Comments on: Israel Report, Pt. 2: ‘Stuck In A Moment’ http://postchristianblog.com/blog/israel-report-pt-2-stuck-in-a-moment Blog Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:58:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Cathy Loeppke http://postchristianblog.com/blog/israel-report-pt-2-stuck-in-a-moment#comment-1244 Cathy Loeppke Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:48:18 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=640#comment-1244 Tim, I know your “report” is as much a witness of your heart as it is an eye witness report. As I read your post, I thought about the first time I read Elias Chacour’s article on your David Group International site. I remember choking back the tears as I read his gripping words expressing his experience of longing to be recognized and affirmed as simply a “brother” through Abraham - worthy of love and dignity because he’s created by and in the image of God . For so long, many in our evangelical traditions have ignored the needs of our own Palestinian brothers/sisters for no other reason than a mis-guided understanding and application of particular scriptural passages of prophecy. It’s as if by embracing one theological viewpoint, we are excused from and/or allowed to forfeit a basic, primary teaching of our scriptures to love, serve, and bear one another’s burdens…..that in some way, God favors a “people” to such extent that the suffering of God’s other “children” may be ignored as if it is perfectly acceptable/honorable to do so. It is certainly “Religion”… rather than a way of being in the world as Jesus taught. I’m not pointing my finger without accepting the truth I have been guilty at times in my life of having had my head buried in the sand because of mis-guided theology. I would never have begun to grasp the heart of this issue without engaging with the “stories” of people like Elias Chacour. I personally believe the path of peace will be built much more through relational means than informational means, though information/education is important. For example, although I’d read news stories about the Rwandan genocide, I’d remained somewhat detached until I befriended a couple who had lived it. As I heard their stories, I understood and responded in ways I never would have just by reading an article, book or watching a TV news report. I had the heartache of connecting to their pain and yet the privilege of learning from and sharing in their forgiveness. I’m an avid reader/news junkie, but I’ve learned the most and been moved to more mercy and action from sitting with the poverty stricken -eating what they eat, or hearing one’s stories of suffering under a communist regime, through hours of conversation with a career military officer who served in several conflicts around the world, or learning from a POW’s account of the horrors of humanity contrasted with the courage and mercy of strangers. It is through relationship that my mind has been renewed and my heart changed. A few decades ago, I met a devout Mormon man through business. As we became acquainted and began discussing our “church” backgrounds I asked him: “Tell me what you think we might have in common in our faith journey”…..and from there, we began to discover our common beliefs and share some wonderful stories of engaging with our Creator. There was no purpose in viewing one another as opponents. Today’s post also brought to mind the parable of the good Samaritan. In Luke 10, the parable follows the command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus is then asked…”who is my neighbor?” As He shares the parable, he returns the question: “which do you think was the neighbor? And gets the answer: “He who showed mercy”. Jesus said: “Go and do likewise”. All over the world, in other cultures, religions and traditions, we find those who show mercy….they are our neighbors, though we may be quite different. The question is not only--“who is my neighbor”, but to whom will I be a neighbor? There are enough “neighbors” to build the pathway…but we must be intentional in reaching out to them. You and your fellow travelers have just demonstrated this parable…thanks for setting the example and extending the challenge. Many of us will be joining you in building a relational pathway to peace! I sure look forward to your next post and learning more from your experience there! Tim, I know your “report” is as much a witness of your heart as it is an eye witness report. As I read your post, I thought about the first time I read Elias Chacour’s article on your David Group International site. I remember choking back the tears as I read his gripping words expressing his experience of longing to be recognized and affirmed as simply a “brother” through Abraham – worthy of love and dignity because he’s created by and in the image of God . For so long, many in our evangelical traditions have ignored the needs of our own Palestinian brothers/sisters for no other reason than a mis-guided understanding and application of particular scriptural passages of prophecy. It’s as if by embracing one theological viewpoint, we are excused from and/or allowed to forfeit a basic, primary teaching of our scriptures to love, serve, and bear one another’s burdens…..that in some way, God favors a “people” to such extent that the suffering of God’s other “children” may be ignored as if it is perfectly acceptable/honorable to do so. It is certainly “Religion”… rather than a way of being in the world as Jesus taught. I’m not pointing my finger without accepting the truth I have been guilty at times in my life of having had my head buried in the sand because of mis-guided theology. I would never have begun to grasp the heart of this issue without engaging with the “stories” of people like Elias Chacour. I personally believe the path of peace will be built much more through relational means than informational means, though information/education is important.

