Can You Bring Peace to the Middle East?

There are solutions!

“Crisis? What Crisis?” asks Gidon Ariel, the founder and moderator of the Facebook group, Jews Who Love Christians Who Love Jews (And The Christians Who Love Them), “As an Israeli born in the USA, I know the old-new adage, ‘Absence makes the heart grow frightened.’” He and his wife, Devra, are the founders and directors of the Holy City Prayer Society. “From far away, things seem much scarier than they are when you live here. For example, while the radio was broadcasting news about the latest threats from Iran and Gaza, I was busy going about my day: participating in a ceremony at Yad Vashem, the Israeli Center for Holocaust Commemoration, followed by volunteering at Zichron Menachem, an organization that supports child cancer victims and their families. Tonight I am going to rehearse for a choir performance on Yom Haatzma'ut, Israel Independence Day. Just a regular day, but maybe a hint to three things you as a Christian can do to help Israel and help bring peace to the Mideast and the whole world: 1) Educate: Both yourself and those near you. Learn about the Holocaust and the history of Zionism, including the tremendous ways Israel is helping the world. Those who do not know the truth aid those who want to fight the truth; 2) Love Thy Neighbor: Yes, following the Golden Rule, bringing more goodness into the world, leaves less room for evil; and 3) Thank God for His Fulfilled Promises: The establishment of the modern state of Israel is prophecy come true. (See Isaiah 66:8, as well as hundreds of other verses.)

There are solutions!

“I’m disturbed that some evangelicals in this country are so intensely committed to supporting the state of Israel that they have lost sight of the need to stand up for justice for Palestinians,” writes bestselling author Tony Campolo, “even for those Palestinians who are their Christian brothers and sisters. Note that I referred to the state of Israel. It’s one thing to love the Israeli people and want to see their borders secure, their children living without fear that terrorists will bomb their school buses, and to call for an end to the rockets regularly being lobbed into Israeli territory by angry members of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.” Campolo is the co-author of Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus Really Meant What He Said. “But it is quite another thing to say we are committed to the policies of the Israeli government, no matter what it does to the Palestinian people.”

There are solutions!

“Complicated. Confusing. Those are the two words which seem to summarize the Middle East Crisis,” writes bestselling author Linda Howard. “President George W. Bush came to office with a firm determination to NOT get involved. Then September 11 shoved the President away from that vow. In his first term, President Obama declared that meeting with Iran's President was a good idea. Neither one of these presidents were able to keep their commitments.” Howard writes “A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith” for Beliefnet and is the author of Mothers Are People Too. “As a Christian, there is one way that I can respond to this crisis and that is with daily prayer. The Arabic nations are men and women who need God's love. Israel cannot survive without God's protection. As the children of God, it is imperative for Christians to bow before God's throne and ask for God's wisdom in the face of this crisis.”

There are solutions!

“The best way for Christians to respond to the Middle East crisis,” writes Billy Halloway, faith editor for The Blaze news website, “can be summarized in one simple word: Education. Believers should arm themselves with knowledge about the current political and social constructs as well as the region's history, while also keeping up-to-speed on the latest regional developments. While the situation is certainly complex with multiple layers and allegiances that rapidly rise and fall as sociopolitical unrest emerges and subsides, equipping oneself with knowledge is key. Christians should be prepared to discuss the Middle East in all venues with an up-to-date understanding of what's currently unfolding (also, it's easier to pray for something when one understands exactly what he or she is seeking of the Lord). Media outlets and historical sources are the best place to go for more information."

There are solutions!

“Many of the embattled Christians in Syria have lost almost everything,” writes Jerry Dykstra, Director of Media Relations, Open Doors USA, “their sources of income, schools for their children, their homes and enough food to survive the winter in the filthy refugee camps inside and outside of the country. But they have not lost their faith in Jesus Christ and power of prayer. Pastor Ouseph (not his real name) of Damascus and his family have stopped watching television because in their opinion, the broadcasters only share lies. Instead they turn to God every morning to guide them through the day and to provide them with the things they need to know. People in their church follow their example. The believers get their news from heaven and it gives them the peace and strength to carry on with their lives. “God has saved us so far, so we are still needed,” Ouseph says. “If we keep praying, God will do something incredible. This is what we all feel.” Pastor Ouseph’s faith is strong. But he needs the prayers of his brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Will you pray for Pastor Ouseph, his family and his faithful congregation today? And lift up in prayer all the people in countries such as Egypt, Iran and Iraq who are keeping their faith in the midst of both severe persecution and horrible living conditions? Pray that the refugees can return home soon, for those traumatized by war and for the children who want to go to school but can’t. Pray also for relief workers to safely bring in supplies, the Word of God and hope for a better future. And, of course, peace!”

