Accolades of Sin and Suffering: Israel + Gaza
The statements I make in the upcoming words and sentences may be controversial and honestly, hard to read or listen to. But before you draw your own conclusion or feelings regarding my words, I gently ask you to remember this. God is sovereign and still on His throne. I am just a man, and my opinion has no power over you. And every part of this world belongs to the kingship, power and authority of Jesus Christ.
As a Jew, by race, I was appalled in the days that followed October 7th as I learned of the atrocities committed by the militant group, Hamas on the Israeli people. It felt like a part of me was attacked and violated. Indeed, my heritage and the people of my blood were slaughtered and murdered. I will never forget the crimes against humanity that Hamas committed that day.
I am a Christian, and this means I identify with the deity of Jesus and the characteristics of His faith. I am a born again, believer, first and foremost. Above every other heritage I share, or lineage in my blood, the utmost part of my identity and my calling in this world belongs to the supremacy of Jesus Christ. I share this context with you because it is critical for you to understand what is forging my thoughts in the words ahead.
I not only grieve, but I am called to be abhorred by the bloodshed and killing of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian people since the war in Gaza began. Since the war began, Israeli forces (IDF) via drones, missiles and mass weapons have destroyed the lives of people who are made in the image of God. This is a fact that is undisputed. Not an opinion.
Regardless of what the Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera or the United Nations say, what we are witnessing in the heart of the Middle East is the reality of a world that is searching for purpose, protection, and belonging without Jesus…
War is one of the most gut wrenching reminders that this world is inherently broken and subject to unthinkable suffering. Societies and nations since the beginning of time have searched for answers or remedies to the unimaginable heavy-hitter sorrows like Cancer, Hunger, and War. And yet this world continues to fall increasingly short of solving some of the harshest realities we are facing. As the people of God, we pray for peace, healing and understanding. Rarely do we experience a life filled with those three things. Before we can advocate for one side over the other in this war, or draw our biased conclusions, we must fearlessly understand our Biblical mandate to view every single innocent life as one made in the image of God, and therefore worthy of advocating for. I am not saying you have to agree with the decisions of the Israeli government, or the feelings of the Palestinian people. My pleading here with you has nothing to do with the political or historical implications of this war, or who is in the wrong/right. I have my own personal views on that, and so do you. But we are commanded by God to love all people, advocate for all people, and speak life to all people before we formulate our opinions or make our plans or seek friendship with our feelings.
What I am suggesting is this. This war should not surprise us, for this is the way a world that is lost acts. This war should break our hearts, because it breaks God’s. This war should move us to advocate for life, with an unbiased commitment to showing the love and hope of God to a chaotic and raging world. It’s okay to have an opinion, even a strong one! Our opinions when surrendered to God are a beautiful representation of the wonder and creativity of God. But it is not my duty to Christ to convince you of my opinion or you to convince me of yours. But it is our Biblical obligation until Christ returns, to absolutely, unequivocally and without hesitation advocate for the salvation of the lost, and the value of the living while leaving every bias and feeling behind and before the Throne of Grace. Every Palestinian person was made uniquely by God. Every Jewish person was made uniquely by God. Every dead Palestinian and every Israeli Hostage is a soul God values to the core of Who He Is. If this pushes up against yours or my bubble of what we politically believe about the middle east, then it needs to. A Biblical understanding of life suggests that life is fundamentally precious and it always trumps personal bias, conviction, feeling or historical context.
These are the questions we must ask before anything else concerning any conflict, issue or world event…
Am I leaving my bias behind in order to follow my Biblical mandate to advocate for every innocent life?
Do my social media posts, my public statements and my inward mindset reflect this commitment and encourage others to value life with the same utmost conviction?
Am I searching for and allowing for more conversations about Jesus with my neighbors, my friends, my family and the nations?
What might God be doing in my life currently to help me see His heart and will for His world, and how can I fall humbly into His plans for my life?
I pray for the release of every Hostage held by Hamas. I pray for the protection of every innocent life in Gaza. I pray that every Ruler and King and Leader would bow to the authority and throne of Jesus. I pray for a world that is filled with courageous Christians who will take the gospel to the ends of the earth, to the front lines of every war, and to the hearts of every people group, race, and nation who do not know Jesus as their Savior and Warrior and Friend.
To God be the glory until His mighty and gracious return.
