dannibear;163063]Anger is not a sin, but when out of control, can cause us to do so...

I think that anger is one of Satan's favorite weapons. Everything God does is based on agape - perfect love, while everything Satan does is based on sane (saw-nay) - personal hatred. When people pour out rage (personal hatred) against Muslims they are being duped into waging war Satan's way. When he gets people to hate each other, he wins! We need to fight this war God's way and we're reluctant to do so because we have so little understanding of God's power.

Do you want an example of God's power? In the Garden of Gethsemeni, when Judas and his rag-tag bunch came with their swords and clubs to arrest Jesus, one of Jesus' followers (probably Peter) got brave and pulled out a sword. Jesus told him to put that thing away saying, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father and He will at once put put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?"(Mt 26:53 NIV). Figuring 6000 in a legion (as the Romans did), that would add up to more than 72,000 angels! Against that kind of power, the devil and his servants will melt away faster than ice cream on a hot summer day!

SLE

Not sharing the fact that their demonic religion is leading them to hell is real hate speech. God calls us to love and forgive our enemies, this I do and I cover them prayerfully on a regular basis.That however is no command to leave the front door open with welcome please come do what you want signs hanging on the walls.
God gives wisdom to all who ask and it is not wisdom to give people sworn to kill you the freedom to do so.
If (and only if) only 10% of Muslims want to kill us in the name of their idol god that is 100.000,000 people.
That does not count the "moderates" (even ones I personally know for a fact do this) who send $ and support to the "10%".
All that being said, why would anyone want to build a Mosque where it is guaranteed to foster resentment, ill will and pain? Since the Imam is a felon with strong anti- US ties to extremists it can be only one reason- continuibg the Muslim tradition of building a Mosque on the site of a "conquered territory". And again, that is the origin of the name of the Mosque, the "Cordoba Project" aptly named in remembrance of the slaughter of Jews and Christians in the muslim conquest of Cordoba Spain.

Originally Posted by AudreyNicole

I do not think we should sit back and let anyone destroy us, but in fact let God fight these wars for us, which means we simply pray for both us and them and ask God to help us win this war in a loving manner- not a hateful one. The Lord God said Himself:

"But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." Matthew 5:39

Our people haven't just been slapped....we've been brutally murdered. All 3000 of them. How many more attacks have been thwarted since 9/11? These people are murdering/raping/pillaging all over the world. And, we are just to allow that to continue?

Islam is pure evil. That is to be resisted. Christians and Jews have been on the defensive from them ever since they have come into existence.

Did David run away from Goliath?
Did he just "turn the other cheek?

Goliath was a Philistine....the SAME people that we are defending ourselves against today.

Originally Posted by SpiritLedEd

I think that anger is one of Satan's favorite weapons. Everything God does is based on agape - perfect love, while everything Satan does is based on sane (saw-nay) - personal hatred. When people pour out rage (personal hatred) against Muslims they are being duped into waging war Satan's way. When he gets people to hate each other, he wins! We need to fight this war God's way and we're reluctant to do so because we have so little understanding of God's power.

Do you want an example of God's power? In the Garden of Gethsemeni, when Judas and his rag-tag bunch came with their swords and clubs to arrest Jesus, one of Jesus' followers (probably Peter) got brave and pulled out a sword. Jesus told him to put that thing away saying, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father and He will at once put put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?"(Mt 26:53 NIV). Figuring 6000 in a legion (as the Romans did), that would add up to more than 72,000 angels! Against that kind of power, the devil and his servants will melt away faster than ice cream on a hot summer day!

SLE

It is Jesus that got angry when people were turning His house of
worship into a 'den of thieves'. John 2:15-16
He got frustrated with His disciples Matthew 17:17
He got angry with the Pharisees Mark 3:5

Jesus got angry, and for a good reason. He got angry because
the Pharisees were telling Him not to heal a man who had been
sick for years. He got angry when people were scamming inside
His place of worship. Anger is not a sin. Only when used
for the wrong reasons. I get angry when someone walks
by a homeless person and doesnt help them out, and out
of my anger for the selfish person, and concern and compassion
for the homeless person, I give them money and food to eat.
Jesus gave us these emotions for a reason. But not the wrong
ones. Like everything else, we must control our anger.
People are angry and hurt for what happened on 9/11.
And most of those who are angry, are raising awareness,
are holding prayer groups, and are comforting those
who lost loved ones. That is an example of what is being done
out of anger for a RIGHT reason.

