This movie looks interesting.
Link: http://www.withgodonourside.com/index.html
“We as Evangelicals have endorsed an Israeli domestic policy that has placed over 3 million people under military occupation and has created the largest refuge population in the entire world. And you have to ask yourself, “Why is this defended by the Christian church? How is it that we don’t see the suffering of so many people?” (From the Trailer.)
“This film demonstrates that there is a biblical alternative for Christians who want to love and support the people of Israel, a theology that doesn’t favor one people group over another but instead promotes peace and reconciliation for both Jews and Palestinians.” (From the web site.)
Although I have never been one to get caught up in the details of end times prophesies or Israeli/Palestinian politics, in light of the Ephesians studies I’ve been looking at recently I do find the implications of Christian Zionism disturbing. Especially the branches that are actively against their Palestinian brothers and sisters in Christ for simply living in their own homes.
The Christian Church aught to embrace the work of Jesus and the teaching of Paul in the New Testament:- we are to rejoice over the ‘one new man’ created in Christ, that Christ has destroyed the barrier of the law that once defined the nation of Israel as a special nation before God, there is no longer “Jew or Greeks” but are all one in Christ, and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
“11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,” Ephesians 2:11-19
“27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:27-29
“12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
“There have been several UN Resolutions dealing with the Israeli / Palestinian issue. The one we would like to highlight is UN Resolution 242, which was first adapted in 1967 after the 1967 war
• Full Israeli Withdraw from lands occupied in recent conlficts.
• Full recognition from Arab states of the right for Israel to exist.
• Resolution and/or compensation for Palestinians refugees affected by the displacement from war.
The resolution cites the 4th Geneva Convention, article 49. The responsibilities of an occupying power (Israel) have toward peoples living under occupation. The Geneva Convention prohibits the transfer of the occupying powers population into areas that it has occupied.” (From the web site.)
I guess it goes to show all bad teaching ultimately hurts people. In this case it hurts our brothers and sisters in Christ seeking to live peacefully, it actively promotes the violation of human rights under the UN resolutions and Geneva convention, and also divides the Church unnecessarily.
