A small fire that could torch the earth

After the game
The Daily Jot

Daily reporting and analysis of current events from a biblical and prophetic perspective.


Friday, September 10, 2010

A small fire that could torch the earth

A small church in Florida is making worldwide headlines by threatening to burn some 200 Korans on September 11, the anniversary of the 9-11-2001 terrorist attacks where Muslims killed nearly 3,000 innocent Americans. Reuters is reporting that thousands of angry Afghans protested against the background of black smoke billowing skyward. The president of Indonesia has asked the government of the United States to intervene and stop the planned desecration of the Islamic holy book. The man who occupies the Oval Office has stated his opposition as has the Secretary of Defense and the general in charge of the war in Afghanistan against the Taliban Muslims.

The church's website has been shut down by its hosting service, which said that the church violated its "Offensive Content" section of the hosting contract. Major news outlets, including FOX News and AP, have declared they will not cover the burning in any way. INTERPOL, the world's largest international police organization, issued a global alert to its 188 member countries following the request of Pakistan's Minister of the Interior, and its own determination, that if the proposed Koran burning goes ahead as planned, there is a strong likelihood that violent attacks on innocent people would follow. The United States is a member of INTERPOL.

There are many issues arising out of this story. News organizations, by refusing to cover something they deem as offensive are shirking their duty to cover news--the definition of which has always been what is timely and of interest to the audience. The internet host Rackspace is limiting free speech by disconnecting the church website for offensive content, but Rackspace openly admits in its business plan that it could be liable for illegal acts such as online gambling and pornography that content providers pass through its hosting services. In other words, pornography is not offensive, but burning Korans is. Free speech is only free if the powers in place are not offended by it. Such hypocrisy.

Nevertheless, the burning of the Korans is a bad idea. It could result in more Islamic killings of innocent people or US servicemen. It is also counter to the commandment of Jesus Christ found in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." This provocation by burning the Koran sets back any evangelical outreach Christians have in the Islamic world. I am not for appeasing Islam, nor do I believe Islam is a legitimate religion that should benefit from first amendment protection, but senseless provocation is unwarranted. One other issue: If Christians were as passionate about preaching the gospel as Muslims are about their book of lies, the world would be a better place.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry