Religious-Political Commentary
Christians United for Israel brought 3,500 Christians to Washington July 18-20 to lobby Congress on behalf of Israel. I’m not really one for political commentary, even off my blog, but WHAT IN THE FREAKING WORLD ARE CHRISTIANS THINKING!!! And lets get something straight: I like Israel; I’m not a pacifist; I am a Christian. The Israeli-Arab conflict is insanely complex with deep religious roots, strong political influences, and a long rich history going back to a time when western nations were nothing more than a collection of tribal cults picking their noses around campfires. No one can hope to resolve the issues in the Middle East gracefully. In an objective analysis of the issues of historical land rights, political interests, and religious beliefs no one can blame Israel for reacting to the powerful forces around them. A Biblical history of God giving them domination over their oppressors and possession of the “Promised Land” is more than ample reason for any nation to repossess and defend its own. The Arab case is no less strong. Israel was overthrown, dispersed, and their holy land abandoned. Nomadic tribes, united under Islam, dominated and owned the land. Should Palestinians react any less violently to the small nation claiming its heritage that is also their heritage? No one on the outside should be surprised at these events. Nor should we have any illusions that peaceful coexistence is possible in this generation though political civility might be an option if cooler heads prevail.
While Israel operates from the teachings of the Torah (Old Testament) and current political paradigms, and while Arab nations are driven by the laws and teachings of Islam and their own self-interest, Christians should know better. If we claim the New Testament our actions should be different. We are twisting and misrepresenting the Bible and failing to apply Jesus’ teaching. Using flimsy interpretations of figurative prophecy as a justification for supporting war and the death of thousands and the crippling effects of social and psychological trauma on millions for this generation and the next is wrong. While Israel’s reestablishment as a nation may be Biblical, when and how is never described. But we have chosen a path of war as a means to that end. In the context of the New Testament is that really a valid deduction?? Prophecy may be figurative, but Jesus commands never were: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you… If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’do that… But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.“ (Luke 6: 27, 32, 33, 35,36).
Who was Jesus talking to? The Jews! The nation of Israel! And the message was also intended for any his followers; aka Christians. Yes, Jews do not recognize the deity of Christ and we would not expect them to carry out the message of the New Covenant. But we should. Our support of Israel should not come at the alienation of the Palestinian and Arab people. Our defense of Israel should not come at the expense of Arab suffering. The New Testament message is explicit “On the contrary: if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12: 20-21). I believe fighting terrorism, I believe in stopping genocide, I believe in defending the weak and upholding justice. But when Christians use the Bible as a platform for war; when they use prophecy as a motivation for the destruction of nations; when they preach a message that marginalizes the suffering of an entire people group and alienates them from the Gospel of Love we stand as hypocrites to the message Jesus!
“Who is my neighbor?” ask an expert of the law of Jesus… Jesus answer was a story of a man hated and rejected by the Jews who finds an Israelite beaten and robbed on the roadside. He helps the Jew, illustrating Jesus’ point that everyone, irrespective of their ethnic, social, or political standing, is your neighbor. Who is our neighbor? It’s not just the Israeli people. It is just as much the Arab people.
Christianity is not about war or peace. It is not about mercy or justice. It is not about promoting a religious agenda or political alignment. Christianity is about love. Love does not show favoritism. Love does not hate. Love does not take revenge. Love does not have an attitude of self-righteousness. Sometimes love requires war and justice; sometimes love requires mercy and peace. I don’t have the answers to the problems of the Middle East. But if we as Christians are to represent Christ, if we are to plead the case of love for our neighbors then we should not be aligning ourselves with Israel but rather we should be standing in the gap between Israel and the Arab people. We should be mediators. We should be peacemakers. We should defend the rights of the weak and the suffering on both sides. We should decry and stand against injustice regardless of who the perpetrators are. Our actions should ultimately serve to glorify Jesus and draw both sides to Him; Jesus’ message, ministry, and sacrifice was as much for the Arab people as it was for the Jews as it was for us. If we are to live out that Gospel, we as Christians will have to carefully assess our actions and determine if the message we are sending the world is the one God wants them to hear.
