In Defense of Israel, the Gospel of the Kingdom, and the God of Love
Helena Lehman
March 05, 2008
In this article, I want to address some things that have been weighing heavy on my heart about the situation in Israel today, the Christian response to Israel and Islam, and the skewed perception of Israel and Christianity given by the International Press.
After reading another week's worth of biased news articles that call terrorists by the more politically correct word "militants," and reading the unwarranted statements made by the EU, UN, Turkey, and other nations toward Israel about using "excessive force" whenever it tries to defend itself, I feel led to speak out on behalf of Israel.
Early in the morning on Sunday, March 2nd, Israeli troops began withdrawing from Palestinian-controlled Gaza, where they had just finished attacking known Hamas terrorists cells in an offensive against Palestinian rocket squads. After receiving criticism from around the world for their actions, however, government spokesman David Baker had this to say in Israel's defense:
"Our efforts against the rocket launchers and those who operate them will continue unabated until Israeli children will no longer be attacked while sitting in their own classrooms, and until their families can sit in their own homes without fear of a rocket crashing through their roof."
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak backed Baker's statement by saying that a full-scale invasion was still possible, and Israel might try to bring down the regime of the Islamic Hamas. According to a statement from his office, Barak said: "We will use force to change the situation" at a meeting of security commanders late Sunday.
I applaud Israel for finally taking a bold stance in the face of continuous terrorism, and growing world-wide Anti-Semitic hatred. I also hope many Israelis have noted how the Almighty God of Israel has defended them despite the fact that Islamic terrorists have lobbed over 2000 missiles into Israel in the last year alone. Though there has been much destruction of physical property, very few Israelis have died in the missile strikes.
In Israel's latest offensive against Hamas terrorists, which has led the Palestinian president to call off peace talks, over 100 Palestinians have died, while there were only a few casualties on the Israeli side. Part of the reason for the low Israeli casualties and high Palestinian death toll is no doubt divine intervention. In addition, a known terrorist tactic is to hide-out in civilian neighborhoods, thereby making it almost impossible to attack the terrorist cells without killing "innocent" civilians caught in the cross fire.
As regards these "innocent" civilians, however, the majority of these Muslims freely aid, and abet the terrorists living in their neighborhoods, thereby becoming accomplices in the Palestinian terrorist mission to destroy Israel, and reclaim the land as their own. That is why, despite days of fierce Israeli assaults, Gaza terrorists are continuing to launch rocket barrages into Ashkelon, a city of 120,000 in southern Israel. Three rockets hit Ashkelon on the morning of Monday, March 3rd alone, with one scoring a direct hit on an apartment building. Again, miraculously, no casualties were reported.
The lack of Israeli casualties in terrorist attacks on the country shows that God is literally on Israel's side. That is why I feel the United States should withdraw from Israeli politics, and allow them to deal with the terrorist threat surrounding them in their own way. If we would do this, I have great faith that Yahweh would defend Israel, as it already has in every Muslim plot to wipe Israel off the map. If we allow God to intervene without interfering in the war between Israel and Ishmael (i.e. the Muslims), then I know that Israel will ultimately defeat all their enemies.
Nonetheless, it is hard for America to do this now. After the successful terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, in which thousands of Americans died a horrible death, we are now embroiled in the same war against the fanatical terrorist branch of Islam that Israel is fighting.
This is why, though I don't necessarily agree with it, I understand the feelings of Vice Premier Haim Ramon of Israel, who feels Israel should consider returning fire at the Palestinian rocket launchers, even if it means shelling populated areas. In the end, Ramon feels that this will save lives on both sides, since he supposes that Palestinian civilians would either force the rocket squads from their neighborhoods, or that the terrorists will flee themselves.
Ramon also told Israel Radio officials early on Monday that "no reasonable country" would object to Israeli efforts to defend itself. Sadly, however, Ramon is mistaken, as many supposedly "reasonable" Western and Eastern countries have condemned, and will continue to condemn any and every reasonable Israeli attempt to defend itself against its Islamic enemies - as already stated.
