US legislators and others are condemning the burning of a Quran by a American pastor, Terry Jones. Back in September, Jones did not follow through on his threats to burn a number of Qurans, but now he has done so with one Quran. As a result, there have been killings and protests in Afghanistan and other places in the Middle East. There has also been a lot of discussion about free speech and the responsibility it entails.

The Apostle Paul stated that “all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient.” Is Pastor Jones responsible, at least in part, for the deaths of the UN workers who were killed because of the protests? Only God can say with certainty. I do know one thing for sure. God did not call upon us to burn Qurans, but to preach the Gospel. I think Pastor Jones would have a lot more positive, biblically based results if he stuck to his commission as a pastor to preach the Gospel as scripture teaches we are to do. Exposing the deeds of darkness is also a biblically based directive.  Burning Qurans is neither.

I wonder…would Jones have burned the Quran if he were living in a Muslim country?