Florida Pastor Arrested Before He Could Burn 2,998 Qurans

[swathdiver]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/florida-pastor-arrested-before-he-could-burn-2998-qurans-on-anniversary-of-911-attacks/2013/09/11/6cba13e8-1b32-11e3-80ac-96205cacb45a_story.html

 

Florida pastor arrested before he could burn 2,998 Qurans on anniversary of 9/11 attacks

 

By Associated Press, Published: September 11

 

MULBERRY, Fla. — Law enforcement arrested a Florida pastor Wednesday as he drove to a park to light nearly 3,000 Qurans on fire to protest the 2001 terrorist attacks.

 

Polk County sheriff’s deputies arrested Pastor Terry Jones, 61, and his associate pastor, Marvin Sapp Jr., 34, on felony charges as he drove a pickup truck towing a large barbecue-style grill filled with Qurans soaked in kerosene. He had said he was heading to a nearby park to burn 2,998 Qurans — one for every victim of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Sheriff’s officials said they would hold a news conference later Wednesday to discuss specific charges.

 

Mulberry’s mayor, along with area elected officials, a sheriff’s deputy and several Polk County residents have talked about the need to express love and tolerance for all faiths on Sept. 11.

 

Jones is the pastor of a small evangelical Christian church. He first gained attention in 2010 when he planned to burn a Quran on 9/11, although he eventually called it off. His congregation did burn the Muslim holy book in March 2011 and last year he promoted an anti-Muslim film. All three incidents sparked violence in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

 

The most violent protest happened after the 2011 Quran burning as hundreds of protesters stormed a U.N. compound in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, killing seven foreigners, including four Nepalese guards.

 

Jones has repeatedly ignored pleas from the U.S. military asking him not to stage his protests. Military officials say his actions put American and Western troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere in danger.

 

Mulberry is a town of about 3,000 between Orlando and Tampa and has no connection to Jones’ church, which recently moved out of its Gainesville building.

 

An Egyptian court convicted Jones, along with seven Egyptian Coptic Christians in absentia, sentencing them to death on charges linked to the film. The ruling was seen as largely symbolic because Jones and the other defendants live outside of Egypt.

 

Just last week, a federal judge in Michigan issued a summary judgment in favor of Jones and his organization, Stand Up America Now, against the city of Dearborn for requiring Jones and his organization to sign a city-issued agreement in order to speak on public property in front of a Dearborn mosque in 2012.

 

Earlier Wednesday, about 75 people gathered In Mulberry for an interfaith prayer service to counter Jones’ actions.

 

Mike Ghouse, who has organized a 9/11 prayer service in his home state of Texas for nine years, brought his event to Mulberry because of Jones’ planned Quran burning. He initially had planned to hold the service in Texas but teamed with a group of Mulberry residents who had organized an anti-Jones Facebook page.

 

“Everyone has a right to believe what they believe,” said Ghouse, adding that it was Jones’ right as an American to express himself. Others said that while Jones was free to say or do whatever he wanted, the people of Mulberry didn’t want the world to think that the residents condone or agree with Jones’ views.

 

“We don’t buy what Jones is selling,” said Polk County resident Butch Rahman.

 

Charged with unlawful conveyance of fuel and unlawful open-carry of a firearm.  Boy was the first one a real stretch!  The government was so scared that there was no way they were going to let him offend the Muhammadans.  I'm no fan of this guy but it seems to me they arrested him to stop him and then fished up the charges later.  Nobody will care because nobody likes him.

[Alimantado]

Charged with unlawful conveyance of fuel and unlawful open-carry of a firearm.  Boy was the first one a real stretch!

 

Indeed, what nonsense! It's obvious he should have been charged with attempted air pollution and carrying out a pyrotechnics display without a permit.

[John81]

This pastor isn't serving the cause of Christ doing these publicity stunts.

 

Had this pastor had a sincere desire to burn the Muslim books in order to destroy them so they couldn't be used to spread a false religion, he could have done so quietly and in private on private property.

