Islam to Christianity: “I Will See Your Nut-Case and Raise You 100,000″
That Slogan May Be a Little Ambitious, Reverend
The kinder, gentler Christians all berate “pastor” Terry Jones for misrepresenting Christian charity with his hateful act of burning the Quran or Koran or whatever they call that “holy” book that stimulates so much hatred in so many around the world.
Other Christians feel that using the thing for kindling in the coming winter may be the only viable use it has, but still, Mr. Jones is way too focused on entirely the wrong thing.
Still others think he is an attention-starved nobody who just got his 15 minutes in the sun…and may get severely burned by it.
I think Terry Jones just isn’t too bright. He is a religious zealot whose ignorance generates much more heat than light. He is typical of what happens when an ignorant man with a small mind heeds “the call of God” on his life. Maybe when God told him to go plow in his fields or bring in the sheaves, he was actually referring to farming.
Still, I find it extremely telling that the severest warnings from around the world have to do with the reaction of Muslims to this one goofy man’s action. Does it not tell you everything you need to know about the general state of Islam that the entire world is holding its collective breath, fully expecting rioting, murders, bombings, beheadings, and assorted random acts of violence from thousands and maybe even millions of Muslims because some pinhead preacher of a tiny church in Florida says he is going to burn their bible?
Take this typical reaction from a Muslim leader, as reported by CNN.com for example:
Hamas leader Ismail Haniya called Jones a “religious criminal” and a “retard that expresses a Western-retarded mentality” that targets the Quran, Islam, and Muslims. Speaking in Gaza at the start of the Eid holiday, Haniya said, “I call upon God the merciful, if they want to rip the Quran, for God to rip them apart and their state and make them an example for the believers.”
Kind of makes you want to chant, “Takes one to know one,” doesn’t it? Is this not the pot calling the kettle black? And how about that business of “God the merciful,” upon whom he calls to destroy an entire nation over one little retard’s actions?
The Warm Fuzzies
Oh, such brotherhood! Such harmony!
Christians have their kooks, no doubt. But for every kooky Christian there are a few thousand who are not beady-eyed, hate-mongering, frothing at the mouth, and downright dangerous. I suppose some would say the same is true of Muslims. Maybe it is. Maybe their radicals are a real small minorty…but they sure make a lot more noise and appear to occupy much higher places in their society, do they not? I mean, come on, one pastor of thirty people on this side and the leader of Hamas on the other?
And let’s not forget Iran and the Taliban and…ad nauseum.
So, what is my position on the matter? I believe Jones has the right to burn whatever book he pleases, just as the Imam has the theoretical right to build his Mosque under what ought to still be the shadow of the now-long-gone twin towers. But sometimes the “right” to do a thing does not make it the right thing to do. There is nothing to be gained by burning Korans. No souls will be saved as a result. No one will come to Jesus or see the light of the gospel. It is a counter-productive, mean-spirited, small-minded thing to do.
So, I’m agin’ it.
That said, I still don’t buy the idea that “Islam is peace.” Even if we arrested Mr. Jones and sentenced him to life in prison in order to appease the hateful terrorists we have come to fear so much that it impacts our every move as a nation, they would still hate us and want us dead. That is what their holy book calls for. If you don’t believe me, ask them what “God the merciful” really means.
Outside the Camp with Christ
For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Hebrews 13:11-13
Jesus suffered “outside the camp.” What a stark picture of loneliness and solitude. He suffered while hundreds, perhaps thousands, passed by. Yet, He suffered alone.
He was not in the camp. He was not in the mainstream. He was not among those who followed the popular school of thought in His day. He offered a radically different message: one of righteousness and mercy, judgment and forgiveness.
He loved the unlovely. He exposed hypocrisy. He told the truth.
Now, the writer of Hebrews stirs us to action. He rallies the Christian troops with the words, “Let US go to him, OUTSIDE the camp, BEARING his reproach.” Let us be less concerned about how we “look” to others, or that we might “appear” fanatical, or that we might not find ourselves in the “mainstream,” and more concerned with having a real, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
No one can have both.
You cannot walk with the “world” and Christ. He is always going to be outside the camp.
So, choose, my friend. Will it be Christ or the crowd? Are you willing to bear the abuse that accompanies surrender to His will and Word? Which do you desire more – a place in the camp today, or that city to come?
A Prayer For Today: Lord Jesus, I choose You. I will come to You and follow You regardless of the cost. No earthly acclaim or acknowledgement can take Your place in my life. And no human reproach can compare to the joy You give to me. Give me strength and grace, Lord. Amen.”
Give Me a P! Give Me an R! Give me an I! Give me a D! Give me an E!
The Bible has a great deal to say about pride…and none of it is good. Over and over again, pride is roundly condemned. It is listed among the seven deadly sins. God goes so far as to say that when a person is filled with pride, He hates the look on that person’s face. [See Proverbs 6:16-18.]
Why then has it become vogue for Christians to tout their pride? They are proud of their church, their preacher, their kids, their jobs, their accomplishments, ad infinitum. I know that we Christians love to do ideological and theological gymnastics to defend our own faults…and even to paint them, not as faults, but as strengths. Church pride can’t be a bad thing, right? I mean, after all, the church is all about Jesus and Jesus is all about the church…so if I go around smacking everyone in the face with how my church rocks the most, that just has to be something Jesus would high five me on. Right? And community pride. I mean, come on! I am a Texan. How can I not rub that in the face of everyone who isn’t? And my grandkid? He is way cuter than yours and I have the pics to prove it.
It isn’t any wonder that many thinking people are turned off more by Christians than they are Christianity. Too often, we pretty much do what we want and interpret the Bible in a way that supports how we wanted to live in the first place. Then, we puff out our chests and look down our noses at all the poor, ignorant slobs who aren’t as enlightened as us.
We pat ourselves on the back, so proud of all we are…and all we aren’t.
Lest you think me unqualified to speak on this subject, I would draw back the curtain to my own heart and reveal that my besetting sin is – and always has been – pride. I didn’t preach to any church yesterday. I am not pastoring one today. I won’t be overseeing one tomorrow. I am where I am because of pride.
I’m not proud of that. I am proud of myself for recognizing and acknowledging it.
Um, wait…
Social Follow
Journey With...
-
The JourneyMan by D. Gene Strother is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at genestrother.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at permission@genestrother.com.
Here we go…
-
-
-
