John Piper recently addressed the question of How Christians Should Respond to Muslim Outrage at the Pope's Regensburg Message About Violence and Reason.
The whole thing is well worth reading. Here is the outline of his ten points:
1. Admit that the Christian church has often been too entangled with civil governments, with the result that violence has been endorsed by the church as a way of accomplishing religious, and not just civil, goals.
2. Make clear that the use of God-sanctioned violence between Israel and the nations in the Old Testament is no longer God’s will for his people.
3. Admit that there are many Muslims today who do not approve of violence in the spread of Islam.
4. Point out how Islam, in its most sacred writings and authoritative teachings, belittles Jesus Christ, not just occasionally in the news, but constantly by its dominant claims.
5. Point out that, in response to this constant defamation of Jesus Christ, there are no public threats or demands for apologies.
6. Do good to those who hate you—and, of course, those of other faiths who don’t hate you (Luke 6:27).
7. Seek to win others to saving faith in Jesus by persuading with words, not imposing with force.
8. Always be ready to die, but never to kill, for the sake of commending Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for sinners and rose again as the Lord of the universe.
9. Pray for the salvation of all those who belittle Jesus Christ.
10. No matter the cost, continue to exalt and commend Jesus Christ as the great and only Savior that he is.
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