Woo-hoo! Amen, brother! I don’t know if you wrote that as quickly as I read it, but I can tell you feel as strongly as I do. It seems like the thing Christians do is take one passage of Scripture and use that to argue while they hold their hands over their ears and go, “Nah, nah, nah, I can’t hear you!” We’re so afraid of being wrong that we don’t consider the full picture of the truth. God is in charge of Israel owning their land. It’s always been God’s fight, not ours. We should pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as the Bible says, but also, yes, pray for all the suffering people, even our enemies. Anyway, I should get going now.
How are y’all? I’d love to hear from Tara sometime.
Hey Barak,
Enjoy your writing, you’re more articulate than I could ever be! As far as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict goes, I did some research a few years ago, trying to understand what cause the whole thing in the first place. I found that when Israeli nation was ‘created’ in 1948, it was an agreement of the entire world community to give them a small area that was abandoned and desolate at the time. There was no such thing as Palestine nation, they were a group of nomad at best. Only when the Jews claimed the nation the world offered them did their neighbors oppose them. Within weeks of the UN creation of the nation, their Arab neighbors Egypt, Syria, Lebonana, Jordan all went to war with them. Only when Israel beat them back, and expanded its borders were any people made to be refugees. In fact, the reason there are still refugee settlements surrounding Israel is because the neighboring nations refused to allow their own people to leave the refugee camps. So they live in poverty so their countries can use them as an excuse to hate the Jews. Israel in a later provoked engagement allowed the ‘palestinians’ to remain inside its borders, which although was a merciful move, probably has caused the problems they have today with islamic exstremists bombing its citizens. I’m sure I’ve probably got some of my details goofed up about this, but there’s lots of info on the web regarding this topic.
My point is that we need to understand the entire history before we make any assumptions. In the end, I believe there will never be peace in the Middle East until Christ returns. As far as the recent struggle goes, I’m disappointed that the fighting stopped, and Israel wasn’t allowed to ‘take care of business.’ PEACE ONLY COMES THROUGH VICTORY, a cease fire will only give Israel’s enemies time to rearm and build up their military strength more resulting in more innocent people dying the next time the conflict boils over. It is impossible to negotiate with people who’s first order of business is to kill you. Just my 3 or 4 cents worth.
Best Regards to you all!
–Jim J.
Thanks for the insight Jim. I haven’t researched the conflicts or history myself, so my ability comment on the right or wrong action on the part of either party is fairly limited. I think my issue is primarly with western Christianity that instantly takes sides with Israel and promotes their cause regardless of whether or not it is a just action on the part of Israel. Our percieve spiritual affinity with Israel has somehow created this false ideal that Israel can do no wrong and that God is behind Israel no matter what they do. The Biblical reality is that God, even in the Old Testament, did not support Israel unconditionally, but only in accord to their righteous action… Similarly, the New Testament focus is on love, not conquest. As you correctly state, peace often only comes through victory. In the same way, love does not equate pacifism! Defending your home and family is an expression of love for what God has placed under your responsibility. As such I do believe that Israel has a right to defend itself.
However, Israel is behaving as a political nation would, not as a spiritual nation. Yet western Christians are treating it as if it were a spiritual nation doing battle against evil. By doing so we maintain an elitist position over the Arab people; a position that summarily discredits our message of love and the Gospel. Our position with Israel and the Arab people should be as mediators supporting right action on either side and opposing wrong action initiated by either party. Doing so affirms the impartial love and justness that God would have us extend to all people.
I think you and I most likely agree on the semantics. My fundamental frustration is western Christianity’s propensity to unequivocally align themselves with Israel with no consideration of the possibility that Israel might be wrong in a specific action, and their precipitous conclusions that Arabs are at fault. That is judgement in its ugliest and most ignorant form, and a authority we have not been licensed by God to wield.
My friend and I were reading this while supposed to be working on a Science project in the computer lab. Oops! Not really but you’re writing is intriguing.
All I have is to say is that….
You’re amazing.
Keep writing.. you have a knack for it.
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