I was praying/reflecting the other day on what I’m asking people to do as I share the story of my time in the West Bank / Israel. Would love any feedback.
1. Repent of theological or political positions which eclipse the full application of the Abrahamic Covenant to be a blessing to all nations and peoples. See especially Gen. 12:1-3. Isn’t the Good News supposed to be Good News for everybody?
2. Do better Biblical and theological work around: a. The Holy Land in relation to the Kingdom of God, b. An Eschatology that embraces the world, and this region, instead of abandoning it. and c. Answering the question, “who are the chosen people?” in the context of the full Biblical story. What are they chosen for? And who is to be included in the blessing?
3. Exercise fairness, i.e. “principled impartiality” in our dealings with people and issues impacted by activity in the region. No room for Antisemitism, Islamophobia, or forgetting what is happening to the persecuted church [in this case the Palestinian Christian community]. In this vein, we need to correct stereotypes that characterize Palestinians as a violent people bent on the destruction of Israel, or Christians who ask questions about the policies of the Israeli government as anti-semitic.
4. Support, show solidarity for ALL who seek a just peace, including Israeli and Jewish activists. Engage in protective presence, an ethic modeled and taught by Jesus, with the vulnerable. Tell their stories far and wide.
5. Resist injustice. Demonstrate a Christian faith that is genuine in action and deeds as well as mere belief and doctrine. Afterall, as I mention in a book I’m writing, orthodoxy without orthopraxy is heresy. Think about the words of Jesus near the end of Matthew.
6. Come and see. An invitation to take trips to the Holy Land to see, experience and witness Palestinian hospitality and see the consequences of policies which violate international humanitarian law and Christian ethics. See the holy sites but also listen to Israelis and Palestinians tell their stories. FMI drop an email to me: [email protected]. Add “Holy Land tour” to the subject line.
This is my wish list. I need some time to percolate, mature, improve, add, subtract. (postscript: you may want to host a screening of one of our movies and in addition start a 6-7 week study following our new study: From Peacetalking to Peacemaking).
Thanks so much for challenging people in their conditioned thinking and going to spend time living amongst and standing beside the oppressed. I hope and pray those who need the challenge will hear you! The “holy land” is such a complex spot, and half of my family by marriage as well as many Pal. christian friends live there, sand am always looking for more ways to help folks understand.
Time to percolate. Yes, me too. I need time to pray, to be with what I have witnessed, to listen again to the context here. To find bridges, connections. To become more and more a person of God’s Sabeel and God’s Salaam/Shalom. Your thoughtfulness and kindness are treasures for me. Blessings on your journey.
I think the more people are exposed to the injustice, the more they can start to piece together what is true for themselves and be exposed to a different paradigm for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Personally, I think God’s been doing work on me to be patient with Christian Zionists who just don’t know any better, who haven’t been to the region, who have bought into the false narratives coming from their pulpits with the trust of a child. We Christians who have been to the Middle East and had an eye opening experience have a great responsibility placed on us to share what we’ve seen and work for truth here in the States.
Brett, great comment. I do feel responsible and your story is mine in many ways. Thanks for your comment.
Chris, thanks for your kind words and also sharing of your own journey. The Peace of God to unpack, interpret and respond are all part of our “call” so to speak. Thanks again. It has been great serving with you. As I head into advocacy on Monday morning I’m thinking a bit, “what would Chris do, say as she meets with my Congressman?”
So, Andy, was the set of solar panels ultimately destroyed? Can you provide links to people we can bother, not just their fax numbers? Many someone can get us some email addresses or office addresses? I can pray, but my prayers seem to need feet.
They have places they need to go.
Hi! I’ve been reading your site for some time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent work!
Thanks Jani. Can you tell me about yourself?
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