 

We already know the government and most involved with it are lost and serving their father the devil. The fact they would prevent something like this and spend time and energy against such things should come as no surprise. They are operating in the flesh and see things only in terms of the world and flesh as they unwittingly (mostly) serve their father the devil.

 

Scripture tells us what the Lord has for pastors to do, and we have several pastors here on OB who faithfully serve our Lord. I pray this pastor will give himself to biblical pastoring and give up these publicity stunts.

[heartstrings]

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/florida-pastor-arrested-before-he-could-burn-2998-qurans-on-anniversary-of-911-attacks/2013/09/11/6cba13e8-1b32-11e3-80ac-96205cacb45a_story.html

 

Florida pastor arrested before he could burn 2,998 Qurans on anniversary of 9/11 attacks

 

By Associated Press, Published: September 11

 

MULBERRY, Fla. — Law enforcement arrested a Florida pastor Wednesday as he drove to a park to light nearly 3,000 Qurans on fire to protest the 2001 terrorist attacks.

 

Polk County sheriff’s deputies arrested Pastor Terry Jones, 61, and his associate pastor, Marvin Sapp Jr., 34, on felony charges as he drove a pickup truck towing a large barbecue-style grill filled with Qurans soaked in kerosene. He had said he was heading to a nearby park to burn 2,998 Qurans — one for every victim of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Sheriff’s officials said they would hold a news conference later Wednesday to discuss specific charges.

 

Mulberry’s mayor, along with area elected officials, a sheriff’s deputy and several Polk County residents have talked about the need to express love and tolerance for all faiths on Sept. 11.

 

Jones is the pastor of a small evangelical Christian church. He first gained attention in 2010 when he planned to burn a Quran on 9/11, although he eventually called it off. His congregation did burn the Muslim holy book in March 2011 and last year he promoted an anti-Muslim film. All three incidents sparked violence in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

 

The most violent protest happened after the 2011 Quran burning as hundreds of protesters stormed a U.N. compound in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, killing seven foreigners, including four Nepalese guards.

 

Jones has repeatedly ignored pleas from the U.S. military asking him not to stage his protests. Military officials say his actions put American and Western troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere in danger.

 

Mulberry is a town of about 3,000 between Orlando and Tampa and has no connection to Jones’ church, which recently moved out of its Gainesville building.

 

An Egyptian court convicted Jones, along with seven Egyptian Coptic Christians in absentia, sentencing them to death on charges linked to the film. The ruling was seen as largely symbolic because Jones and the other defendants live outside of Egypt.

 

Just last week, a federal judge in Michigan issued a summary judgment in favor of Jones and his organization, Stand Up America Now, against the city of Dearborn for requiring Jones and his organization to sign a city-issued agreement in order to speak on public property in front of a Dearborn mosque in 2012.

 

Earlier Wednesday, about 75 people gathered In Mulberry for an interfaith prayer service to counter Jones’ actions.

 

Mike Ghouse, who has organized a 9/11 prayer service in his home state of Texas for nine years, brought his event to Mulberry because of Jones’ planned Quran burning. He initially had planned to hold the service in Texas but teamed with a group of Mulberry residents who had organized an anti-Jones Facebook page.

 

“Everyone has a right to believe what they believe,” said Ghouse, adding that it was Jones’ right as an American to express himself. Others said that while Jones was free to say or do whatever he wanted, the people of Mulberry didn’t want the world to think that the residents condone or agree with Jones’ views.

 

“We don’t buy what Jones is selling,” said Polk County resident Butch Rahman.

 

Charged with unlawful conveyance of fuel and unlawful open-carry of a firearm.  Boy was the first one a real stretch!  The government was so scared that there was no way they were going to let him offend the Muhammadans.  I'm no fan of this guy but it seems to me they arrested him to stop him and then fished up the charges later.  Nobody will care because nobody likes him.

