Muslim countries have been in an uproar over the publication of cartoons in some European countries portraying the prophet Muhammad as a terrorist and making a joke of the Muslim religion. We have watched on the news how some Muslims are dying in the violent mass protests because of these cartoons, and as of Wednesday, some Muslim clerics are now asking Muslims to stop the rioting and destruction.

As Christians, we cannot and will not condone violence in protest of things that are wrong. There is a certain hypocrisy in claiming to be a religion of peace, headed by the Prince of Peace and violently protesting and even killing someone in the name of Christianity. We deplore the hatred and anger exhibited.

But it is very interesting, is it not, to compare the reaction of Muslims at a caricature of Mohammed, and the reaction of Christians to the same thing done by the media, by Hollywood, by television and radio against Christians. There is not a day that goes by in which Christianity is not lampooned in some way or another. Christian values are attacked daily. Television serves up fare that includes, among other things, sexually permissive couples sleeping with anyone and everyone; homosexual characters that are cute and should be accepted; violence against women and men in every imaginable way, and very few raise their voices in response. Then we add that Christianity is mocked and attacked by the portrayal of preachers or church members as boorish, idiotic, self-serving and “just not with the times.” Again, nothing is said or done in protest.

While not advocating violence in any way, what would happen if Christians would stand up and say, “Enough is enough. I will not laugh at your portrayal of my Lord or His followers in the way you have been doing for years. I will not participate by watching such on television, and further, I will not support those who portray this trash.”

While we are at it, what kind of message are we sending the world when we go into the restaurants every Sunday and complain worse than anyone else and never tip a waiter or waitress that is overworked as it is? Yes, that is a good example for all Christians, isn’t it? (Oops—that is another article)

Brethren, the reality is that most Americans are not Biblical Christians, but secular Christians. We have enough Christianity in us to be called “Christians” in a “Christian nation,” but we do not practice what the Bible says. We want our cake and to eat it too. We want to watch what we want to watch, and if people offend our sensibilities, then we will just watch and laugh. God forbid that anyone tell us what we should be watching on our television. And, after a while, we become desensitized to this and we don’t even whimper in protest. In fact, we keep watching the daily fare and supporting it with our money (in the case of movies) or support (in the case of buying products that support the portrayal of such).

Do we stand for truth or tolerance? Stop, think, PRAY! Do we support blasphemy of our Lord?