Friday, February 27, 2009

Can Common Faith Trump Nationalistic Impulses?

Question: What happens when political enemies are brothers & sisters in Christ? 

Where? Gaza Strip.
What? Reconciliation work goes on despite worst violence since 1967. 

"Gaza's Christian community of 2,500 suffered at least three deaths in the fighting, & Gaza Baptist Church & the Palestinian Bible Society were damaged by Israeli airstrikes."

"Yohanna Katanocho, dean of Bethlehem Bible College, was concerned about the wedge the war might create between Palestinian Christians & Messianic Jews."
"Frankly, it is hard to accept the perception that we can be political enemies but religious brothers & sisters," said Katanacho. "Our relationship with the Son of God must transform our political perceptions in a away that will make us more critical of the policies of our governments, more vocal of our support of divine mercy, love, & justice." 

"We have people praying for both sides--this is a real achievement," said Munayer. Messianic & Palestinian believers collected food & blankets to send to Gaza, while others invited Messianics in Sderot to visit for safety & relaxation." 

(Quotes & concept taken from Christianity Today, March 2009, 13).


2 comments:

  1. ben, i also read this same article this week and i found it very interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Man, that is a hard one...or should it be? As a believer should we take pride in our geographic citizenship? I see scripture being clear that a believers citizenship is not the country they are born in, or even earth. Our citizenship is inthe Kingdom of God. Does this play into the disscussion? I see that it all comes down to do we believe scripture or not? Do we believe the Kingdom is for all who believe? Do we believe ( to take from you, Ben Finch), the becuase we are forgiven much, we are to love (forgive) much. Just a thought.

    ReplyDelete