Thanks to Dustin at His Peace Upon Us for this interesting reference:

A new study from the journal Arab Media & Society  shows that American viewers believe Al Jazeera English is unbiased, but only when the CNN logo is placed on screen instead of the Al Jazeera logo.  This simple social experiment reveals perhaps an unfounded yet deep seeded suspicion and distrust that Americans have for anything Arab or Middle Eastern. 

Dustin says "So much of what we believe is conditioned by biases and presuppositions that we bring with us. How well do we recognize this in ourselves? We're fools if we think we can see anything with absolute pure objectivity, but that isn't an excuse to be blind to our biases."

Do your own experiment.  I often watch or read Isareli coverage of an event, and then read AlJazeera and Fox or CNN to see if I can discover the biases of the authors.  It's an interesting game, and opens your eyes to how we are all blind to things right in front of us.

 Muslim Brotherhood.. not so bad after all?

Just writing the name of this afamed organization sends chills down many an American's spine.  A recent article in Christianity Today has some different insights to consider.  I happen to agree, from my own experience in other Muslim countries.  Radicalization happens under persecution and when free speech and participation is limited.  The Brotherhood in many countries has changed into a political organization, which has conservative views, but aren't all that bad, as they're often branded.

In the new Egypt, and now it seems many other countries in the Middle East, democracy and freedom of speech needs to be extended not just to Christian communities, long restricted and persecuted, but also evenly and fairly to groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, even though we may not agree with them on every plank. What a statement it would be if Evangelicals publically affirmed this?

From CT: "As the next Egyptian regime takes hold, the Muslim Brotherhood should be held accountable to its promises to provide religious liberty to all Egyptian citizens. Yet it would also make quite an impact—and make a statement about true Christlikeness—if American Christians refrained from knee-jerk criticism of the party.(emphasis mine)"

"Tolerance, as many evangelical leaders now stress, does not mean endorsing the views of others, but rather protecting their free expression. A new regime without the Brotherhood would be incomplete, and potentially futile to attempt. The church has a golden opportunity—if it so chooses—to reach across the cultural and religious divide to show support for a party that has tried, admittedly imperfectly, to embrace democracy while maintaining their faith."

Land of Paradox

My heart is broken.  I just returned from a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.  Though not my first visit, I am always surprised by the paradox, and not surprised at the intensity of emotion and conflict.  

• Israeli's earn an average wage of $21,000 annually, Palestinians earn an average of $1000.
• Israel's economy is ranked #17 in the world, yet it received the most foreign aid of ANY other country.  Palestine has incredible poverty, and many economic sanctions imposed by Israel.
• Israel exports 10% of the world's military equipment, through a massive defense manufacturing infrastructure.  Palestine is barely permitted to have small arms for it's security forces.
• Evangelical Christians have donated millions of dollars for things like Ambulances to the State of Israel Ministry of Health, the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestine, and the restoration of archaeological sites as testified by plaques and written tributes all over the country... Palestine makes headlines when human rights activists try to force humanitarian aid through blockades, and it ends up confiscated by Israel.
• Israeli settlements built with public funds by right wing Jewish extremists cut through 1000 year old olive vineyards confiscated by the government and block local Palestinians from commuting to work... Palestinians try to repair or add-on to their family owned homes, and building permits are denied.  When they build anyway, the home is in jeopardy of being bulldozed. source.
• A church in Jerusalem is fire bombed by Israeli terrorists, and it barely makes the news, Palestinians rally at Friday prayers to protest unfair government policies, and it's an international headline.
• Israel as a state is the #17 economy in the world with a "rapidly developing high-tech sector, which is backed by a thriving Venture Capital industry and service sector.  The Israel diamond industry is one of the world's centers for diamond cutting and polishing. It is also a world leader in software development and is a major tourist destination." The economy grew by 8% one recent year, outperforming every other nation on earth.  source.  The Palestinians try to manufacture products and are blocked by Israel from getting raw materials. Unemployment in the Palestinian territories is holding around 25%.
• Jewish immigration, predominantly from the countries of the former USSR, that has brought over one million new citizens to Israel. These new immigrants, many of them highly educated, now constitute some 16% of Israel's 7.5 million population.  Meanwhile Palestinian populations continue to decline, as residents are denied human rights, and homes are bulldozed for new Israeli settlements.

it really is no suprise that the conflict exists.  I have been trying to put this in perspective from a US point of view.  If the US boycotted enterprises owned by African Americans for example, refused to grant them passports, discriminated agaist them in housing, confiscated their their homes and land, refused employment, built walls around their towns, blocked raw materials from their businesses, and the hiring practices of US white companies forbade hiring blacks... or made their wages 2000 percent less, and then Christians, acting in the name of Christ gave money and ambulances in the name of Christ and prayed for the success of the whites... we would just about mirror what is happening in Israel.  In fact, doesn't that sound alot like the US in the 1960's, maybe a bit worse?

But that kind of discrimination would be illegal...  in the US.  Why then does the US, and evangelical Christians as well, enable discrimination by giving more aid and support to Israel than any other nation on earth? Paradox. Let's pray for peace, and take action consistent with those prayers.

Need to learn more?  http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

Historic Meeting of Unlikely Friends

Messianic Jewish believers face unbelievable persecution living in Israel from government angles, but more severely from Orthodox Jews who routinely oppose and torment not only Muslims, but Messianic Christians and churches reaching out to Jews.  Many times their meetings are disrupted by angry Orthodox shouting on megaphones, or their homes are wrapped in cassette tape film on which are recorded curses on their families, health and safety.  Just a couple weeks ago, a 100 year old church was arsoned by Jewish terrorists because it was reaching out to Jews with the hope of the Messiah.  It is commonly held that the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish contingent would like nothing more than to expel all Christians and Muslims from the Holy Land. 

Similarly, Muslim background believers face societal and familial pressure on a regular basis, along with official persecution in the form of interrogations, laws forbidding conversion and free practice of religion, in direct conflict with Human Rights agreements many of these very countries have signed.  In a twist of allegiance, even the hardline state of Iran and the PNA condemned the recent church burning as if they're pointing out... hey we're not the only one's that persecute Christians!

An Historic meeting is taking place this month between these two unlikely friends... Messianic Jewish believers, and Muslim background believers.  They meet to worship the same God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Ishmael.  They meet to pray, seek peace between historically estranged communities and encourage one another in the midst of persecution coming from all angles. Pray this month for these two communities that have no true citizenship except their heavenly home, that they make peace, and show the world what love can do.