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Burning the Quran

Pastor Terry Jones and other members of the Dove World Outreach Center, a Florida church had planned an “International Burn a Koran Day” on September 11, 2010. By God’s leave, level heads prevailed and the event did not happen.

The incident does reflect an underlying view among some fundamentalists, that the Quran or Islam is unrighteous. For example, Pastor Jones writes: We are unconvinced that the “nice” church is winning against the Kingdom of darkness. God and God’s people were not always sweet and loving to people and practices that were evil. We hope you will be interested in the book “Islam is of the Devil,” a challenge to the Christian Church in general to come out of sleepiness and apathy. We hate the Koran.

These words should be considered in context of the pastor’s admittance that he does not even know what is in the Quran! He is not alone in this sentiment or stance.

In the larger scheme of things, it doesn’t matter if some ignorant person chooses to burn a book. It’s just paper and ink. The Quran is the word of God. It’s not the physical book that has any importance; it’s the words contained in the book. And since it’s preserved with God in a master tablet (85:21-22), no one can ever eliminate His words, no matter how hard they try.

It’s the double-standards that underlie this action that are so repulsive. Here are people who call themselves Christians claiming to follow the words of God through Jesus. Unfortunately they do not follow what is preached by Jesus in the Bible.

Matthew, Chapter 5:

007: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
008: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
009: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
038: Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
039: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

If such people took the time to read the Quran, they would see how God praises all His messengers, including Jesus:

[3:45] The angels said, "O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is `The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary. He will be prominent in this life and in the Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me.'

How God makes it clear that we need to respect and study previous scripture—the Torah and the Gospels:

Honoring Previous Scripture

[5:44] We have sent down the Torah, containing guidance and light. Ruling in accordance with it were the Jewish prophets, as well as the rabbis and the priests, as dictated to them in GOD's scripture, and as witnessed by them. Therefore, do not reverence human beings; you shall reverence Me instead. And do not trade away My revelations for a cheap price. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD's revelations are the disbelievers.
[5:46] Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the previous scripture, the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah, and augmenting its guidance and light, and to enlighten the righteous.
[5:47] The people of the Gospel shall rule in accordance with GOD's revelations therein. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD's revelations are the wicked.

How God condemns all acts of aggression:

[2:190] You may fight in the cause of GOD against those who attack you, but do not aggress. GOD does not love the aggressors.
[2:193] You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship GOD freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.
[5:87] O you who believe, do not prohibit good things that are made lawful by GOD, and do not aggress; GOD dislikes the aggressors.
[42:42] The wrong ones are those who treat the people unjustly, and resort to aggression without provocation. These have incurred a painful retribution.

How God allows for absolute freedom of religion:

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

How God advocates righteous behavior even when disagreeing with others over religion:

[2:139] Say, “Do you argue with us about GOD, when He is our Lord and your Lord? We are responsible for our deeds, and you are responsible for your deeds. To Him alone we are devoted.”
[29:46] Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner - unless they transgress - and say, “We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters.”
[16:125] You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones.

How God welcomes followers of different paths:

[2:62] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

In other words, they would see that the Quran is clearly the word of God calling on all people to unite in the worship of God alone. But they don’t take the time. They don’t read it. In their fear of something they refuse to take the time to understand, they commit the very thing they condemn in so-called Muslims—an act of terrorism.

Praise God, we know the majority of followers of Islam and Christianity are peace-loving people. Sadly, it is the extremists on each side—who act without support from God or the scripture—that make headlines, hijack the religion and give it a bad name.

We know in the end, such actions do not define who we are or take away from our devotion to God. God is in full control of everything. And His will will always prevail.

Editorial, September 2010