learning from questioning

I wrote an email to a friend, sharing some of the questions I have been wrestling through this summer, since I've been back, and I figured I would share it here. I'd love to hear your thoughts/reflections/feedback... I heard from a very wise woman, that sometimes we learn from just asking the right questions - we don't always have to find the answers, or at least not right away. it's ok to struggle - it's necessary for our own growth! we can't merely stick to the things we know where to find answers for. so, here goes...

...in regards to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict - as Christians, what should our response be? I wonder, theologically, how does the old covenant verses new covenant work here? Somehow that "holy" land has significance, but not at the cost of justice - right? are God's people, the Israelites, justified in destroying God's children - those who have put their trust in Jesus, and have been following him, down through the generations - living there on the land where He once walked and first taught, and died and rose again?

and the prophesies - What is the biblical response to those - promising Israel's return to the land. When I read them, it sounds much more glorious and righteous ("all nations will rejoice!" * Isaiah 70), then what is currently happening. It seems like people have been taking it into their own hands - interpreting the prophets their way. There seems to be more in the prophets about God's judgment on his people for their unjust and corrupt ways, then praising them for how great they are - It is in spite of their sinfulness, that God will redeem them - a picture of all humanity right? So, why have Christians taken it as our responsibility to be right behind the Jews, supporting them in all they do? Why do people believe it is "un-Christian" to acknowledge to oppression and crimes being committed against the Palestinians - Christians and Muslims both - and to call Israel out on it? Thankfully more and more people seem to be recognizing what is happening. But the bias in the church really does not seem biblical, even more importantly, Christlike. Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41)- and he died for her, and for all humanity - including the roman oppressors - the scribes and Pharisees - and the Palestinians!

For me, spending so much time with the Arabs, it was easy to sympathize with the Palestinians, and to find myself slipping into their mindset of anger towards their oppressors. But I know this is not Christlike either. As Christians we are called to love our enemies! I think this is the first time I have been hit with how impossible that is to do - and they aren't even doing anything against me personally!! So how do we love, and yet stand up against the injustice? How do we understand both sides, and recognize the humanity of each individual? they all have stories - hopes, fears, dreams - rights and responsibilities, and they are all made in the image of God. And we are called to love.
In Egypt an amazing man, named Bishop Thomas, shared an illustration with us, about being in Christ, and Christ being in us. John 15:5. It is only when we are fully submerged in Christ, that he fills us so completely, that we can keep pouring out love, and we are never empty, for He never runs dry. So, I am trying - it is hard, but I am trying - to understand where the Israelis are coming from - the pain of the holocaust, and not having a land of their own - and knowing that I need to love them, just as much as the Palestinians - for Christ's sake. But in that, I can not just sit back and do nothing about the settlements, and the wall, and Gaza's crisis. I'm not sure what I can do at this point, but pray, and help to spread a bit of understanding about the other "side" of the story.

Another question we wrestled with, is Who is Christ - who is he really - and not with our western cultural additives, and wrappings!? what does Christ look like in a Muslim world? What is Christianity really? When religion becomes more of a box to put people into - and then war against. it becomes "them"- that "other"- we disagree - hate - kill. this is not God. this is not his redemptive reigning of his kingdom...
But then, I have to check myself when I start leaning towards the "all loving" side too far... because God is fully just as well as loving. He is not "tolerant" he is merciful... but there are punishments for what is against him - for sin. I am attempting to understand what God's justice looks like. I love Isaiah - yet it is not easy to face. I don't know the answer, except that it is NOT all relative.
We call for peace but what is peace really? yet another question...