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"I simply question the wisdom of a public figure blatantly offending billions of Islamics. Offending them won't convert them."

In the first place, this was a gathering for Christians and the teaching was directed at Christians. This was NOT a setting in which anybody was trying to convert anybody, but rather a gathering for the purpose of the edification of the CHURCH. It is the responsibility of the church to speak the truth, not politically correct, watered down niceties which edify no one. If there were Muslims there, the only reason was to disrupt. God brings unity. It is Satan who is the divider. God speaks truth. Satan is the father of lies. God is a God of peace, Satan of confusion. It is not the pastor who created the disturbance. He simply spoke the truth to his people as he is sworn to do.

this was a gathering for Christians and the teaching was directed at Christians
Understood. The fact, though, is that the remarks have been made extremely public. I imagine his comments will echo in Islamic societies around the world, which Vines may not have realized. (I hope missinaries don't pay the price for the comments.)I'm figuring that all of the pastors at the meeting already knew it without Vines saying it. Again, I question what real good will result from Vines's remarks.