eChurch Blog

By Charles Gardner

The Fire Brigades Union have been calling for a boycott of Israeli goods as the annual conference season gets underway. And the response of the Israeli deputy ambassador put the issue in perspective when she pointed out that FBU members were supposed to put fires out, not add fuel to an already volatile situation.

The union debate, coming on the eve of the Jewish New Year being celebrated today, is yet another example of the sheer lack of understanding of the beleaguered nation that has continued uninterrupted for millennia – and perhaps it is no coincidence that 107 new immigrants arrived in Israel from the UK in August.

For there is a biblical view on Israel which, though often critical of a rebellious, obstinate and idolatrous people, nevertheless promises a glorious future when she would be the focus of the earth – a blessing both to Jews and Gentiles – with the Messiah ruling and reigning from Jerusalem.

But there is another completely contrasting perspective held by many leading nations and even by some sections of the church which casts her in the role of bully of Palestians and Arabs rather than victim of terrorism and threats of annihilation, and which has President Obama and Gordon Brown among its subscribers.

Both demand that they halt construction in territory seized from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War in order to get the peace process moving forward. But in answering Mr Brown’s call (specifically referring to Judaea, Samaria and the parts of Jerusalem restored in 1967), Prime Minister Netanyahu rightly responded: “Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is the sovereign capital of the state of Israel.”

However, Mr Netanyahu has used the word ‘state’ for the first time to describe a future Palestinian entity, a worrying development to which one commentator responded by saying that “the establishment of a Palestinian state on the land that God promised to the Jewish people is unbiblical and would be a great sin before the Lord.” And Benny Kashriel, mayor of Ma’aleh Adumim (the largest disputed community adjoining Jerusalem) has accused Mr Netanyahu of going “above and beyond” what the Obama administration is demanding of him.

To further muddy the waters, former Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu, the face and voice of Christianity to millions, has implied that Israel is an ‘apartheid’ state. As a South African who grew up in the apartheid era, I have to say that is patent nonsense. For if Israel practised apartheid, there would be no Arab members of their parliament (the Knesset), no Arab justices in their high court and no Arab university students studying the same subjects as their Jewish peers.

As for his comment that “Israel must negotiate with Hamas”, not even the most radical members of the African National Congress guerrilla movement ever, to my knowledge, wished the destruction of South Africa’s white population!

But there are, thankfully, signs of increased understanding of the issues. For example, Israel’s medical emergency service last month received its first donated ambulance from an African country (Nigeria) with 650 Christian Nigerians at the presentation.

There is a connection here with a revival of Christianity, which has been going on in Nigeria for some years, and which has spilled over into London communities following the influx of thousands of fervent believers from the West African state. Holy Spirit revival has the effect of opening spiritual eyes to a true understanding of scripture and God’s ways generally.

And I’ll leave the last word to the 19th century hymnwriter and Free Church of Scotland minister Horatius Bonar who, in 1870, wrote these words: “I believe in Israel’s restoration to their land and their conversion to their Messiah (Jesus). I accept as a future certainty that the Jewish people will be gathered to their ancient homeland [the present state was not created until 1948] and that ultimately ‘all Israel shall be saved’ (Romans 11.26).

“As I believe in Israel’s present disgrace (dispersion throughout the world), so I believe in the nation’s coming glory and pre-eminence. I believe that God’s purpose regarding our world can only be understood when we understand God’s purpose for Israel. I believe that all human calculations as to the earth’s future – political or scientific, philosophical or religious – must fail if they do not take into account God’s great purpose regarding the standing of Israel at the Last Day.

“I believe it is impossible to enter into God’s mind regarding the destiny of mankind without taking as our key or our guide his mind regarding that ancient nation whose history, so far from being ended, or nearly ended, is only about to begin.”

Previous Related Posts

While the UK Fire Brigades Union, long-time experts in matters of foreign policy, as we must all be aware, were busy whipping up their comrades to support a boycott of Israeli goods…

The TUC conference in Liverpool is to vote on yet another call to boycott Israel.

So now we can see how Richard Goldstone thinks he has preserved his judicial reputation while perpetrating a blood libel against Israel.

Major Error in UN Goldstone Report Calls into Question Work’s Credibility

In the wake of Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza at the turn of this year, the UN’s satirically named ‘Human Rights Council’ set up what purported to be an objective, fact-finding commission of inquiry under Richard Goldstone

Yesterday the United Nations’ fact-finding mission into the three weeks of fighting in the Gaza Strip published its scathing report, harshly condemning Israel for its “disproportionate attack designed to punish, humiliate and terrorize a civilian population

British labor unions said they’ll vote at an annual conference on whether to support a boycott of some Israeli goods in response to Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

Why is Israel being treated differently?

British trade unions (TUC) approve Israel boycott – British trade unions approved a boycott against importing goods produced in some Israeli settlements. The boycott was approved Thursday by the Trade Union Congress at its annual conference. The congress also called for an end to arms trading with Israel and for disinvestment from some Israeli companies.

TUC votes for ‘targeted boycott’ of Israeli goods

CHRISTIANS MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON ISRAEL!

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Tags: Christian Life, Israel

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