 

 The ""freedom of religion"", included in our Constitution, was put there to protect peaceful religion from persecution. But when a 'religion'' is the persectutor, and begins enciting it's followers to kill people, they have forfeited their protection. There are people, right now, who choose to believe in the Aztec religion; so what will we do when they start cutting out hearts? I don't necessarily agree with burning korans because I think all it will do is make these reprobates more angry. No, what we aught to do is close down their mosques, and ship them all back to their desert....let them know we are done with being 'tolerant'  fools. They wouldn't like it but they would respect us.

[John81]

 The ""freedom of religion"", included in our Constitution, was put there to protect peaceful religion from persecution. But when a 'religion'' is the persectutor, and begins enciting it's followers to kill people, they have forfeited their protection. There are people, right now, who choose to believe in the Aztec religion; so what will we do when they start cutting out hearts? I don't necessarily agree with burning korans because I think all it will do is make these reprobates more angry. No, what we aught to do is close down their mosques, and ship them all back to their desert....let them know we are done with being 'tolerant'  fools. They wouldn't like it but they would respect us.

This is the result of having a secular government which guaranteed rights and freedom of religion to Christians and every false religion around. The Constitution makes no provision for any religion to be forfeited their protection because some preach hate or even murder. There are some Christians who preach the same, only with different targets and for different reasons.

 

We live in a fallen world and these things must be for now but we have a blessed hope to set our eyes upon.

[JerryNumbers]

 The ""freedom of religion"", included in our Constitution, was put there to protect peaceful religion from persecution. But when a 'religion'' is the persectutor, and begins enciting it's followers to kill people, they have forfeited their protection. There are people, right now, who choose to believe in the Aztec religion; so what will we do when they start cutting out hearts? I don't necessarily agree with burning korans because I think all it will do is make these reprobates more angry. No, what we aught to do is close down their mosques, and ship them all back to their desert....let them know we are done with being 'tolerant'  fools. They wouldn't like it but they would respect us.

 

Right, we should withhold freedom from terrorist, & Islam is a terrorist religion, yet we have to many that have ears that cannot hear, has eyes yet they cannot see.

 

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

Ac 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

 

I agree burning those book do not seem to accomplish anything good, yet I don't believe our government has the right to stop him, as long as he does it in a legal & safe manner, & not hatch up laws to charge him & stop him.

 

When I post such articles some will always say, "I should not surprise me," to them i say, "I'm not surprised," yet it still troubles me to see our country lining up opposite of our Wonderful Savior.

 

As I stated our country is giving favors, freedom to the terrorist book of the Islam religion & those who hold to it, giving them more rights with each day that comes along, yet taking the rights of those who deny self taking up their cross & follow Christ.

[swathdiver]

 No, what we aught to do is close down their mosques, and ship them all back to their desert....let them know we are done with being 'tolerant'  fools. They wouldn't like it but they would respect us.

 

Amen!  I would do that with those whose religion (including commies) runs counter to our Constitution.  One cannot be a good muslim/commie/democrat and a good American at the same time.

 

Then let the US Navy use them for target practice every once in a while when they get out of line.  

[John81]

Amen!  I would do that with those whose religion (including commies) runs counter to our Constitution.  One cannot be a good muslim/commie/democrat and a good American at the same time.

 

Then let the US Navy use them for target practice every once in a while when they get out of line.  

Ironically, what you propose runs counter to the Constitution which was established in such a way to ensure secularism, freedom for all political views, religions and expressions of speech whether one likes it or not.

 

What we are witnessing today isn't "un-American" per se, it's the logical consequences of the way this nation was established under the Constitution. Don't forget, the Anti-Federalists warned about the dangers within the Constitution and their warnings were not heeded yet time has proven them correct.

 

The American "civil war" was a direct result of our flawed Constitution. When one looks at the Confederate Constitution, which they modeled from the US Constitution, we see how they tried to preserve what seemed to work and to correct the problems.

 

We have to remember that just because the American Constitution was better than what other nations at the time had, it was still a man-made document with flaws. To their credit, they tried to put in place safeguards within the Constitution to counter the problems of corruption, lust for power and the fact governments always grow and seek to continually grow larger and take control. Even so, as we look through history and at our nation today, it's clear they failed. Many of the Founders saw the flaws and warned of them and offered possible solutions but they were ignored.

