From the Frontier
This article, indicative of the bazaar mentality of the Lunatic fringe that unfortunately has sway in this country, appeared in a local newspaper. I wrote the response that follows. .
Peace will only come with Jesus Christ's return
By THE REV. REID NELSON
Just in case you have not heard, America has been at war in Iraq for four years. If you have had any contact with the news media this past week, then you have heard this over and over again.
War has never been a game in this country and no leader has ever desired to put our soldiers in harm's way. Yet, to keep the peace, war has to be fought.
It may sound ludicrous to say that "war has to be fought to keep the peace." History is a great teacher for those who will learn from the past. America stayed out of the Second World War as long as we could, yet at least two nations determined to take away peace from the world - Germany and Japan. They wanted to rule the world and they swallowed up nations until they were stopped. Neither the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 nor the attack on New York in 2001 was provoked. America did not want war; but to keep peace at home, war had to be fought.
Hebrews 12:14 tells us to "purse peace with all men ..." True, the context of this passage is not given to nations who were at war, yet peace is the desire of America. The real truth is that America will never know peace in this world as long as we are friends with Israel. We are not just talking about a physical war. The Jewish nation of Israel is hated and will be hated as long as one Jew is alive, but God has pronounced a blessing on the Jewish nation and he has selected them as his chosen people.
When he formed this nation he declared, "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:2-3).
Abraham is the father of this nation and the Jewish line came through Isaac, the son of promise, when Sarah and Abraham were very old. Abraham also had another son by Sarah's handmaid, Hagar, before Isaac was born. The Arab race can be traced back to Hagar's son, Ishmael. God also promised to make from this son a great nation with twelve princes. But there will never be peace between these two nations for God says of Ishmael, "He will be a wild donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him" (Genesis 16:12).
Add to this conflict that Satan and all his demons hate the Jews and have done all in their power to destroy the Jewish race. Much of the hatred toward America would disappear if America abandoned Israel. The Bible tells of a time when the entire world will attack Israel. That is when God himself will fight against the nations of the world who have gathered in the Middle East. Revelation, the last book of the Bible, reveals God's plan for the future.
Lasting peace will never happen until Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, rules on a throne in Jerusalem. That day is drawing very near.
If you have a question about the Bible, please contact the Rev. Reid Nelson, Mackinaw City Bible Church, 308 W. Central Ave., Mackinaw City, MI 49701, 436-5112.
TO THE EDITOR:
This is in response to Rev. Reid Nelson’s article “Peace will only with come with Jesus Christ’s return�
On September 11, 2001, we were attacked by Osama Bin Laden, a Muslim extremist. Osama said he was doing God’s will bombing us because we are evil sinners and needed to be punished. A few days later Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson got together on the 700 Club and announced that we were bombed on September 11 because we are evil sinners and God wanted to punish us. This sums up the difference between the Muslim extremists who want to destroy this country from without and the Christian extremists that are destroying this country from within, the difference: NONE!
The Christianity that Rev Nelson’s speaks off is the Christianity that imprisoned Galileo when he said the world circled the sun and not visa versa. It is the Christianity that murdered Jews and Muslims in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition that refused to convert. It is the Christianity that condoned the murder of Native Americans even as it placated them with conversion. This murderous, holier than thou brand of Christianity is that religion that sent Germans off in World War II, secure in the knowledge that they were fighting for the 1,000 years of Peace predicted in the Bible that would follow their master race’s victory for Jesus. It is the Christianity that supported slavery and “cherry picked� Bible verses to support it.
Gandhi said Christianity appeared to him to be a fine religion, “too bad it has never been tried� the wise peaceful man from India said. Rev. Nelson, do you think God needs you to kill for him? If you do, you serve an impotent God, not a mighty God as you fundamentalists like to say. God, being God can take care of his own business as he sees fit. What did God tell you to do Rev Nelson? It is in your Bible. He said for you to Love God, to Love your Neighbor, to help the poor and the widow, to forgive seventy times seven times, he told you to turn the other cheek and to let vengeance be his. That’s your job Rev. Nelson. Are you taking those verses “literally� or are you ignoring those that call for compassion and peace and cherry picking verses that you think justify murdering your brother. Your hateful racist brand of religion has brought the world to ruin as you ignore Christ’s message. Adam and Eve fell from the Garden of Eden because they wanted to be God, and didn’t do as God asked them. Please do as God asked you Rev Nelson, Love your neighbor, don’t condone killing them. Please don’t be like Osama Bin Laden, stop trying to play God.
