I just completed reading this book by Brother Andrew and it's a must read for any Christian, especially if you are one who falls into the "Anything Israel does is OK because it is God's chosen nation" camp. Let me be up front and say that I do support the right of Israel to exist but I also believe that all parties involved needs to take into account human rights first and foremost.
This book stands for the role that the Church needs to take. There are real live churches in the occupied territories with Palestinian Christians. Does anyone think that God loves a Jewish person more than an Arab? According to many Bible teachers in America I'd get the impression that only the interest of Israel matters. Brother Andrew doesn't take sides in this issue other than believing that the Church must be built up and lead the way.
As the Christian west we need to understand the full humanity of the people in the middle of this horrible situation. The Israeli who is afraid of getting blown up on the bus and the Palestinian stuck in there apartment awaiting the end of a long curfew are both living in tough situations. They each love their spouses, their children, their parents and friends. Many have seen senseless destruction and the hate is entrenched in those societies. The cycle seems endless and only the love of Christ through His Church will offer true peace.
I'm hopeful that the western Church will start supporting the churches in Israel and the occupied territories. The Jewish and Palestinian Christians are working hard at true peace and we need to find ways to support that peace. It seems that the western Church has mostly made itself irrelevant to the Palestinians with our current views that totally favor Israel, right or wrong. It's time for us to re-check our views and whether our allegiance is to Christ first or Israel first. When there is injustice then we must side with justice.
Posted by Tim at April 23, 2006 08:41 PM