Originally Posted by dannibear

It is Jesus that got angry when people were turning His house of
worship into a 'den of thieves'. John 2:15-16
He got frustrated with His disciples Matthew 17:17
He got angry with the Pharisees Mark 3:5

Jesus got angry, and for a good reason. He got angry because
the Pharisees were telling Him not to heal a man who had been
sick for years. He got angry when people were scamming inside
His place of worship. Anger is not a sin. Only when used
for the wrong reasons. I get angry when someone walks
by a homeless person and doesnt help them out, and out
of my anger for the selfish person, and concern and compassion
for the homeless person, I give them money and food to eat.
Jesus gave us these emotions for a reason. But not the wrong
ones. Like everything else, we must control our anger.
People are angry and hurt for what happened on 9/11.
And most of those who are angry, are raising awareness,
are holding prayer groups, and are comforting those
who lost loved ones. That is an example of what is being done
out of anger for a RIGHT reason.

Exactly. Nothing wrong with being angry when others are being
wronged. That is the emotion we SHOULD feel. Nothing
ever gets done when someone doesn't feel for another's pain.
Those that feel for the pain of hungry children start food drives
or at least contribute, some even go overseas. The pain of those
who lost loved ones in 9/11 are no different. The Muslims that
want to 'bridge a gap' and 'encourage peace' should see the
pain of those mourning for their loved ones. If they really cared,
the first thing they would have done was move the mosque.
There are plenty other places in New York to go to.
If they want to spread peace so badly, they would be concerned
with the fact that no one wants it in that location, out of respect.
I would have believed it then if they wanted to show 'peace' but
that is not their motive.

A man is as big as the things that make him angry - Winston Churchill

Originally Posted by rizen1

The world I live in, that I (not the news or church), I live in is label less. My impression of individuals is based on character , not skin, sexual orientation, sex or religious beliefs. If I was to live like the American standard Fox try to portray, I'd join a tea party and burn islamic books.

1, That would be completely against what Fox portrays but is of course a normal jab of the uniformed critic.
2. I am glad you are willing to judge those folks individually. As I have already demonstrated that the Imam is a repeated felon, has a history of anti-US sentiments, politics and associations I would ask you to watch the news closely in the next few weeks as you will see a lot of the terrorists connections this man has brought to light.

I personally think all media outlets are trying to play us as fools for their one goal (ratings and money). Why write an article about or greatly publicize one small church that is going to burn the quran or a pastor whose services are barely attended that will only preach anti-Islam sermons near ground zero? Because it will inflame people and get them to tune in. You can always find extremists doing extreme acts. Why not write about the churches that focus on God's gospel of love? Because that would mean lower ratings and less money. I'm not saying that we should ignore the news but that we should all proactively think about why something is important to know and why that news source wants us to know.

Here is what the New Testament teaches about how to treat our enemies:
Luke 6:27-33
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you...[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.

What is love?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - excerpts from 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

How can the light of God's love and the Holy Spirit shine through us for others to see when we are so focused on vengeance (which is supposed to be God's to deliver)? What kind of picture are we painting for non-believers who we want to know the truth about God's love and mercy? I don't think we should compromise our Christianity in order to bring people into the fold but I do think we have to think about where our focus lies. I have been living in a Muslim country for about 19 months in order to do development work and I hope to show them the love of Christ by showing them what Jesus' sacrifice means to me - that I should give up my life to help others as He did. My religion comes up fairly early in conversations so people know that I am an American Christian and I have only been treated with hospitality, kindness and generosity. I want the people that I have grown to care about here to know the truth about Jesus but when they watch Al Jazeera which would love to focus on quran burnings it only makes them more defensive and hardened against the message that comes from people who they hear call them inherently evil.

I understand being against Islam - I am against Islam and all religions that deny the fact that Jesus is the son of God who was crucified for our sins but lets not forget that those who follow Islam are people like we were before we were saved who are blind to the truth and misled by the world and that we need to pray for them and show them by example what the one and only way to God means for our lives.

Matthew 22:36-40
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Originally Posted by rizen1

Sounds harsh but who calls the media and declares a book burning day. It's obvious this has nothing to do with the gospel but living out some hate fantasy.

As I said in an earlier post, when the devil can get two people groups to hate each other, he wins! That's what's happening right now.

SLE

I am neither a christian nor a muslim. I seek to see the unity of religious teachings. There is much unity between Christianity and Islam.
Gods message comes in many forms to many people in different places and different times. There is no seperation only unity. Any seperation and division is what we (mankind) are deluded about. We may seek and find God in holy scripture be it the bible the koran or anything else. The test of its authenticity will be on our hearts. If God is love does it speak of love?
If GOd is unity does it speak of unity?
If God is compassion does it speak of compassion?
Were there is apparant difference can we use this difference to find bigger truth? For the whole truth may be larger than the sum of its parts.
This notion of a GOd of unification may be a challenge to many but it an understanding that will heal the hurt and lead to a better tomorrow