Build a Mosque? Burn a Q’uran? Blessed are the Peacemakers

Cover of Koran/Quran

The mainstream media has had a lot of coverage related to what has been referred to as the proposed “ground zero mosque”. Furthermore, in the past week or so a lot of attention had been directed towards a Florida Protestant pastor who intends to burn one or more copies of the Islam’s most important book, known as the Q’uran (which in English means recitation) on September 11, 2010.

Both the proposed builders of the “Islamic Community Center” (the ground zero mosque) and the proposed burner of the Q’uran claim that they have the right under the Constitution of the United States of America to do what they wish to do.

And both are correct. Constitutionally, they both have that right.

Yet, wisdom suggests that perhaps they should reconsider–though at this instant neither side intends to back down.

The Mosque May Send a Statement of Islamic Conquest

Supporters of the proposed “Islamic Community Center” claim that this center will promote interfaith dialogue and help heal the rift between Islam and other faiths. Opponents to claim that having this building so close to where the twin towers once stood is insensitive, dishonors the deaths of those that were killed in the 9/11/01 attacks, and will increase the rift between Islam and other faiths.

The proposed “Islamic Community Center” was originally intended to be called the Cordoba House, or “victory house”. “This term refers to a mosque built atop the demolished site of a non-Islamic shrine in territory taken by Muslims in a holy war of conquest” (http://dailycollegian.com/tag/911/). Because the building that is supposed to be demolished to build this “Islamic Community Center” was partially damaged during the 9/11/01 attack, some have suggested that any type of mosque containing building at this site will be interpreted as a monument/statement of Islamic conquest. Others have pointed out that one of the statements that is included in the Islamic call to prayer (which tends to come from all mosques up to 5 times per day) was the last statement that one or more of the terrorists who crashed the jet planes cried out before crashing–and that having that so near “ground zero” is insensitive and/or inflammatory.

Hence, some consider that the location is insensitive and indicates an intentional Islamic plan to inflame non-Muslims. Although supporters of the mosque deny that, their actions suggest that they are not highly concerned about the feeling of the families and others affected by the attacks.

Furthermore, “Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf of Ground Zero mosque says plan will move forward” despite the fact that he is aware that it has inflamed and upset many (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/09/08/2010-09-08_imam_feisal_abdul_rauf_of_ground_zero_mosque_says_plan_will_move_forward_in_oped.html?r=news/national#ixzz0ywoPdGji). But it is not just those associated with Islam that have such tendencies.

Burning of Q’uran is Not the Way of Peace

A Florida pastor named Terry Jones (who seems to be some type of Protestant) has declared September 11, 2010 as “International Burn a Koran Day”. I saw him interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper last night and he does not seem to care how his statements come across to the world. In the interview, he also stated he would not back down on his plans to burn one or more copies of the Q’uran this Saturday evening. He also made other statements that have been reported:

He has called the Quran an evil book and urged all Muslims to convert. “We are burning the book. We are not killing someone. We are not murdering people. We are not dragging people out of the cars, who are doctors, and killing them. We are simply burning a book. The General needs to point his finger to radical Islamists and tell them to shut up. Tell them to stop. Tell them that we will not bow our knees to them,” he said.

Jones added: “I wish all Muslims would get saved. I wish they would all convert to Christianity. Christianity is the one and only true religion. The Quran, in our opinion, is an evil book.” (CNN, September 8, 2010. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/florida-pastor-firm-on-his-plan-to-burn-quran/130570-2.html?from=tn)

Now, as I wrote, he has the right under the US Constitution to burn the Q’uran. In Islamic countries, various fanatics have had a variety of public burnings. But do Christians “fight fire with fire”? Water (symbolizing the love as a gift of the Holy Spirit, cf. Galatians 5:22) would seem to be the more Christian thing to do.

Perhaps I should mention that once certain pagans were converted in the New Testament, they did burn their own books (Acts 19:18-19). This was apparently a sign of their repentance and to show that they did not intend to return to their previous beliefs. But what is planned in Florida is not like that. It is intended to be inflammatory.

When Anderson Cooper asked Terry Jones if he ever actually read the Q’uran (other than a few lines of it), Terry Jones said no. This indicates to me that he, himself, was not converting from Islam to Christianity, nor burning the books to reduce his own tendency to return to those beliefs. Thus, while legally allowed, I do not believe that this planned burning is a wise decision on Terry Jones’ part.

The burnings will unnecessarily inflame Muslims. And while Terry Jones feels that he is standing up to Islam, the reality is that this will likely be one of the many reasons that Muslims will wish to make a deal to destroy the USA (cf. Psalm 83). This burning could even be a factor in the rise of a leader known as the Imam Mahdi who seems to be the same one as the King of the South (Daniel 11:27-40) that the Bible foretells. Declaring September 11, 2010 “International Burn a Koran Day” could be that inflammatory.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers–What Would Jesus Do?

While Jesus would not endorse the Q’uran, would He expect His followers at this time to intentionally enrage unbelievers in such a manner?

No.

Jesus taught:

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

Neither the actions to build a mosque near ground zero nor having an “International Burn a Koran Day” seem suggestive of peacemakers.

Jesus, who Muslims also are suppose to consider to have been a prophet, also taught:

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven… (Matthew 5:43-45)

While the proposed mosque builders and Q’uran burners may have prayed for their enemies, their actions suggest that perhaps they really do not follow what has been called “the golden rule”:

31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:31)

Would the proposed mosque builders want a cathedral near the site of some successful attack of the “crusaders”? Would the expected Q’uran burners want Muslims around the world to burn as many Bibles as they could?

I do not think so.

Also, notice what the Apostle Paul taught:

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)

This suggests, to me at least, that Paul was not encouraging Christian leaders to intentionally try to inflame those that they hoped to reach.

Perhaps Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and Pastor Terry Jones will consider what Jesus’ and Paul’s statements should mean for today. Blessed are the peacemakers. Both groups should ponder that.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi?
Military Service and the Churches of God: Do Real Christians Participate in Carnal Warfare? Here are current and historical perspectives on a matter which show the beliefs of the true church on military participation. Is war proper for Christians?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?