Quran burning canceled?

I just don't get it. This is a 30 member fringe congregation in FL that has now sparked a global controversy, and is representing Christianity for the Muslim world. It's kind of like the paradoxical reaction sometimes seen when you give kids Benedryl.  They're supposed to get drowsy, but a small percentage of kids (like mine) go crazy.  What Pastor Jones thought would put Muslims in their place, and force them to move the NYC mosque, has only served to inflame hatred and threaten chaos.  Check out this interview...

...seems this reporter sees a bit of a paradox in the teaching of Christ and the actions of this church:

Reporter: "Pastor doesn't the Bible teach forgiveness?"

Pastor: "Yes, it does"

Reporter: "Well, what do you say?"

Pastor: "I am just saying that we are... uhhh... definitely forgivin' him (the Imam) if he lied (regarding the relocation of the NYC mosque). And regarding the (Quran) burning we are just reconsidering it, which we were doing anyway because of people that have talked to us, because of information we have obtained through those conversations (with people like the FBI, and Sec of Def Gates)"

Later in the interview...

Reporter: "Pastor, are you willing to take responsibility, if you do burn the Quran, for the deaths of anyone who dies as a result of this?"

Pastor: "Well, what we had said before, we are definately considering this"

Reporter: "how do you feel about this as a pastor"

Pastor: "We would feel terrible... but we do feel that what has happened has revealed the real violence of Islam, the hatred of Islam, that it is much much deeper in the US than we had imagined.  We do hope that this situation resolves, that we are able to talk with the Iman (sic... it's IMAM Pastor Jones!), and that this situation comes to some sort of conclusion."

One possible motivation behind all of this is the fact that his son is serving in Afghanistan, in constant danger because of Islamic extremism, and Pastor Jones wants his son back home safely.  I get that, proper feelings for a father to have.  I don't think that's all that's going on however.  Pastor Jones' actions exemplify the sentiment of fear that is felt my many Christians regarding Islam.  In our travels and speaking, we have heard statements of fear and aggression towards Muslims in almost every place we've been.   It is rare to see someone act on that fear, but I really think Pastor Jones is just acting out what many in churches across America feel.  

It is time that church leaders address this fear and aggression, deal with the 'love your enemies' passages (like Matthew 5 and Romans 12) and apply them to our current situation. The thrust of these passages is to refrain from doing what comes natural (lash out, hate), and do the opposite... love and pray for those we have differences with.  Burning the Quran shouldn't ever come up on the radar as an option for Christians trying to love Muslims and share the message of Jesus with the world.  If the gospel message itself (salvation by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ) generates heated reaction so be it, for Jesus said that would happen, but Christians should not be inciting violent reaction for the sake of making a point about a side issue like terrorism.  We need to be looking for inroads and relationships with Muslim neighbors and coworkers... not building more walls.