Vince Deagler

hi all, are you sick of the discussion over the pastor in florida planning to burn a koran on 9/11 yet?  i am, but probably for different reasons than most.  let me say right up front, as a pastor i think this is about as stupid of an idea as i can imagine.  christianity is already fighting an up hill battle in our culture.  this only makes us look worse b/c every christian will be labeled as being just like this guy.  this does not in any way represent jesus, but that doesn’t alter reality, and christianity will be viewed thru this prism in a very negative light.

now having said all that let me mention why i am sick of this discussion.  as a culture we have already decided it is fine to put a crucifix or rosary beads in a jar of urine and call it art.  we have decided it is creative to portray jesus as gay and put him in a musical.  so i don’t understand the national outcry over this.  oh, i know, i’ve heard it will put our soldiers in danger.  does that mean should the koran not be burnt they are not in danger?  i don’t think so.  seems to me they are already in danger, so “they will be in danger” as a reason to not do this doesn’t make sense to me.

another problem i have is the underlying why will they be in danger?  b/c this guy wants to burn a koran?  again i do not see it that way.  yes they are in danger, and yes the situation will likely be enflamed should this pastor do as he plans.  but this is where my personal beliefs which are grounded in scripture kicks in.

when people rioted in oakland a few months back, i did not blame the riot on a verdict where a transit cop was only found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.  to do that would be to state the rioters had no choice in the matter.  they had to riot, it’s the only appropriate response to this verdict.  ditto what is happening in los angeles where the other day a migrant worker was shot by the police b/c he was armed and dangerous with a knife.  of course this should result in a riot, what other options do the rioters have.  ditto with the rodney king riots or anything similar.  so, if this pastor burns a koran, of course the muslims would have no choice, they would be forced to riot.  do you believe that?  i don’t.

as long as we blame our actions on others we can justify anything.  this is true of me, true of you, true of rioters of all religious points of view, including muslims.  so if the pastor burns a koran, and they riot, feel free to think the pastor is a poor example of a christ follower.  i’m with ya there.  but do not try to tell me this will put the troops in danger.  do not try to tell me this will cause riots within the muslim world.  the troops are already in danger.  and if there are riots, that would be b/c they chose to riot.  i am an internalist.  my problem is within me.  perhaps it is time for the so called “religion of peace” to rise up and say to the practitioners of islam 2 simple truths.  1.  this pastor is a jerk, in america you are allowed to be a jerk.  2.  lets not reinforce the idea that we are a violent, hate filled, murderous religion by being violent, hate filled, and murderous in response to this jerk.

of course there is always another option.  we could suggest this pastor put the koran in a jar of urine and call it art.  or he could depict mohammad the prophet as gay and put him in a musical.  both of those were welcomed by our culture when they focused on christianity and jesus.

obviously, i am a tad sarcastic today.  as i said, i’m sick of this discussion and once i get there i tend to vent.  but i do think there is a lesson to be learned.  we have several generations of adults who do not understand personal responsibility.  we are always looking to blameshift whatever problems we have onto others.  this koran burning is just an example.  don’t believe me, pick a problem and think about what you have heard about its cause.  then tell me if you agree.  why do we have a bad economy?  why do we have high unemployment?  why do we have failing schools?  why do we have any problems on a national level?  then work down to the state and local level and you see the same pattern.  then look at individual behavior, you will see the same pattern.  here is a novel idea.  how about we all commit to becoming internalists.  this does not deny the reality of problems outside of ourselves.  it simply says my problems are within me.  and it is within me to figure out how to respond to anything and everything in an appropriate manner.  but when i fail to do so, when i respond poorly, when my response fails, how about if we step up and say something like.  i failed, i have no one to blame but me, i will do my best to fix this mess i created.  i’m sorry, please forgive me.  wouldn’t that be a refreshing change of pace?  isn’t it time we stop looking at others, blaming others, etc. and took responsibility for ourselves?  as a pastor i know this would transform marriages, parent child relationships, our work environments, neighborhoods, churchs, friendships, etc.  just a thought.

as usual, would love to know what you think.