Tuesday, September 7, 2010

FLA PASTOR TO BURN KORAN

“And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” (Luke 9:52-55)

This morning on WRKO, talk show host Todd Feinberg announced that Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainsville, Florida is holding “International Burn A Koran Day” on Saturday, September 11 in commemoration of attack on America by radical Muslim extremists on September 11, 2001. Callers were asked to voice their opinions of “International Burn A Koran Day”, and a variety of opinions were stated. (I know Jones intends to burn A Koran. I’m not sure if ONE Koran will be burned, or if a bunch of Korans will be burned. I’m also not sure if he is asking others to burn Korans on that day, but the title of the event certainly implies that.) News reports also state that General David Petraeus says this rally could 'endanger' American soldiers in Afghanistan. I understand protests against America have already broken out in Afghanistan and that there have been burnings of American flags by Afghanis.

I considered writing a blog post about the proposed building of a mosque and Islamic center only two blocks from New York City’s “Ground Zero”. Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave for the past six weeks, you’ve probably read or heard about that. Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama have weighed in as being in favor of the construction of the mosque and Islamic center, while David Limbaugh (Rush’s brother), talk show host Michael Graham and many others have spoken out against the plan. Those in favor have argued that this is America, we have freedom of religion, and that therefore it’s perfectly within the rights of Muslims to build a mosque and Islamic center almost on top of “Ground Zero”. Opponents have argued that building such a facility shows GREAT insensitivity to the families of those who died on 9/11. I have to come down on the side of NOT building the mosque and Islamic center there. I don’t have a problem with building a mosque and Islamic Center in Manhattan, but this is just TOO close to Ground Zero and is opening too many wounds with too many people.

In 5th Grade, I remember Miss Ennis teaching me that “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right.” It’s true. It’s wrong and insensitive for Muslims to want to build that facility so close to Ground Zero. It’s also the “right” of Pastor Jones to burn the Koran on 9/11, and even to encourage others to burn Korans on 9/11. He is exercising his rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religions. Jones’ proposal is also incredibly insensitive, unkind, intolerant, and inappropriate! May I add, it’s STUPID! Today, I’m thinking of the above passage from Luke. A village of Samaritans did not receive Jesus. Essentially, they “dissed” Jesus and rejected Him. The disciples were LIVID! They were out for blood...well, literally, FIRE! They wanted to call down fire from Heaven and consume the villages!

Jesus would have no part of it. He even cautioned them that they did not know “what manner of spirit” they were of. Their thoughts and wishes for these Samaritans were not GOD’S thoughts and wishes. They were selfish, dark, and vile. I think Jesus would give the same admonition to Pastor Jones and his followers. Do you want to have an impact on Muslim extremists? As hard as this is to do: PRAY FOR THEM!

5 comments:

jon TK said...

...and you are out of a job, but pastors like this exist in this country.

What sort of a person goes along with an event like this? How does any good come from publicly burning the Koran? Methinks the name of God will be blasphemed among the gentiles because of this.

Anonymous said...

i appreciate this post very much. God bless you.

Unknown said...

Bob what you say has merit BUT....A Christian Pastor is also under command to speak TRUTH:

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

These are strong words. Even though it doesn't suggest burning anything but preaching against the Islamic religion and condemning it means what to you? Either it is false or it needs to be reproved by actions. You think Jesus would have approved of the Koran? The Book of Mormon?

Soon I predict that the fulfilling of those words by a Pastor will be OUTLAWED by groups like the ADL and the Muslims themselves thus hamstringing Christianity to silence. Wait and see.....Yes, the Koran burning is a bit extreme but soon people won't be able to criticize anything anymore. Christian Pastors in Europe ave already been jailed for sermons condemning homosexuality.


Joe

Bob Baril said...

Joe,

Indeed a Christian pastor IS to speak truth. Any evangelical or Pentecostal pastor is going to have serious disagreements with the religious groups you have listed. Yes, we are to speak truth when it makes people uncomfortable. I've always done that, but this is "way over the top." As of this writing, Pastor Jones has "suspended" the Koran burning, but indicates he may change his mind again. My guess is that although he expected publicity from this event, it has brought far more publicity than he expected and that he didn't expect even General Petreaus, Hillary Clinton, and others to ask him to call off the event. My own "denomination", the Assemblies of God, which can be slow to make public political statements, issued a statement yesterday strongly opposing Pastor Jones' Koran burning plan.

clotrip said...

Jesus spoke against things and sometimes let his anger get the best of him, such as overturning the tables in the temple. However, I can't see any positive outcome from deliberately, offending other religious groups. The second great commandment is "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." People do not find the way through violence but rather love and forgiveness. Speaking the truth does not require escallating the conflict.