When speaking about the Middle East, specifically with regard to the Israelis and the Palestinians, it seems inevitable that mutual hatred is a given, conflict is a foregone conclusion, and that war is inescapable. Not necessarily so, says author and Middle East mission’s worker, Andrew Bush, in his book, Learning from the Least: Reflections on a Journey in Mission with Palestinian Christians (Cascade Books: 2013).
But where exactly do Christians, who supposedly follow The Way of Christ, stand with respect to the Middle East conflict between Israel and Palestinians?
Many Evangelical Christians side with Israel, hands down. Why? Because of the central role that the people of Israel play in Biblical history, theology, and prophecy; Christians learn early on that those who bless Israel shall be blessed and those who curse Israel shall be cursed. (See for example Numbers chapter 24 and note especially verse 9.)
But perhaps Christians have forgotten that we must interpret and apply Biblical lessons through the lens of Jesus Himself. For, Jesus is Lord of all Lords and King of all Kings. Hence, we must follow the way of Christ. In that light, note that it was Jesus who said things like, “Love your enemies” and “blessed are the peacemakers.” Assumption: All serious followers of Christ must take Christ’s teaching and example as his/her practical guide for life’s values, principles, and practices. Hence, theology matters, how one lives-out and practices his or her understanding of God’s Will, expectations and commands, in the person of Christ, matters!
This brings me back to Andrew Bush’s book, Learning from the Least. What should be the Christian response to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict? Bush has an answer. And I believe it is a viable, Biblical, Christo-centric, Godly answer at that. All Christians who care about Israel and are concerned for peace in the Middle East need to read this book.
The exercise of privileged status and the power that comes with it, militarism, the oppression of the weak and lowly, nationalism (specific to any nation, region, or people group) over-against loyalty to the Rule of Christ (the Kingdom of God), are contrary to the Way of Christ. Hence, Christ would have His followers be supportive of BOTH the people of Israel AND the Christian Palestinians. Indeed, Christ would have us care for anyone who is poor, oppressed, and/or cruelly and unjustly treated—regardless of race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Thus, in his well written book, Bush encourages Western Christianity to undertake a radical renewal in its Global Missions as regard to its spirituality & motive and its Gospel underpinnings—vis-à-vis, by means of grace, mercy and re-embracing the way of the cross, especially as it affects the Middle East.
Bush reminds Christians, for example, that Jesus calls us to the radical act of picking up one’s cross in following Him: Jesus calls us to love and compassion, mercy and grace, humility and servanthood; NOT to a self-aggrandizing privileged status of prominence and power and militaristic national triumphalism. So, for example he also addresses uncritical Christian Zionism among our churches, questioning our Western Christian behavior that seems to assume that it is okay to use power and military force and oppressive tactics against Others, IF we believe it advances “God’s Will.” (My note: and of course with such an assumption comes the belief that we Western Christians also have the right to define what God’s Will is).
In short, Andrew Bush calls us to reexamine our theology respecting the Middle East as it concerns Israel and Palestine. Yes, Bush believes in and supports Christian Missions. Yes, he believes in communicating and spreading the Gospel of Christ. Yes, he respects and embraces Biblical truth and the People of Israel. Because of this, Bush also believes there needs to be a spiritual renewal in Western Christian missions that brings us down from our lofty pedestal of presumed power and privilege that victimizes and marginalizes Palestinian Christians or that blindly supports nationalism (Palestinian, Israeli, or American) over-against the teachings, principles, and practices of God’s Kingdom rule—the rule of Christ in a believer’s heart and mind that surpasses any particular nationalism of any particular people.
Andrew Bush’s book is well worth the reading, especially if you are a Christian and have (1) a deep commitment to Christ and His Gospel (2) a deep respect for the people of Israel as inspired by the Bible (3) a deep longing for peace in the Middle East, especially as it relates to fellow Christian Palestinian believers and fellow Messianic Jewish believers, and finally (4) if you have a deep passion for spiritual growth and maturity to be a faithful follower of Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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