Theologians and church leaders convened Wednesday in the Swiss capital of Bern for the first day of an international conference to “re-frame the religious dimensions” of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The 65 Christians attending the four-day theological conference will focus on the issue of “Promised Land” and what position Christians should take in the bitter dispute between Israelis and Palestinians over the land both claim is theirs.
Those caught in the conflict see their positions as having “a divine mandate and polarized as wholly good versus wholly evil,” pointed out the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, during the opening ceremony.
However, Christians “must challenge and dismantle ideological attempts to attribute specific political projects and systems to God’s will,” he said.
Kobia emphasized that churches “are seriously divided on this issue” as Christians have different interpretations of the Bible. But “those differences must not be an obstacle for common action for a just peace,” he contended.
Traditionally, Christians, especially evangelicals, are seen as staunch supporters of Israel, which they view as their biblical ancestral homeland that must be protected. But recently, an increasing number of Christians, including prominent evangelical leaders, are calling for just peace and supporting a Palestinian state carved out of Israel land.
Currently, the White House is brokering a deal between Israeli and Palestinian officials to form a Palestinian state.
With the apparent need for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation in the peace process, this week's conference seeks to first work out the Christian perspective on the issue, Kobia said.
"The churches have a key role in the resolution of this long and bloody tragedy of suffering and struggle," said Kobia, who compared the conflict to "another apartheid situation." They are called "to heal and to bring all sides to reconciliation rooted in the ethical and theological imperative for a just peace."
Among the goals of the conference is to start the process of developing a handbook for congregations to guide them in their understanding of issues like the Promised Land, the Church and Israel, and justice and peace.
The handbook is aimed at encouraging Christians to be more active as advocates of peace with justice for both peoples in the conflict.
The event is hosted by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches and by the Reformed Churches in Bern-Jura-Solothurn. It is part of the international inter-church advocacy initiative, Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum, of the WCC.
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It is not so much the case as what the WCC 'says': but rather what it does in conjunction with the policies of like-minded bodies both civil as well as religious. For example, the combined effect of the revived papal initiative to proselytize with now the WEA's poses a potent formula for revived anti-semetism at the highest and 'holiest' levels.
For the Christian worldwide, please support our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in Gaza strip, Bethlehem (including Beit Sahur and Beit Jamal), Israeli Nazareth, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus and the list goes on and on. They are the ones left forgotten and left screaming for help.
They are harassed when attending their business, working and especially when going and returning from Church.
These Christians brothers and sisters are told to renounce their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ or moved elsewhere where the local jihadist islamist vigilante terrorize and confiscate their belongings.
Let us not take this latest WCC suggestion to seriously for it is based on narrow understanding of the conflict.
If I can give inputs to WCC, it is better for them to support the weakening Palestinian Church and Arabic Church in the Holy Land.
For the Christian worldwide, please support our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in Gaza strip, Bethlehem (including Beit Sahur and Beit Jamal), Israeli Nazareth, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus and the list goes on and on. They are the ones left forgotten and left screaming for help.
Please google our martyred brother Rami Ayyad of Gaza for reference.
Did Abraham look for sin-cursed land or sin-freed land as the primary fulfillment of God's promise? The answer is in Hebrews 11. Abraham (sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country… with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise… for he looked for a city which has foundations [the New Jerusalem], whose builder and maker is God… these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off… they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth … but now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly) (verses 9-16).
These verses prove that the primary land Abraham was looking for was the same land he physically dwelt in, but in a renovated state. The same is true of all the Old Testament believers, for Hebrews 11 also refers to Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samuel and (all the prophets) (verse 32), saying they all (received not the promise) (verse 39) of the land as an (everlasting possession). Thus - and don't miss this point! - even though these Old Testament saints lived in the physical land of Canaan, they still waited for the future fulfillment of God's (land) promise to Abraham. Throughout their entire lives they were yet (strangers and pilgrims on the earth).
Traditionally, Christians, especially evangelicals, are seen as staunch supporters of Israel, which they view as their biblical ancestral homeland that must be protected. But recently, an increasing number of Christians, including prominent evangelical leaders, are calling for just peace and supporting a Palestinian state carved out of Israel land.
I cannot believe they used the word Christian in this sentence. Old Testament clear shows the land God has promised His people. Jerusalem was built clearly where God wanted it. So all this misinterpertation clearly indicated these "christian" haven't removed the plastic off their Bibles or read anything written in it.
But now a group of the "Christians" including prominent evangelical leaders, want to carve out a Palestinian state out Israel. According to Scripture, Jacob name was change to Israel. Their were twelve tribes that entered into the land, and the land was divided accordingly. I didn't see any name or tribe called Palestine being given land. Find that one in the Bible and show me.
The WCC of Churches is a liberal organization which has abandoned the gospel years ago and seeking to help usher in a global counterfeit.
Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Revelation 18:4.
Once again I'm grateful that the Southern Baptist Convention opted to not be members of the WCC. As if the Israelis would really care what the WCC has to say.
I stopped reading when I read "World Council of Churches..."
Anyone that has done a little research into the past positions/pronouncements of this organization, will know why.
It seems that as these fools wish to abjucate between the palestinians and Israel..they are blind to the palestinians in their midst.
The neopalestinians in their midst are dividing their own lands, and in the near future, will be, if not already are...playing the same game the palestinians have in israel.
When there are.. no go zones in England, in France and in the rest of Europe...and when the UN is allowing the OIC to run its agenda on human rights...
and these fools are still considering the palestinian issue as their defining attribute...they are truly foolish...as foolish as the archbishop in England who thinks that sharia law should be accessible in England...
What rubbish we are made to swallow by these clueless halfwits...
The myopia that these people suffer from is simply not acceptable.
They have eyes but they will not see, they have ears but they will not hear.
Step back a little, and take a look at the palestinians all around the world...