What is a Christian?

Sometimes I despair!  So many who claim to be followers of the Christ, yet whose every action seems to indicate that they are a million miles away from His character, His example, and His teaching.  George W. Bush and Tony Blair both claimed to be "Christian".  Yet they 'led' their respective countries into two major invasions that, between them, have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands - mostly civilian!  By the way, I placed the word 'led' in single quotation marks because, of course, they didn't actually lead.  One might have had some measure of, albeit grudging, respect for them had they donned uniform, and been found in the front line.  I suspect that neither man would have had the courage to do so.  It's much easier to send others - some still in their teens - to do one's fighting for one, and to die in the process!

However, now it's even a group who claim to be 'evangelical' Christians!  Today's Telegraph newspaper had an article about them.  "The Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, Florida, has launched 'International Burn a Koran Day' to coincide with this weekend's anniversary of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in protest at what it calls "the evil of Islam".  'We will burn the Koran in remembrance of the fallen victims of 9/11 and to stand against the evil of Islam. Islam is of the devil,' said the Christian group."

Now I am certainly not here to defend Islam at any level, least of all the extremism that led to '9/11', and to other atrocities both before and since.   However, I have to ask, as does Gen.Petraeus, the U.S.of A. military commander in Afghanistan, what this group hopes to gain from this display.  Jesus said to His disciples: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matt 10:16; RSV).  I see little wisdom in the proposed action of this group.  It will only make even moderate Muslims - who hold the physical Qur'an in much higher regard than many 'Christians' hold the Bible! - become more extreme, and politicised, in their views (and actions?!).

It is to be hoped that these misguided people will think again, and cancel their proposed action; rather than simply provide propoganda fuel for those whom they oppose.