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!