Is Israel a Sacred State? We Need Wisdom not Religious Fervor

Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, has riled some.  Why?  One major criticism is that Hagel is not supportive enough of Israel and, by extension, neither is Obama.  It is interesting how even the most modest and constructive criticism of our country’s policy with the state of Israel is seen as a betrayal to our commitment to Israel’s welfare.

It reminds me of our country’s attitude, during W. Bush’s first administration, soon after 9/11.  Anyone who dared to suggest that we ought not to extend the war into Iraq was accused of being un-American, un-patriotic, weak, and subversive, a turncoat, and worse.  We seldom leave room for balanced, measured, and reflective thinking on national and international issues.  And our reaction to statements questioning our policies with Israel is a good example of this.

Many Evangelical Christians give whole-hearted, and I might add, unquestioning support to Israel for prophetic, theological, and eschatological reasons (time to get out your dictionary).  Is this right?  Is this what God expects of us?  Can Israel do no wrong?

Actually, what’s just as bad, if not worse, is that many Evangelical Christians act as if America itself is God’s chosen nation.  I observe a subtle but strong intermingling, a marriage if you will, between the Evangelical church and American patriotism—which seems to assume that God has especially set apart this nation as uniquely favored, above all other nations—perhaps as a means of fulfilling Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel and its people, the real Chosen People.

Thus, idealism, faith, theology, religious fervor, and nationalism all co-mingle together to make one strong, unyielding, narrowly focused, unbending, and unquestioning stance for Israel.  Right or wrong, good or bad, wise or foolish, we will stand with, for, behind, and in support of Israel, no matter what, no criticism allowed!

I support Israel.  I am for Israel. I believe Israel has a right and a place in the world’s national and international scene—despite certain Middle Eastern cries that Israel should be annihilated.  But I do not believe that my support for Israel should be blind, unquestioning, and imbalanced.  Other nations and other people also count in the Middle East (as for example, Christian Palestinians). 

Our American policy in the Middle East must not treat Israel as a Sacred Cow (or Golden Calf).  As if our support for Israel should never be measured or qualified.  We must be tempered.  We need not always doubt, scold, demean, or denounce those who dare to bring some balance to our attitude and our actions in our support of Israel.

Wisdom always sees things with balance: measured, thoughtful, and with critique.  And more than anything else, respecting our policies in the Middle East, we need a good dosage of wisdom.