Why A Pastor and Church Burning the Quran is a Sin

I am appalled by the plans of the Florida church and minister to burn Qurans on September 11th. But it is not just the stupidity of the action and the callous disregard of a myriad of unintended consequences that may occur (from danger to Americans overseas to inciting greater Muslim fanaticism around the world) that bothers me.

I believe this action is sin. By doing what they are doing this pastor and congregation are offending the very people they would teach Jesus died for. The pastor has forfeited his calling as a testimony to God's grace and his leading his people to live out the gospel toward others. The people have joined in the evil that their leader plans to do. This is not loving one's neighbor, turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, giving no offense, or making the gospel an aroma of life. Not only would Jesus NOT do this, but it flies in the face of living as gospel witnesses. But then, I am not convinced that the gospel matters very much in this case, at least in the interviews I hear from the pastor. He complains about Muslim extremists and their actions, and actually said, "What are we supposed to do, sit back and take it?"

Yes, sir, we are, if we are ambassadors for Christ.

If this man were acting as a private citizen as a part of a secular fringe group, I would still be appalled and in opposition. But he is doing this while calling himself a pastor--a shepherd of God's flock. And this church is calling itself a manifestation of the body of Christ. By their words and actions, neither could be judged to be true.

They bring reproach not just on Americans, but on Jesus Christ and the gospel, just as Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church has done for years during their protests at military funerals and their anti-homosexual protests calling for the deaths of "queers."

We cannot stop people from using titles or callling themselves churches. But we ought to make clear that they are at the very best deluded and deceived, and very possibly they are false teachers and false witnesses used by Satan himself to undermine the gospel of Jesus.

Here is a recent news story on the event: Fla. minister: Sept. 11 Quran burn still planned - Yahoo! News