The idol in our midst

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Kudos to Steve Steiner for “The Idol in Our Midst” (Oct. 2). The Israeli military policy that many evangelicals support is nothing that Jesus would approve. Modern Israel follows the pattern of ethnic cleansing that the United States followed in its westward expansion—first encroachment and settlement, then provocation to violence, and finally military action, again and again.

However, Steiner failed to mention that evangelicals who support Israel also want to convert Jews. Certainly the Israelis have a problem with that. While I can’t accept their reasoning, I still hope evangelicals succeed in getting a hearing for Jesus. Perhaps God has put some of his people on both sides of the conflict, evangelicals who sympathize with the Jews on one side, and Anabaptists who sympathize with the Palestinians on the other, both sides seeking to make the case for Jesus.

The Jewish authorities had a choice between Jesus and Barabbas. They chose Barabbas, and the spirit of Barabbas rules Israel today. (It also appears to rule the United States.)

The spirit of Barabbas drives the Arab cause as well. Our Lord is the only one with the credentials to bring peace, and he will bring Isaac and Ishmael together. That’s the sort of thing we can expect from him.

Associated Issue: Urban migration - Oct. 2, 2007

Associated Article: The idol in our midst

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