Leave the messaging up to God

Being a Christian is not a license to stomp on other religions. We have been called to love one another and to preach the gospel in a caring manner. Apparently some didn't get that message in Sunday school.

The planned burning of the Quran has been on the minds and hearts of many of us. And though I understand how frustrated Americans have become with Islamic extremists, there is no excuse for destroying the Quran in the name of holiness any more than Muslim extremists have the right to burn our flag in the name of their god.

Six Christians tore pages from the Quran in front of the White House last week, and it saddens me. I was happy to hear that Pastor Terry Jones had decided not to burn the Quran, but then I saw that others had gone through with similar acts.

First of all, this entire fiasco makes Christians look like hypocrites. Nice going "pastor" Jones. Here we are trying to spread God's love and word. Then a handful of people sank to an all-time low. How can we expect the world to take our message seriously if we aren't holding ourselves and our brothers and sisters accountable? Christians must speak out against this kind of behavior. This is just as bad as those crazies who protest at the funerals for fallen soldiers. It's gross.

My first reaction to Jones' plan was pure shock. Then, it sank in that this man is crazy. Plain and simple. It seemed like he was enjoying the spotlight a little too much. He did whatever he could to outrage everyone, including Gen. Petraeus, which is not something I recommend. He wanted to send a "clear message" to Islamic extremists, but all he did was make matters worse for Muslim Americans, our troops and Christians. Then suddenly he backed out. Well, it was too late. The damage was done, and the bandwagon was already in motion.

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Randall Terry, one of the participants at the White House said, "Part of why we're doing that, please hear me: The charade that Islam is a peaceful religion must end." Excuse me, Randall, but you cannot destroy the Quran and call the entire Muslim religion a charade if you want people to see Christ through you. You also cannot ridicule a religion on its "peacefulness" when you're running around in front of the White House causing heartache to others in the name of Christ. If you want others to follow His righteous path, you must try your best to lead by righteousness. Basically, walk the walk.

Now I'm not saying Christians are perfect. That is an unrealistic and impossible feat. But we have to be smart. How can you reach people when you alienate them?

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love" Galatians 5:13.

We must think about the consequences of our actions. We must ask ourselves, how will others perceive my actions? Will people know that I am a Christian by the way I conduct myself? We have to show God's love, not project our own agenda for the sake of our benefit. Calling yourself a Christian doesn't make it so. People must be able to see it in who you are.

Going to church makes you a Christian as much as standing in a garage makes you a car. Just because you go through the motions and call yourself a Christian, doesn't mean you are. And I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, I don't know these guys from a hole in the ground, but I feel betrayed that people like these gentlemen would deface what some consider sacred and used my God's name as if that makes it OK.

What would Jesus do? I'm not kidding: What would He have done? Would He have taken a post next to Terry? Would He have condoned their irrational behavior? I don't want to speculate because, who am I to predict what He would have said? I just have this gut feeling though that He's not too happy with it.

My dose of honesty: "Vengeance is mine thus sayeth the Lord." We need to have faith that all will be set right by His plan. I know it's hard sometimes, but He never said it would be easy. In fact, He warned us that we will be judged and ridiculed for following Him. We need to cling to His power, not rely on our own. It's when we start interfering with His plan that things get messed up.

Jones and the rest of the gang need to keep that in mind the next time they want to "send a message." Leave the messaging up to God. Or do you not have faith in what He has promised?