KUALA LUMPUR, Wed, 8 Sept 2010: Representatives of the Youth Wing of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM Youth) handed a memorandum of protest to the United States Embassy today calling on the US government to stop a church in Florida from burning the Quran this 11 Sept 2010.
The group of five people were led by Bangsar Lutheran Church pastor Rev. Sivin Kit, and CCM Youth Moderator and Executive Council member Chrisanne Chin, who handed the memorandum to Jeremy Nathan, the Deputy Political Counselor of the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
CCM Youth is strongly against threats by Dr Terry Jones of The Dove World Outreach Centre, a small congregation of 50 people in Gainesville, Florida, to burn the Muslim holy text, the Quran, on the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, condemning attempts to ban or burn another faith’s holy text as tantamount to a form of hate crime that must be dealt with utmost severity.
CCM Youth reiterates that The Dove World Outreach Center’s intentions do not represent the sentiments of Christians in Malaysia, and considers the act of burning the holy scriptures of any faith a disrespectful, provocative, insulting and harmful act that is contrary to the fundamental Christian belief to love our neighbours as ourselves and to be peacemakers.
After handing over the memorandum, the group was invited into the embassy for a private discussion with the officials. Kit and Chin were assured by Jeremy that this matter is being taken very seriously up to the highest levels of the US Government as both the White House and the State Department have issued statements of warning and criticism against Jones and his church.
The group was encouraged to learn that Americans have stood up to condemn the act, and at least two dozen counteractive measures have been made by the grassroots of the American interfaith community – from synagogues to churches to mosques – working together in solidarity against Jones’ plan.
CCM Youth believes that there are better constructive ways to commemorate September 11, and will endeavour to promote to the Government of the United States, as well as the United Nations, to turn this day of grief and sadness into an international day of reconciliation and just peace, upholding the rights of every single human life created in the image of God Almighty, henceforth building an equal place for all under the sun.
Note: To sign the petition go to Please don’t burn the Koran
Excellent work. Not sure if anything will get through to The Dove World Outreach Centre though.
Thumbs up to the CCM Youth for doing this. There is no way on earth the actions of the Dove World church conform to Biblical principles.
1 Peter 2:12 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. ”
2:15-17″For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
^ what kind of good deed is it to burn the scriptures of another religion publicly, especially knowing what trouble it will cause?
1 John 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”
Especially since Hari Raya falls around September 11 this year, I really hope that most non-Muslim Americans will take the time to understand their Muslim compatriots. I read that many Muslim Americans are worried that the Aidilfitri celebrations will be misinterpreted, which speaks volumes for the ignorance of the average American when it comes to other countries and cultures. Having lived there for 10 years I can testify it’s sadly not an incorrect stereotype. They think that being a Christian in Malaysia is like being a Christian in Afghanistan.
I’m so glad to read of this pro-active action taken by CCM Youth–thank you for representing! There was an article yesterday that said that Terry Jones is “seriously weighing” the burning of the Koran. I think that the international response and spotlight is forcing them into a corner (perhaps not what they intended), and I pray that they will see a way to get themselves out of this. More than that, I would love to see a confession and them asking for forgiveness…