Rev’d Canon Julian Dobbs (CANA): An open letter to Pastor Jones on burning the Koran

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Dear Pastor Jones,

Greetings in the name of the risen, ascended and glorified Jesus Christ.

I am writing this open letter to you, asking that you urgently reconsider your decision to burn copies of the Koran on September 11, 2010.

Around the world today, disciples of Jesus Christ are suffering at the hands of Islamic regimes and individuals, who are persecuting Christians for our shared faith in the eternal God of the Bible.

Many of these our brothers and sisters are living in hiding, some have endured painful persecution and some have lost their lives, simply because they have converted from Islam to Christianity and refuse to return to the Islamic religion.

Your decision to burn copies of the Koran at your church will put the lives of many thousands of Christians in the Islamic world at further risk and will seriously compromise their security and that of their churches, homes, schools and businesses.

Christians who are minorities in Muslim majority countries are not in a position to exercise the freedom of religion that citizens of the United States enjoy. Your proposed action in burning copies of the Koran is a reckless, irresponsible and unnecessary response to the challenges that are presented by a resurgent Islam.

The life transforming message of the good news of Jesus Christ is the greatest response we have to the suffering and injustice in the world. I urge you not to burn copies of the Koran, but encourage you to proclaim the unique message of Christ, his love and goodness, his mercy and forgiveness to a world which desperately needs to know the Living God of the Bible.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Julian Dobbs,
Archdeacon,
Convocation of Anglican in North America
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