First it was the cynical left, now the lunatic right. What is it with these people? From the Christian Post:
The organization Stand Up America Now, led and founded by Dr. Terry Jones, revealed on Feb. 22 that it will burn Qurans and images of the prophet Muhammad in protest of the Islamic religion, should Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani be executed for his Christian faith.
According to the Stand Up America Now website, the organization focuses on many social issues, with a special emphasis on standing up for Christian minorities persecuted in Islamic dominated countries.
On Feb. 23, 2012, Stand Up America Now, based in Gainesville, Fla., protested Islamic Awareness Month at the University of Florida, also located in Gainesville.
The organization’s president and founder, Dr. Terry Jones, describes the planned burning of the Quran as a form of protest which would “obviously get Islam’s attention,” saying that Christians “cannot just stand by and do nothing.”
Of all the lame brained stunts this publicity hound could indulge in…
I have a personal message for Terry Jones which I sent to him this morning via email (you can do the same at the Stand Up America Now site). Here it is:
Pastor Jones: The Christian Post this morning brought the distressing news that you plan on burning the Quran if Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani is executed by Iran. The Post quoted you as saying that Christians “cannot just stand by and do nothing.”
I agree. There are many ways that protests of an execution could be done, beginning, perhaps, with a prayer vigil on behalf of Pastor Yousef’s family and other Christians who are threatened with persecution by Iran outside that nation’s interest section at 2209 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC. I live near Washington–I would even help organize it for you.
The method you suggest, however, would do nothing more than inflame passions throughout the Muslim world, not just in Iran, and put the lives of countless Christian brothers and sisters in danger. You may think you’d be registering a protest against tyranny, when in fact all you would be doing is making a bad situation immeasurably worse.
Please, for the love of Christ and His people, reconsider this course of action. Publicizing your anger is not more important than the lives of our brethren.
I will let you know if I get an answer.
UPDATE 11:
Press TV has changed its article on Pastor Yousef, which I reported on yesterday:
Iran’s Supreme Court has not yet handed down its final verdict in the case of the pastor Yousef Nadarkhani in order to allow authorities to further investigate the file and reach the best decision, Press TV reports.Informed sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Press TV on Friday that the Supreme Court returned Nadarkhani’s case to a lower court in October 2011, saying investigations were incomplete and insufficient.
The lower court has yet to complete its probe, the sources said, adding that the case has not been sent back to the Supreme Court for a final verdict.
Nadarkhani, a 32-year-old Iranian born Muslim who has converted to Christianity, made headlines in the Western media which claimed he has been sentenced to death for apostasy.
Nevertheless, he has not even named the church where it is claimed he has received a degree authorizing him to perform religious duties and ceremonies in Christianity.
Western media outlets’ obsession with handwringing about Nadarkhani’s case aims to mount pressure against Iran in light of the 4th Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, which is scheduled to take place on March 13, 2012.
Note that they have edited out both the contention that Pastor Yousef is a violent criminal, and that Western media only “claims” the pastor is a convert. If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone in Tehran was reading this blog.
February 25, 2012 at 2:54 pm
I would tell Stand Up America to please sit down and shut up!
February 25, 2012 at 11:44 pm
So, he should be lead by fear of man?? We should focus on man?? I’m not sure that he is lead of God or not. But, if he is — why the call to submit to Islam lest they become outraged?? Appeasement is not faith either. And this argument that we may “inflame” Muslims — well, they’re coming and trying to appease them won’t deliver the church. I just don’t agree with persons who “cluck cluck” at the man. I think he should do as God leads him. And appeasement is not of God — nor fear of man. So, let it be between him and God is my pov.
February 26, 2012 at 8:01 am
Terry Jones is not a Christian pastor, he is a cult leader. By their fruit you will know them. Google his name and take a look at some of the investigative reporting that has been done about him and you will see that this is the case.
February 26, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Once again, watch what the media does with Terry Jones. Too often the subtle message is “see, there’s your conservative Christians for you.” Of course, Jones doesn’t really speak for anyone but himself, but that doesn’t fit the media template.
ON THE OTHER HAND…….The apology–grovelling, actually–over the recent Koran burning (which was not intended in any way as a slap at Muslims) shows how it’s expected that Christians accept their persecution (to the point of death!) stoically while even perceived slights by Muslims are treated as a federal case by our current government. And this is done out of fear more than anything else, the result thus far being more violence against our troops (with no apologies from Islamic leaders, which we accept without a peep).
Radical Islamists see apologies as a sign of weakness, so Terry Jones’ actions, while I disagree with them, may not be much worse than trying to play nice with these people.
February 26, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Mark: I agree with regard to the apologies. The big difference is that while the actions of our government may (in fact, have) resulted in Americans in general being a target, Jones’ will result in Christians specifically being targeted. There’s not a whole lot we can do about our government being foolish, but if we can stop one man from causing injury or death to our brethren, we need to do what we can.
February 26, 2012 at 6:05 pm
12 Star: As Kate says, Terry Jones is a cult leader, not a Christian pastor. (That’s not to say he isn’t a Christian–I’m in no position to judge that–but that he is in no way a genuine Christian teacher or preacher.) So he has no business seeking to speak on behalf of Christians.
As for the substantive question: this has nothing to do with “appeasement.” There is nothing in our faith that says we have to burn non-Christian religious materials. Not doing so in this instance has nothing to do with giving into Muslims demands, but has to do with loving our brethren enough to not indulge in pointless exercises that puts them in more danger than they already are. American Christians, living in a free nation where they can say and do what they want with impunity, have no call to endanger their brethren just so they can vent their spleens.
February 26, 2012 at 11:10 pm
David, I agree. Jones is doing nothing to help the situation, and his actions will likely endanger fellow Christians. I was, in part, simply lamenting the double-standard.