The conflict that says so much about the way the world is
going than most people realise once again takes headlines in the news. It seems
to be quite polarised. If you turn to American media (heavy Jewish influence,
very pro-Israel) you get a very one-sided view towards Israel. If you turn to
English media like BBC and survey most English people on this you get a very
different view and very anti-Israel. Americans would do well to remember that
they fund something like $10bn per year to Israel and funded the Iron Dome.
England would do well to remember they have major arms deals with many of these
countries (including Russia...). People don’t want to know about that though
and propaganda is rife (perhaps worse so in the west as it is more subtle).
It seems to me that there are two options presented:
1) Israel is simply defending itself and is justified – civilian
deaths are Hamas’ fault
2) Palestinians are prisoners in their own country and
oppressed by Israel who do not really want peace and inhumanely attack parts of
Gaza known containing children and civilians
However there is never a third option open. I would argue
for a third option, and that is BOTH countries
(groups) are in the wrong. Both countries should have actions condemned.
Sure
if Israel did not have its Iron Dome it would have 1000s of casualties from all
the rockets fired into the country. Sure maybe Hamas fire from areas of
civilian population including children. But neither are justified in their
actions. I do not think we can say one is worse than the other – both are bad.
Both are responsible for the deaths of the innocent (children) and should stop,
look into other ways to deal with the situation. Having high risk that attacks
will fall on schools, shelters and hospitals is not an acceptable option in
war. Declaring peace and the continuing to fire rockets is not an acceptable
option in war either. Both countries are at fault and options 1 & 2 are too
absolutist.
From a Christian perspective, you see more of a bias perhaps
in the US with this conflict. I believe that this is due to the prevalence of
pre-millennial dispensationalists For the record, I largely agree with that
eschatological view, and in fact would argue that by the mere existence of Israel
since 1948 and how they have grown and survived and thrived is one of the
strongest pieces of evidence for such an interpretation of Israel still in God’s
plan. This is of course, apart from the obvious straight forward reading of
Scripture which I would sit very uncomfortable with declaring all of God’s
curses to Israel literally came true, but all of the blessings go to the
Church. This does not make sense. It is ironic to say as well, that most people
who reject Israel as being still in God’s promises are the most reformed,
Calvanistic type (ones I might identify much of my theology with). The reason I
say it is ironic, as to me such a view should be left to the Armenian
Christian. They are the ones that believe you can lose your salvation.
Calvanists believe in perseverance of the saints and God’s ability to keep that
which Christ has been given, and stay true to these promises. (I also wonder what the point in the book of Hosea and the illustration of Gomer is if Israel are no longer in God's plan).
Anyway, that is a topic I want to talk more on another time,
to get my thoughts down on as it fascinates me. The point is though, perhaps dispensational
Christians sympathise too much with Israel in that they will seem to always
side with them as they are “God’s people” in a certain dispensational sense.
This is true – when God removes the Church I believe at the pre-tribulation
rapture He then uses that time to deal with Israel, and there will be mass
conversion of Israel as a nation to accept Jesus as the Saviour Messiah, however
Israel has probably the worst possible record you can have for being “ungodly”
in their correct worldview. Therefore this is still the sinful, rebellious and
ungodly Israel we are talking about – not all their actions are right. We
should support their right to exist as a nation but that does not mean
supporting everything they do. Yet so many Christians in America cannot see any
fault with what Israel are doing here and that to me is clearly being blinded
by incorrectly viewing Israel as not being able to do wrong as they are God’s
people and He is working in them.
There is a dangerous parallel that we see in the Church though as well – “great”
(read, famous) leaders who are so captivated by their followers that when and
where they do wrong, it cannot be seen and people go beyond reasonable measures
to stand by them and justify them to the point of covering up their sin. We
must remember that all are sinners, especially Israel. They have not yet
accepted Christ as their Messiah, they still hold onto the tradition and
outward workings that they believe are sufficient for a salvation. They still
hold onto the “right of heritage” for their entrance to heaven. They still make
very wrong choices and are not acting in God’s desired “will”.
So Hamas is wrong, but so is Israel. We would do well as
Christians to not side errantly one way or the other, but pray that man’s
violence would end, that God would bring about peace here so that the innocent
may have a chance to hear about the good news of the Gospel.
Israel needs peace – if for no other reason than nothing can
or will compare to what is going to come their way when the Anti-christ comes
and establishes a 7-year peace deal with them. The violence and horror that
will ensue will make anything going on in the world now seem like a playground
fight. And I believe we are very close to it – all that is going on in the Middle
East now is setting the stage for the greatest events the world will see since
Christ died on the cross.
Pray for Israel and pray for Gaza. Pray for the Gospel to be
made known.
