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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Galilean hillside of Capernum where it is believed that Jesus fed the 5,000.<\/p>\n
A patchwork of vibrant colors paint the ancient volcanic hillside demarcating green wheat fields from rows of mango, avocado, olive, banana, and apple trees. In Capernum, which means \u201cplace of comfort,\u201d laborers, farmers, and fishermen left their work for a few hours to hear Jesus speak. Knowing his listeners were oppressed by the Romans, Jesus offered them comfort and hope. Many on the trip heard from pastors, who like Jesus, encouraged them to be salt and light in their communities, including actively participating in politics and government.<\/p>\n
Israel, where Jesus lived and taught, is the birthplace of Christianity. And its land is rich with historical evidence of how God\u2019s people ruled and\/or interacted with rulers. From Solomon teaching wisdom, to David defending Israel, to Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem\u2019s wall, faith and politics were always interrelated.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s important to note the twofold Biblical teaching about government\u2019s purpose. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob created the world and everything in it. Within this context, government was created to restrain evil and promote good\u2013 to enable human flourishing. And within this context, citizens are subject to governing authorities and rulers are God\u2019s servants tasked with instilling order.<\/p>\n
Likewise, all Christians must pray for their nation and seek ways in which they can promote their neighbors\u2019 well being. In America, \u201cwe the people,\u201d govern a constitutional republic. \u201cWe the people\u201d govern through elected representation.<\/p>\n
Many Christians seek to visit the very earth on which Jesus walked. Pastors on the trip explained that near the ruins of Caesarea Phillipi Jesus told his followers to confront the belief in pagan Roman gods and to not be afraid. Jesus\u2019s followers courageously proclaimed the good news of the gospel and paid for their faith with their lives.<\/p>\n
Like Israel, much is at stake in America. And like the early Christians, Christians today have a choice as to how they will live. There is no \u201cright\u201d or \u201cleft,\u201d \u201cliberal\u201d or \u201cconservative\u201d Christian\u2013 only those who faithfully follow God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, however, those participating on such a life-changing trip, will recognize their responsibility and privilege to be a part of the solution in restoring the various broken aspects of American society.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
While at a northern Israeli kibbutz, I learned of media criticism about my headline-making trip in Israel. It seems that those\u00a0vilifying\u00a0it are misinformed. I\u2019ve been traveling with people who represent many faiths, ethnicities, ages, and even have friends and relatives whose lifestyles and\/or political beliefs are quite different from each other. We witnessed first-hand the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1910,"featured_media":3141,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[972,970],"tags":[10,170,2337,171,20,173,172,176],"class_list":["post-130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christianity","category-politics","tag-christians","tag-golan-heights","tag-headline-making-israel-trip","tag-israel","tag-jesus","tag-mt-bental","tag-syria","tag-un"],"yoast_head":"\n
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