This post is meant to challenge the pants off both
sides of the political spectrum, because it examines something the left and
right have in common: a deep concern for Israel.
Now, you folks on the left – I’m talking to the
liberal Democrats who have a keen interest in the well-being of Israel, whether
that interest be political, religious, ethnic, or all of the above – there is
at least one thing you love about your brothers and sisters on the
conservative, religious right, and that is their undying reverence for “God’s
chosen people,” the nation of Israel.
Yes, you might hate them for over a dozen other reasons, but you love
them for this. And you find it very
fortunate that many from America’s religious right like to combine love of God with
love of country – they’re religious and
they’re patriotic! Isn’t it great that
so many who serve in our nation’s military also have a soft spot in their
hearts for Israel? Many on the religious right believe that if
you love your country, you’ll serve in the military. And many of them believe that if you love the
God of the Bible, you will keep a place in your heart for Israel because of what
it says in the book of Revelation (not to mention what God says about Israel in
the “Old Testament”). So, lefty friends,
hate them for other reasons (and God knows you do), but isn’t it convenient
that you have a large population of gun-toting, God-fearing, Israel-revering
soldiers and Marines ready to march into battle on Israel’s behalf? Works out pretty well, doesn’t it? Sort of gives new meaning to, “Onward,
Christian Soldier!”
And now I address conservative Christian America –
yeah, you Bible Belt types who vote Republican, idolize Ronald Reagan, and like
to think you were born with a gun in your hand.
Well, hallelujah, brother! I’ve
got another revelation for you! There’s
a lot of sabre rattling going on in Washington, D.C., regarding Iran. Word on the street is that they’re planning
on nuking Israel (yes, that nation God talks about in the Bible), and maybe
even us! They’re wily and out of control
and Muslim! We’re in for it.
Oh, but wait!
America is the world’s superpower, and America is a staunch ally of
Israel. So, good news for America: Iran
poses about as much of a threat to the American continent as Greenland. And good news for Israel: we’re ready to send
our sons and daughters over to fight for you because…because…we’re your staunch
ally because…because…because you are the chosen people of God! Hallelujah!
Oh, but wait, my earnest right-wing soldiers and
Marines, so ready to do battle with the enemies of God. I think it would be wise to examine those
beloved Scriptures a little more closely before you gear up to give Iran a
black eye. If your motive is to go into
battle to protect “God’s chosen people,” you will do well to first consider
that the God of the Bible loves nothing more than to display His power, and to
display it in such a way so that man cannot take credit for His mighty deeds.
Consider that nowhere in the Bible do you read of
God threatening the enemies of Israel with the military might of the United
States of America. Is it not true that
the God of Israel can smite the enemies of His children with the jawbone of a
donkey? Why would this same God, who
never changes, now need American tanks, fighter jets, and battleships? Would this offer of assistance not offend the
Almighty? Does He not laugh at your meager
strength as compared to His?
Remember that your God hates pride above all. Your God hates reliance upon man instead of
reliance upon His mighty arm. He is a
jealous God. Can’t you see that offering
military assistance to God’s chosen people undermines the Maker of heaven and
earth, who needs no human intervention to protect His people? Don’t you see that faith in your country’s
military, when used on behalf of Israel, is a lack of faith in the very God you
profess to worship? True faith in the
God of Israel, when Israel is threatened, would say, “Let go and let God.” Some of you have that very saying hanging on
the wall in your homes. Do you simply
recall that saying to relieve anxiety when you’re looking for a parking space
downtown, or might you also exercise that type of faith when considering
whether or not your country should go to war?
I think if America had more faith in the God of the universe than in her battleships, she wouldn’t be the war-mongering nation she's become.
So much to think about on both sides. Those on the right need to examine their faith
to see if it is genuine, and need to ask whether their faith in God is being
manipulated by others. Those on the left
(many of whom, by the way, are proudly secular) should ask themselves whether
or not they are using the religious right (with their unique religious
philosophy regarding Israel) as their own political pawns, as political slaves,
which would go against the democratic principles they so ardently profess. Are we a country of faithless right-wingers
and hypocritical left-wingers?
I think we are, and I think it is shameful.
“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor
to be hasty and miss the way.” -the God
of Israel
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