Christian view on Israeli-Palestine conflict?

[changedforgood]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before - but i see Christians being loyal towards Israel - and blindly so.

If Israel is God's chosen people, does it justify discrimination, invasion, war, etc. I see there are faults on both sides and caused by certain groups and not the entire population - and prayers should go to both sides where innocent civilians and mainly children are being killed or harmed. Israel has clearly the upper hand, and has the capacity to dictate the direction of the war - whether it needs to be violent or peaceful.

....and to me, Jesus' teachings are in the opposite direction of what is happening and what is being supported here.

... and what of the Palestine christians? In any case, what of human beings in general? Are we not all God's creation? What part of 'love thy neighbour' is not being understood here?

 

[B-A-C]

The Bible makes it clear we are supposed to defend our faith and families.
The Bible also says the descendents of Ishmael (Palestinians) and the descendents of Isaac (Jews) will be fighting until Jesus returns. ( Gen 16:12; )
The Palestinians usually are the instigators here. If they want to "love their neighbors" they are free to stop fighting any time.
I suspect there are very few Christians Palestinians fighting against Israel. If you believe wikipedia, the Palestinians demographic shows a very low percentage of Christians.

Yes we are all God's creation. But there will be wars and rumors of wars even unil the last days. ( Matt 24:6; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9; )
Most of the Old Testament was about the Israelites fighting against other nations (Egypt, Babylon, Philistines, Ammonites, Canaanites, etc..)
Even in the New Testament there will be two great wars in the future, it says the blood at Armageddon will be as deep as a horse bridle for 200 miles. ( Rev 14:20; )
After the millennial reign of Jesus, Satan will be released again.. it says his army will number like the sands of the sea, but he will be defeated one final time. ( Rev 20:8; )
Jesus will be the main sword-bearer here. ( Rev 19:15; Rev 19:21; )

Gen 12:2; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
Gen 12:3; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

God wants peace, but not at the cost of selling your soul. In the tribulation, the beast will let those live who worship him and take his mark.
The Bible says these people that take his mark will burn in the lake of fire forever. ( Rev 14:11; )

This is similar to the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in Daniel 3.

 

[changedforgood]

Agree, but does it give a right to Israel to blockade out a piece of land, not let the people within it go and keep firing inside (which is what is happening now?). This is basic humanity considerations. If Israel wanted to do things in a more ethical way, its still powerful enough to do so right? Why pick on a side that is small and comparatively irrelevant? This goes against everything i believe about being 'Christian'. Would our reaction be the same if Palestine were full of Christians?

 

[RJ]

• Genisis 12:3

I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

• It is pretty simple, we don't even have to think about it much, we are called to support Israel.
• Yes, we are called to love our neighbors and that would be true of Abortionists, Homosexuals and even Hamas but the Bible says nothing about likeing or approving of what any of these groups do.

 

[Chad]

Agree, but does it give a right to Israel to blockade out a piece of land, not let the people within it go and keep firing inside (which is what is happening now?). This is basic humanity considerations. If Israel wanted to do things in a more ethical way, its still powerful enough to do so right? Why pick on a side that is small and comparatively irrelevant? This goes against everything i believe about being 'Christian'. Would our reaction be the same if Palestine were full of Christians?

What brother @B-A-C has said and @RJ is scriptural and accurate. It's even prophetic so nothing should surprise us. Israel is Gods chosen nation and people. War is never the best option but it's not going to be avoided in the age we live until Christ returns. History proves this and do does the Bible.

In the meantime we must trust God and continue praying without ceasing. We need to keep reaching people with the Good news of salvation.

 

[B-A-C]

God promised much of the middle east lands to Abraham and his descendents. Now of course the Palestinians are his descendents also. They already have
Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and a few other countries, why do they need that smallest part of Canaan?
Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey. Even then the Palestinians have most of the Gaza strip. How much more do the Israelis need to give?
The Palestinians have over 100 times that much land. But God promised that land to the Israelites. ( Gen 28:15; Exod 12:25; Deut 6:3; Deut 19:8; Josh 23:5; etc...)
It seems that Satan has been trying to take this land since the time of Abraham. It was inhabited by Giants for a while. It didn't even exist as a country for
nearly 1,000 years. And yet even today, it is home of the Jews.
The same thing is happening at the US and Mexican borders in southern California, Arizona and Texas as I type this, the border gates are being overwhelmed
and immigrants are flooding in. While there is nothing wrong with immigrants coming to America, there does have to be checks and balances. They are already
overwhelming the unemployment, housing and food authorities and the people who are paying taxes for these things. They are taking jobs and driving the cost
of groceries and housing up. Now while I feel sorry for those people, on the other hand I feel sorry for the people who have lived in those places for generations
who are being driven out. I wonder how you would feel if someone (who has been trying to kill you for the last 4,000 years) wanted to move into your house or
property? Especially in the south where a persons land is often the means of their livelihood. (Ranchers and farmers and oil barons, when I lived in TX it was
legal to shoot people who trespassed into your house and in many cases simply being on your property). Is property worth more than a human life? It might be
if it was my means of livelihood. There is still land grabbing and cattle rustling even in todays world.
Back to Israel and Palestine.. why do the Palestinians need this last little bit of land even though they already have 95% of the land all around Israel?
If you were Jewish, would you trust the people who have launched hundreds of terrorist and missile attacks against you for the last 3 generations?

 

[james1523]

It is supposed that supporting Israel leads to blessing, and not supporting Israel leads to curse.
In what tangible way has the USA or any other country which supports Israel, been blessed over other countries who are against Israel?

 

[B-A-C]

I think WWII is a good example. Germany had the resources and the upper hand. But they killed millions of Jews.
At the time, the US was a Christian nation (it isn't anymore). At one time the US had the best of everything.
The best economy, education, industry, technology, military, etc... I really don't think we do anymore.
The US used to support Israel much more than we do now. The Obama administration hasn't exactly been Israel's best allies.

 

[Chad]

I think WWII is a good example. Germany had the resources and the upper hand. But they killed millions of Jews.
At the time, the US was a Christian nation (it isn't anymore). At one time the US had the best of everything.
The best economy, education, industry, technology, military, etc... I really don't think we do anymore.
The US used to support Israel much more than we do now. The Obama administration hasn't exactly been Israel's best allies.

Amen brother, totally factual.

Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed."

History has proven beyond doubt that the nations that have blessed the Jewish people have had the blessing of God; the nations that have cursed the Jewish people have experienced the curse of God.

 

[james1523]

Well think about this - every nation which supports Israel has the freedom of the Gospel/church and every nation which is against Israel does not have this freedom. Scripturally speaking the blessing is not just something material like economy or wealth or technology, but the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:14, Gal 3:8, Gal 22:18) through Christ who is Abraham's seed (Matt 1:1, Gal 3:16). All of the nations which support Israel are blessed with the freedom of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit and the nations that don't (the communist, atheist and Islamic countries) are not blessed with the freedom of the gospel or the Spirit. This then would bring positive benefits to the society - economy, education, industry, technology or military etc, I don't deny that at all, but the greatest blessing in the Universe is God Himself (i.e. the Holy Spirit) who I would like to think leads the government at all levels in their decision making, which has flow-on benefits to the society. When God curses a nation the first thing He removes is the freedom of the gospel and His Spirit because these are the most valued things in His sight, and then this has negative effects on the economy etc. And I would add that countries such as Germany, France, Russia etc, which are pseudo-"Christian" countries but have persecuted the Jewish people still do not have true gospel or church freedom in the same way that the USA or UK has. But that is changing, and China, Turkey, and other countries which now support Israel are experiencing growth in the gospel and church because of their stance.

 

[james1523]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before - but i see Christians being loyal towards Israel - and blindly so.

If Israel is God's chosen people, does it justify discrimination, invasion, war, etc. I see there are faults on both sides and caused by certain groups and not the entire population - and prayers should go to both sides where innocent civilians and mainly children are being killed or harmed. Israel has clearly the upper hand, and has the capacity to dictate the direction of the war - whether it needs to be violent or peaceful.

....and to me, Jesus' teachings are in the opposite direction of what is happening and what is being supported here.

... and what of the Palestine christians? In any case, what of human beings in general? Are we not all God's creation? What part of 'love thy neighbour' is not being understood here?

