 22:39,  "Love your neighbor as yourself," we have no choice but not stand against this hateful act.  How is this showing love?  Are we not commanded to even love our enemies?

 ⁴³ “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! ⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. ⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. ⁴⁷ If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. ⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.  (Matthew 5:43-48, NLT)

Here it is in black and white (some Bibles red and white) we are to love our enemies.  Not only that but we are to be kind as well.  How is burning the Koran showing either love or kindness to Muslims?  How many hearts will be hardened by this display of venomous hate?  I have friends who minister to Muslims, how much will this set back their ministry, how much damage will be done?  Souls will be lost because of the hate this group has for Muslims.

I will leave you with one more passage repeating the above command found in Matthew but ending with a stern warning:

¹³You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. ¹⁴The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.  (Galatians 5:13-15, NIV)

Meditate on that verse, what do your thoughts and actions say about how you feel toward your enemies?