About that mosque

I haven’t weighed in on the “Ground Zero mosque” because the conversation has been so overwrought and frankly ridiculous to the point that having a rational discussion is nigh impossible. The underlying problem is that the talking heads are using this for political purposes and to score points. The idea that the President would weigh in on this issue speaks to his arrogance at presuming to speak on every matter and his political immaturity. Likewise, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and others are clearly using this to pander for potential voters in the 2012 primaries. Conservatives have plenty of important issues to run on, this is not one of them. The bigger issue is that people cannot distinguish between the two questions that are being brought up and blurred together. Can they build this mosque and should they build this mosque?

On the question of “should”. I think it is intemperate and unwise to build a mosque there given the history. It strikes me that the location itself was obviously going to be provocative and that had to be obvious when it was first proposed. This move has reopened many wounds that were starting to heal from September 11th. On the other hand, I am not a muslim so no one asked me if I thought it was a good idea and I don’t live in New York and that really is not the point. Lots of people do lots of stuff that I think they shouldn't do.

On the question of “can”. I think that there is no legal reason to oppose this mosque and certainly no “Christian” reason, no more so than there is a “Christian” reason to oppose the construction of a mormon temple or a Jewish synagogue. If we don’t want mosques being built in America, we need to preach Christ and Him crucified to muslims. I consider Islam to be a false religion but let’s take a step back from the American flag for a second. A muslim in a mosque is no more lost than a mormon or a Jew or an atheist. We have no business opposing a mosque in New York City in the name of Christ. The Roman Catholic church terrorized those who opposed it for centuries, should we oppose the building of Catholic cathedrals?

It troubles me that so many professing Christians get all worked up about a mosque in New York City but can’t be bothered to witness to muslims. If we are following Christ and witnessing to the world, which is the more accurate representation of Him: anger or meekness? Hatred or love? Demonstrations in the streets or demonstrating love to our neighbors?

We should be praying for Muslims, not protesting them.