You expect Israel to tolerate a terrorist organization on their borders in the name of "love"? If it is this situation in any other country, USA, UK, France, they will not tolerance what Israel has had to tolerate.
Not all Christians are blindly supporting Israel just because of some Bible verses.
It is not really a time to be all lovey dovey and loving thy neighbor. If you try to love your neighbor radical Islamist you will get your head chopped off you know?
The Bible says to love but the Bible also says to be wise.
This is not about Israel versus Palestine or about who is stronger and who is weaker. This is a fight between Israel and Hamas, between the free world and the world which wants to spread Islam violently around the world and set up a world-wide caliphate. It doesn't matter if Israel is stronger and the other are weaker because the weaker can still defeat the stronger - Afghanistan for example.
Then Israel is surrounded by hostile Islamic countries who would love to see Israel become a Muslim country.
So compared to all that Israel is not as strong as you think.
That is why Israel needs the backing and support of the USA and other countries.
All people that want to remain free and want to see the gospel spread around the world without hindrance should support Israel and any efforts to rid Israel of these terrorists.
But if you want your future great great grandchildren to be ruled by the sword and for the gospel to be persecuted in your own country then by all means support Palestine.
The goal of Hamas is to conquer Israel and then conquer the rest of the world. These types of people don't conquer one area and then say "it is enough" - they want everything.
The Palestinians voted in Hamas to be their rulers.
So Israel should apply pressure until the Palestinian people get rid of the Hamas.
We have to support Israel so that Israel does not become the next Iraq or the next Syria.

 

[Itz Me]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before - but i see Christians being loyal towards Israel - and blindly so.

If Israel is God's chosen people, does it justify discrimination, invasion, war, etc. I see there are faults on both sides and caused by certain groups and not the entire population - and prayers should go to both sides where innocent civilians and mainly children are being killed or harmed. Israel has clearly the upper hand, and has the capacity to dictate the direction of the war - whether it needs to be violent or peaceful.

....and to me, Jesus' teachings are in the opposite direction of what is happening and what is being supported here.

... and what of the Palestine christians? In any case, what of human beings in general? Are we not all God's creation? What part of 'love thy neighbour' is not being understood here?

Thanks for your courage to express Biblical truth such as the above quoted. The rants of the mindless ideologues and earth-centered theology can oftentimes be suffocating. Your Post was most refreshing!.

 

[RJ]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed before - but i see Christians being loyal towards Israel - and blindly so.

If Israel is God's chosen people, does it justify discrimination, invasion, war, etc. I see there are faults on both sides and caused by certain groups and not the entire population - and prayers should go to both sides where innocent civilians and mainly children are being killed or harmed. Israel has clearly the upper hand, and has the capacity to dictate the direction of the war - whether it needs to be violent or peaceful.

....and to me, Jesus' teachings are in the opposite direction of what is happening and what is being supported here.

... and what of the Palestine christians? In any case, what of human beings in general? Are we not all God's creation? What part of 'love thy neighbour' is not being understood here?

What part of 'love thy neighbour' is not being understood here?[/QUOTE]

• What part of "Love Your Enemy" don't you understand.
• Loving your enemy has nothing to do with tolerating Hamas, the missles they rain down on innocent Israelies or the tunnel net work they use to commit terrorism...all under the watchful and accepting eye of the Palestinians.
• If there where any Palestinian Christians, why do they support Hamas? They are not Christians by my Bible.
• You need to get your facts straight.
• Go back in history and see who always fires the first shot......Hamas!

 

[Itz Me]

What part of 'love thy neighbour' is not being understood here?

• What part of "Love Your Enemy" don't you understand.
• Loving your enemy has nothing to do with tolerating Hamas, the missles they rain down on innocent Israelies or the tunnel net work they use to commit terrorism...all under the watchful and accepting eye of the Palestinians.
• If there where any Palestinian Christians, why do they support Hamas? They are not Christians by my Bible.
• You need to get your facts straight.
• Go back in history and see who always fires the first shot......Hamas!

