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Christians divided over Israeli/Palestinian conflict
Doubtless, it is unnerving for Israelis to have rockets
fired at their neighbourhoods.
However, Israel’s bloody incursion into
Palestinian territory was definitely overkill.
Rockets would likely not be fired at Israel if the
latter gave back to the Palestinians their own truly independent homeland
– including land Jewish settlers have illegally and immorally
confiscated via the Israeli Army.
Frank G. Sterle, Jr., White
Rock
Re: ‘Challenges and glimmers of hope after Gaza
war’ (February): We found Wayne Bremner’s article (and BCCN’s willingness to
publish it) extremely disturbing. Bremner obviously follows the very
anti-Israel bias of most Western media. Sad to see this perpetuated in a
Christian publication.
It seems obvious this writer has bought into the
pervasive ‘replacement theology,’ which declares God’s
explicit and eternal covenant with the people of Israel null and void
– and attributes the inherent covenant blessings to the church
(naturally excluding the curses that go along with it).
Israel was granted statehood in 1948 by overwhelming
vote of the United Nations. On its inaugural day, it was attacked by five
surrounding Arab nations. Against overwhelming odds, the practically
defenseless state survived the onslaught.
Before the attack, Palestinians in the area were
encouraged by their Arab ‘brethren’ to leave their homes for a
short time, and then return later to claim all of Israel after certain
Arab victory. But God had other plans . . .
Upon leaving Gaza in 2005, Israelis left most
agricultural and other business enterprises intact – hoping Gazans
would build upon them to grow their own economy. But hatred for Israel led
many Gazans to destroy what was meant as a goodwill gesture by Israel.
Bremner is correct: reconciliation is needed. But he
seems to forget that all the wars in the Middle East were started by
Israel’s neighbours, all Arab dictatorships, against the only true
democracy in the region.
Hamas cannot be trusted, as evidenced by UN
humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes – who recently blasted Hamas
for making ‘cynical’ use of civilian facilities in Gaza during
the fighting.
Israel occupies an inordinate amount of world news
compared to its size. This, accompanied with the miraculous resurrection of
Israel’s nationhood, seems to suggest not merely a human contest.
According to the Book of books, Israel is here to stay,
and sadly will yet suffer much. But God is faithful to keep the promises to
his people.
Heinz & Emilie Berger,
Chilliwack
 | | Two perspectives on the Israel/Palestine struggle. Above: MCC/BC's Wayne Bremner with Palestinian farmers. Below: Christian Zionists Merv & Merla Watson in Jerusalem. |
I was very encouraged by the sensitivity and hope
demonstrated by Wayne Bremner.
I teach in a public school, and lately there have been
fairly heated discussions in the staff room about the Israel / Palestine
dispute.
As a Christian who has travelled to both Israel and the
UN, and heard stories from wonderful Israeli and Palestinian people in
those places, I have been confused as to how I should respond to this
conflict.
Bremner used scripture to clarify his understanding of
the current situation, and how we can respond as Christians. Jesus
fulfilled the covenant given to Abraham, and Christ offers this new
covenant to all believers.
Bremner says: “Israel, if it is to represent the
people of God, needs to treat the people of Palestine with justice and
compassion.”
I now know how I can pray. I ask God for peace, justice
and security for all of the people of Israel and Palestine; and I pray
protection over Christians working for a non-violent resolution to
the ongoing conflict,
Thanks for this inspiring article. I will take it to
school, to share with my colleagues.
Jennie Starr, Langley
Mr. Bremner must realize there never was a real
country called Palestine. This was the name given by the Romans to
eradicate Jewish identity from the province, after they expelled the
Jews from Jerusalem in 135 AD.
It existed for many centuries as a southern region of
Syria under the administration of successive conquerors, including the
Byzantines, the Islamic Empire and the Ottomans.
The Palestinian people themselves are not a true ethnic
group. They are actually a conglomerate (by intermarriage) of Arabs and
many different peoples from the larger region, including Canaanites,
Philistines, Bedouins, Turks, Syrians, Egyptians and Armenians.
No matter how you cut it, God made a covenant
with Abram, giving this land to him and his descendants. Reading Genesis,
we must conclude the entire Middle East conflict was settled long ago.
Lionel Jubinville, Vernon
Israel is a secular state, born from the twin tragedies
of the Jewish diaspora and the Holocaust. The Jewish people have suffered
in many horrendous ways in the last few centuries. The modern state of
Israel exists to say ‘never again’ to such atrocities.
Suffering can make the sufferer sensitive to the pain
of others; it can also cause one to protect oneself by making others
suffer.
The BBC has reported that some 1,300 Palestinians have
been injured and more than 400 Palestinian men, women and children have
been killed recently in Gaza. How would Canadians feel, if this was done to
our fellow citizens? Those who are silent at such a time become complicit
in such immoral acts. How does the Jewish state justify its brutality?
