Backlash

Several months ago a church in Florida planned to publicly burn the Quran as a statement against Islam. I hope you were appalled, as I was, that this church chose to send a message of hate in the name of Jesus instead of reaching out in love. The story gained immediate attention in the media, and Christians came out on all sides of the issue. The pastor, Terry Jones, took advantage of opportunities to further proclaim his views through talk show and morning news invitations. In the end, the Jones and his church did not hold the Quran burning, and a local car dealer rewarded Jones with a new Hyundai.

I was dismayed that this man portrayed Christ so poorly. I was saddened to think about the many Americans whose ideas of Christians were once again confirmed by this pastor and his church. But what I didn’t consider was the effect his actions would have on our brothers and sisters of the persecuted church.

Muslims around the world were incensed at the news of the planned burning of their holy book. In Pakistan, a young man had started a Christian school in a mostly Muslim neighborhood where there was no church. Muslims and Christians alike attended the school. The school leadership intended to slowly use the school building as a gathering place for Christians until Muslims in the neighborhood became comfortable enough to allow the Christians to establish a church there. For two years, Christians had been holding prayer meetings at the school.

The neighbors reacted to the news of what the “Christian” church in Florida intended to do by taking it out against Christians. The school leaders were warned to stop the prayer meetings. A group of fanatics got together and distributed copies of a pamphlet that read in part: 

Do not make friends to Jews and Nisaar [foreigners]. The Quran says: Awake Muslim, awake the time is calling you; the enemies are marching all around.

Muslims! Be ashamed.

• In Iraq 3,500,000 Muslims were martyred by the Christians.
• In Afghanistan 1,500,000 Muslims were martyred by the Christians.
• In the state of Florida (America), Pastor Terry Jones announced the burning of holy Quran.
• In all the world the Muslims’ blood is shed by the Christians, and in [this] colony, Christianity is being preached at the Christian school, by the Christians.
• All the Muslims around the world are suffering from Christians.
• These Christians made unholy program of church construction in our colony.
• Muslims, if you love holy Quran and respect holy prophet, and if you need the favor of prophet Muhammad on the day of judgment, then stop your children from going to [the Christian school]

Because of one American church’s actions, a church in Pakistan can no longer meet. Please pray for the school leadership and Christians in the colony as they decide how to go forward. Pray they can win their persecutors’ heart’s to Christ.