[/QUOTE]

We read where a man, (no anti-Semite), confessed: "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh", (Rom 9:2,3).
Did you notice how Paul referred to his Jewish roots? "According to the FLESH".
Here is a like minded Scripture: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more", 2Cor 5:16). "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?", (Mark 6:3).,

So it is that we Christians have no attachment to ancestry nor fleshly descendents. We no longer attach sentiments for the natural world and it's earth centered citizens because we have been born again of the spirit and are become "new creatures" by the Spirit of God. As such, we're citizens of the Kingdom of God and we are attached to brothers and sisters who are spiritually born ... who own a spiritual heritage ... who belong to the family of God as His sons and daughters.
When Jesus was walking suntanned and fearless on the shores of Galilee, His followers properly recognized Him "after the flesh". But when Jesus arose on the Third Day and assumed his place/position at the right hand of God, His followers recognized him 'spiritually' ... no longer as Mary and Joseph's child ... not even as a Jew .. but as the triumphant King of the spiritual world.

Jesus Himself declared this principle of genuine spiritual citizenship: "While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother",

Can it be said that the geographical natural Jews are born again and have a desire to follow after the will of God as expressed in and through the teachings of Jesus? Absolutely not.
So, we should address the natural people of Israel in the same way that Jesus addressed His own mother. Jesus declared that he had no attachment to His natural brothers and sisters ... not those who belonged to Him visibly / naturally ... but only to those belonged to Him invisibly / spiritually ... those who owned a citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

This manner of conceptualizing is what forms the genuine Christian's spiritual inheritance.
Our Lord Jesus was not at one with Israel. It grieved Him that natural geographical Jerusalem rejected Him. Why? Because the Jews of Jesus' day were connected to a religion which Jesus vehemently denied.
Plain and simple: Israel is a nation in denial of our Christ ... and yet many Christians insist to remain connected to them religiously.
Our spiritual journey has us focused on the Jerusalem above ... where Christ is, and where for every natural Jew who accepts His sacrifice, a citizenship and place is prepared.

No, I'm not a JW ... and have never set foot in any of their assemblies. I'm jus' a plain' ordinary Christian who grew weary of being a pastor's parrot and took upon myself some serious Bible study over the 45 years since my first hearing the Gospel.
It's utterly painful to see how so many sincere Christians continue to attach themselves to an Israel-cult ... to the sin of idolatry.

 

[RJ]

• What part of "Love Your Enemy" don't you understand.
• Loving your enemy has nothing to do with tolerating Hamas, the missles they rain down on innocent Israelies or the tunnel net work they use to commit terrorism...all under the watchful and accepting eye of the Palestinians.
• If there where any Palestinian Christians, why do they support Hamas? They are not Christians by my Bible.
• You need to get your facts straight.
• Go back in history and see who always fires the first shot......Hamas!

We read where a man, (no anti-Semite), confessed: "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh", (Rom 9:2, 3).
Did you notice how Paul referred to his Jewish roots? "According to the FLESH".
Here is a like minded Scripture: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more", 2 Cor 5:16. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?", (Mark 6:3).,

So it is that we Christians have no attachment to ancestry nor fleshly descendents. We no longer attach sentiments for the natural world and it's earth centered citizens because we have been born again of the spirit and are become "new creatures" by the Spirit of God. As such, we're citizens of the Kingdom of God and we are attached to brothers and sisters who are spiritually born ... who own a spiritual heritage ... who belong to the family of God as His sons and daughters.
When Jesus was walking suntanned and fearless on the shores of Galilee, His followers properly recognized Him "after the flesh". But when Jesus arose on the Third Day and assumed his place/position at the right hand of God, His followers recognized him 'spiritually' ... no longer as Mary and Joseph's child ... not even as a Jew .. but as the triumphant King of the spiritual world.

Jesus Himself declared this principle of genuine spiritual citizenship: "While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother",

Can it be said that the geographical natural Jews are born again and have a desire to follow after the will of God as expressed in and through the teachings of Jesus? Absolutely not.
So, we should address the natural people of Israel in the same way that Jesus addressed His own mother. Jesus declared that he had no attachment to His natural brothers and sisters ... not those who belonged to Him visibly / naturally ... but only to those belonged to Him invisibly / spiritually ... those who owned a citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

This manner of conceptualizing is what forms the genuine Christian's spiritual inheritance.
Our Lord Jesus was not at one with Israel. It grieved Him that natural geographical Jerusalem rejected Him. Why? Because the Jews of Jesus' day were connected to a religion which Jesus vehemently denied.
Plain and simple: Israel is a nation in denial of our Christ ... and yet many Christians insist to remain connected to them religiously.
Our spiritual journey has us focused on the Jerusalem above ... where Christ is, and where for every natural Jew who accepts His sacrifice, a citizenship and place is prepared.

