Terry Jones and his planned visit in the New Year has come to the attention of the Home Secretary Theresa May and she she will be "actively looking at" whether he should be banned from entering the UK. Trouble is that I don't much agree with people being banned either, after all, we live in a supposedly free and democratic society!
It would of course be better if Pastor Jones actually used what's between his ears, although going by his Koran burning event (whether it happened or not) I'd say there's little chance of that happening. The man doesn't really appear to have a clue. An assessment borne out by the fact that he's apparently planning to speak against "radical Islam", not "all Islam". Burning the Koran acts against all Muslims, not just radical Muslims and if he can't see that then I very much doubt he'll shed much light on Islam either. It would have been better if they'd invited Barnabas Trust.
Of course, banning the bloke will have the EDL complaining of two-tier societies and yet the irony is
that by admitting Jones, they are supporting a two-tier society. The paucity of Jones's wit is clearly on view when he tells the press that he doesn't intend to burn a Koran in the UK (which is good because he'd be on a charge of incitement before he could sing the star-spangled wotsit!). What a prune!
The bottom-line is that Christians need to tell Pastor Jones that he's part of the problem and not the solution, especially with some of the comments flying around in this story. Here's three of the wackiest:
"We have no problem with Muslims - we have freedom of speech and religion - Muslims who want to make our country their country, obey our laws and constitution."
"We have a problem with them, which I believe you all have also, when they go on the street... and they call for the death of the UK, for the death of Israel, for the death of America. They call for Sharia law."
"They say they are going to turn Buckingham Palace into a mosque and the Queen must convert to Islam or leave the country."
What sort of drugs do you have to be doing to utter this tripe?
If we wish to bring peace we need to be peace-loving. Sadly, I don't see this in the writings, acts or (published) attitude of pastor Jones. Perhaps he'd be better off ministering to his flock rather than being a media star? So, if we're asked about it, the answer is that this is a non-issue and the bloke speaks for no one but himself (and definitely not for God).
If you feel strongly about this issue, why not send a (reasoned) communication to the man via his church system explaining what EDL is and what his visit will do for the Gospel in this country and for the nation as a whole.
Contact pastor Terry Jones
And if he comes, be assured that his own words and the people with whom he associates will show the mettle of the man and paucity of any Christian witness. Please God he decides not to come rather than have him barred from entry.
2 comments:
- I think that those who find Jones's banning objectionable don't actually want to have Jones here, but wonder why the powers-that-be ban Jones (and other Islamisation-objectors) but seem to tolerate hate-preaching mullahas, etc.; ie., that there is an obvious bias on the part of the Establishment (against Christianity, obviously). I'm not saying this is my view, but it looks rather that way, at times.
I agree with the sentiments regarding banning, because I don't want the man to come but I baulk at the idea of banning as this goes against the principle of free speech (and once we've lost this, we've lost one of the most crucial elements of democracy.
I wondered about the balance between anti and pro- Islamist speakers and think, if Jones was to be banned, That the score would actually be level (according to the reports I've found.
I think all sides portray themselves as the victims with this one (no change there I suppose).
thanks for comments,
Pax
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