Lessons from the “Burn a Koran Day” Crisis

As I write this [Sept 10, 2010], it is again uncertain whether Terry Jones, the pastor a small congregation in Gainesville, Florida, will in fact burn the Koran (Qur’an) on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “Plans are suspended,” we are told, “but not canceled.” Meanwhile, around the world American flags are being burned, “death to American” is being chanted, and the State Department has issued travel warnings for American citizens. And stateside, machinations of all sorts are in place to stop the burning, including pressure from the American government, the pulling of internet access, and (according to Jones) what turns out to be a deceitful promise by the local Florida Imam Musri that a deal had been brokered to move the so-called “Ground Zero” mosque.

I am convinced that Jones should NOT go through with his plan to burn the Qur’an, for reasons I will mention below. But the whole situation should give us pause to reflect.

What the American Government and Society Needs to Learn

The American government, far from suppressing the free speech of its citizens, should instead be vigorously protecting Americans and their rights from all types of repression and intimidation. That includes religious intimidation from radical Islamists. Americans of all faiths (and no faith) should feel that their government is protecting them and will act vigorously on their behalf to protect them against intimidation – foreign or domestic. The fact is religions disagree with one another. In America we must be able to state those disagreements clearly and without fear of reprisals, or “freedom of speech” is already lost.

What the Christian Community Needs to Learn – Again

Part of Jones’ motivation appears to be his concern that the US government has its “head in the sand” when it comes to radical Islam and he wishes to “take off the blinders” by publicly burning the Qur’an. But turning away from issues of government (dealt with above), is it right that a Christian would take the deliberately provocative step of burning a Qur’an? No it is not. At the very least – as a friend of mine points out – it falls under the category of “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor 6:12). It is unfair, of course. Outspoken Muslims make derogatory remarks about the Christian Scriptures and the Christian faith all the time. Bibles are, in fact, burned. But Christians are all supposed to treat their book the way they want it treated or they are beside themselves with anger. The difference must go back to the founder of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jesus was giving his instructions to his followers, he told them to “turn the other cheek” and to “go the extra mile.” When he was reviled, he answered not his accusers. And in submitting to an unjust crucifixion, he changed the whole trajectory of history. Jesus serves as an example to his followers. Of course, there is a place for government action to protect its citizens, and there is a place for Christians to seek redress from their government. But Jesus taught that his Kingdom – the Kingdom of God – would not be extended by force or by the sword. In quietness and trust is our strength. In our weakness, God’s power is made perfect (2 Cor 12:9). In an extraordinary way, we win by suffering.

The Power of Suffering

And who am I to talk about suffering? I have hardly suffered for Christ. But we learn from those superior to us in the faith. In the year 117 Ignatius, pastor of the church of Antioch in Syria, was being led across Asia Minor (modern Turkey) in chains. He knew he was bound for the Coliseum in Rome, where he would be fed to the lions for sport and as just one more “lesson” to those considering this new sect called Christianity. On the way thus to Rome, Ignatius wrote seven extraordinary letters that have been preserved for us, encouraging Christians to live for Jesus. Let’s listen to our brother Ignatius.

Here he embraces martyrdom as part of discipleship:

I am hoping through your prayers to succeed in fighting with wild beasts in Rome – in order that by so succeeding I might be able to be a disciple of Jesus. (Ignatius to the Ephesians 1:2).

Here he describes how Christians must face their persecutors:

Pray continually for the rest of humankind, that they may find God, for there is in them hope for repentance. Therefore allow them to be instructed by you, at least by your deeds. In response to their anger, be gentle; in response to their boasts, be humble; in response to their slander, offer prayers; in response to their errors, be steadfast in faith; in response to their cruelty, be civilized; do not be eager to imitate them. Rather, let us be eager to be imitators of the Lord Jesus. (Ignatius to the Ephesians 10:1-3)

And here he tells us how to change the world:

I need gentleness, by which the ruler of this age is destroyed. (Ignatius to the Trallians 4:2)

Let us pray, therefore, that Christians everywhere would display the Spirit of gentleness, and pray too for all Christians living as repressed minorities around the world, whose sufferings may indeed be increased by what we do in America during these days.

UPDATE April 2011: See our  Sad New Chapter in the “Burn a Koran Day” Crisis.

By Ray Pennoyer (September 10, 2010)