feel the burn (the qur'an aflame)

You've probably heard the news by now. Terry Jones, the Florida pastor who threatened to burn the Qur'an (Islam's holy book) last September but changed his mind (check my previous post, http://edensdust.blogspot.com/2010/09/burn-baby-burn.html), changed his mind again and followed through with his threat earlier this week. Unfortunately, his decision triggered a response from Muslims in Afghanistan. A NATO base was attacked and three rebels were killed. This came after a U.N. compound was besieged by hundreds protesting the burning by Jones. The storming of the facility left at least 11 people, seven of them foreigners, dead. And two of those foreigners were beheaded in the attack.


Jones says he bears no responsibility for the actions of Muslims on the other side of the world. That he's sorry and he regrets their response, but that he was simply speaking truth as he understands it and was exercising his freedom of speech.  And, at least according to many sentiments, there are many who either agree with his actions, or defend what he did in the face of the repressive nature of Islam.


Jones, and those like him, have the right to speak as they feel led. That's protected in our country- something not afforded to all people in our world. But just because Jones can do something like he did, should he?   

Jones may not see himself responsible for what overzealous people in another country did, but that doesn't absolve him. He may see himself free to say and do as he pleases, but that doesn't mean he has no boundaries or limits. With freedom comes responsibility, understanding that our actions have the power to impact people for good or for bad. Therefore, we must weigh carefully what we say and do, because we really do influence those around us (and even those around the world).


The passage of Scripture that kept rolling around in my head last night regarding all this is 1 Corinthians 10:23,24- "Everything is permissible"- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"- but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.


Paul's words tell us that just because we can does NOT mean we should. That we've got to consider the power of our lives because they really do matter. Jones may not see himself as part of the Afghan situation, but he does share responsibility and culpability in the deaths of those U.N. workers- his actions touched off a firestorm that consumed far more than paper and ink.


As long as we keep acting the way people around us act, they won't see Jesus in us, but only reflection of themselves. And that's just not good enough. As long as we burn books, lash out and condemn, we look remarkably like our adversaries. So why would they join our ranks if there's no measurable difference between our actions and theirs? I'm not saying that we never make a stand for what's right; but that we make sure our words, our attitudes, our actions tell those opposed to us that we're guided and motivated by a God who loved them so much he chose to offer his son as a sacrifice for their sins. That he craves a relationship with them. And that his concern for them can be seen, felt and understood...through us. It's hard to burn someone's holy book if you really care about the people of that book.


Hmm, come to think of it, maybe that's why it's so easy for some to strike a match.

burn notice

Some more thoughts from this whole Qur'an-burning fiasco...

I noticed an article in today's news about a rally in Amarillo, in which a leader of a group called Repent Amarillo had announced that he was going to burn a copy of the Qur'an. A large group turned out to protest, a mixture of all stripes and spiritual tenets. They found unity in their protest of destroying anyone's sacred literature, but it fell on deaf ears of Repent's leadership. The man soaked the book in kerosene and was preparing to ignite it. But as something distracted him from his mission, a young man with a skateboard stepped up, snatched the intended kindling and ran off shouting, "Dude, you have NO Qur'an!" He then returned the book to an imam there in the park while the burner reportedly wandered off.

Now it's enough to know that there are more fire-starters out there besides that Floridian pastor. What's worse (to me, at least) is to see the way this group, Repent Amarillo, is characterized. The NY Daily News describes them as a group that crusades against promiscuity, homosexuality and non-Christians. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of those first two practices (although being against non-Christians escapes me), but as someone who wears the name of Christ, I'm so frustrated seeing others who claim the same name being known for what they're they're against, rather than what they're for. Isn't this how the world has categorized us for far too long? People too often stereotype Christians as spoil-sport, lemon-puckered, hypocritical downers, who live almost exclusively by the mantra, thou shalt not. While we know that's not the case (it's not the case, is it?) for most of us, there's just enough evidence of such thinking to reinforce the perception. And, believe me, in something like this, perceived reality IS reality.

When I read the Gospels, I don't see Jesus as a "thou shalt not" kind of guy...except, maybe, when he engaged self-sufficient, smug religious leaders. Otherwise, Jesus was inclusive- he welcomed people from different backgrounds, activities, philosophies, and castes. He never condoned sin, but opened his arms to sinners; never compromised a principle, but always made room for those trying to figure out the bigger picture. He understood the value of showing people what he wanted them to be and how he wanted them to live, and didn't simply scold them about what they shouldn't do or be.

Oh, that people would see us as those who bring good news, whose lives are like salt, and not pepper in our influence and impact in this world. Those who may take stands unpopular with culture, but who are engaging and inviting toward those who need to understand why such stands are made. It's not enough for me to want to be disassociated with people like Terry Jones or Repent Amarillo; it's my challenge to interact with my culture in such a way that people will see something- and Someone- different in me.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

-Mahatma Ghandi