Israel & Hamas – A Christian Response

Israel & Hamas – A Christian Response.

Many of us know someone from Israel or someone who currently lives there. Today, I recognized this picture on CNN as the interviewer shared this gentleman’s grief. Yesterday, a friend and fellow writer, posted their picture on Facebook. Her post read, “Shlomi a dear man, a wonderful musician fell yesterday along with his wife. They defended their house and the children in a sandy kibbutz and were murdered in cold blood by the terrorists, sons of oppression. I got to know Shlomi through our studies together at the Mendel Leadership Institute in the Negev… He is a wonderful educator, close to the heart. May their memory be a blessing.”Our friends in Israel, endure unspeakable trauma, a topic I have written about in detail.

Israel & Hamas – A Christian Response Should Be Outrage!

“An extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation” (Oxford Dictionary). It is appropriate in this situation to feel outrage for the outrageous acts of violence. Outrage takes different forms – some acceptable and some not. Why shouldn’t Christians feel anger, shock, and indignation? The Israelis are our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers. We should set belief and worship differences aside in this instance. They do not matter when evil is perpetrated in such blatant aggression upon our family. From Catholics to Charismatics and Evangelicals to Episcopalians, Israel and her people are the source of our convictions and ethics. Our sense of what is moral has its basis in the 10 Commandments first delivered to Israel through Moses. We are the “children of Abraham, not because of his bloodline, but because of his faith” (Galatians 3:7).

Israel & Hamas – A Christian Response Should Be Reason.

Again, I rely on the Oxford definition, “The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.” As Christians, we should navigate the barrage of information to know all the facts. Some will say that takes too much effort. And I would say that a lazy-minded Christian is one whose faith is weak and whose judgment is skewed. As it concerns Israel & Hamas – a Christian response of reason is vital. The fight for the Holy Land is nothing new. Jerusalem is the most-contested piece of real estate in history. It has not been pretty, and there is plenty of blame to go around, but the land of Israel is God’s promise to His people. But what about the innocent Palestinians?  There are thousand of Palestinians in Gaza who oppose Hamas. These are innocent people caught in the crossfire. Israel has a right to defend herself but not carelessly attacking the innocent. There is no easy answer. That is why we need to use reason and not just outrage. The Palestinians are descendants of Abraham too.

Israel & Hamas – a Christian Response Should Be Support

You can support The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews of which my dear friend Bishop Paul Frances Lanier is the Chairman of the Board of Directors right now. You can help fight racism & discrimination, with support for the Anti-Defamation League ( ADL).

The Red Cross is a wonderful organization who provide aid for Jews and Palestinians alike. Most of us remember the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s use of Amos 5:24, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”   In “The Lord’s Prayer” Jesus said, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). As Christians, we look for the day when God will establish His rule and reign upon the whole earth, and the final enemy, death will be destroyed (I Corinthians 15:25). Until then, we should show our faith by our works and love. While we hate war and cruelty we must not transfer that hate toward people. God lives all people.

Israel & Hamas – A Christian Response Should Be Grief

Do not turn away from the gruesome pictures, but grieve along with the embattled. Grieve for the people whose families have been killed or taken hostage. Grieve for the leaders of the people upon whose heads and hearts the fallen weigh every moment of every day. Stop pointing fingers (Isaiah 58:9) and casting blame when it is a collective grief that is called for. The picture of the family that I shared at the beginning of this article represents the thousands upon thousands of families who can’t sleep or eat because their hearts are filled with grief. And not only the people of Israel but the innocent people of Gaza who also despise Hamas. In this conflict between Israel & Hamas – a Christian response encourage empathy and grief. As part of his dialog on Christian empathy, Paul the Apostle instructed believers to “Weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

Israel & Hamas – a Christian Response Should Be Prayer

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.’ For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.” Psalm 122:6-9. As you likely know, Israel is surrounded by enemies to the north, east, and south. Many are her enemies and the most Christian and spiritual thing that we can do, the most human and humane thing we can do, is to “Call on me (the Lord) in the day of trouble;” and He said, ” I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15).

Israel & Hamas – A Christian Response Should Be Remembrance

Finally, let us remember the greatness that God has promised to Israel. “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country…to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation;…I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you;’” (Genesis 12:1-3). Let’s also remember Israel’s many trials and the persecutions they have endured throughout history. Visit the nearest Holocaust Memorials and Museum. Read Herman Wouk, Elie Wiesel and Chaim Potok. Watch Schindler’s List, The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance. Build empathy through the arts. Many have been taken captive, and Paul said “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also” (Hebrews 13:3).