I started this series last week and wrote several posts about having a biblical view of the sanctity of human life primarily involving current social issues. I have written a couple of posts on this that have not been published yet, but now that I am thinking about this subject, I keep noticing things in the world that fit within this category. Admittedly, these topics can be kind of depressing, but I think that it is important to be aware of how people are really living and what people are going through, instead of burying our heads in the sand.
Gaza. This area has been on my heart for some time. Palestinians have broken down the wall that has kept them in Gaza and out of Egypt. The wall was constructed by the Israelis after Hamas took over Gaza by force last year. Gaza has been encircled for the past 6 months and supplies are running low. Approximately 1 million Palestinians live in this area and it has basically become a prison camp. The purpose of the wall is to keep terrorists and weapons out of Gaza, but they are already there. Walls seem to only hurt the people who are law abiding, anyway. The children, the elderly, and those who cannot adequately care for themselves are the ones who suffer. Terrorists and criminals will thrive in this situation because they will use fear and force to get what they need. It is the weak who are most severely harmed.
In 2005, I visited Jordan and Israel. I drove through the West Bank and crossed over the Allenby Bridge, which was quite an experience in going through immigration. As I drove through the West Bank, the gripping poverty was mind numbing. I met quite a few Palestinians in Jerusalem who were trying to make a living as honest merchants and citizens. They are not all terrorists. Many of them are just normal people trying to make it through the day. But, I also learned that the hatred between Jews and Palestinians is like nothing I have ever seen. I stumbled into a riot that had to be broken up by Israeli troops. I saw the disdain from the Palestinians as the Jews went through Jerusalem headed to the Western Wall for the Sabbath. The Jews would not even make eye contact. I realized that peace accords are useless because it only takes one suicide bomber to destroy whatever "peace" might be established through negotiations. In truth, locking up 1 million Palestinians in Gaza does nothing to make Israel safer or quell terrorism. It just breeds more terrorists.
I don't know the answer for the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis. I know that it is very complicated. But, I also know that the Palestinians in Gaza are people too. They are on the brink of a major humanitarian crisis. At the very least, they are living in a prison camp. Inside of this area are many, many innocent people. Perhaps we should pray for them today. A prayer for the innocent Palestinians is not a prayer against Israel. It is just a prayer that they would have their daily bread. I especially encourage you to pray for the Palestinian Christians today. They are the forgotten ones in the midst of this crisis.
For other thoughts on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, check out Bob Robert's blog. He just went there and is writing about his observations. He has some interesting observations on the role of Jesus in the peace process as well.
Bro. Alan,
Thank you for this series on Sanctity of Human Life. Your words are insightful and challenging. As evangelical Christians we need to move the sanctity of human life issue beyond simply being opposed to abortion, to see and apply its wider implications. I hope you don't mind that I copied your article on racism to give out to my Sunday School class in light of a discussion we had last Sunday morning on injustice (last Sunday was racial reconcliation Sunday in our SBC church).
God bless and keep up the good work!
Posted by: Doug Green | January 23, 2008 at 10:32 AM