Everything That's On My Mind

Thursday, January 26, 2006

I'm starting this blog entry without knowing exactly what I'm going to say. It's going to be sort of stream of consciousness blogging. The impetus of this entry it the news of the day regarding the victory of Hamas in the recent Palestinian elections. It's a troubling event for the state of Israel and for world peace in general. I'm troubled because I don't know how this development will affect the peace process, but I can't imagine how it could be a positive change.

The Israeli/Palestinian situation has always created great conflict in my mind. I'm not one of those "support Israel no matter what" Christians. Some American Christians seem to forget that Israel has rejected their Messiah, and that many Palestinians are fellow believers in Christ that are being oppressed and threatened. In their desire to see biblical prophecy fulfilled within their own narrow interpretation, they seem to be willing to sacrifice justice and mercy for an entire group of people. I cannot see how Christ would be pleased with such an attitude. That being said, it is also true that Hamas and organizations like it are a direct threat to the peace and safety of the Israeli people. Bombs and bullets are flying in both directions, and innocent people on both sides are suffering and dying.

Both sides in this conflict have done wrong, and continue to do wrong. We can debate all day long which side is "more right" but in the end that doesn't accomplish anything. The reality of the situation is that both sides deserve to live in a land where they can live in relative peace and safety and have a voice in how they are governed. I don't see how the election of Hamas is going to improve the chances of this happening. Hamas is still an organization at war with Israel and committed to its destruction. They are not likely to repent that position any time soon. Their rise to power will not encourage Israel to continue the peace process, they will likely refuse to negotiate with them altogether. Given the history of Hamas, I can't say that I would blame them.

I belive that it is the responsibility of every Christian to pray for and support peace in the Holy Land, for both Israelis AND Palestinians. No matter what view of end-times prophecy you take, you must admit that God is sovereign and His will is accomplished on earth by His power and in His timing. We do not know how or when He is going to fulfill what He has promised. Trying to push the peace process one direction or another is not going to bring about God's timing any sooner, and may actually be working contrary to His plan. We are called to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before our God. I think many American Evangelical Christians (including myself) need to meditate on this verse and apply it to their politics and attitudes toward world events.

Politics | Current Events

Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 02:57 PM Eastern Standard Time

Comments [1]

Friday, January 27, 2006 1:58:10 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Really, really good post. We tend to forget that there are actually a lot of Christians in the Middle East--Palastinians, Lebanese, Iraqi.
Those in Palestine are getting lost in the press between radical Islam and Israeli Judaism. I think many American Christians would be surprised to know that Israel is pretty repressive against the spread of the Gospel. (This fact is hidden behind the fact that they also like the tourism dollars from Christians taking guided tours of the Holy Land.)

You've said it so well, I have very little left to add. There's nothing wrong with supporting and loving the nation of Israel and the Jewish people because of their unique role in God's plan of salvation, and yet recognizing that the Palastinians are also people created in the image of God, for whom Jesus also died. We cannot sacrifice them for the territorial integrity of historical Israel. If we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and stand up for what is right and just, God will take care of the land of Israel and whatever place it holds in the eschaton.

Keith

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