Let me just get this out. I’ll make it short and sweet. I believe that the 1st Amendment is inspired by God. I also believe that God is all wise, all loving, and commands us to be also when we open our mouths.
Jesus commanded his disciples to “be wise as serpents, but harmless as doves.” He also commanded his disciples to go and preach “without purse or script.”
I detest airwave publicity prophets who, for their own profit, use the emotions of the people in their audience to get what they want. That includes the “prosperity evangelists” who constantly seek “prayer donations” in the form of people’s credit card numbers and otherwise prey upon the faithful in order to line their own pockets.
Equally disturbing are those who use Christianity to promote their hatred of something at the risk of harming others.
To the point: Pastor Terry Jones of “The Dove World Outreach Center” qualifies as someone who evangelizes hate at the risk of hurting others directly or indirectly.
In a less than “dove-like” way, his “world outreach” will slap the hands of Muslims around the globe for their beliefs. In my opinion, his “burn, baby, burn” project will do nothing but incite violence against at least one American soldier or civilian this weekend, and many more over time, as his video will be used as a constant recruiting tool for America haters. As Forrest Gump would say: “Stupid is as stupid does.”
From CNN: “In protest of what it calls a religion ‘of the devil,’ a nondenominational church in Gainesville, Florida, plans to host an ‘International Burn a Quran Day’ on the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
“The Dove World Outreach Center says it is hosting the event to remember 9/11 victims and take a stand against Islam. With promotions on its website and Facebook page, it invites Christians to burn the Muslim holy book at the church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.”
Make no mistake. This American troop-killing “outreach” is “free speech,” but at its worst and most unwise. It is nothing the Jesus I recognize would approve of.
“Love thy enemies”
“Do good to them who spitefully use you.”
“When compelled to go a mile, go twain.”
“Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
The good pastor (uh hem) of “The Dove World Outreach Center” is a publicity hound and a fraud who will energize the enemies of America. He will do the opposite to making a point about 9/11; he and his followers will offer the enemies of America, and perhaps even Christianity, “comfort.” He will thereby participate in the killing of those boys and girls trying to defend us against future attackers and find those responsible for 9/11.
I love the Gospel. I love America. I detest publicity prostitutes, especially those who do it in the name of Jesus. I call upon Pastor Jones to “repent.” I suspect he won’t.
James Michael Pratt is a New York Times bestselling novelist and non-fiction author, CEO of PowerThink Publishing, public speaker, Op Ed writer for The Daily Caller, and Founder of Reagan Revolution 2. Email: james@powerthink.com.