Comments on: Religious-Political Commentary

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:00:06 +0000

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.
:]

By: Barak

Barak — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:45:51 +0000

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.

By: Jim Johnson

Jim Johnson — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:01:36 +0000

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.

By: Lynette Smith

Lynette Smith — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:14:11 +0000

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.