Well, it has been quite a week for the peacemakers. Watching the carnival unfold at Annapolis this week, I was inspired to reach for Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland, where the main character falls down a rabbit-hole into a world far removed from our own, one where the rules of logic and common sense simply do not apply.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal declared that he would not even shake Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's hand, and on Monday, the Saudi embassy in Washington expelled Israeli journalists from its premises for seeking to attend a press conference. The Gulf Arab emirate of Bahrain flatly rejected a proposal to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, while the Palestinians refused even to recognize the country as a Jewish state.
If Israel's Arab foes won't shake hands with Israel and won't even recognize Israel as a state then what are the chances that they will truly wish to live in peace with Israel?
Shouldn't Christians get this class called Geo-Politics 101?Many don't as now 80 so-called evangelical leaders have signed a statement indicating their belief "that the way forward is for the Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate a fair, two-state solution."They are basically putting their blessing on the absurdity of the Annapolis Summit as reported by Christianity Today online.
You folks don't get it: If the accords at Annapolis were put in place, without God's sovereign protection, Israel could be erased from the map.
They state, "We call on all evangelicals, all Christians, and everyone of good will, to join us to work and pray faithfully in the coming months for a just, lasting two-state solution in the Holy Land. We call on all involved governments to work diligently toward this goal. And we covenant to pray for the leaders of all the nations engaged in this effort, hoping for them the blessing of our Lord, who said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' "
Some of the signers include representatives of Bethel University, Westmont College, Wheaton College, current and former representatives from the National Association of Evangelicals, Fuller Seminary, Asbury Seminary, Denver Seminary, North Park University, Christianity Today editors, the Evangelical Covenant Church, and a few dozen more. Many individuals signed on including Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, and Leighton Ford. You can view the entire list here.
By plunging down this rabbit-hole, we have placed ourselves in a land of make-believe, only one where the consequences are likely to be far more painful and real than those in the children's story.America needs to brace up.We are leading the brigade that is "dividing the land" (Joel 3).The consequences may not be pretty in an election year when we are seeking "righteous kings." Do we deserve them?
To better understand these issues, visit the Israel category at our Web site.
I agree with Bible teacher Jack Kelley who says, "I don't know whether anything will come out of this conference or not, but I do know that someday soon some world conference will put Israel into such a compromised position that they'll think peace has finally arrived just at the moment when they're at their most vulnerable. Given Israel's current political weakness, if it's God's timing the Annapolis conference could lead to such a situation. But if it doesn't another one will. Israel has to be transformed from a warrior nation on continual high alert like they are now, into a peaceful and unsuspecting people - all of them living without walls and without gates or bars, as Ezekiel 38:11 predicts they'll become.
"This has to happen before Daniel's 70th week can begin, and while it's a painful thing to watch, we know it has to come in order for Israel to be left with only God as their defender. Then the Russian / Iranian coalition will attack, God will intervene, the whole world will see it, and the 70th Week will begin."
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Thanks, Jan, for another right-on-target assessment. Though the things of this world keep getting in the way and taking our eyes off of Him, His word is true. It's sad that so many have been blinded by pride and refuse to see that there'll be no lasting peace. And when America tries to broker a deal, we'll get what we deserve for forgetting the Lord. We're already well on the way to becoming a nation only in people's memories. Maranatha Click here to reply to this post
Re: Annapolis: Having Tea with the Mad Hatter
Posted On: 11/30/07 10:22:21 AM
Age 48, CA
Which hatter is the more mad? The Secular Jews who believe they can have an Isreal without God protected by the wonder weapons America provids them? The neocon christians who believe that it is Gods will that this secular state we now call Isreal is the Apple of Gods eye as it is and to preerve the status quo, Proclaiming a gospel of bombs & bullets where we liberate the world into our opostate ways where people are free to sin? And of course, the Arabs who bring rocks to a gunfight and cry about getting shot. Even when they do bring a weapon, after 60 years of fighting cannot come up with a better techinique than "The Beruit offhand, CNN crouch, or Allah be my eyes". This is not a case of good people have teas with the mad hatter, but a convention of mad hatters. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Annapolis: Having Tea with the Mad Hatter
Posted On: 11/30/07 09:37:31 AM
Age 21, MN
I think if people like you spent as much time trying to help the peace process with Arabs as you do trying to prove that they aren't worth our time.....progress might actually be made. But wait, Muslims, Arabs, they are all evil, right? Inferior, unable to conceive good and peaceful things, right? Seriously, get over yourself. I see you article after article tear away at Muslims and Arabs for being irrational and "hating freedom" and acting as if Israel (i am talking about the secular, ethnically Jewish state, not the people of God) is some wonderful holy entity. You fail to realize why Palestinians are so pissed off. They were promised land, but the West broke their promise and gave it to the Jews instead. How would you feel? But that's ok because Jews are so much better than Palestinians and we can't have such pagans and mongrels infesting the "inherently" holy lands of the middle east, right? I normally would not be this sarcastic, but i am just following the standard your articles hold when it comes to respect and ego and and that wonderful stuff. -Dan Smith Click here to reply to this post
Re: Annapolis: Having Tea with the Mad Hatter
Posted On: 11/29/07 08:49:41 PM
Age 43, MI
It was surreal for me to watch President Bush proclaim, "Peace and Security!" for Israel. President Bush? How can this be. As I discover the terms of this agreement I cannot believe our so-called 'conservative' administration is a party to this betrayal. I fear for my country and wonder WHERE are the other watchmen on the wall? Thank you for your article. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Annapolis: Having Tea with the Mad Hatter
Posted On: 11/29/07 02:06:10 PM
Age 61, MO
Instead of exasperating ourselves over this Annapolis situation, we Christians need to fully turn it over to God. He has ALL the facts and knows all the hearts. All we are getting are scraps of truth. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
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