“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way” –Proverbs 19:2.

A wave of violence has erupted across the Muslim world leaving nearly thirty dead. On April 1st, it was revealed to the world that the Quran, the Islamic Holy book, was burned a few days prior. Mob-driven bloodshed ensued. Meanwhile, the most notorious small church pastor in the world, Terry Jones, is in the spotlight. Jones had threatened to burn copies of the Quran last year before being deterred at the urging of the top General in the U.S., Michael Petraeus.

Muslims consider the Quran, the physical book itself (not just the words or message), to be revered and holy. It is not to be tampered with or mistreated in any way. In Muslim homes, it is placed in a prominent location in the house. Disrespect, not to mention desecration of the Quran, is outright blasphemy. The mob violence in Afghanistan is a testament to the deadly consequences wrought by one rogue pastor in Florida.

Jones has become a contemporary favorite in the media for his radical and inflammatory antics. Mass media has made broadcasting any digitally recorded event possible –for better, or in this case, for worse. [...]

In 2 Kings 9-10, we get a sobering message of the destruction of moralism. Moralism can be defined as the outward obedience to God’s rules without righteousness on the inside. Many of us find safety in a good, clean life on the outside thinking “If my life doesn’t look bad, then I am doing the will of God.” But is that the example of King Jehu?

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