Reflections

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  1 Peter 3:14-16

By now you have heard the news of a pastor and his small church in Florida that is planning on burning the Quran to protest radical Islam on the anniversary of 9/11.  The President of the USA, the state department, religious leaders, the military and other governments are asking that this pastor cancel the event for fear of what the Muslim extremists will do.  The fear is extremists will use the images of the Quran being burned to fuel terrorists attacks against our soldiers and against the US.

Is fear a justification for asking this pastor and church to back down?  No.  The argument may be true but in the heart of many of us we do not want to be ruled by fear and intimidation of terrorists.  There are those who are thinking if this pastor backs down then the terrorists win.  Maybe the pastor and his church think the same thing, but let’s examine the scriptures.

Peter sums it up the best.  We should not fear Muslim extremists or their tactics to terrorize us.  We are in Christ and if Christ be for us who can be against us?  Peter exhorts us to be ready with an answer about our faith.  We should always be ready and willing to talk about our faith and why we believe in the Holy Bible and that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.  There is no need for us to attack others in their faith or even burn their books.  We should always respond with gentleness and reverence, even when our enemies respond with hatred and violence.  It is in that power of our response that we will put our enemies to shame and glorify Jesus.

The Quran should not be burned by Christians – what does that do to our testimony?  What message are we sending?  Does it actually give glory and honor to our Savior Jesus Christ?  Does it make others want to hear and learn more about Jesus?  Right now the whole world is watching what these Christians will do.  We as believers represent Christ on earth.  So the world is asking “What will Jesus Do?”