“What distinguishes genocide from murder, and even from acts of political murder that claim as many victims, is the intent. The crime is wanting to make a people extinct. The idea is the crime.”
Philip
Gourevitch
It’s
a scene being repeated on university and college campuses across the country.
On April 5th Rutgers University President, Jonathan Holloway, held a
town hall with students. It devolved into anarchy, and for his safety, he had
to flee the scene with a police escort. But Jewish students who came to ask
about how the administration would keep them safe on campus were left to beg
the remaining police to escort them out as other Hamas supporting students
chanted genocidal slogans calling for intifada and the destruction of the
Jewish state. How deplorable! On an American university campus students are
screaming for Israel to be annihilated and celebrating the intifada, which is
physical violence and murder of Jews.
As the war in Gaza grinds through its deadly sixth month, this month also marks 30 years since the world turned its back on Rwanda’s Tutsi minority. The 100 days of killing that became known as the Rwandan genocide began on April 7, 1994. Hutu extremists murdered 800,000 Tutsis. Mark it down! If Hamas had their way, it would be a genocide of Jews in Israel.
Hamas is committed to exterminating all Jews. Don’t be fooled. They don’t want a Palestinian State. They and other radical Islamic groups won’t be satisfied until all Jews are exterminated. This is not about land, it’s about genocide.
Worldviews matter. If Hamas had their way celebrity Jews like Adam Sandler, Hailee Steinfeld and Ben Platt would be exterminated, along with an estimated 2.4 million Jews that are our friends and neighbors, living in the U.S., who are part of the 16 million Jews in the world.
Not all Palestinians are aligned with Hamas. Hamas is an evil, terrorist nation that not only kills Jews but uses Palestinian civilians, women and children, as human shields. To oppose Hamas is not to hate Palestinians.
What’s the bottom line? As Bible-believers, we are pro-Israel yet to be obedient to Scripture, we cannot be anti-Arab. Add to that, many Arabs are Christians and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We share a solidarity with them as Christ-followers. Radical Islam’s first objective is to eradicate all Jews, but then to eradicate all Christians.
Even though many Jews are atheists, they’re still God’s chosen people. The nation of Israel is the land that God promised them. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said. “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers…He gave them their land as an inheritance” (Acts 13:17, 19). “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Israel’s continuing chosenness gives ongoing spiritual significance to their land. If God had rejected the Jews, it would be theologically reasonable to expect Him to take their land away from them forever, just as He has with other nations. But since He hasn’t rejected them. The land given to them by God is still their inheritance. That’s the biblical logic that led Robert Murray M’Cheyne to anticipate in 1839, with astonishing foresight, that God would eventually restore the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, which He did in 1948.
After the cross and the birth of the Church though Israel as a nation is no longer the special focus of God’s redeeming work. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel. The Church, the New Covenant community is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. A person isn’t saved on the basis of being genetically related to Abraham, (Romans 9). While we look prophetically for a great turning of the Jewish people back to God through Christ, as Christians, we must be clear in our conviction that no one enters the family of God or receives the blessings and favor of God apart from a personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Supporting Israel is not a blank check. It’s the responsibility of the international community to hold Israel accountable to the rules of war. Reasonable attempts must be made to minimize civilian casualties of Palestinians in Gaza. While much of the world is condemning Israel, as Bible-believers and those committed to justice, we must call out the unspeakable evil perpetrated by radical Islam. There is no choice but for Israel to take strong measures against Hamas’ decades-long campaign of terror. Yet, to defeat Hamas, they can’t be evil like Hamas. Non-combatants must be protected as much as possible.
None of this in light of what biblical prophecy tells us is a surprise. The book of Revelation tells us that Israel would be attacked. As Jesus’ first coming was promised, so is His return. There is coming a day when our just God will finally bring all the evil in this world to an end.
Until then, we live with an ever-present fear of horrible destruction. Let one person press one button and a nuclear disaster could happen. There are wars on top of wars. Russia has invaded Ukraine. China threatens Taiwan. Israel is attacked by Hamas from the south and Hezbollah to the North.
So, what can Christ-followers do? First, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6.) Israel is special to God by covenant. Jesus was born there. He died there. He rose from the grave and will ultimately return there. The tiny nation of Israel has been the most disputed land in history. It’s the staging ground of God’s story of salvation and His final redemption.
While we don’t always know what governments should do, we do know what we as Christ-followers must do. The only thing Christians can do with absolute certainty is to share Christ’s gospel of peace. During times of conflict and international crisis, it becomes even more vital for believers to make evangelism a top priority. By loving people and proclaiming the good news, we can bring hope and healing amid the chaos and uncertainty that crisis produces. These situations provide unique opportunities for evangelism. When people fearfully face challenges and seek answers, they’re more receptive to hearing the message of Christ. By prioritizing gospel sharing in these difficult days, we demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus while offering the transformative power of His grace.
