Burning the Koran is the latest example to hit the news of unchristian Christianity! A Florida pastor last week announced that he would stage a Koran burning day (on the ninth anniversary of 9/11) as a protest over the proposed building of an Islamic Cultural Centre near the World Trade Centre site.
It is my personal opinion that building an Islamic Cultural Centre so close to the area where thousands of people lost their lives because of the action of Muslim extremists is insensitive and inappropriate. But to threaten to burn the Muslims’ Holy Book is also insensitive, inappropriate and flies in the face of Jesus’ teaching – especially the Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12).
Almost all organized religions have such an ethic, and Islam is no exception. Muhammad, in his farewell sermon said, “Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.” The Koran states, “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” It also teaches, “Seek for mankind that of which you are desirous for yourself, that you may be a believer …”
Fascinating isn’t it? That even in the light of Jesus’ and Muhammad’s teaching so many of their followers get it wrong. And because of this we have “Christians” threatening to burn the Koran and “Muslims” blowing up buildings. Would these people want others to do this to them? Of course not! So why – when their faith teaches so differently – do they behave so “unchristianly” and “unmuslimly” to others?
Of course this is not a new phenomena. Muslims can point to numerous atrocities committed against them by Christians over the centuries – not least of all The Crusades. And Muslims have likewise persecuted Christians, destroyed churches and have been guilty on many occasions of burning Bibles:
2005: Saudi Arabia desecrates hundreds of Bibles annually
2006: Muslim students urinate, spit on and then burn the Bible
2007: Christians in Gaza fear for their lives as Muslims burn Bibles and destroy crosses
2008: Muslims burn Bibles in Pakistan
Just put some key words on this subject into Google and it brings up a wealth of examples of both Christians and Muslims failing to obey their Golden Rule as taught by Jesus and Muhammad.
The biggest problem though is that many people – and often the media – tend to lump all Christians and all Muslims together in the same category, so that “all Muslims are terrorists” and “all Christians are Koran burners.” Of course that is just not true.
We do far better when we stop making broad generalizations about categories of people and instead get to know precious people as individuals. As a Christian I know many fine, genuine Christians who are horrified by the threat of this Florida Pastor. Over the years I have also met some wonderful Muslim people who are equally horrified by the actions and attitudes of a minority who bear the name “Muslim” but do not live up to their faith’s teachings.
What the world needs to see is genuine faith without hypocrisy!
