Comments on: What If All Nations Were Treated Like Israel?

By: Christopher Hopper

Christopher Hopper — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:04:58 +0000

Brock: Nope, sorry. My first summer off from touring in 12 years. Just focusing on the family. But with two books out in 2010, next year looks like definite. Thanks for asking. You’ll be there? ch:

By: Brock

Brock — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:57:24 +0000

Will you be at ICRS in Denver?

By: Christopher Hopper

Christopher Hopper — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:27:37 +0000

Jerry: Wow…thanks for weighing in here. I think you should be doing the posting. I appreciate your candor in where you’re coming from, but also your clarity in presenting proper perspective, both in dealing with un-renewed minds and with what the Word of God says about the land situation. I think the Bible speaks over 42 times of the “everlasting covenant” with regard to the physical aspects of the land. Regardless, thanks for chiming in; I appreciate it.

Will: “Disoriented logic” I think is a very well-put term, especially considering Jerry’s comment above about these situations being handled by unbelievers. Love your feedback, bro. ch:

By: Will Farr

Will Farr — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:28:03 +0000

I agree with you Christopher. I suppose I am expressing my frustration with a government that seems to want to have talks with those who would do us great harm, and leave our friends blowing in the wind. I think that this distorted logic is a product of being deceived by the enemy. What’s black is white, and what is white is black. I cannot imagine any other reason behind it.

By: Jerry Miller

Jerry Miller — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:35:00 +0000

If I might weigh in with my thoughts as a Messianic Jew (Jewish believer in Jesus). It’s virtually impossible to gain a fully accurate perspective on these issues if we base our views only on natural observations. You simply cannot dismiss the fact that the actions of the main participants, the Jews & the Arabs, are the actions of people who do not yet know Jesus. It’s unrealistic to expect that EITHER side would behave in a TRULY righteous manner. As a Jew, my own heart is clearly in support of Israel, although I would not presume to think that Israel has been innocent in every respect. There have certainly been inappropriate actions coming from both sides, but in my opinion, Israel has been demonstrably more committed to the concept of a peaceful solution than the Palestinian leaders. People can & do debate which side has been more or less blameworthy, but that misses the most important point. The key question is, what does the Word of God say about the Jews & the land? That should determine the stance we take on it. Then secondarily, what might be our love-inspired RESPONSE to the situation as believers? To me, one of the most awesome things taking place today is the very real activity of reconciliation, as Israeli Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians are coming together in different venues to pray, seek the Lord & express Jesus’ love for one another. We’ll never hear about this in the news media because it does not fit the worldview that drives the media, but these activities of reconciliation are happening. For the Palestinian believers it’s even, in some cases, at the risk of their own safety. So, even though I have my own views as to who is more or less blameworthy from a natural perspective, the most important issue to me is that there are growing numbers of believers there who are transcending the natural perspective of things, & aggressively pursuing the only course that truly brings the Yeshua’s love into the situation. May the Lord bless us all with much grace for processing these events and praying appropriately. My apologies for going a little long.

By: Christopher Hopper

Christopher Hopper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:39:38 +0000

Will: Yeah, I think we must determine first who is our enemy, and secondly how do we deal with them in wisdom. I don’t believe we are fighting the Palestinian people as a whole as much as we are fighting corrupt governments. As I shared earlier, my Christian-Palestinian friends are amazing people, preaching the Gospel in a foreign land. But when it comes to demonic opposition, I remember something one of my teachers on the supernatural taught me: “Jesus never negotiated with a demon when leading a person through deliverance; he cast them out.”

Philip: Great insight. And that book sounds interesting. It’s so sad to see how people have become the means for a political end all in the name of asserting a corrupt agenda.

Thanks for sharing. ch:

By: Philip Thomas

Philip Thomas — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:03:43 +0000

Well said Christopher, I share your thoughts on this issue.

And, adding to what Jason said, I believe that the Arab leaders are using the Palestinians as a tool to destroy Israel’s appearance in the global media.

I recently read Exodus by Leon Uris, and while being a fictional piece, it comes very close to the truth of what took place in Israel during the years following WWII. One thing the book really brought to light was the way in which the Palestinians (or the people living in Israel when the Jews made their peaceable return) were taken advantage of by a rebel Arab faction and incited to fight and terrorize their neighbor Jews. Then following the war they were abandoned and left to the refugee camps where they are still being used as a weapon against Israel.

Yet I suppose the only way to really grasp what is going on there is to see it as “much more than a political struggle for power.”

Great post!
-Philip

By: Will Farr

Will Farr — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:57:13 +0000

I think that this is a case of politicians being deceived and used by the enemy. The actions that the current (and to a certain degree, past) administration has taken regarding Israel is contrary to all logic. We need to back our friends, and point bigger guns at our enemies. I don’t recall having “talks” with the playground bully in school, and having a positive outcome. Usually you give the bully a bloody nose, or he gives you one first. Peace is achieved through victory over the enemy, not through negotiating with him.

By: Christopher Hopper

Christopher Hopper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:28:30 +0000

Laurie: I am actually on the phone with a friend as we speak talking about how the whole Middle East conflict is not a “simple conversation” and requires a lot of background before their can be much intelligent, thoughtful conversation. Therefore it’s very nature as a topic is touchy.

Stuart: Thanks for the reminder! WOW!

Kelly: Yes, revival in Jesus’ name for the Jew and the Gentile!

Thanks for sharing all. ch:

By: Christopher Hopper

Christopher Hopper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:11:56 +0000

Wow, Jason…this was a VERY insightful statement. “I think the Palestinians are the victims really of Arab oligarchs, who seek to use them as weapons against Israel, by forcing them to settle in refugee camps, by insisting on a “right to return” that the Israeli leadership would never agree to.”

The interesting thing here is that I’m not against the Palestinian Refugees. I am praying for their salvation, actually! They are like any other person on the planet to me…they need Jesus! So their mistreatment burdens me as much as Israels. So seeing their plight as a direct result of corrupt Arab leadership hits the nail on the head.

Thanks for sharing! ch: