God's Politics - Chapter 11
Part III: Spiritual Values and International Relations
When Did Jesus Become Pro-War?
Chapter 11 - Against Impossible Odds
Peace in the Middle East
After treading on thin ice in chapter 10, Wallis is back to his decidedly Christocentric self. The chapter on Middle East peace begins with the words from the Ash Wednesday liturgy. This chapter is the best that I've read so far in God's Politics. Wallis painst such a vivid picture of the situation in Israel/Palestine, and does so, not from a pundit's or political analyst's chair on cable news, but as a friend of many people who live in Israel/Palestine. He shares story after story of his friends and their daily lives. He gives voice to the many peacemakers on the ground who he is humbled by. Perhaps I'm just overly optimistic, but I think that this chapter alone could do a lot to change the pro-Israel mantra of so many of our churches.
One of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) that he visted in Hebron told him a story of a group of Muslims who were on their way to Mosque to pray when they were stopped in the street by Israeli soliders. The Muslims went to their knees in prayer, but the soliders drew their guns and appeared ready to open fire when two CPT members a young American woman and Canadaian man ran in front of the soliders pleading for them not to shoot the unarmed people. The soliders didn't shoot, but the CPT members were thrown in jail for the night. What a witness to those muslims of Christ's love! The community said it was like "greeting Jesus" when the CPT members were released.
Wallis gives the account of a few Israeli Jews who are fighting for humanitarian rights for the Palestianians. Wallis writes about a conversation he had with one of them, Jeff Halper:
"Israel is strong," said Halper. Indeed, it's the fifth largest military power in the world, economically dominant, deep in leadership cadres, healthy in civil society and culture. "But we don't know we're strong," he said. "We still believe we are victims. As long as you believe you're a victim, you are not accountable."....Israelis do not feel accountable for what they're doing to Palestinians because they believe they are still victims. And as "victims" they must defend themselves whatever the cost, whatever the consequences.
But Wallis is hopeful. Walking the streets and seeing trees that were there when Jesus walked the streets reminds him that there is still hope for this land. The hope lies in following the way of Jesus in the land of this birth, death and ressurection.
Labels: Books
posted by Charlie at 2:20 PM
3 Comments:
All this wonderful insight. I must catch up to you in the book. Can't wait until Thursday!
Hey Beth,
I didn't know you had a blog (or two for that matter)... very cool. Another great blog that I read a lot that deals with God's Politics quite often is dale over at
http://www.theoblogical.org/movtyp/
I need to initially say: I haven’t read Wallis’s book … but have been informed by Charlie’s thoughtful interaction with it. THIS particular chapter, however, centers on a topic in which I have invested much time. So, here goes:
Interesting, isn't it, that relationships with people are the most effective (or only fully effective ways) in which we can ever see beyond our own specific life-situations and biases ... Speaking as someone who has not been to Israel/Palestine (ashamedly!), but has seen the change an immersion in that context and interaction with Israelis and Palestinians has affected in my friends and family, I think experience and personal dialogue can expand worldviews in the way nothing else can. Of course, that must be intentional—a mere sightseeing trip to the Holy Land, in which one talks to Palestinians only to buy tacky souvenirs, won’t cut it.
For an idealist like me, one who wants the sufferers to triumph and the guilty to receive their just desserts, there may be no complete satisfaction in the Israeli-Palestinian situation. The hard thing: it quickly becomes evident that there is blood on many hands. Work for peace is, therefore, a MESSY and dangerous endeavor (as the cool story of the CPT evidences). Peace between these deeply entrenched enemies, wounded people groups, and innocent bystanders won’t come with anything less than dangerous engagement and sacrifice. Huh … that sounds eerily similar to the way in which the Prince of Peace came …
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