No, I'm not a JW ... and have never set foot in any of their assemblies. I'm jus' a plain' ordinary Christian who grew weary of being a pastor's parrot and took upon myself some serious Bible study over the 45 years since my first hearing the Gospel.
It's utterly painful to see how so many sincere Christians continue to attach themselves to an Israel-cult ... to the sin of idolatry.[/QUOTE]
I have one reply to your Israel-cult / idolatry and you better recheck who's side your on, yours or God's:
Genesis 12:3....I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

 

[RJ]

We read where a man, (no anti-Semite), confessed: "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh", (Rom 9:2, 3).
Did you notice how Paul referred to his Jewish roots? "According to the FLESH".
Here is a like minded Scripture: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more", 2 Cor 5:16. "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?", (Mark 6:3).,

So it is that we Christians have no attachment to ancestry nor fleshly descendents. We no longer attach sentiments for the natural world and it's earth centered citizens because we have been born again of the spirit and are become "new creatures" by the Spirit of God. As such, we're citizens of the Kingdom of God and we are attached to brothers and sisters who are spiritually born ... who own a spiritual heritage ... who belong to the family of God as His sons and daughters.
When Jesus was walking suntanned and fearless on the shores of Galilee, His followers properly recognized Him "after the flesh". But when Jesus arose on the Third Day and assumed his place/position at the right hand of God, His followers recognized him 'spiritually' ... no longer as Mary and Joseph's child ... not even as a Jew .. but as the triumphant King of the spiritual world.

Jesus Himself declared this principle of genuine spiritual citizenship: "While he yet talked to the people, behold, [his] mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother",

Can it be said that the geographical natural Jews are born again and have a desire to follow after the will of God as expressed in and through the teachings of Jesus? Absolutely not.
So, we should address the natural people of Israel in the same way that Jesus addressed His own mother. Jesus declared that he had no attachment to His natural brothers and sisters ... not those who belonged to Him visibly / naturally ... but only to those belonged to Him invisibly / spiritually ... those who owned a citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

This manner of conceptualizing is what forms the genuine Christian's spiritual inheritance.
Our Lord Jesus was not at one with Israel. It grieved Him that natural geographical Jerusalem rejected Him. Why? Because the Jews of Jesus' day were connected to a religion which Jesus vehemently denied.
Plain and simple: Israel is a nation in denial of our Christ ... and yet many Christians insist to remain connected to them religiously.
Our spiritual journey has us focused on the Jerusalem above ... where Christ is, and where for every natural Jew who accepts His sacrifice, a citizenship and place is prepared.

No, I'm not a JW ... and have never set foot in any of their assemblies. I'm jus' a plain' ordinary Christian who grew weary of being a pastor's parrot and took upon myself some serious Bible study over the 45 years since my first hearing the Gospel.
It's utterly painful to see how so many sincere Christians continue to attach themselves to an Israel-cult ... to the sin of idolatry.

I have one reply to your Israel-cult / idolatry and you better recheck who's side your on, yours or God's:
Genesis 12:3....I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."[/QUOTE]

 

[Hekuran]

It is not really a time to be all lovey dovey and loving thy neighbor.

Never expected to read that on a Christian site.

 

[B-A-C]

Eccl 3:1; There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--
Eccl 3:2; A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
Eccl 3:3; A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
Eccl 3:4; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
Eccl 3:5; A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
Eccl 3:6; A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
Eccl 3:7; A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
Eccl 3:8; A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

 

[Hekuran]

I don't see how any person, plan, policy, or spirit that sets aside "love thy neighbour" could be of Christ. Jesus himself used this phrase to summarise the way we should live in the world.

 

[B-A-C]

If someone was breaking into your house and threatening your wife and children, would you love your neighbor then?
Would you let them rape your wife and molest your children just to keep the peace? Do you really think God would want that?
If someone is threatening your life, your country, and your beliefs would you love your neighbor then?
In the case of ISIS in Afghanistan telling Christians to convert to Islam or die... would you love your neighbor then? Would you convert to Islam just to keep the peace?