An Opportunity lost
Well, we heard it all - Pastor Terry Jones and the burning of the Qur’an. We thank the Lord that he did not follow the conviction and withdrew from it. However, I believe he could have used the opportunity while announcing his withdrawal to remind the media of the atrocities against Christians that are committed day and night in Muslim-majority countries. Churches are burned down, even members killed, and their Scriptures are destroyed. The Pastor could have quickly reminded the media. I am not going to burn the Qur'an but use it to help Muslims come to the full knowledge of God and Jesus, the only Savior as portrayed in the Bible. He could have asked the media: ‘Why don't you report when Christians and their Scriptures are destroyed around the world? I am calling on you to look into your conscience and ask yourselves which side you are on.’
This would at least have been heard in the media somewhere, but Terry did not use such an opportunity. Let us please pray for each other that whenever we all are given such an opportunity, we may glorify Him, use the Lord’s wisdom, and be counted to say words that will be a warning and loving, too. (Ezekiel 3:18)
We should follow Paul's example in Acts 17. Let's learn from him. He used the audience's pagan philosophy and poetry to bring them to the fundamental knowledge of God and salvation available through Christ. Instead of telling Christians to burn their copies of the Qur'an, we should use its teaching to show how much a Muslim needs assurance of grace, mercy, and eternal life that is only available through Jesus Christ, according to the Bible (John 1:17, 3:16). The Qur'an states that Muhammad was asked to tell his people, 'I do not know what will happen to me or you' (Sura 46:8). In contrast to that the Bible states that Jesus claimed: I know where I come from – I know where I am going – believe in me, and you will have eternal life (John 5:24; 8:14; John 3:15).
Here are some leaflets/tracts we use to help Muslims use their Qur'an, their authority pointing to a dilemma, and then we give a Biblical answer. Visit here: https://jesustomuslims.org/reach/download-leaflets