By MICHAEL CURTIS, AMERICAN THINKER—
It continues to be a source of amazement that the mainstream Christian churches in the West and in the Middle East pay so little, if any, attention to the plight of Christians and the destruction of their churches in Arab and Muslim countries. Rather, they prefer to focus on the “oppression of Palestinians” so completely that they are blind to the real tragedies. This myopic lack of perceptiveness has been typical of a significant part of the Anglican Church; the Presbyterian Church, USA; the National Council of Churches; the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation; the World Council of Churches; and some Christian NGOs whose shortsightedness is limited to divestment from Israel or condemnation of it.
The most recent example of this hostility was exhibited in August 2013, at the Greenbelt Christian festival, held at the Cheltenham Racecourse in England. This festival of “arts, faith, and justice” has been held annually since 1974 and is essentially a summer camp for young Christians. However, claiming to speak on behalf of Christians and Muslims who share a belief in the “deep rooted history” and the “natural right” of Palestinians to the land of Palestine, it has become yet another forum for anti-Israeli messages. This year, the festival launched “Kairos Britain,” a pro-Palestinian Christian organization drawing its motivation from the 2009 document of the Sabeel ecumenical movement of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, Kairos Palestine Document: a Moment of Truth, which has called for BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) of Israel and has portrayed Israel as an apartheid state.
Some extreme Catholic leaders have followed the same path of hostility towards Israel and total indifference to Muslim aggression against Christians. A notable example was the statement in January 2011 by eight bishops from North America and Europe who visited Gaza. The most striking comments were by French Archbishop Michael Dubost and William Kenney, Auxiliary Bishop in Birmingham, England. Dubost told the Gaza population, “I asked prisoners in the largest prison in Europe to pray for you.” The implication was that Israel is an even worse prison. Kenney informed his congregation, “I have just returned from visiting two of the largest open prisons in the world, Bethlehem and the Gaza Strip.”
The indifference to the realities of the treatment of fellow Christians while concentrating on the criticism of Israel is equally true of Arab Christian leaders in the Middle East, who should be palpably anguished about these abuses but show little fervor to help the Christians suffering them.
The facts of the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, as well as in Nigeria, Uganda, and Pakistan, could not be clearer. Brave Christian leaders such as Naim Khoury have suffered for criticism of Muslim behavior. His church has been bombed 14 times by what he calls “extreme Hamas fundamentalists.” Since Hamas took power in Gaza in 2007, the Christian population has shrunk to about 1,500, less than half it was a decade ago. An even more unprincipled form of behavior has been the use of Christian houses by Palestinian terrorists as sniper positions to fire at Gilo, the Jerusalem suburb.
In Iraq, more than one million Christians whose families have lived in the area for centuries have been forced to flee their homes by Islamic terrorism. A Christian population once 1.4 million strong has now decreased to less than 400,000. The attack in October 2010 on the church in Baghdad killed more than 50 worshippers and left many more injured. In Egypt, perhaps as many as 100,000 Christian Copts have fled since the downfall of President Mubarak in June 2012 and the ensuing violence in the country. About 100 churches have been ransacked or burned in Egypt, and Christians have suffered from attacks not only on churches and monasteries, but also on their shops, schools, and clubs.
Perhaps the most telling commentary on the fate of Christians is their disappearance from Bethlehem. Since 1995, the city has been under Palestinian civil control, which has altered the demographics by changing boundaries, and its present population includes 20,000 Christians, one third of the population. Two decades ago, Christians accounted for 75 percent of the city’s population. In the West Bank as a whole, there are only 50,000, less than 3 percent of the total — a decline due partly to low birthrate but mainly to Christian emigration from the area.
The overriding irony is that Israel is the only country in the Middle East where people of all religions have freedom to practice their faith, and it is the only country where the number of Christians has increased. While Bethlehem has been losing its Christians, the Israeli Arab town of Nazareth is increasing its Christian population.
Instead of the Christian leaders, Arabs as well as Western, expressing outrage about persecution, there is the sound of silence — except for the assertion that Israel is responsible for the plight of Palestinians. Prominent Palestinian Christians such as Naim Ateek, Mitri Raheb, Michel Sabbah, and Fouad Twai express in similar ways the argument that Israel is responsible for suffering in the Middle East and that the Jewish state is responsible for the decline of Christianity.
