anti-Israel Christians?

Yesterday I spoke of how dispensationalism as a political tool could be troublesome. The other side to the issue of trying to use faith as a political tool is the attack on Israel from Christians who might call themselves the “Christian Left.” Considering divestment from pension funds of companies that do business with Israel and so on is about as illogical and selective a policy attempt as I have seen in mainline Protestant church bodies, in particular.

Deception in language is especially troublesome to me (if you have been reading this blog for a while you already know this). Perpetuating the myth that Israel is building a wall is one such case. 95% of the security border barrier is actually a fence, not a wall. There is a distinct difference, both practically (many gates have been included, e.g.) and metaphorically. It’s OK for the news media to use language bias, but this is absolutely forbidden for Christians who follow the one who calls us to seek the truth at all possible cost.

There are dozens and dozens of countries around the world who are far more egregious in the way they treat their own citizens and wreak havoc with neighboring countries, yet Israel is the great scapegoat. Consider this.

Hamas, the official ruling party of the Palestinian people, also officially wants Israel to cease to exist. They, and other radical political organizations send terrorist bombers into Israel to cause great fear and uncertainty by purposely targeting noncombatants, frequently women and children. Then the Israelis retaliate by attacking terrorist targets, sometimes tragically killing woman and children. Yes, this is a vicious cycle of violence that Israeli and Palestinian people of good will both wish to stop.

Israel builds a security fence to stop the bombers from coming in. Attacks have been reduced 90%. The same fence that is called a “wall” and condemned by Christian denominations like the Episcopalians, ELCA Lutherans, and Presbyterians. Let me get this straight. We don’t want you to target terrorists by assassination, and we don’t want you to protect yourselves with a security barrier. What is the logical conclusion? Just let terrorists have free reign? Let the Hamas government who is officially set on wiping you out, take care of it? Who, besides Israel, in all the nations of the world is urged to live within such a ludicrous scenario?