There is a difference. Our God is bigger than the book He wrote. While I would not like to see Bibles desecrated, doing so would harm neither my God nor my faith, and I would be under no compunction to do violence to the person who desecrated the Bible.
In fact, my religion would tell me to pray for the individual who did so, not hunt him down and kill him. The Bible is indeed holy to me, but I do not worship it.
Do you agree the Old Testament supports the stoning of prostitutes?
Or how about when David and other early Jewish Kings swept through Canaan and other areas attacking every town and village, killing all the people including women, children and the elderly, so they could establish the Jewish nation. The Bible says they were commanded to do this by God.
That’s the difference.
Have you ever read the story of Sundar Singh? His burning the Bible page by page, actually led to his conversion! The purpose of the Bible is to lead us to Jesus Christ. The Bible doesn’t save us. Church doesn’t save us...only Jesus Christ can save us.
I remember I had to memorise this saying as a kid:
“I am my neighbor’s Bible, He reads me when we meet;
Today he reads me in my home, Tomorrow in the street.
He may be relative or friend, Or slight acquaintance be;
He may not even know my name, Yet he is reading me.”
Personally, I could never insult my Lord and all He has done for me, by keeping this book, or reading it. I think that I might walk it down to their headquarters, thank them for the gift, give it back, and explain this fact to them as to why I could not keep the book.
What a great witnessing opportunity for Christians! They are coming right to our doors! We don’t need to travel overseas to be a missionary.