Stand at the Ramparts...

My friend posted a thread on facebook. The main post said, "So "Pastor" Terry Jones says that burning the Koran is justified because Islam is a "violent and deceptive religion." Interesting, considering the Bible urges people to "put Sabbath day desecrators to death" and encourages Christians to "love your neighbor as you love yourself" in the same book."

But she is my friend, and when my friends say something potentially damaging to themselves and others, I am compelled to say something in love. Please take your time to read it and comment. Thanks!

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I love you girl...but please be careful regarding what and how you teach from scripture. While Mosaic law required the stoning of a Sabbath violator, it was the Pharisaical ideology that perverted the intent of the Lord in creating the Sabbath.

They had/have no true concept of what the Lord means regarding work and worship. They understood it as a command, but the intent of the command came from God's heart in knowing the faults of his people and their tendency to idolatry. (Read Ex 31:14 and compare with John 7:23. Then check out Numbers 15:30-36 and compare with Luke 4:29 and John 8:7.) This is why Jesus, while creating the New Covenant, performed miracles and acts of service even on the Sabbath.

In the Old Testament, under the old covering of Mosaic Law, God chose to set his chosen people apart for the purpose of creating a path for salvation for ALL people, an acceptable sacrifice for all sins and all peoples. Which is why he commanded the stoning of those would would DELIBERATELY violate His will and command. (See Numbers 15:30-36 again, also see Hebrews 10:26) He also commanded them to stay pure and undefiled, just as He later commanded Joseph and Mary (Matthew 1) and the followers of Jesus Christ (James 1:26 and 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1). These themes are not about segregation out of contempt for our brothers and neighbors, it's about maintaining the condition of our hearts and spirits in accordance with how God has designed each of us to function within his will. He even had this intention in the Old Testament. The person who unknowingly violates the Sabbath is not subject to death, but correction (See Numbers again). Truly, what this means is what's found in Hebrews 10:26.

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." - James 1:27

And when we look at this in the context of the two commandments that Jesus gave to us, which we can see do not in anyway contradict the original 10 commandments, we can see why the parallel that you drew in your comment about what the Bible says in the two different places is dangerous. Commandments No. 1 and 2 - Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.' And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." - Matthew 22:36-40.

Therefore, if we truly love God, we will have no capacity left for self-love and self-righteousness, because we will be filled with His love and His righteousness. In which case, we will love ourselves in the way that God loves us, which is way beyond our own capacity. It is this paradoxical transformation that gives us the true ability exercise pure religion in the way that the Lord expresses in James. Because while many people can do the work of the former part, all will trip on the stumbling blocks of the latter.

The pharisees and Jews of the Old Testament were very good at the former, but poor at the latter. Because of this, they actually never came into a place of spiritual purity that would allow for the absolution of sins through sacrifice - mainly because they should have bloody well known better (Romans 3:23, Heb. 10:26 and Numbers 15). But because of our fundamental inability to avoid sin, God set up, through a long process of suffering and purification, a vessle by which He could pay the ultimate penalty for our sins/crimes against Him. The wages of sin is death, but the bill was paid on our behalf.

Understanding the message of God is more important than being able to quote unsubstantiated partial phrases of scripture for the purpose of drawing erroneous conclusions. I am sharing this with you because the same Bible teaches in James 3 "1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." And because the Lord weighs every word that comes from our mouths or pens, understand that you took on the role of a teacher of the Word to someone, and it's a big deal in the long run.

Lastly, about the pastor in Florida. Not every Muslim knows or has heard the Word as I believe it is described in Numbers 15, and because of that, an insult or corporal punishment like that which he is proposing I don't find to be biblical. While I am sure they believe their Koran to be the truth as much as I believe my Bible is, I have to look upon them now not as an unbeliever, but as a Gentile who is as lost as I was as a Gentile. Therefore, there is no harsh treatment to keep us apart or persuade us together. Rather, I share with them twice the Love and Graciousness of God who has said that our works are good enough only for partial religion, but not enough for salvation. But in knowing His own children, he made a way for us to be spared the price of our lack of purity and inadequacy of works. He sacrificed a Lamb on our behalf (Genesis 22:5-14; Exodus 12:5-7; John 1:26-29) but we did not know it, and "while we were [are] still in sin, Christ [God in flesh] died for us [our sins/crimes]."

So to that Pastor, I would send a note encouraging him to re-read what the Lord teaches us about wisdom in James chapter 3, "13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

Our actions should be based upon the wisdom and compassion of God. While we are at liberty to judge the actions of others godly or ungodly, the condemnation for such actions do not lie with us as sinful people. Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." While He never denied the truth of the law, that all sin deserves death, he demonstrated that we are ALL under sin, and ALL deserve the same penalty. Only God, therefore can exact and retrieve the penalty for what's been done. But in His unfailing mercy and love, he instead paid the cost.

I pray that Pastor Jones realizes that in his exercise of his fully protected freedom to burn these books in protest, he may be violating the very ordinances of love and instruction that we as Christians have been given. I would like to remind him "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:17-21 (Also see Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 20:22; Jeremiah 51:36; Hebrews 10:30)

To my Muslim friends out there who may read this...you know who you are. While we may respectfully disagree, be encouraged of my RESPECT for you and that of many others like me. I share my hope with you for I know no other name under the heavens by which a man's soul can assuredly be saved. I invite you to test Him, but you are welcome to reject Him. I will continue to work to combat the ignorance and abuse of scripture in my sphere of influence for all our sakes. I humbly ask you to do the same. As it says in my Bible in Romans 12:18 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." I know that the more we allow God to "lieth" within us, the more this will be possible.

May God richly Bless you, neighbors and friends. And peace be with you.