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You may have heard about the preacher in Florida who is using September 11^th as a publicity stunt by burning copies of the Qur’an.  At the time this article was written, it is uncertain if the event will take place.  Whether he does or does not carry out his plans, there are some observations we can make from the situation and lessons we can learn about faith, truth and our selves.

Firstly, there is a clash here between two different cultures.  Despite what many media reports might lead you to believe, it is not a clash between Christianity and Islam.  It is a clash between the flesh and the spirit. 

Everything that you read in the papers about the plans to burn books and the reactions to those plans are fleshly in nature.  If Christianity were a fleshly religion with earthly goals, then maybe – that is a gargantuan maybe – something like this would make sense.  The way to win people to Christ is not by destroying things or forcing your views upon them.  Certain groups tried this in the Middle Ages during a series of unfortunate and disastrous events known as The Crusades.  If all you wanted to achieve were physical results, like the killing of innocent people, increased political tensions, media exposure, and getting phone calls from the Secretary of Defense, then this is the way to go.  If your interests are spiritual in nature, like the conversion of souls to Christ, the expansion of God’s kingdom, the gospel being spread in all nations, then this is simply ludicrous.

The clash in this situation is not between truth and falsehood (we’ll talk about that in a minute).  It is not between the East and the West.  It is between the spiritually minded followers of God and the flesh loving children of the devil.  The Devil, in his deviousness and craftiness, has dressed up the passion for fame and exposure, hatred and wanton aggression as a form of Christianity and served it to the world.  The world has asked for second helpings.  As a Christian, things like this will make your job in spreading the gospel much more difficult because people begin to have major misconceptions about the church that Christ died to build and the truth that he taught while living.  Satan has brought his “A game” to the court. He’s gone nuclear.  We cannot afford to sit quietly and allow the world to gorge itself on this diet.  We must step in to fill the gap.  We must rush into the breech.  We must preach the gospel to all who will listen.  No matter what scheme the devil dreams up, no matter what snare he lays, the gospel will always prevail.  The word of God is the only weapon we have that is effective against the Devil, and if we employ it we will certainly win.  It simply remains to be seen whether or not we will use it.

Secondly, this situation has brought to light evidence on the true religion that comes from God.  If the way to respond to things like Islam is to attack people and burn things, then what difference is there, really, between the two religions?  None.

There are other things, too, that reveal the kinds of faith with which we are dealing.  As of yet, no books have actually been burned, yet already there are riots in Muslim countries.  Not one single page of any Qur’an has been kindled and already people have been killed over the issue.  At the mere mention of the act, physical threats of violence have been issued against the preacher in Florida, the President, our country, Christians in Florida, Christians in the US, and Christians the world over.   Certainly one could only expect such a reaction from a religion of peace and harmony, right?  To be fair, there are Muslims who do not endorse violence against other people.  Yet, again, in the interest of fairness, if they were following the teachings of Sharia as espoused in the Qur’an and Sunnah, they would become violent.  It is commanded of them.

It is not just Islam that is being exposed.  American Christianity in general is showing its true colors.  It has shown itself to be more concerned with political correctness and equality than with preaching the truth and calling Islam what it ought to be called: a false religion.  There are congregations that decided to have “interfaith” services, inviting rabbis and imams to preach, teach and pray.  Rather than agreeing with the message yet disagreeing with the methodology, they have embraced pluralism and all the folly that comes with it.  Generally speaking, Christianity in America is no longer a religion seeking God; it is a confirmation of what one already believes, a media outlet, a self-help and get rich quick circus that spans all disciplines, including both politics and social issues.  It has shown itself, to boot, to be false.

What this situation tells us about ourselves depends on how we react to it.  There are very clearly drawn political lines and, if we were so willing, it would not be very difficult to pick a party and join a side.  Regarding the social dimension, those lines are just as clearly drawn and a decision, likewise, easily reached.  So what will we be?  A political advocate?  A social activist?  Or will we try to look beyond all that and see something else? 

Please understand that I am not saying these other issues are unimportant.  Surely the decisions made will affect us along with those we know and love.  They are important, but what is the most important thing?  Perhaps, out of all this, the lesson we should learn is that the world around us is hurting for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are people filled with hate, violence and rage.  There are people searching for answers and grasping onto whatever is offered to them.    There is a need for the gospel of Jesus and the forgiveness that comes with the love of God.  People need to hear the gospel preached and they need to see the gospel lived.  We have a chance to make a lasting impact, an eternal impact, by spreading the good news of Jesus in world that is full of hurting people.  What will we do? 

We have a higher calling than anything this world has to offer.  We serve a greater government, a greater king, a greater society.  We must overcome this world and strive to enter that spiritual Promised Land awaiting all of the Lord’s faithful.  Yet the choice remains; we must decide.  If it is evil in your sight to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of politics or the gods of pluralism.  We must choose the Lord.