This news is especially sad since this is the 60th anniversary of Israel as a recognized nation, and the many celebrations that have been planned throughout Israel this year will likely be adversely affected by the war that they, and we must fight against their terrorist neighbors in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere.
This brings me to mention my last article about a past relationship with a Palestinian Arab, and the love I showed him by giving him a copy of the Injil, or New Testament in Arabic. In light of the devout Muslim's hunger to please God at any cost, would it be possible to win the War against Terror with continual and outrageous displays of God's love for Muslims, despite their antagonism of anyone who does not share their love of the Koran, with its "Jihad" mentality? Even if it wouldn't, however, this is what Christ has called every Christian to do!
God's Son calls Christians everywhere to show His outrageous sacrificial love for mankind to everyone they meet, just as Christ showed His selfless love for His own brethren (the Jews) by dying at their hands, and the hands of the Romans (i.e. every Romanized Gentile). After all, Christ not only died for their sins, but for the sins of the whole world - and these sins were not His own, for Christ was perfect! This is why Christ said:
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." - Luke 9:23-24 (NKJ)
To lose our lives in Christ, we are not called to take up weapons, but a cross! We are not called to fight a war with swords and spears, but with the living Spirit of the God of Love!
Get it straight! If you call yourself a Christian, then you are among the chosen people of the God of Love, and the Jews have become your brethren! This means that you are a part of Israel, and are called to love and defend Israel against all of its enemies, whether seen or unseen in the spiritual realm. As the Apostle Paul so wisely said:
Ephesians 6:12-18 (NIV): "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
This means that the ideological war we are fighting with Muslims has a sinister, and pervasive spiritual dimension operating behind the scenes. We therefore have been given spiritual weapons to fight it with. As listed in the above Scripture, these consist of truth, righteousness, servanthood, faith, the assurance of salvation, and the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, which is allegorically described as a sword, and is wielded through prayer. In other words, there is absolutely no New Testament support for wielding real guns or swords as was done in Old Testament times! That's right, none!
Totally unlike Islam, New Testament Christianity is meant to be a true religion of peace. As a clear example of this, consider this Scripture, which is often quoted as a proof that Christians are meant to fight their enemies physically as well as spiritually:
Luke 22:36-38 (NKJ): "Then He said to them, 'But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end.' So they said, 'Lord, look, here are two swords.' And He said to them, 'It is enough.' "
Here, Christ was teaching that the apostles would no longer be amply provided for by those they visited, but would have to endure much hardship after Christ died and rose from the dead. Also, from His humorously sarcastic response to the apostles when they showed Him two material swords, it is obvious that Christ was referring to the invisible sword of the Holy Spirit that is described as an integral part of the Armor of God, and which has far more power to fight evil than any physical weapon we could possibly invent!
But the secular world knows nothing about the power of the One True God! Because of this, they are blind to their dependence on, love for, and glamorization of violence, sexuality, and sin in all their forms of entertainment. Yet, despite this, they feel justified in being angry at Israel for not showing enough love to their violent and hateful Palestinian neighbors.
Though Christ taught against it, they do not see the log in their own eyes, but only the speck in Israel's eye! This is why the secular world has little love for Israel, or for the poor, needy, or falsely accused around the globe that do not have wealth, or political power at their disposal. This makes the entire world as guilty as Israel for not showing God's love to their neighbors!
We all should be ashamed for not loudly protesting every human-rights violation and genocidal atrocity that has occurred over the years with ever-increasing frequency around the world - especially those directed toward Christians being subjugated or killed by atheistic Communists, or Muslim radicals. Recent examples of this include the genocide and famine in Ethiopia that killed 300,000 in the early 80's, and the similar mass genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan going on today, in which the Arab militants in power there have already claimed the lives of over 200,000 Christians.
