Not My Jesus!

Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Florida does not represent my Jesus. My Jesus never counseled hostile actions toward those with whom we disagree. He never advocated acts of hate, prejudice of any type, or anything but unconditional love, especially for sinners.

Jones and his church, Dove World Outreach Center have planned a public burning of the Qur'an on Saturday, the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist bombings on U.S. soil. This is nothing but organized hate. This is not what my Jesus ever counseled or modeled. This is beyond anger. It's beyond venting frustration with the extreme, fringe elements of fundamental Islam. It is however, generating a lot of media coverage for the pastor and his church. Hmmmmmmm.

This is no way to communicate the heart of the Gospel, which all Christ-followers are called and commanded to share with the world. This is in direct conflict with Jesus admonition to "love your enemies," and to "bless those who persecute you." Would to God that Christ-followers would be united in their contempt for any form of terrorism, hate, racial, religious and gender prejudice.

Jesus couldn't have been clearer when he said:

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:27-30