Last week, over 600 Christians from around the world and region gathered at a conference organized by Bethlehem Bible College--located just across the river from us here in Jordan--called "Christ at the Checkpoint: Hope in the Midst of Conflict." According to the college, the aim of the conference was to "create an ongoing forum for Christian peacemaking within the context of the Israeli Palestinian conflict," and as part of this organizers specifically and biblically addressed the issue of Christian Zionism, and the broad, uncritical Evangelical support for Israel, at the expense and marginalization of Palestinians. Daily themes centered around an introduction to the Palestinian Church, engaging with Christian Zionism, the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and biblical peacemaking and justice. Speakers included Arab Christian leaders from the region and Messianic Jewish leaders from Israel, as well as several well-known international Evangelicals, such as Tony Campolo, Lynne Hybels, Shane Claiborne, Ron Sider and Stephen Sizer. I didn't go--my broken leg held me back--but several people I know here did. Below I have posted the "Christ at the Checkpoint Manifesto," which the conference organizers presented to the participants on the final day. You can click here to read the full press release.
As someone who lives across a tiny river from that historic, hotly contested land, I've been told by many convinced Christians that I'm going to have a front row seat to a rapidly advancing armageddon. However, I believe it is important--as the conference organizers called on all Evangelicals to do--"to cease looking at the Middle East through the lens of 'end times' prophecy and instead" follow "Jesus in the prophetic pursuance of justice, peace and reconciliation."
As someone who lives across a tiny river from that historic, hotly contested land, I've been told by many convinced Christians that I'm going to have a front row seat to a rapidly advancing armageddon. However, I believe it is important--as the conference organizers called on all Evangelicals to do--"to cease looking at the Middle East through the lens of 'end times' prophecy and instead" follow "Jesus in the prophetic pursuance of justice, peace and reconciliation."
The Christ at the Checkpoint Manifesto
- The Kingdom of God has come. Evangelicals must reclaim the prophetic role in bringing peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel.
- Reconciliation recognizes God’s image in one another.
- Racial ethnicity alone does not guarantee the benefits of the Abrahamic Covenant.
- The Church in the land of the Holy One, has born witness to Christ since the days of Pentecost. It must be empowered to continue to be light and salt in the region, if there is to be hope in the midst of conflict.
- Any exclusive claim to land of the Bible in the name of God is not in line with the teaching of Scripture.
- All forms of violence must be refuted unequivocally.
- Palestinian Christians must not lose the capacity to self-criticism if they wish to remain prophetic.
- There are real injustices taking place in the Palestinian territories and the suffering of the Palestinian people can no longer be ignored. Any solution must respect the equity and rights of Israel and Palestinian communities.
- For Palestinian Christians, the occupation is the core issue of the conflict.
- Any challenge of the injustices taking place in the Holy Land must be done in Christian love. Criticism of Israel and the occupation cannot be confused with anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of the State of Israel.
- Respectful dialogue between Palestinian and Messianic believers must continue. Though we may disagree on secondary matters of theology, the Gospel of Jesus and his ethical teaching take precedence.
- Christians must understand the global context for the rise of extremist Islam. We challenge stereotyping of all faith forms that betray God’s commandment to love our neighbors and enemies.
The Statement and Manifesto were presented to the conference participants on the last day but were only agreed on and endorsed by the Conference Organizers.
Conference Organizers: John Angle, Alex Awad, Bishara Awad, Sami Awad, Steve Haas, Munther Isaac, Yohanna Katanacho, Manfred Kohl, Salim Munayer, Jack Sara, Stephen Sizer
2 comments:
"Follow Jesus in the prophetic pursuance of justice, peace and reconciliation"?? I don't recall that being the central theme of the new testament. What about Sin, and the call to repentance? What about saving souls for Christ before it's too late? "Stop looking at the middle east through the lens of end times prophecy"?? What would have us do, just ignore the 33% + of the bible that deals in end time prophecy? I understand your desire for peace and justice in the world, but you need to realize that it won't happen because of what humans do. We are sinful and incapable of bringing about God's kingdom on Earth . . . He must do it for us. I want suffering to end as much as you do, but it won't end until End Times prophecy is fulfilled. Don't try to bring about his kingdom by yourself - preach the gospel of sin, repentance, and salvation to those who need it - not the gosple of social justice.
Thanks very much for your comment.
I guess I would say that the central theme of the New Testament is debatable. The central character, though, is of course Jesus, who characterized his own mission on earth by opening to Isaiah and reading: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” To me, this passage says a lot about the pursuit of justice, peace and reconciliation. In addition to this, in Matthew Jesus of course famously says "Blessed are the peacemakers."
As far as calling out sin is concerned, what is injustice and oppression, if not sin? Is the mistreatment of one group of people by another not to be looked upon as sin? I look at the way a group of people are being treated, and I call that sin. After all, we are called again in Luke to "do unto others as you would have them do to you." In my mind, sin is at the very heart of this issue, and thus, yes, it needs to be called out, and change and repentance need to be called for.
Regarding end times prophesy, I am not asking for it to be ignored. It does, as you note, make up a significant portion of the Bible. What I am suggesting is that Christians not look at the Middle East only through that lens. There are actual people that live here, and God loves them, just as God loves you and I. Shouldn't our awareness of God's love and God's character--and our awareness of how God wants us to treat others-also drive our actions, and also drive how we look at the region?
Finally, I do believe humans can indeed help to bring about peace and justice in the world. God gave us freedom and agency to act, and history is full of examples of people and movements who did just that. In fact, many Christian Zionists--one of the main topics of the conference--take this very much to heart. They believe they understand the various end times prophesies as they relate to Israel, and through their support of Israel, they believe they are helping to make these prophesies come to fulfillment. Not content to simply let God do it for them, they take an active role in bringing it about. I just believe I need to take an active role in pointing out that this has come--and continues to come--at the expense of other people. My own faith tells me this should not be so.
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