But beyond every peaceful protest, Christians are called to show love toward wayward people and nations, not just by filling their empty bellies with food, or treating their physical wounds, but by filling their wounded hearts and empty spirits with the Love of Christ, and the Good News of the everlasting, righteous Kingdom of God, which allows Christ to reign invisibly within every born-again believer until He comes again to rule on Earth!
Therein lies the problem with the secularized world we live in, where it has become alright to be religious behind closed doors, but not to express it in any area of the public arena. In this way, Christians around the world are being effectively silenced, and the only true Gospel that can make this spiritually starved world a better place - the Gospel of Christ, and of the Kingdom of the God of Love - is being repressed, misrepresented, and denied.
That is why mankind cannot, and will not ever be able to solve the world's problems without Christ's return! By denying a place for the God of Love in world affairs, the people of the world have lost God's sole ability to love righteously, and justly. Many apostate Christians will therefore reap God's wrath in the coming judgment of the world, and they will suffer as harshly as their pagan neighbors, unless they repent and do as Christ said they should do:
Matthew 5:44 (NKJ): "I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Hebrews 10:30 (NKJ): "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The Lord will judge His people.' "
It is therefore God Almighty who is supposed to be physically fighting our battles, not us! Instead, we are called to fight by calling on the Holy Spirit, who will fight every evil that comes our way if we unwaveringly trust God! Also for this reason, our armies will not win our battles unless the God of Israel and His holy angels are invisibly with them. This is why it is so important to continually pray for our soldiers who are fighting in the Middle East, and elsewhere.
In the meantime, the choice to love in peace, or hate with violence is yours! You can continue to spew hatred and contempt for anyone different than you, and threaten them with violence, or you can show them the gentle Love of God, and the acceptance and forgiveness that Christ showed you, even though you didn't, and don't deserve forgiveness, kindness, or love any more than the terrorists or anarchists do in today's world.
NOTE: All Scriptures Taken from the PC Study Bible, by Biblesoft, Inc. Using the New King James Version (NKJ) by Thomas Nelson Publishers, or The New International Version (NIV) by Zondervan Publishers.
After reading another week's worth of biased news articles that call terrorists by the more politically correct word "militants," and reading the unwarranted statements made by the EU, UN, Turkey, and other nations toward Israel about using "excessive force" whenever it tries to defend itself, I feel led to speak out on behalf of Israel.
Early in the morning on Sunday, March 2nd, Israeli troops began withdrawing from Palestinian-controlled Gaza, where they had just finished attacking known Hamas terrorists cells in an offensive against Palestinian rocket squads. After receiving criticism from around the world for their actions, however, government spokesman David Baker had this to say in Israel's defense:
"Our efforts against the rocket launchers and those who operate them will continue unabated until Israeli children will no longer be attacked while sitting in their own classrooms, and until their families can sit in their own homes without fear of a rocket crashing through their roof."
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak backed Baker's statement by saying that a full-scale invasion was still possible, and Israel might try to bring down the regime of the Islamic Hamas. According to a statement from his office, Barak said: "We will use force to change the situation" at a meeting of security commanders late Sunday.
I applaud Israel for finally taking a bold stance in the face of continuous terrorism, and growing world-wide Anti-Semitic hatred. I also hope many Israelis have noted how the Almighty God of Israel has defended them despite the fact that Islamic terrorists have lobbed over 2000 missiles into Israel in the last year alone. Though there has been much destruction of physical property, very few Israelis have died in the missile strikes.
In Israel's latest offensive against Hamas terrorists, which has led the Palestinian president to call off peace talks, over 100 Palestinians have died, while there were only a few casualties on the Israeli side. Part of the reason for the low Israeli casualties and high Palestinian death toll is no doubt divine intervention. In addition, a known terrorist tactic is to hide-out in civilian neighborhoods, thereby making it almost impossible to attack the terrorist cells without killing "innocent" civilians caught in the cross fire.
