Comments on the Middle East

I have been meaning to post a few thoughts from a trip I took to the Middle East in the Spring. It is important as global Christians to have both a biblical and historical perspective.

First, reconciliation is key. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." Relational diplomacy – people to people – is the key. Top down dealing with powers and bottom up – dealing with people at the most basic level of needs. It was my exposure to the Afghans and others I met in the Middle-East that began to change how I thought. This means lots of people, especially those with influence, need to go and spend time with people. Second, understanding the divine promises related to Israel and all nations. Third, honest historical examination. A couple of great books are Elias Chacour's "Blood Brothers" and Thomas Friedman's "From Beirut to Jerusalem."

More to come...