What Would Jesus Do About Gaza?
Do you ever get the sense the world is seriously out of whack?
The United States runs the entire world. The United States has no control of any part of the world. Let’s all sit in our pews, sports bars, water cooler areas, and giggle at the absurdity of it all. Or give high praise to the powers that be for major accomplishments with a hollow core.
We have criminals and racists out of prison and back on the streets, with pardons. But the war between Russia and the Ukraine is no closer to being settled. We have suggestions we annex Greenland and the Panama Canal.
The war in Gaza is winding down after mass destruction of everything, and a few hostages released. Steep price for minimal to no real gain.
Can the Middle East war be resolved to a peaceful outcome? Like most conflicts, there is no military solution. War simply generates more war. This is US military wisdom from experience.
If new generations can get their act together and start a new party in their own image, the 2028 election will be a watershed moment in history. It requires patience and persistence.
Ref. verses
“Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” …. Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
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- Matthew 15:22-29
“When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
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- Matthew 8:5-13
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.” – Romans 10:12
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What would Jesus think and do?
Jesus was a Jew. He had good relations with the Roman soldiers. He walked through non-Jewish areas of Palestine and offered healing and praise for their faith. Through his apostles, he offered his way of life to those who would accept it.
A growing radicalism, left over from the Maccabee era, was using terrorism (Zealots) to push for independence from the Romans, and eventually caused the destruction of the nation and destruction of or scattering of the Jewish people.
Jesus’ call to his followers was to live peacefully with others, even your enemies. It works. The opposite has been proven over and over not to work.
A new world order?
The Middle East has been a major thorn in the world’s flesh since the reintroduction of the political boundary of Israel in 1947. There were periods in which Arabs and Israelis got along. Mostly not. I’ve followed this conflict and its causes with great interest since the 1960s. In the Navy, I felt the pulse of it where I was based.
Israel, in its thirst for land, drove people off the land. They thumbed their nose at the international law of “Right of Return,” not allowing the people who had been chased away to return to their homes.
Fueled by Iran, resistance and terrorism flared in Gaza and to a lesser extent in the West Bank. Maltreatment has only poured salt in the wounds from numerous wars. The Western World turns a blind eye to Israel’s actions.
Right of return is the major sticking point in Middle East peace. Iran and the Arabs in Palestine want the political boundary of Israel destroyed. The two parties have proven repeatedly that they can’t live in peace. A one state solution in which all are equal is likely the only viable solution.
The Wrecking Ball
The US “leader,” having swung a wrecking ball at the USAID office, FBI, CIA, HHS, Department of Education … now proposes the US take over Gaza, deport its citizens, and rebuild it as a resort community.
The very problem that’s been causing nearly 80 years of war, he wants to throw gasoline on by making right of return an enormous issue. Every Arab nation is against it. The great negotiator apparently thinks he can bully these other nations into doing his bidding. The US doesn’t have the military might to do this, nor the economic might, nor the influence.
The power the US has is to turn several US allies or friends in the region into enemies.
This would very likely start a regional war that would be at great expense in lives and dollars to the US, and the US would lose, just as it did in Afghanistan. Israel would likely be destroyed as a political entity. Bullying and bluffing doesn’t work.
Fixing the problem
Instead of making things worse in ineffective strategies such as used in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan in misguided fits of megalomania that took thousands of lives and endless fortune, try doing something effective for a change.
There is a primary and secondary solution to the Middle East conflict.
- Quit mistreating your neighbors. Treat them well. Let those displaced people come back and give all citizens of the area in Israel and Palestine the same rights. This is as it should be.
- Don’t pour US dollars into Gaza in some misguided effort to turn it into a resort. If the billionaires want to help Gaze, let them help the Palestinians rebuild.
Conclusion after this about church planning:
Church planning season – strong impact course
How can churches minister to new generations if they won’t come to church? The church has been losing people at 1% a year, and now most of new generations won’t come.
I developed and presented a course on understanding and working with new generations. I would like to say I had rave reviews, but on a scale of 1 to 5 it averaged 4.5. Well, some people were raving.
The course helps people understand new generations, their values, and their differences. It helps people understand how to build a bridge to them and minister to them. The old worn-out things we used to do don’t work, and for good reason. This solutions focused course enables people to find new ways, appropriate ways, to minister to these generations in their local circumstances. It’s for church groups and generates deep discussion.
Free video preview of the course
Course on Udemy: Understanding and Working with New Generations
Conclusion
“Outrage (righteous wrath) can be good if it compels us to positive action but not to hate.”
– Dorian Scott Cole
“With hate, we have more to lose than gain – break the cycle.” – Dorian Scott Cole
Probability Space
What probability spaces can we open in our minds to create a more just world?
(A probability space is where all of the elements necessary for something to happen are present and it’s almost inevitable. All it takes is intention.)
Potential Space
If you think creatively and allow your mind to wander and explore, can we create laws that make every nation end armed conflict but instead seek win-win solutions to conflict?
(A potential space is a virtual space in our minds where entirely new things can take shape.)More: Is Music A Form Of Prayer?
Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work.
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– Dorian
Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.
Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance regularly, even every day. Happy. This is why we dance to celebrate life: Reindeer actually running and dancing.
Building a Community of Action
New Way Forward community
Can we make positive change in our world and end a lot of suffering?
Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said: “Although the world is full of suffering, it’s also full of the overcoming of it.”
The human spirit yearns for a world without suffering, but it’s through facing challenges that we progress. The world isn’t perfect, but together we can create a future with less hardship. Famine, discrimination, gun violence, and injurious economic and educational disparities are complex problems, yet understanding their root causes empowers us to find solutions.
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Civic service opportunities
Do Unto Others Kindness Campaign, and civic engagement.
United Methodist Church Volunteer Opportunities.
Join or support Zero Hour and amplify the voices of youth organizing for climate action.
Peoples Hub. Resistance, Resilience, Restoration, Re-imagination. Online Popular Education. For movement workers to learn, connect, collaborate, and strategize – in and across the disability justice and solidarity economy movements.
Stakeholder Capitalism – a video podcast series from the World Economic Forum. Can capitalism be made to work for all of us – and to improve rather than destroy the state of the planet?
General service and aid opportunities (on One Spirit Resources Website). To add your service opportunity to the One Spirit Resources list, contact the author (me) through Facebook Messenger. Note that I only friend people I know.
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Education Opportunities for new generations
Becoming an Entrepreneur – MITx online
Evaluating Social Programs – MITx online
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Bible scripture verses are New American Standard Version (NASB), unless noted.
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Author and books
Appease the Volcano: What does God require from people? The voices of the ancients from many religions echo much of the same things: It starts with law, then mercy and forgiveness, then love. Love is a major emphasis in all major religions and replaces law.
The Prophetic Pattern: Ancient and Modern Prophecy: How to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern.
Preparing For the Future Of Work and Education: Analysis of the kinds of jobs that AI and Robotics will displace, and the educational requirements for them. AI will replace or augment thirty percent of jobs. This is an in-depth analysis citing many authoritative sources.
Author Website: Dorian Scott Cole
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