Koran Burning

There was something on the national news about the pastor of a small church in Florida who wants to stage a Koran burning on or about September 11. It’s too bad the media is giving publicity to this nitwit. As usual, the media likes to publicize negative things about Christians, but very few positive things. So this obscure nutcase is getting worldwide attention when he deserves none.

Apparently everybody from Hilary Clinton to the Pope have condemned this proposed book burning, and with good reason. It is a hateful thing to do, will inflame even more discontent in the Islamic World (it already has), will give Al Qaida a propaganda bonanza and a great recruiting tool, will give Christians a bad name, and may put our troops in more danger according to General Petraeus. Book burnings remind me of the Nazis, who staged them to get rid of those works they didn’t like. Does this guy really want to be in the same category as Nazis?

By doing this book burning, this pastor is bringing shame on Jesus Christ, whom he claims to serve. He reinforces the stereotype of a fanatical Christian, like those who shoot abortion doctors. I hope he doesn’t go through with this proposed book burning, because doing such a thing is certainly un-American and not in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ. I ask you, the reader, not to judge all Christians by the actions of a fanatical few. Many are saying we shouldn’t judge all Muslims by the actions of a fanatical few as well, and I agree. We may find fault with the Islamic faith in general (as I’ve mentioned in earlier posts), but that doesn’t mean we burn their holy scriptures, persecute them, or otherwise mistreat them.

By the way, I don’t think opposing the Mosque near Ground Zero is persecution, just being sensitive to the families and friends of those who died on 9/11. But when that opposition is motivated more by hate than sensitivity, then it isn’t good.

This pastor told NBC News, "Instead of us backing down, maybe it's time to stand up. Maybe it's time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior." How about this as a better idea: pray to God for strength and protection? Isn’t that’s what a pastor should be telling his congregation? Instead, this guy’s spewing hate. He should be defrocked.