By now, most are aware of the uproar surrounding the twelve satirical cartoons of Muhammad. Our media is flooded with cries of outrage at the insensitivity being shown to Muslims around the world. The battle between “freedom of speech” and “religious tolerance” has taken a very public turn and pundits wildly pontificate about where the appropriate balance might be.

However, what is not being discussed in the mainstream media is the blatant double standard to which Christians are subjected. As the debate over cartoon Muhammads flourishes, Rolling Stone published the image of rapper Kanye West posing as Christ.

The double standard is deep and exists at many levels. While Islam is being branded as a “religion of peace,” Christianity is nearing a point of being labeled “hate speech.” Yet, remember the riots that broke out when The Last Temptation of Christ hit theaters? No? That’s because there were none. John Piper rightly asks (ht: JT):

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.

As Joe Carter points out, the utter irony of the situation has been lost on many:

The protestors appear to be immune not only to sarcasm but also to irony. One of the cartoons, for example, portrayed the founder of Islam wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse, implying that Muhammad, and Muslims in general, are terrorists. And how have many Muslims expressed their displeasure? By fire-bombing embassies and threatening violence against innocent people. In other words, byacting like terrorists

But irony doesn’t pay the bills, and the media has many bills to pay. Particularly in America, perceived shock value carries with it dollars. So what are we to make of a situation like the one we’re facing, when men and media openly mock Christ while protecting Muhammad? Could it be that the “religion of peace” responds with death threats while Christians respond with love? Which becomes the easier target?

What’s more is that Rolling Stone and Kanye West in particular have revealed what true cowards they are. If it’s “shock value” that they’re after, if they truly want to grab attention, why didn’t West appear as Muhammad? But instead they chose Christianity because man’s heart always drives him.

At root here is the fact that Islam proves to be an empty shell of rules and regulations while Christianity alone asserts fundamental truth claims about absolute truth and moral standards. Legalism always breeds hatred because the regulations become the idol. Men hate the fact that Christianity alone rises above the legalists, the haters, the idolaters and, in love, asserts that all have wronged our Creator (Romans 3:23) and stand in His wrath (Ephesians 2:3). Christianity alone claims absolute truth, but it does so in love, and that is exactly what drives so many crazy. It is this exact mix of truth and love, of grace and judgment that is so beyond the comprehension of fallen man.

Men understand Islam because it reacts in hatred and anger but to respond in love is beyond their comprehension. Tim Challies summarizes the point well, saying:

Christianity proves itself to be true simply by its other-worldliness. No human being could conceive of such grace - grace that compels us to forgive rather than avenge. Grace that demands obedience rather than sacrifice. Grace that forgives all of our sin.

While the world rages, we are faced with new opportunities every day to demonstrate the truth of our claims through our lives. Rather than let ourselves be dragged down in the debate, have we turned the microscope inward? Is your life marked by love (1 John 3:10), compassion (Colossians 3:12), humility (Ephesians 4:1-3)? Are you slow to anger (Proverbs 14:29).

There is, without question, a double standard. But as Christians, what we must not allow ourselves to lose sight of us that God has promised us this very fact (John 15:19-21). Rather than bemoan the double standard (though we ought to point it out), we should understand that its very existence proves that men consider Christianity much more dangerous and we ought to perpetuate this danger to their souls by doing what they least understand: loving our enemies.