- Jim Ramelis's blog
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Gandhi, GK Chesterton, and Rev. Ateek
"Christianity is a great religion; THEY should all try it!"-Gandhi
"The problem is not with Christianity, the problem it is that too few have actually done it!"-GK Chesterton
I was in the audience on November 3, 2006, when a Christian who has done it, the Anglican Palestinian and 1948 refugee, Reverend Naim Ateek, the Founder and Director of Sabeel/[Arabic for The Way] Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, addressed over 330 international ecumenical Christians who had gathered in Jerusalem in the Notre Dame Conference Center for Sabeel’s 6th International Conference:
The Forgotten Faithful/AKA: The Palestinian Christians.
He sent chills through me when he stated, "Israel will not survive unless it does justice! The situation is deteriorating and we must frustrate Israel’s plans and actions because they are not built on justice. All we are asking for is that they honor International Law! Israel is afraid of International law and this proves something is very wrong with Israel. We want Israel to live in peace and with security. The only way is honoring International law. That is the bottom line and what we work and pray for."
Reverend Ateek’s classic "Justice and Only Justice" laid the foundation of a theology that addresses the conflict over Palestine and explores the political as well as the religious, biblical and theological dimensions. From a position of faith, Reverend Ateek seeks solutions based on justice, peace, nonviolence and reconciliation.
On November 8, 2006 Reverend Ateek spoke again, "In Israel officially speaking of Palestinians is taboo: we are referred to as Arab Christians. When I say the Holy Land I include both Israel and Palestine. Ultimately only God knows about the future of Christianity in this place. We live in the scientific world and God has given us wisdom, knowledge, technology to be used for good and our future and destiny are in Gods hands.
"There are many red lights; external and internal dangers. What can we do at the grass roots level? The Palestinian Christian community must rise above petty denominational differences. The impending dangers force us to ask what can we do, what must we do?
"There is no future in isolation or passivity. Our futures are all linked together. There is an urgent need to articulate and work with other faiths, especially Islam. Our future depends on good relations with all our brothers and sisters. We need a Committee of Christian and Muslim leaders to dialogue and work together to confront militant extremist fundamentalism.
"Our relation with Israel is the most important issue for there can be no peace without justice. There can be no effective policy without ending the occupation in accordance with all UN Resolutions. The city of Jerusalem must be shared and there must be a just solution for refugees.
"Pressure on Israel must be done with nonviolent needs and the way is the way Christ taught: nonviolent and forgiving. The achievement of peace is not the end; but the beginning of reconciliation.
"The survival of Christianity in the Holy Land is through true democracy. We must avoid the minority complex. We cannot depend on the good will of people in power. We want to be protected by a constitution with full citizenship and nationality must be combined. Only in Israel is there a distinction between nationality and citizenship. Only good democracy can guarantee all citizens are treated equally under the same law."
"What can the West do? There is an urgent need for education about the roots of Christians in Palestine and to challenge the myths. Seek out Palestinian Christians in your midst and relate to them. Be aware of Palestinian concerns for justice and human rights. Work for a just solution of the conflict which is equal human rights for all. Support projects to increase the Christian witness: visit the Holy land and meet with Palestinian Christians. Forge closer links with churches in the West and in the Holy Land. Challenge Christian Zionism. Think Creatively!
"In the beginning the Jesus movement was very small. It began with 12 committed citizens. It began with love and Christ addressed his followers: FEAR NOT little flock! You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. To capture the essence of what Christians should be is to be salt and light. You don’t need a lot of salt to add flavor and even a small light can illuminate the way for many.
"To be salt and light is to be truthful, honest, have integrity and to be of service and do it with humility. Salt affects change: it is active, never passive. To be a light is a global challenge and when the light is seen clearly so is the glory of God. Sabeel means the way, and the way is to love all your neighbors and labor on with God."
PS: the above is excerpted from "Memoirs of a Nice Irish-American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"
Eileen Fleming,
Reporter and Editor of
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author "KEEP HOPE ALIVE" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"