This post falls in the sphere of ethics and theopolitics, and is a little different than my usual posts. I am not sure how much my readers follow current events (although it is harder and harder not to, methinks!), but I simply wanted to alert those who don’t to the fact that anti-semitism (or anti-Zionism) is on the rise in a serious way in the world (if you haven’t noticed). As some may know there was a “freedom flotilla” against Israel back in May 2010; well, they are planning another one — this one is supposed to be bigger, you can read about that here. Also, there is a call for what is being called “The 2011 March of Return”, a call for millions of Palestinians, and their non-Palestinian supporters to march into Israel on May 15th; read about that here. And then to understand some of the rage against Israel, listen to the “rap” performed by British-Arab rapper “Lowkey“:
We don’t live in a happy world! I think we all need Jesus!! What do you think about the mood that is permeating the globe? And what do you think about the politics in Israel and Palestine? Does Israel have a right to protect themselves as a country? Does the Palestinian government have the right to engage in the activity that they do against Israel? I know this post is a can of worms, but this is a blog. Do you see any theological significance with what is going on in Israel and Palestine (and I’m not looking for a dispy premil answer, but your answer; what do you think about the “theopolitics” going on in Israel, how does it fit into your broader Christian belief that the nations of the world belong to our Christian God)?
Why should Christ-hating Jews have more rights than Palestinian Christians? Keep in mind that Palestian Christians cannot become citizens of Israel. If you truly wanted to get rid of anti-semitism, then everyone should agree to call the Talmud for what it is–Satanic bile. But yet that is enshrined in the cultural milieu of Zionism. Who is more bigoted: the Palestian Christian is fighting for their own existence, or the Talmudist Zionist who says, per his religious and cultural documents, that Jesus is boiling in semen, the gentiles are mere cattle, and that the Virgin Mary f***ked her best man on her wedding night?
Anyway, anti-semitism simply means “anything Jews don’t like.” In America, anti-Christ Abe Foxman tried to get the New Testament banned as “hate speech,” for he rightly saw what it said about Jews.
Speaking of national rights to existence, Jesus told the Talmudists that the kingdom of heaven is taken from you and given to a nation bearing fruit. Israel’s geo-political right ceased at that moment.
Sorry to sound harsh, but I am looking at it from the perspective–trying to, anyway–of an Arab Orthodox Christian who had his home bulldozed by Talmudists who are funded by American tax dollars.
Jacob,
I grew up with some Palestinian Christians, and yes, they didn’t like Jews or Israel, in general. I doubt that many Jews in the leadership of Israel follow the Talmud. I’m not surprised that Jews, in general, hate Christ, are you? But then, you and I both hated Jesus at one point too. True, the language of anti-semitism has connoated some soft cultural political rhetoric today, in America and the West; but that’s not its only signification, there is a true anti-semitism still available, which the rap illustrates. It’s the kind that wants to wipe Israel off of the map, and into the Med. sea (you know, like another holocaust) — you don’t think that that parallels the logic that led to Hitler’s holocaust (sees Israel as rats)? Do you see Israel’s goal to be to wipe the Palestinians off the map? I don’t! In fact most Jews in Israel are atheists/agnostic and secular; many of them want a two-state solution as well. But then of course the Palestinians are a proxy-state propped up by the Arab nations (and Persian) to create a beachhead for them in the Israeli territory. So the “reality” is is that ALL MUSLIMS are united around one reality (and its actually a formal doctrine), they want to see Israel annihilated, and even most secular Jews in Israel know that; which is why even though know that a two-state reality won’t ever really work . . . that’s just naive.
I don’t think the Church is a state though. And Jesus and Paul also said that the natural olive branch “WILL” be regrafted back into their Olive Tree (the remnant of ethnic Jews who will be and are being saved Rom 9–11). But I’m not necessarily arguing for Israel’s geo-political right on theological grounds, I’m suggesting that as a “sovereign Nation” that they have the same right to protect themselves as America or any other State does; do you agree with that premise, or disagree?
On a humanitarian, ethical, and Christian ground; I think what is taking place in Israel/Palestine is awful. Just as I think any blood-shed and war is. But I just think it’s interesting that there is this double standard often placed on Israel. Much of this comes down to “Just War” principles, ethically and geo-politically (and if one believes there is such a thing from a Christian perspective).
Per the holocaust, that’s exactly what Israel is doing to Palestinians today. Everyday is Kristallnacht. As to the regrafting, it makes more sense to see that of Jewish rather than the secular nation state of Israel. Positing that the secular nation state of Israel is what is regrafted is simply an assertion.