The Jewish tradition is complex; but the modern secular
state of Israel should not be equated, as some do, with biblical Judaism.
Biblical Judaism, at its best and noblest, is a
prophetic religion with a high moral vision. At its heart, it is about
justice, mercy and peace. It is about caring for the homeless, the
oppressed and the foreigner. Jewish prophets dared, again and again,
to criticize the Jewish nation for failing to live up to such ideals. They
were not uncritical nationalists.
But modern secular Zionism attempts to avoid serious
prophetic self criticism.
The Palestinians pose an ongoing question to the Jews.
Will the Jewish nation be biblical and prophetic? This would means caring
for the outsider, the marginalized – i.e. the Palestinians. Or will
the state erect an idol of nationalism, ignoring the cries of the
Palestinians for justice, mercy and peace?
It is ironic that many Christians who claim to be
biblical are more uncritical Zionists than prophetic in their
understanding, thereby not being biblical in any meaningful manner.
We desperately need more prophetic Jewish thinkers,
such as Martin Buber and Abraham Heschel. Buber, especially, showed that he
cared as much for the Jewish nation as he did for the Palestinians.
Refusing to criticize political Zionism is neither biblical nor
authentic prophetic Judaism.
Ron Dart, Abbotsford
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In ‘A journalist’s pilgrimage through the
Holy Land’ (January), David Dawes assures us that even though he was
on a government-sponsored tour of Israel, he was not prevented from
speaking to Palestinians. But he gives little indication that he took
advantage of that opportunity. He does not report anything said to him by
any Palestinian.
BC Christian News can
make up for this deficiency. And you don’t need to take advantage of
a free trip to Israel, or even pay your own way. There are
Palestinian Christians living in B.C. Why not ask them for their insights
on the situation there?
Ken Hiebert, Ladysmith
A much more in-depth version of David Dawes’
article can be found at CanadianChristianity.com.
Put Afghan war into perspective
To Tim Garrison (‘Is war a low Christian
priority?’ February) and like-minded people:
Canadian troops are not in Afghanistan to enslave
Afghans or ransack the nation.
The purpose is to rebuild the nation, with decent
democracy; to abolish the breeding of terrorists; and to help ordinary
Afghans prosper, with human rights and freedom.
Sacrifice is inevitable in the present situation,
and tragic accidents do happen. But if Afghanistan is not made right at
this time, future inhumane treatment of her citizens could be simply
incalculable.
Let’s look at the larger picture, please.
Christians must and will fight against every form of
immorality and massacre of innocents (abortion, stem cell research) until
Jesus returns. The survival of our civilization depends on how well
God’s people intervene in society’s self-destructive notions
and behaviours, legal or illegal.
The assignments for believers are truly numerous today,
locally and globally. If Christians refuse to fight such grave moral
battles, our existence in free democratic nations is utterly meaningless. I
thought this was pretty clear to all true believers in Jesus.
Grace Kwon, Langley
Campolo a bad choice for MFest
I was surprised to learn Missions Fest (‘Prayer
is Missions Fest theme,’ January) had Tony Campolo as one of its main
speakers. Campolo is an unabashed liberal who endorses mantras and
‘centring prayer.’
One need only read a Campolo book, such as Letters to a Young Evangelical, to
realize he’s big on mysticism and small on taking the Bible
literally. Author Roger Oakland says of him: “The mystical New Age
practices he promotes are more closely tied to Buddhism, Hinduism . . .
than to biblical Christianity.”’
The Missions Fest board clearly made a bad choice in
Campolo, if their goal was to have great answers to prayer.
Robert J. Perry, Victoria
BCCN cover was too
sensational
I am concerned about the three photographs that were
exposed on the front page of the January issue. There was no story, other
than what was captioned below in three sentences.
A photograph of the church after the vehicle was
removed would have been more suitable – and it should not have been
on the front page. This was not the kind of news
I would pay for.
The way it was published and handled did not glorify
God. People are fragile – especially after motor vehicle accidents or
injuries.
BCCN is starting to follow a
lost leader like The Province, in its use of photographs. Images are very important. The
gift of discernment is to be used cautiously.
Your paper usually is received in good faith, and ends
up in our homes. So in future, please refrain from printing any content
that could possibly cause someone to stumble in their spiritual walk.
Carol Ann Thibodeau, by
email
Thirsk article had factual errors
I enjoy reading the many articles in BCCN. However, I must point out a few
errors in ‘Thirsk for adventure’ (January).
My son, Robert Thirsk, was not raised in Powell River.
Bob was born in New Westminster, and raised in Coquitlam.
Missionary Jean Buchan never married; she was not
Bob’s grandmother, but rather his great aunt – and my
aunt.
Bob will launch from Russia in the Soyuz Capsule on May
26, representing Canada.
Eva Thirsk, Cobble Hill
March 2009
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