My friend, if you’re unsure of your own spiritual state, may this and other crises be a catalyst to turn you to Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners like you and me. He does not want anyone to perish. He loves us and longs for each of us to know His forgiveness and peace.
As the war in Gaza grinds through its deadly sixth month, this month also marks 30 years since the world turned its back on Rwanda’s Tutsi minority. The 100 days of killing that became known as the Rwandan genocide began on April 7, 1994. Hutu extremists murdered 800,000 Tutsis. Mark it down! If Hamas had their way, it would be a genocide of Jews in Israel.
Hamas is committed to exterminating all Jews. Don’t be fooled. They don’t want a Palestinian State. They and other radical Islamic groups won’t be satisfied until all Jews are exterminated. This is not about land, it’s about genocide.
Worldviews matter. If Hamas had their way celebrity Jews like Adam Sandler, Hailee Steinfeld and Ben Platt would be exterminated, along with an estimated 2.4 million Jews that are our friends and neighbors, living in the U.S., who are part of the 16 million Jews in the world.
Not all Palestinians are aligned with Hamas. Hamas is an evil, terrorist nation that not only kills Jews but uses Palestinian civilians, women and children, as human shields. To oppose Hamas is not to hate Palestinians.
What’s the bottom line? As Bible-believers, we are pro-Israel yet to be obedient to Scripture, we cannot be anti-Arab. Add to that, many Arabs are Christians and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We share a solidarity with them as Christ-followers. Radical Islam’s first objective is to eradicate all Jews, but then to eradicate all Christians.
Even though many Jews are atheists, they’re still God’s chosen people. The nation of Israel is the land that God promised them. Here’s what the Apostle Paul said. “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers…He gave them their land as an inheritance” (Acts 13:17, 19). “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Israel’s continuing chosenness gives ongoing spiritual significance to their land. If God had rejected the Jews, it would be theologically reasonable to expect Him to take their land away from them forever, just as He has with other nations. But since He hasn’t rejected them. The land given to them by God is still their inheritance. That’s the biblical logic that led Robert Murray M’Cheyne to anticipate in 1839, with astonishing foresight, that God would eventually restore the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, which He did in 1948.
After the cross and the birth of the Church though Israel as a nation is no longer the special focus of God’s redeeming work. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel. The Church, the New Covenant community is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. A person isn’t saved on the basis of being genetically related to Abraham, (Romans 9). While we look prophetically for a great turning of the Jewish people back to God through Christ, as Christians, we must be clear in our conviction that no one enters the family of God or receives the blessings and favor of God apart from a personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Supporting Israel is not a blank check. It’s the responsibility of the international community to hold Israel accountable to the rules of war. Reasonable attempts must be made to minimize civilian casualties of Palestinians in Gaza. While much of the world is condemning Israel, as Bible-believers and those committed to justice, we must call out the unspeakable evil perpetrated by radical Islam. There is no choice but for Israel to take strong measures against Hamas’ decades-long campaign of terror. Yet, to defeat Hamas, they can’t be evil like Hamas. Non-combatants must be protected as much as possible.
None of this in light of what biblical prophecy tells us is a surprise. The book of Revelation tells us that Israel would be attacked. As Jesus’ first coming was promised, so is His return. There is coming a day when our just God will finally bring all the evil in this world to an end.
Until then, we live with an ever-present fear of horrible destruction. Let one person press one button and a nuclear disaster could happen. There are wars on top of wars. Russia has invaded Ukraine. China threatens Taiwan. Israel is attacked by Hamas from the south and Hezbollah to the North.
So, what can Christ-followers do? First, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6.) Israel is special to God by covenant. Jesus was born there. He died there. He rose from the grave and will ultimately return there. The tiny nation of Israel has been the most disputed land in history. It’s the staging ground of God’s story of salvation and His final redemption.
While we don’t always know what governments should do, we do know what we as Christ-followers must do. The only thing Christians can do with absolute certainty is to share Christ’s gospel of peace. During times of conflict and international crisis, it becomes even more vital for believers to make evangelism a top priority. By loving people and proclaiming the good news, we can bring hope and healing amid the chaos and uncertainty that crisis produces. These situations provide unique opportunities for evangelism. When people fearfully face challenges and seek answers, they’re more receptive to hearing the message of Christ. By prioritizing gospel sharing in these difficult days, we demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus while offering the transformative power of His grace.
My friend, if you’re unsure of your own spiritual state, may this and other crises be a catalyst to turn you to Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners like you and me. He does not want anyone to perish. He loves us and longs for each of us to know His forgiveness and peace.
Can
we help you spiritually? Please check out more resources on our church's web
page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more
about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus
changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org
to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.
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