Many Evangelicals Obstacles to Middle East Peace

Quite a bold title, I know... but it is unfortunately a valid claim that many American Evangelicals pose a threat to peace in the Middle East.  Most Evangelicals don't understand the struggle between Palestinians and Israelies in the West Bank, Gaza and the threat the settlements pose to stability in the region.

Muslims hate America because of the history of support for Israel's expansion into the West Bank by building 'illegal' (according to UN resolutions) settlement outposts where idealistic Jews see their mission in life to reclaim Palestinian territories for Israel and drive out remaining Muslims.  This animosity is only fueled by Evangelical Christians who see it as their duty to support Jews in their quest. Evangelicals give money to 'charities' that pay for settlement expansion and go on pilgrimage trips to volunteer with Israeli settlers.  Please see the New York Times article "Tax exempt funds aid settlements in the West Bank"

Many Evangelicals are a huge barrier to not only peace, but to Muslims considering the claims of Christ.  Because Muslims associate Christianity with the expulsion of Muslims from Palestinian land, they will never consider Christ as the bringer of freedom and salvation.  Evangelicals by far favor Israel in the Middle East conflict, inversely proportional to this favoritism, Muslims have been notoriously slow in open conversation about the claims of Jesus and salvation by grace through faith in a resurrected Messiah.  

Until Evangelicals can see the Middle East issue with some more educated clarity, and apply Christ-like love to both Muslims and Jews, the church will have no more success in the Muslim world.  We have seen Muslims accept the claims of Christ typically only after loving examples are lived out among Muslim communities.  Muslims are not 'hard' and opposed to the gospel persay, they are opposed to the trappings of Evangelical Christianity, the worldly immorality they associate with Christianity and the church's support of Israel in the Palestinian issue. These barriers must be addressed before Muslims will consider Christ. 

What can you do today to work for peace?

 Muslim states seek UN action on West’s ‘Islamophobia’

So Muslims apparently have feelings too... story worth reading: Source  Seems that Muslim nations are mounting a UN effort to curb growing 'Islamaphobia'in the West.  Muslims assert that the West has characterized all Muslims as terrorists... of course they assert that Israel is the #1 culprit because of its handling of the Palestinian issues.  

Certainly it should be mentioned that Iran, Iraq, and most Muslim nations have terrible human rights records, especially towards Christians.  It is a pity that Christians have limited and in some cases no freedom to live out their faith, including sharing truth about Jesus with Muslims.  Many times this law is extended  to prohibit even talking about Jesus or worshiping with regularity.  This is a travesty, and even in the moderate Muslim nation we live in, it is illegal to 'proselytize' or try to convince someone to accept the claims of Christianity.  However, I though it was worth demonstrating that the street must go both ways.  Christians cannot treat Muslims with disrespect in the West, and expect the Muslim majority nations to extend full freedom and rights to them in the East.  Jesus said to turn the cheek, to treat others how we want to be treated... does this apply to nations too?  

I'd encourage you to greet your Muslim neighbor or colleague next time you see them, and tell them that you are sorry for the way the world is, and want to be their friend.  The street goes two ways, but someone has got to initiate change... 

Gaza Quotes 

"In Gaza, no one is dying. But no one is living."
AMR HAMAD, deputy secretary general of the Palestinian Federation of Industries.

“I fear we will die here,” a woman said of the rusting pipes and frayed plastic sheeting that serve as her home in the village of El Atatra, in northwest Gaza. “They won’t have to move us far,” she added with dark mockery. “The cemetery is up the road.”

“Don’t compare us with Sudan or Haiti,” he said. “We are an educated people with 2 percent illiteracy. But Israel’s effort to say that everything is O.K. here is ridiculous. I can’t travel. Students are trapped.”

“I can’t get cocoa powder, I can’t get malt, I can’t get shortening or syrup or wrapping material or boxes,” said Mohammed Telbani, the head of Al Awda, a cookie and ice cream factory in the central town of Deir al Balah. “I don’t like Hamas, and I don’t like Fatah. All I want is to make food.”

Source

White House Correspondent Resigns over Israeli/Palestinian Issue

Amidst controversy, Ms. Helen Thomas, 89 years old, resigned after making what were interpreted as anti-Jewish comments.  She was "known for posing questions in the kind of tough and provocative manner that could make press secretaries gasp and her colleagues cringe." Click Here for the New York Times Article. Ms.Thomas seems sympathetic to Arabs given the fact that she has Lebanese roots... and she seems to like to speak her mind, something that hasn't evidently changed much in 50 years of covering the White House.

I don't agree with Ms. Thomas' solution, but I do agree that we need more balance in the discussion towards Palestinians.  For example, Jews were a minority before 1948, and now are a majority, becuase of rapid immigration.  This has resulted in a very quick shift of power and resulting persecution and expelling of Palestinians.  That has caused conflict, and is regrettable.  

Evidently expressing an opinion other than full support for Israel in the Palestinian/Israeli issue counts as anti-Jewish and un-American. It's really interesting to me that people in high places get away with making anti-Arab or anti-Islam statements, and aren't forced to resign.  Hmm.