God forgive us

Is Islam the fastest growing faith in the world?  Yes.  Is authentic Islam a physical threat to others?  Well, moderate Muslims will object but I think jihad Islam is more faithful to the Qur'an than their brand.  Is authentic Islam a threat to religious freedom in America?  I believe so.  Do Muslims need Jesus?  Yes.  Who is to reach them?  Us.  Christians, that is.  Is burning their holy book a good way to do that?  Uh..., I doubt it.

A small Gainesville, Florida church caught the attention of CNN with its plans to burn copies of the Qur'an on the 9/11 anniversary.  Dove World Outreach Center stated their purpose on Facebook: "...in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 [ok, that's good] and to stand against the evil of Islam.  Islam is of the devil!"  Maybe I've missed it but I haven't found any Bible command to symbolically trash other faiths.  And I don't see how this shows Christian love.  Sounds more like the template of Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist.

Is it really some sort of compromise with the world to stay away from a soldier's funeral except to pay respects?  Is it a sellout somehow not to brandish signs that rage "God hates fags", or not to burn the Qur'an?!  Where is the humility?  Do Dove's professing Christians forget the days when they too were condemned sinners, justly headed for hell?  And that is what some of you were (1 Corinthians 6:11).  And where is the love for Christ that usually spawns a love for lost people?  Where is the sympathy for those whose eyes are blinded by the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4)--as ours once were?

A love for Christ which ignited a love for lost people and reached an Ethiopian diplomat, a Jewish zealot, a Roman officer, a Greek philosopher, and across the centuries has set free millions of others from every tribe, language, nation and religion--including Islam.  Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among the peoples (Psalm 96:3).  e3's Tom Doyle reports that last year 23,000 American Muslims turned to Christ in faith.  I wonder if the ashes of some charred Qur'ans will make that number soar this year...  Or plummet.  God forgive us.