 

America is a secular nation with a secular constitution which is little more than a partial guide to the government which has the power to do almost as they please.

 

I understand your disdain for communists, but if you take a close look at the Dem and Repub parties they both have embraced many aspects of communist and socialist ideology.

 

There is no hope for America in politics or any other worldly means. The only hope is Christ. One day all nations we be judged by the Lord. Until then we have the opportunity to live for Christ, share the Gospel, make disciples, pray for our leaders, pray for our nation, pray for our churches, pray for our families.

[swathdiver]

You're right, I'd have to add an amendment!  

[heartstrings]

Ironically, what you propose runs counter to the Constitution which was established in such a way to ensure secularism, freedom for all political views, religions and expressions of speech whether one likes it or not.

 

What we are witnessing today isn't "un-American" per se, it's the logical consequences of the way this nation was established under the Constitution. Don't forget, the Anti-Federalists warned about the dangers within the Constitution and their warnings were not heeded yet time has proven them correct.

 

The American "civil war" was a direct result of our flawed Constitution. When one looks at the Confederate Constitution, which they modeled from the US Constitution, we see how they tried to preserve what seemed to work and to correct the problems.

 

We have to remember that just because the American Constitution was better than what other nations at the time had, it was still a man-made document with flaws. To their credit, they tried to put in place safeguards within the Constitution to counter the problems of corruption, lust for power and the fact governments always grow and seek to continually grow larger and take control. Even so, as we look through history and at our nation today, it's clear they failed. Many of the Founders saw the flaws and warned of them and offered possible solutions but they were ignored.

 

America is a secular nation with a secular constitution which is little more than a partial guide to the government which has the power to do almost as they please.

 

I understand your disdain for communists, but if you take a close look at the Dem and Repub parties they both have embraced many aspects of communist and socialist ideology.

 

There is no hope for America in politics or any other worldly means. The only hope is Christ. One day all nations we be judged by the Lord. Until then we have the opportunity to live for Christ, share the Gospel, make disciples, pray for our leaders, pray for our nation, pray for our churches, pray for our families.

The only difference between the Democratic Party and all out communism, is that they haven't achieved absolute power...yet.

[JimsHelpmeet]

This pastor isn't serving the cause of Christ doing these publicity stunts.

 

Had this pastor had a sincere desire to burn the Muslim books in order to destroy them so they couldn't be used to spread a false religion, he could have done so quietly and in private on private property.

 

^This. While I'm no lover of the Islamic faith and have no loyalty to the Koran, I don't see the purpose of such a public demonstration, particularly one that puts our men and women in uniform in harms' way due to violent backlash. 

[swathdiver]

^This. While I'm no lover of the Islamic faith and have no loyalty to the Koran, I don't see the purpose of such a public demonstration, particularly one that puts our men and women in uniform in harms' way due to violent backlash. 

 

 

We shouldn't cow tow to the whims of thin-skinned, cry-baby Muhammadans.  

[John81]

 

 

There is a difference between caving in because Islamist are crying, and doing something (or not doing something) for the benefit of our people who would be in harms way.

[swathdiver]

If an American is on Muhammadan soil, they are in harm's way.  The Muhammadans are always looking for an excuse to kill.  Unless they are nearly wiped out, they're not going to stop killing and wanting to take over the world.  The best thing to do is isolate them and let our bombs keep them in check when they step out of line and use their military for target practice.  

[John81]

If an American is on Muhammadan soil, they are in harm's way.  The Muhammadans are always looking for an excuse to kill.  Unless they are nearly wiped out, they're not going to stop killing and wanting to take over the world.  The best thing to do is isolate them and let our bombs keep them in check when they step out of line and use their military for target practice.  

That's a matter for the worldly governments to deal with, not us. Our call is to take the Gospel to every nation, every tribe, every tongue, even at the risk of our lives.