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Thank you for writing a respone in a kind manner
by Hanna at 2008-12-30 13:32:12 | Dear Antony:
I thank God that you are praying for both sides. This is a godly thing to do. I too pray for both sides for I don't want their blood to be spilt. I pray that they will experience the love of God and be transformed.
I am not sure why our national identity has to be in conflict with our celestial identity! Admittedly, there are some times when there is conflict but we must not see our national identity always as something negative. It is in fact a blessing from God. We are citizens of earth and heaven at the same time. We must hold our faith and our culture in dialogue and not exclude one for the sake of the other for we cannot interpret the Bible without a preunderstanding that entails cultural components. We are all located in a sociolinguistic context. We further should not let our culture determine the meaning of the word of God. Gladly, God created a multicultural church so that the One divine Truth can be expressed in multiple forms.
I disagree with you that we must die to our national identity. Instead, I argue that our national identity need to be sactified by our God. Even before the throne of God in heaven every nation and every tongue will exist (Rev 7: 9). The cultural identities will not be eliminated but sanctified.
Brother: I want to assert that I condemn spilling the blood of all innocent people including Israeli blood. I cannot biblicaly justify killing innocent Israeli civilians nor Palestinian civilians. But the issue is not me. So let us move away from an ad hominem argument and focus on the spilling of innocent blood in Gaza. Let us not divert the discussion but address the issues in a prayerful and godly manner. Children are dying and we are not willing to condemn spilling innocent blood. We say only 62 civilians are dead! Even if I accept this number are you then saying that it is okay that they have been killed! I have clearly condemned spilling innocent Israeli blood but are you willing to clearly condemn spilling innocent Palestinian blood in Gaza. If you are not then you are approving it and should give an account before our Lord.
Last, remember that I am addressing Messianic believers as brothers and sisters challenging them to come forward to Our lord. I am committed to see them as brothers and sisters in Christ. I am also committed to be honest with them and to explain what I believe God has put on my heart. I agree with you that all of us, Palestinian Christians and Messianic Jews, need to repent before God and to ask for His mercy for we have not spoken loud enough against evil and we have overlooked the spilling of innocent blood. |
[ Reply to This | Parent ]
- Christ First 2 by Anthony - a Christian, at 2008-12-31 15:32:22
Dear Hanna,
Thank you for your response to my comments. And I appreciate your prayers. Today a rocket landed less than a kilometer from my apartment, and I appreciate your prayers for me and my family.
Concerning national identity, I do agree with you that God placed each one of us into the country and culture where we were born, and that He enjoys receiving worshipers from every tribe, tongue and nation (Rev 7:9). However, I also see a great example for the believer in the life of the apostle Paul. He sacrificed completely his national identity for the sake of the Gospel - he considered his background to be dung!! (Phil 3:8) He even sacrificed his name!! (Acts 13:9) His sermons to the different groups at Athens (Acts 17) and at Lystra (Acts 14) show amazing cultural sensitivity - he reaches them exactly where they are at. All that is to show that our first citizenship is in Christ's Kingdom. Whether I am Jewish or Palestinian or Israeli or anything else is only secondary. In action, this means that we must allow our heavenly citizenship to rule our relationships with each other, and not sink back to an earthly level.
On an a more earthly level, however, I do want to make it clear that I do condemn the shedding of innocent blood in Gaza as well as in Israel. I am horrified and saddened that children have been killed in this conflict. I do NOT think that is ok. I want to make that very clear that I do not approve or support the killing of innocent people anywhere. In this I completely agree with you. My thoughts on the cause of this bloodshed may be different than yours, however.
I believe that Hamas and radical Islam is responsible for most if not all of the bloodshed of innocent people in the last week. I have seen the videos, and it is horrible how the Hamas fighters place themselves next to homes of families, and use innocent people to be their shields. This tactic is inhumane and sickens me. I do not want war, or death for anyone. That is why I believe that the rockets must stop falling in Israel. Sadly, it seems the only way to stop Hamas is by force. Their charter and their actions clearly show that nothing will stop them except death. I do not think that Hamas men who are killed while loading rockets to shoot at my family are innocent. I hope that you will agree with that at least.
I also realize that for you, it is very dangerous to take a public stand against Hamas. To do this, you are taking your life in your hands. I respect you for what you have said already, that it is not right for Hamas to kill innocent Israelis. Many who stand up against injustice end up facing threats themselves. Please continue to stand for truth, and please also be careful for your own welfare.
Peace to you,
Anthony
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