As regards these "innocent" civilians, however, the majority of these Muslims freely aid, and abet the terrorists living in their neighborhoods, thereby becoming accomplices in the Palestinian terrorist mission to destroy Israel, and reclaim the land as their own. That is why, despite days of fierce Israeli assaults, Gaza terrorists are continuing to launch rocket barrages into Ashkelon, a city of 120,000 in southern Israel. Three rockets hit Ashkelon on the morning of Monday, March 3rd alone, with one scoring a direct hit on an apartment building. Again, miraculously, no casualties were reported.
The lack of Israeli casualties in terrorist attacks on the country shows that God is literally on Israel's side. That is why I feel the United States should withdraw from Israeli politics, and allow them to deal with the terrorist threat surrounding them in their own way. If we would do this, I have great faith that Yahweh would defend Israel, as it already has in every Muslim plot to wipe Israel off the map. If we allow God to intervene without interfering in the war between Israel and Ishmael (i.e. the Muslims), then I know that Israel will ultimately defeat all their enemies.
Nonetheless, it is hard for America to do this now. After the successful terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, in which thousands of Americans died a horrible death, we are now embroiled in the same war against the fanatical terrorist branch of Islam that Israel is fighting.
This is why, though I don't necessarily agree with it, I understand the feelings of Vice Premier Haim Ramon of Israel, who feels Israel should consider returning fire at the Palestinian rocket launchers, even if it means shelling populated areas. In the end, Ramon feels that this will save lives on both sides, since he supposes that Palestinian civilians would either force the rocket squads from their neighborhoods, or that the terrorists will flee themselves.
Ramon also told Israel Radio officials early on Monday that "no reasonable country" would object to Israeli efforts to defend itself. Sadly, however, Ramon is mistaken, as many supposedly "reasonable" Western and Eastern countries have condemned, and will continue to condemn any and every reasonable Israeli attempt to defend itself against its Islamic enemies - as already stated.
This news is especially sad since this is the 60th anniversary of Israel as a recognized nation, and the many celebrations that have been planned throughout Israel this year will likely be adversely affected by the war that they, and we must fight against their terrorist neighbors in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere.
This brings me to mention my last article about a past relationship with a Palestinian Arab, and the love I showed him by giving him a copy of the Injil, or New Testament in Arabic. In light of the devout Muslim's hunger to please God at any cost, would it be possible to win the War against Terror with continual and outrageous displays of God's love for Muslims, despite their antagonism of anyone who does not share their love of the Koran, with its "Jihad" mentality? Even if it wouldn't, however, this is what Christ has called every Christian to do!
God's Son calls Christians everywhere to show His outrageous sacrificial love for mankind to everyone they meet, just as Christ showed His selfless love for His own brethren (the Jews) by dying at their hands, and the hands of the Romans (i.e. every Romanized Gentile). After all, Christ not only died for their sins, but for the sins of the whole world - and these sins were not His own, for Christ was perfect! This is why Christ said:
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." - Luke 9:23-24 (NKJ)
To lose our lives in Christ, we are not called to take up weapons, but a cross! We are not called to fight a war with swords and spears, but with the living Spirit of the God of Love!
Get it straight! If you call yourself a Christian, then you are among the chosen people of the God of Love, and the Jews have become your brethren! This means that you are a part of Israel, and are called to love and defend Israel against all of its enemies, whether seen or unseen in the spiritual realm. As the Apostle Paul so wisely said:
Ephesians 6:12-18 (NIV): "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
This means that the ideological war we are fighting with Muslims has a sinister, and pervasive spiritual dimension operating behind the scenes. We therefore have been given spiritual weapons to fight it with. As listed in the above Scripture, these consist of truth, righteousness, servanthood, faith, the assurance of salvation, and the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, which is allegorically described as a sword, and is wielded through prayer. In other words, there is absolutely no New Testament support for wielding real guns or swords as was done in Old Testament times! That's right, none!
