Piper's Perspective on Islam and Christianity

I was planning on writing my response to the recent Islamic uprising and revolt over the cartoon depiction of the prophet Mohammed, but I have found my thoughts articulated in a much more succinct manner by John Piper. Here are his words from corresponding with Justin Taylor via email: "Am I missing it, or is there an unusual silence in the blogosphere about the Muslim outrage over the cartoons of Mohammed. To me this cries out for the observation that when artists put the crucifix in a flask of urine, Christians were grieved and angered, but not one threatened to kill anyone. Our longing is to convert the blasphemers with the Good News of Christ's death and resurrection, not kill them. Our faith is based on One who was reviled not just in cartoons but in reality and received it patiently for the salvation of the cartoonists. These riots are filled with intimations about the glorious difference between Christ and Mohammed, and between the way of Christ and the way of Islam. And the cowing of the press around the world and the US government is ominous for the fear we are under of Islam--not just extremist Islam. I do not respect the teachings of Islam which when followed devoutly lead to destruction. So I have been pondering which will take me out first, Islam, Uncle Sam, or cancer. No matter, all authority belongs to Jesus. I just want to bear faithful witness to his glorious gospel of peace to the end." Furthermore, to see some of the posters and miltant outcries from Muslims, check out Michelle Malkin's post here. She has also done a great job in chronicling the events over the past week. I just can't get over the fact that every day we find a crucifix urinated upon and placed in a museum, calling it art; we have a blasphemer with a crown of thorns on the front page of a magazine in mockery of the death of Christ; and daily we hear the barrage of secularists and athiests defaming the name of Jesus Christ on television. Christianity follows their leader in giving their lives for those who mock them most (as Jesus did with those around him), and Islam calls on the taking of the lives of those, who, at once do unto their leader what is being daily done to Christianity's leader. Has there ever been a more explicit contrast??? HT>>> JT :: MM