Have FAITH on "Burn a Koran Day"

As of this moment, Mr. Terry Jones, the leader of a tiny sect called Dove International 'Outreach' Center in Gainesville, Fl (emphasis mine), has called off his plan to burn 200+ copies of the Koran to mark the 9th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks against America. While there is confusion over the agreement reached yesterday between the local Imam and Mr. Jones, the world is breathing a sigh of relief over this matter (though protests in Afghanistan over this event have turned deadly).

But what if Mr. Jones decides to go ahead with it? What if someone else takes up this charge and burns Korans publicly but in a different location? What if this ignites the Muslim community domestically and abroad?

What if we were simply Christians and TRUSTED God?

Is God moving Mr. Jones to do this thing? No.

Is God moving someone else to commit this disrespectful thing? No.

Is God causing the violent temperment of radical Islam? No.

But what God IS doing is working through these things.

"And we know that for those who love God, everything works together unto good for them who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).

Paul explains throughout his letter to Rome the fact that God works through both righteousness and unrighteousness in order to bring about the best for His people. He would so much rather work through righteousness (Romans 3:1-8 and elsewhere), but He works through both just the same. God in His foreknowledge has already seen what will happen, and for the sake of His people (Rom. 8:29-32), He has decided what He will do and and how He will do it to accomplish His purpose. It doesn't mean man's free will is negated for fate; it just means God already knows what man will choose.

Will God reveal to us what will happen and how things will turn out? He already has (read the Revelation to John). Specifically to this instance, we do not know if this one event will lead to the ultimate demise of this country. We do not know if this one event will lead a vast majority of those caught up in the Islamic religion to come to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. In whatever injustice, oppression, etc., that happens, what we can know for certainty is that God is working, and God will ultimately triumph over the minions of the Adversary.

And that's where our FAITH comes into play. Faith is just a fancy word for trust--and faith in God simply means trust in God--trust that God is in control, trust that God is rebuilding all things through Jesus Christ, trust that God has saved us for a purpose on this Earth. And that purpose is to continue the mission of Jesus in extending the love of the only true and living God and the invitation to join us in submission to Jesus Christ in God's mission to rebuild a creation ravaged by sin. Where will our trust be tomorrow? In our nation's leaders or clergymen who will try to keep the peace with political rhetoric? Or in the only true and living God who is so much greater than anyone, any nation, or anything that happens on this Earth?

We don't need a gun by our side to protect us from threats. We don't need bodyguards or the like to keep us safe from invaders. The Psalmist says, "You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield."

In God we trust on the 9th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.