Burning the Koran: Part 2

O.K., I spoke about my reasons the Koran shouldn't be burned many moons ago:

http://countrypreacherscorner.blogspot.com/2010/09/burning-koran.html

Now, that (ahem!) preacher in Florida went ahead and burned a Koran, and there is fallout.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110402/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

Please don't get me wrong, I don't think the "pastor" in Florida did the right thing by burning the Koran, but rioting and killing as a response?  Are you kidding me?

Is this an appropriate response?

Is this a mature response?

Now, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, and we Christians have had more than our fair share of missteps along the way.  We've done more than a few things and said even more things which are hurtful and harmful when people have attacked our faith.

Think: Spanish Inquisition.
Think: Crusades.

Such things are born out of fanaticism.

And as I quoted Timothy Keller once, so shall I quote him again.  From page 57 in his book The Reason for God; Belief in an Age of Skepticism:

Belief that you are accepted by God by sheer grace is profoundly humbling.  The people who are fanatics, then, are so not because they are too committed to the gospel but because they are not committed to it enough.

Think of people you consider fanatical.  They're overbearing, self-righteous, opinionated, insensitive, and harsh.  Why?  It's not because they are too Christian but because they are not Christian enough.  They are fanatically zealous and courageous, but they are not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding--as Christ was.  Because they think of Christianity as a self-improvement program, they emulate the Jesus of the whips in the temple, but not the Jesus who said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7).  What strikes us as overly fanatical is actually a failure to be fully committed to Christ and his gospel.
Fanatics are actually people who are immature in their faith, and unfortunately, it takes time for them to grow up.  "Leaders" (and I use that term loosely) who encourage such behavior are just as immature.

Therefore, the question is begged: how do mature leaders lead and help to quell such behavior? 

It's not an easy question.  Sometimes, it just takes time.  Unfortunately for those killed, it didn't happen fast enough.

Some folks need to realize, not everyone is going to respect your beliefs, your thoughts, and your ideas.  You can either respond graciously toward them or immaturely.  The sign of taking the high road is allowing someone to detest your beliefs and still treat them as you would like to be treated.

It's hard to do.

It requires mature faith.

Not fanaticism.