While I don’t necessarily want to see Israel “annihilated,” I don’t think the Israel state has that impressive a claim to innate existence. Or if they do, it pales before the Palestianians. Israel was founded in violence aided by Masonic Brits. That’s not a very good start.
As to the Talmud, it’s better to say that the Talmud forms the cultural matrix. I think that is true because of the Khazars (I refuse to call them Jews because they aren’t ethnic semites) had a close-knit existence in communities in Europe for hundreds of years, hearing the Talmud expounded. Whether they believe it or not is irrelevant (and most communities don’t view their sacred texts in the same way that the Evanglical has his quiet time); it formed the existential worldview.
The Talmudic teaching prevents Israel from any real solution. Palestianians cannot be granted real citizenship becomes goyim cattle don’t have the same existential status as the Jew. Here’s a practical illustration. If Palestinians had equal status as “Jews,” then trial by jury is impossible for the Talmud states that Goyim cannot judge “Jews.” As long as Israel keeps up its arrogant Talmudism, quite frankly it is bringing this on itself.
@Jacob
1) You’re not suggesting that Israel is targeting civilians, are you? To me, ethically, that’s the difference between what Palestinians do and Israel does (PLA-hamas) targets civilian targets (as its mode), Israel does not. I don’t see the “state” as what is regrafted but ethnic Jews.
2) And how were the Palestinians founded? Who are they? Are they the Philistines reincarnate? Are they Jordanians? Are they Persians? Are they Arabs? If they are, why won’t some of their Arab brothers simply give them land in their country (if the Arabs are that concerned about their brethren). Who gave Palestine the “Land?”
3) How would you go about proving that they aren’t Jews? You seem to be referring to them as some sort of Russian deviate, but that can’t be their only blood line? Are you suggesting there are not pure blooded Jews around today? I agree with you on the Talmud (its a cultural marker, more than a spiritual one).
4) My question to you, though, is how it is that the Palestinians have a “right” to the land, anymore than Israel? And I don’t even necessarily base that question on theological grounds?
Jesus told the Christ-killers that the kingdom of heaven would be taken away from them and given to a nation bearing fruit. While connoting more than the nation state of Israel, it certainly includes at least that.
1. As to Palestinians, since both Muslims and Jews hate Christ (I take that back. Ahmenijad, while reprobate, spoke more highly of Christ than the Talmudist does today), and yet many of the Palestinians are Orthodox, and that much of church history rightly saw the usurous Jew for what he was (see Chrysostom and Clement), exactly how do Jews have a better claim on Palestine than Muslims? Christ told the Jews that they would lose their land. They lost it. Greeks then inhabited it. True, Muslims took it over, but even then it was touch and go for the longest time. So when the Jews come in, what makes their claim ipso facto better than the Greeks and Arabs already living there?
2. The so-called “Muslim terrorism” didn’t really begin until the Jews got arrogant and were backed by American tax payers. And the first “terrorist” was actually a Greek Orthodox Christian.
3. Most of the Palestinians are probably of Arab descent, though 35% of Syria is Greek Orthodox.
4. As to proving the Jew isn’t a descendant of Abraham, part of it depends on what one’s philosophy of evidence is. In one respect it doesn’t matter since the only true descendant of Abraham is a Christian–most certainly not a Jew! Still, since you asked, after the Jews tried to rebel against Rome twice, much of Jewry was simply wiped out by the second century. The Khazar tribe in Western Asia did convert to Judaism. There are certainly semitic Jews left–how else will the future anti-christ appear from the tribe of Dan? But most Jews aren’t semitic, no.
Jacob,
Actually, I think our differences may well be more hermeneutical than geo-political. At the moment, the Jew’s claim, theologically, isn’t better, per se; but then, the way geo-politics work, they do have a claim (it’s somewhat of a tangled mess, at the moment).
2. Yeah, I watched a doc and read some on the formation of modern Israel; I do recall who the first terrorists were, you’re right on that. But to me none of that changes anything, at the moment (geopolitically). They are a state.
3. Yes, I know they are Arabs, which is bedazzling, since you would think their good muslim brothers would help them out and just give them some land somewhere; seems that there is something else going on.
4. Well, Jesus is a Jew. I don’t agree with your points on most Jews not being semitic, but I’d have to research that further (I do know that somehow they have apparently identified priestly lines through DNA, of course I don’t understand how that would work w/o a control DNA).
We have different herm. I think though, Jacob.