There are solutions!

“The Middle East is home to nearly 400 million people, each unique and precious to God,” writes Dale Hanson Bourke, author of The Skeptic’s Guide™ series including The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, to be published in March. “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the conflicts in the region and to fall into the trap of thinking there will always be wars. But that’s not how God sees it and I’m convinced that he wants his followers to open our hearts to the issues. Before we can open our hearts, we need to open our minds. Perhaps there is one country in particular you’ll want to study or include in your prayers. There are an estimated 12 million Christians in the Middle East. Many feel abandoned by Christians in the West. What can we do? First, realize that many Arabs (as well as Iranians and Turks) are Christians and need our support. As Christians, we are called to care for the entire world, but especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

There are solutions!

What can we do about the Middle East? “Obviously prayer,” advises Greg Garrett, a spokesman for SAT7, a mission outreach to with the slogan: Satellite television transforming the Middle East through hope in Jesus Christ, “but more specifically well-organized prayer campaigns targeting specific countries of interest or in crisis situations. Did you know churches in countries formerly been closed to the Gospel, such as Algeria, are now raising up Christian missionaries and sending them to neighboring countries such as Libya and Tunisia. Pray for them! People around the world are seeing the great needs present in the Middle East and North Africa and are responding financially and with other resources to help uphold human rights and religious freedom. People in the midst of radical change tend to be more open the message of the Gospel! So, donate to ministries based in the area who are proving to have measurable impact. Remember, too, the thousands of Arab Christians living in conflict areas. Build relationships with indigenous organizations who are already well placed to reach out and minister in the region, such as SAT-7, local Bible societies and local churches. More than 10 million children across the Middle East and North Africa are watching Christian television programs that are offering them and their families the hope and peace only found through Christ.”

There are solutions!

“While I was in the Holy Land last year, a priest told us sadly that if Jesus had tried to make his walk from Bethany to Jerusalem today, he wouldn’t be able to make it through the checkpoints,” writes author Shane Claiborne. “We lamented together the wall that so terribly divides this Holy Land into what one Israeli leader called ‘the most sophisticated apartheid system the world has ever seen.’” Claiborne is the co-author of Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus Really Meant What He Said. “As I walked the footsteps of Jesus through the land, I was reminded of a story Jesus told about a wealthy man who built a wall and locked the poor outside of it, a story often known as “the Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luke 16:19–31). The rich man ends up in the flames of hell, pleading with the beggar for a drop of water. To love God is also to love the most vulnerable of God’s children. We are made for compassion. Too often we build walls and gates to protect ourselves only to find that we are the ones held hostage.”

There are solutions!

Here are 10 ways that Christians can respond to the Middle East’s crises, advises college professor Karen Jensen, author of the Parenting with Purpose series. "Do what God said and ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ (Psalm 122:6). Weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Grieve with those who have lost loved ones. Don't become numb to the tragic loss of life. Pray for the families involved. Use the right lens. Make every effort to look at everyone involved through the lens of shared humanity rather than the lens of politics or religion, and respond accordingly, even in your everyday conversation. Forgive (Matthew 6:14, 15). It's what we're called to as Christians. We have been forgiven all - we're required to do the same. Do the opposite of what the world does. ‘Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44). Notice those are all action words. Get involved. Is there a concrete way God would have you get involved? Ask Him. There are many organizations you could become a part of. Geographic distance doesn't excuse us from participating with a Christlike compassion."

There are solutions!

Jensen continues: "Get informed. For the most part, Westerners are very isolated in receiving coverage of the Middle East. It's crucial that we don't listen to only one source of media. And if possible, listen to the people involved, trusted sources who live there. Realize there are many sides to the complex issues. Look next door. There may be people of Middle Eastern descent living near you. They may not know Jesus. What a great opportunity to share the Gospel – you don't even have to go overseas to do it! Don't keep your distance – be available for God to use you. Don't be afraid (2 Timothy 1:7). Fear is never the right response from a Christian. Stay in faith. These are the last days and God's plan is coming to completion. It's time of harvest, a time to be steadfast and keep our eye on the ball. The world needs our faith, so stay in the Word and stay strong!"

There are solutions!

“First and foremost,” writes popular Beliefnet columnist Donna Calvin in her column 10 Biblical Do-It-Yourself Solutions to the Middle East, “all Christians are called to pray continually (Romans 12:12-14). Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Pray without ceasing. I know that God orders us to mourn with those who mourn and grieve with those who grieve; therefore, we should not forget the loss of life in the Middle East. We should allow ourselves to grieve for the lost lives of innocent men, woman and children. Pray for the surviving family members. (Romans 12:15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."