Why you should be concerned with Israel

Introduction:

I am addressing this to those members of the body of Christ who understand that the government ruling over Palestine, which calls itself “Israel,” is not the Israel of the prophetic scriptures, whose inheritance is the promised land (Ref Gen. 17:8) the current Israeli government seeks to occupy by the extracation of the Palestinian Arabs living on it, by whatever means necessary. ( by now, it should be obvious that this is an ethnic cleansing operation, not an act of  self-defense.). If you are part of the group that believes it–the current government–is true Israel and thus has a divine right to do what they are doing, please read my essay on this site: What Price Israel?

Many folks in the body of Christ (Romans 7:4; 1 Cor. 10:16; 12:27; Ephesians 4:12) do not feel obligated to publically express any concern about the evils that abound in the world they inhabit, particularly where politics are involved.

What I find interesting is, while saying this, most of them vote in local, state, and federal elections, and some are actively involved in collective efforts to sway political leaders to pass legislation that they favor, e.g., the repeal of legalized abortion, standing against assaults on the Second Amendment, standing against liberalization of government in any way, or anything that the government does that might affect their cherished freedom, or standard of living/way of life.

But with certain political issues, like the current one with the government of Israel and what it is doing to the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip with munitions and funds provided by the U.S. government, compliments of U.S. citizens, they “hold their peace” with the excuse that “this is not the concern of the members of the body of Christ, as our only concern is preaching the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 1:16; 1 Cor 15:1-4; Romans 4:25)

But wait. If that is your (our) only concern, why do you vote in elections, and why are you involved in all this other political stuff?

That question is almost always left unanswered, so I’m going to proffer what I believe to be the real reason(s) why most believers ignore this particular issue:

1. Because publicly speaking out against it and those who are doing it might bring persecution and loss of status/position in their secular occupation or the political organization they are affiliated with.
2. Because publicly speaking out against those who are doing it might result in rejection by friends, family members, and even fellow believers.
3. Because publicly speaking out against it and those who are doing it might bring legal repercussions from government authorities
4. Because I, myself, am a sinner and thus have no right to criticize or speak against the sins others commit.

If you identify with any of the above excuses for keeping your mouth shut in this evil undertaking or, for that matter, you even refrain from saying “amen” to those who are speaking out against it and the push by the Israeli government and its advocates in America to silence any criticism of them or what they are doing by characterizing it as “anti-semitic” and a “hate crime,” then according to the following scriptures, you have succumbed to the dictates of man and rejected the will of God, and whatever you gain, temporally, by doing this will result in far greater loss eternally when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Micah 6:9

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

James 4:17

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

1 Thess. 5:12

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Romans 12:9, 17-19

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Isaiah 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Jer 17:5

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD

All Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.

Post Script:

Are you saved? Jesus Christ—“who knew no sin”—and his sacrificial death on the Cross, has made the way for “everyone that believeth…to be reconciled to God. History has shown that whatever peace man has achieved in the world can only be temporary. The Bible says that individual men and women can know, beyond a doubt, that they are saved and bound for heaven, and therefore have absolute and permanent peace, regardless of what is going on in the world, by trusting Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for their eternal salvation. “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Have you done this? If not, why not now?