Kingdom Harbor

Mainstream media coverage of the war in Israel in the West, on both right wing and left wing outlets, both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian narratives, is often missing the reality “on the ground.” Furthermore, and most importantly, neither narratives even try to look at the situation from a uniquely Christian and Jesus-shaped point of view.

Preston Sprinkle, an Evangelical thinker, author and host of “Theology in the Raw” podcast, has worked hard to have guests on his show to help us get behind these political and nationalistic narratives, and to grapple with the long and fraught history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a Biblical and Jesus-shaped point of view. I am grateful and want to share commend a few episodes for your consideration.

First, I just finished this episode with a Gazan Christian theologian. The last 15 minutes brought me to tears. Dr. Yousef AlKhouri (Ph.D. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) is Christian Arab Palestinian theologian and activist. He was born in Gaza to a Christian family that has a long heritage of serving in the priesthood of the Greek Orthodox Church. He is married to Merna and they live in Bethlehem, Palestine.

The conversation covers various topics related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the role of Palestinians as cheap labor for the Israeli economy, the impact of Hamas on the economic situation in Gaza, the media’s portrayal of the conflict, and the experience of Palestinians at checkpoints. The guest emphasizes the importance of nonviolent resistance and calls for the church to prioritize the message of Jesus over nationalism. He also encourages listeners to educate themselves about the history and theology of the conflict and to visit Palestine to see the reality on the ground.

Second, turn your attention to Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, an Orthodox Jewish Zionist. He a passionate Zionist settler who has been profoundly transformed by his encounters with Palestinians and the Palestinian People beginning in late 2013. Originally hailing from New York, Rav Hanan immigrated to Israel on his own at the age of 20 and has lived in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion, for almost 35 years. In early 2014, Ali Abu Awwad and an Israeli partner Shaul Judelman, together with Rav Hanan and other Israelis and Palestinians, founded Roots/Judur/Shorashim. He also is the founder of the American Friends of Roots, a multi-faith organization dedicated to supporting the work of Roots/Shorashim/Judur. Rav Hanan frequently speaks in the USA together with one of his Palestinian partner about the amazing work that Roots/Shorashim/Judur is doing in Judea/Palestine.

Third, New Testament scholar Gary Burge addresses one of the most controversial questions and popular sentiment held (mistakenly, in my opinion) by many Evangelical Christians: Do Christians have a theological obligation to support the modern state of Israel? Many simply accept the logic that says, “Israel is God’s people and that’s the land he gave them.” But is it that simple? Expand your thinking, set nationalistic ideologies aside, and wade into the real complexities of this issue when looked at from the perspective of Jesus and the New Testament.

Dr. Burge has taught at North Park University (Illinois), Wheaton College (Illinois), and Calvin Theological Seminary (Michigan). He’s the author of many books including two on the theology of the land promise: Jesus and the Land and Whose Land? Whose Promise?

The ongoing war in Gaza is tragic and there are no simple answers. Evil needs to be condemned. Perpetrators need to be brought to justice. Hostages need to be released. Civilian lives need to be protected. Humanitarian aid needs to be prioritized. Christians need to follow Jesus’ (not Zionist ideologies, or political allegiances, etc.) in calling for peace and a swift end to the violence.

The media coverage of the university campus protests is a whole other conversation for another day, but another instance of both sides of the media and partisan narratives largely getting it wrong, amplifying the extreme voices on both sides, and failing to listen to the more complex reality and more reasonable voices — especially Jesus-shaped voices informed by a New Testament that calls us beyond a simplistic blood and soil view.

Thanks, Preston Sprinkle, for giving Christians “who have ears to hear” (and who aren’t hopelessly locked into partisan echo chambers) so many great conversations to learn and grow from. Add “Theology in the Raw” to your playlist and check out his vast library of substantive conversations here.