For example, although I’d read news stories about the Rwandan genocide, I’d remained somewhat detached until I befriended a couple who had lived it. As I heard their stories, I understood and responded in ways I never would have just by reading an article, book or watching a TV news report. I had the heartache of connecting to their pain and yet the privilege of learning from and sharing in their forgiveness. I’m an avid reader/news junkie, but I’ve learned the most and been moved to more mercy and action from sitting with the poverty stricken -eating what they eat, or hearing one’s stories of suffering under a communist regime, through hours of conversation with a career military officer who served in several conflicts around the world, or learning from a POW’s account of the horrors of humanity contrasted with the courage and mercy of strangers. It is through relationship that my mind has been renewed and my heart changed. A few decades ago, I met a devout Mormon man through business. As we became acquainted and began discussing our “church” backgrounds I asked him: “Tell me what you think we might have in common in our faith journey”…..and from there, we began to discover our common beliefs and share some wonderful stories of engaging with our Creator. There was no purpose in viewing one another as opponents.

Today’s post also brought to mind the parable of the good Samaritan. In Luke 10, the parable follows the command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus is then asked…”who is my neighbor?” As He shares the parable, he returns the question: “which do you think was the neighbor? And gets the answer: “He who showed mercy”. Jesus said: “Go and do likewise”. All over the world, in other cultures, religions and traditions, we find those who show mercy….they are our neighbors, though we may be quite different. The question is not only–“who is my neighbor”, but to whom will I be a neighbor? There are enough “neighbors” to build the pathway…but we must be intentional in reaching out to them. You and your fellow travelers have just demonstrated this parable…thanks for setting the example and extending the challenge. Many of us will be joining you in building a relational pathway to peace! I sure look forward to your next post and learning more from your experience there!

]]> By: Mark Eaton http://postchristianblog.com/blog/israel-report-pt-2-stuck-in-a-moment#comment-1242 Mark Eaton Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:58:30 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=640#comment-1242 Dear Tim, Excellent blog. I used to admire people who would die for there beliefs. I saw that as revolutionary. I now see the God of Peace. To bring Peace to conflict is more revolutionary. Dear Tim,
Excellent blog. I used to admire people who would die for there beliefs. I saw that as revolutionary. I now see the God of Peace. To bring Peace to conflict is more revolutionary.

]]> By: Nick http://postchristianblog.com/blog/israel-report-pt-2-stuck-in-a-moment#comment-1241 Nick Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:30:34 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=640#comment-1241 I appreciate your thoughts. Peace I appreciate your thoughts.
Peace

]]> By: ~Katherine http://postchristianblog.com/blog/israel-report-pt-2-stuck-in-a-moment#comment-1238 ~Katherine Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:32:22 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=640#comment-1238 Definitely this isn't just a problem over there. The US finances Israel's military to the tune of $7 million per day. :( Definitely this isn’t just a problem over there. The US finances Israel’s military to the tune of $7 million per day. :(

]]> By: Dena Brehm http://postchristianblog.com/blog/israel-report-pt-2-stuck-in-a-moment#comment-1236 Dena Brehm Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:21:22 +0000 http://postchristianblog.com/?p=640#comment-1236 Your question, "what is the basis of this conflict - when did it begin and over what" ... brings to mind the book that I'm reading (recommended by Mike Morrell) ... "The Fall: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of A New Era" (http://tinyurl.com/y9jhgb8). ('course, if he told me, you likely already knew...) Fascinating read!!! Your question, “what is the basis of this conflict – when did it begin and over what” … brings to mind the book that I’m reading (recommended by Mike Morrell) … “The Fall: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of A New Era” (http://tinyurl.com/y9jhgb8).

(‘course, if he told me, you likely already knew…)

Fascinating read!!!

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