Totally unlike Islam, New Testament Christianity is meant to be a true religion of peace. As a clear example of this, consider this Scripture, which is often quoted as a proof that Christians are meant to fight their enemies physically as well as spiritually:
Luke 22:36-38 (NKJ): "Then He said to them, 'But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end.' So they said, 'Lord, look, here are two swords.' And He said to them, 'It is enough.' "
Here, Christ was teaching that the apostles would no longer be amply provided for by those they visited, but would have to endure much hardship after Christ died and rose from the dead. Also, from His humorously sarcastic response to the apostles when they showed Him two material swords, it is obvious that Christ was referring to the invisible sword of the Holy Spirit that is described as an integral part of the Armor of God, and which has far more power to fight evil than any physical weapon we could possibly invent!
But the secular world knows nothing about the power of the One True God! Because of this, they are blind to their dependence on, love for, and glamorization of violence, sexuality, and sin in all their forms of entertainment. Yet, despite this, they feel justified in being angry at Israel for not showing enough love to their violent and hateful Palestinian neighbors.
Though Christ taught against it, they do not see the log in their own eyes, but only the speck in Israel's eye! This is why the secular world has little love for Israel, or for the poor, needy, or falsely accused around the globe that do not have wealth, or political power at their disposal. This makes the entire world as guilty as Israel for not showing God's love to their neighbors!
We all should be ashamed for not loudly protesting every human-rights violation and genocidal atrocity that has occurred over the years with ever-increasing frequency around the world - especially those directed toward Christians being subjugated or killed by atheistic Communists, or Muslim radicals. Recent examples of this include the genocide and famine in Ethiopia that killed 300,000 in the early 80's, and the similar mass genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan going on today, in which the Arab militants in power there have already claimed the lives of over 200,000 Christians.
But beyond every peaceful protest, Christians are called to show love toward wayward people and nations, not just by filling their empty bellies with food, or treating their physical wounds, but by filling their wounded hearts and empty spirits with the Love of Christ, and the Good News of the everlasting, righteous Kingdom of God, which allows Christ to reign invisibly within every born-again believer until He comes again to rule on Earth!
Therein lies the problem with the secularized world we live in, where it has become alright to be religious behind closed doors, but not to express it in any area of the public arena. In this way, Christians around the world are being effectively silenced, and the only true Gospel that can make this spiritually starved world a better place - the Gospel of Christ, and of the Kingdom of the God of Love - is being repressed, misrepresented, and denied.
That is why mankind cannot, and will not ever be able to solve the world's problems without Christ's return! By denying a place for the God of Love in world affairs, the people of the world have lost God's sole ability to love righteously, and justly. Many apostate Christians will therefore reap God's wrath in the coming judgment of the world, and they will suffer as harshly as their pagan neighbors, unless they repent and do as Christ said they should do:
Matthew 5:44 (NKJ): "I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Hebrews 10:30 (NKJ): "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The Lord will judge His people.' "
It is therefore God Almighty who is supposed to be physically fighting our battles, not us! Instead, we are called to fight by calling on the Holy Spirit, who will fight every evil that comes our way if we unwaveringly trust God! Also for this reason, our armies will not win our battles unless the God of Israel and His holy angels are invisibly with them. This is why it is so important to continually pray for our soldiers who are fighting in the Middle East, and elsewhere.
In the meantime, the choice to love in peace, or hate with violence is yours! You can continue to spew hatred and contempt for anyone different than you, and threaten them with violence, or you can show them the gentle Love of God, and the acceptance and forgiveness that Christ showed you, even though you didn't, and don't deserve forgiveness, kindness, or love any more than the terrorists or anarchists do in today's world.
NOTE: All Scriptures Taken from the PC Study Bible, by Biblesoft, Inc. Using the New King James Version (NKJ) by Thomas Nelson Publishers, or The New International Version (NIV) by Zondervan Publishers.
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