Naim Ateek, an Arab citizen of Israel, is former canon of St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem and now head of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, which is dedicated to the liberation of Palestinians. Some of his utterances provide interesting reading by nature of their excessive rhetoric. In a Christmas message in 2000, ironically at a moment when Yasser Arafat was instigating the violent Second Intifada against Israel, he told his congregation that “he state of Israel has been brutally gunning down hundreds of people and injuring thousands of people whose only crime is their desire for a life of freedom and the independence of their country from the oppressive occupation. … It is the occupation that is evil and violent. It is apartheid in its ugliest form.”
Any objective observer must find Ateek’s extreme rhetoric shocking and appalling. In an Easter message of April 2001, Ateek remarked, “In this season, Lent, it seems to many of us that Jesus is on the cross again with thousands of crucified Palestinians around Him. … The Israeli government crucifixion system is operating daily.”
Ateek’s recent utterances continue this animus. At the 8th international Sabeel Conference in February 2011 in Bethlehem, he stated, “The establishment of Israel was a relapse to the most primitive concepts of an exclusive tribal God.” Ateek has spoken of the need to win the battle in Washington. In a remark in 2011 that will perhaps puzzle President Obama, he said that the Israel lobby has “confiscated American foreign policy.”
Ateek’s Sabeel Center holds annual international conferences. Previous conferences have included familiar critics of Israel Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Edward Said, and Rashid Khalidi, now of Columbia University. One should not expect pearls of wisdom, or even conciliatory remarks, to emanate from the next Sabeel conference, to be held in Jerusalem on November 20, 2013, at which the first item on the agenda is “The Occupation of the Bible and Palestine.”
A second person who can illustrate the regrettable antagonism to Israel is Fouad Twai, the Jordanian archbishop of the Catholic Church who, since 2008 has been the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and who is also the Vatican’s representative in Israel. In an interview in Die Tagespost on March 20, 2012, he said, “Israel’s existence as such has nothing to do with the Bible. … The concept of the promised land cannot be used as a base for the justification of the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of Palestinians.” At another time he condemned “the Judaization of Jerusalem.”
One can appreciate that Christians in the Middle East may be fearful of Muslim attitudes towards them, and believe that silence is the wisest option. But that does not excuse the unwillingness and failure of Church leaders there and in the West to address the problem of Islamist violence against Christians. It is high time for those leaders to express their views openly about the suffering by Christians in Arab and Muslim countries.
Amen to that! But there is at least one shining example to the contrary; and that is Father Nadaaf. I believe Father Nadaaf is Greek Orthodox. He has been trumpeting the need for Christians to appreciate and support Israel, and to admit publically the truth, that Israel is the one place in the Middle East where there is freedom and individual rights. He urges the rightness of joining the IDF and being a true patriot. He is right on. Israel shines like a beacon in an ever darkening neighborhood. Everyone who names the name of Yeshua has on obligation to do all they can to strengthen and help Israel.
Have you seen the killing of innocent Palestinian men, women and children by the hand of Israel? Do you even bother to look? The truth is that the nation of Israel is the most blood thirsty nation on the face of the earth. If you don’t believe me then maybe you will believe the book the jews live by, The Talmud. In this book, the Talmud, they refer to our lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a Bastard. Mary His mother is called a whore. Non-jews are called Goyim(animal). A Jewish Rabbi by the name of, Israel Koenig, stated in the Koenig Memorandum, “We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all services to rid the Galilee of its’ Arab population”. We Christians have been brainwashed into believing that Israel is this beacon of light in a dark world, when in fact they are what the Book of Revelation calls them, The Synagogue of Satan. Do the research people and WAKE UP!
MICHAEL YOU ARE WRONG. YOU GET YOUR FALSE INFORMATION FROM THE ANTI JEWISH ANTI ISRAEL HATERS. YOU SHOULD PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND HER PEOPLE. GOD LOVES ISRAEL AND HAS ESTABLISHED HER. ISRAEL IS A LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DARKNESS AND THE ENEMY HAS HER IN HIS SIGHT FOR DESTRUCTION. YOU DONT WANT TO BE APART OF THAT. YOU CURSE ISRAEL AND THE JEWS AND YOU WILL BE CURSED. SPREAD LOVE AND PRAY AND SEEK TRUTH!
Michael ,why does it read Steve Quayle when I click your name ?
Sounds like the dragon of Revelation 12 has placed a little leaven in your heart and
it is growing into a big weed that will choke and destroy you.
‘But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
9 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,[f] if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.’
