I am grateful that most Evangelical Christians have condemned Pastor Jones’s burning of the Koran. True, he had a constitutional right but something can be constitutional and stupid at the same time, especially when we consider the red alert atmosphere related to Muslim relations these days. This does not mean people should hold Jones responsible for terrorists who have killed as a result of his actions. Those responsible for murder and violence are the ones who commit murder and violence.

For a sobering examination that moves beyond today’s heightened emotions about Christianity, we’d be well served to examine the words of Jesus Himself. How would Christ have felt about book burnings? And while we’re in the neighborhood, are Jesus’ own words (written down in another sacred book) comparable to the Koran? (Typically spelled Quran or Koran in English.)

For starters, Jesus DID NOT order Christians to kill in His name and conquer the world for His kingdom. He DID NOT command us to execute all people who will not convert to Christianity. Mohammad DID command such things in the name of Islam and we’ll look at this command when we’re done examining the Bible.

But if Christ did not give such orders, others did in His name. Yes, we’ve heard it a million times: Christians and Muslims both fought in the Crusades. Putting aside the fact that in many cases, Christians were trying to take back land that had forcefully been stolen by Muslims, let us concede that the Crusades were nothing for Christians to brag about. They were far too preoccupied with the Holy Land and they made a mistake in thinking that the cause of Christ was enhanced by such geography. There were also adventurous soldiers in those days that saw the Crusades as a license to plunder and butcher, using Christianity as a rationalization.

But let’s face facts; all ideologies get misrepresented. The ideology itself must be critiqued.
Jesus Himself condemned religious hypocrisy in His name:

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers’” (Matt. 7:21-23), NIV).

What then, is the difference between the Christians who fought in the Crusades and Muslims who fought in the Crusades? The difference is quite simple: Many Christians were waging war in disobedience to Jesus. Muslims were fighting in obedience to Mohammad.

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