The news this week is filled with commentary and speculation regarding the church in Florida which plans to burn copies of the Qur’an on the anniversary of 9/11. What do you think about it? How should a believer respond?

There does seem to be a double standard in play.  Many of the same people who would call the burning of a Bible free speech are speaking loudly against this small church of fifty members.

But we have a higher standard.

In Romans 12, Paul echoes the standard of Jesus when he writes,“17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. 20 To the contrary, 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.
Romans 12:17-21

Consider those verses.  Phrase by phrase.  Slowly. Waiting for God to respond is difficult isn’t it?  My initial reaction is generally one of action – some kind of action – any kind of action….usually not the best idea. I wonder how believers who live in Muslim countries might be treated in reaction to the Qur’an burnings.

Could it be that the Thessalonian church experienced some of the same emotions and questions as they were suffering for their unwavering faith in Christ?

Here in his second letter to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul encourages them in their suffering for the name of Christ, “since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might…”
2 Thessalonians 1: 6-9

Instead of winning the war against Islam, where is our concern about winning the individual Muslim for Christ? If you know someone who is Muslim or sympathetic to their cause, begin this day praying for that Christ will be revealed to them as He is this day and let us remember the believers in these countries as well.