Romans 11
If we love the Lord Jesus Christ, as we say we do, wouldn’t it make sense to heed what He actually said? Remember too, He is the living word, so He would concur with all the written word. Michael, please read and digest Jeremiah 33:19-26. See also Jeremiah 33:6-9. Read all of Psalm 102. There are just too many scriptures to site here on the subject of God’s love for Israel. Fill yourself up with God’s Word, not the hate-filled slander that is everywhere against Israel now. It isn’t, and never has been, Israel that sends homicide bombers into Arab places of business to kill and destroy. It isn’t the Israeli Jews who lie in wait to stone cars with parents and small children in them just going about their business. And in the not too distant past it has not been Israel that has attacked her neighbors with a desire to wipe them off the map. No, all these things have been perpetrated on Israel and against her, by people who do not want her to even exist. I urge you to inform yourself. with the truth.
It continues to amaze me how anyone who has studied the Bible (including prophecy) cannot clearly see that the extremely disproportionate hatred toward Israel is not normal and is driven by the prince of the power of the air (Satan). Seriously, why? GOD himself said it best in Joel 3,4.
Lets begin by Identifying whom Israel is and whom they are not, The biblical account describes two distinct separate houses one Being Israel consisting of the ten northern tribes, the other being Judah consisting of Judah, Elements of Benjamin and the levites. Israel and much of Judah went into captivity between 720-Bc around 690 by the Assyrians all that remained was Jerusalem and the surrounding cities (that’s right much of Judah went in this captivity as well) The remaining Kingdom of Judah and the residue were taken away by the Babylonians much later read Jeremiah Chap 24. Israel per say never returned to Palestine and in accordance with Jer 24 neither did the whole of Judah return as well read carefully that chapter especially the part where when they did return (i.e. Judah) they would never be removed again. Thus we have a problem here as the jews did indeed get removed by Rome. The secret itself is many of the Judeans in the time of Christ weren’t Judahites at all Like Herod whom was an Edomite the last true king was Hycanus these facts are recorded by Josephus, Africanus, Justin Martyr, Eusebuis etc. The Synagogue of Satan as referred to by Jesus in Rev 2:9,3:9 is correct, along with Jesus dialogue in John chap 8 especially verse 44, Matt 13 the wheat and the tares, Matt 23 the seven woes. Last John the Baptist. Arthur Koestler, Benjamin Freedman, and others have come out with the truth concerning the jews one only needs look them up and study. About the prince and power of the air the only ones under that influence are in facts those that worship these imposters and there crooked ways as far as Israel is concerned she is as the sand of the seas and numerous she is in fact called by a new name that is to say Christian. This may come as a shock But Abraham, Isaac,Jacob, Joseph Moses and others were never jews but were Hebrews and in Fact called Jacob Israel.
In the interest of testing all things and holding fast to what is good, I offer the following: Remember you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL and strangers to the COVENANTS OF PROMISE, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were formerly far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. Ephesians 2:12-14. Romans chapters 9-11 lay to rest, I would think, any colorful explanation as to the whys and wherefores we Christians are now the big Kahuna – and Israel not only is not – but never has been and never will be.
RichardK ,
I want to thank you for giving us the perfect example of Paul’s warning to Timothy on these last days that we happen to find ourselves in now.
You are clearly identified by the light of God’s word (below) and Jerusalem is still the city of the great king no matter how hard Satan and His imps try and erase Israel and the Jews.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Timothy 4:1
Marcel that describes you to a T here is a couple of verses to ponder on
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11, And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13, In that he said, A new covenant, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.
Qouting from Jer chap 31 Now lets see who is the new covenant for?
3, For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4, Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Don’t skip over according to the flesh NOW it is important as to what I wrote previously now since chap 11 romans came into play
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27, For this is my covenant to them, when I shall take away their sins.
28, As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.
29, For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Keep in mind the romans were branches from a wild olive tree being grafted into an olive tree no mention of figs whatsoever
Sorry Marcel I meant decribes it to a T
Sorry the first part is Paul in Hebrews chapter 8 in Jer chap 31 I believe it is more explicit concerning Ephesians the two is simple Judah and Israel it is also a play off of Ezekiel chap 37 read that not just my clipping here
20, And the sticks where on you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.
21, And say to them, Thus said the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, where they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22, And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
as far as the weren’t a nation first part of romans discussion read Hosea use your concordance have one and look for the bill of divorcement God gave Israel.
8, Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bore a son.
9, Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.
10, Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there it shall be said to them, You are the sons of the living God.
11, Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
You folks should know verses did not Paul express that you are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Yahshua as the head?