In my last blog post, I made a reference to burning copies of the Koran. I used that as an example of a terrible way to exercise your constitutional rights. Then today, I learn that there is a church planning to do just that.. . .burn copies of the Koran.

I cannot express how deeply this saddens me. It was never my intention to inspire anyone to do such a hateful act. If you are a member of this church, I beg you do not do this.

Christ told us to love our enemies . . . to pray for them. . .to turn the other cheek even when they persecute us and shamefully misuse us. He never taught that we should retaliate in kind.

One might expect this kind of retaliation from non-Christians, but we are to be different. It is only when we show people the love of Christ that we prove to the world that being a Christian has merit. We have something that they do not have. We have the love of God and are called to share that love with them.

Conversely, if we show them that we are no different than them, we validate their (low) opinions of us.

General Petraeus is right. This act will serve to further inflame the muslims against whom our soldiers are doing battle. And not only will our troops suffer, but our own national security will be jeopardized. You have to know that there are terrorists here within our borders who are just waiting for something like this to justify more attacks against the civilian populace.

If it serves your hunger for vengeance, consider the words of Paul who said in Romans 12:20 ff

"if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.