Real Peace and Israel

by Tom Brennan,

We are hearing much about how much peace is a part of the current deluge of news about Islam and the Middle East. Israel is accused on the hour of acts of war, violence even apartheid. Yet where is the proof?

In the Quran the word for “peace” is mentioned 76 times. The Bible uses the word “peace” 429 times. Peace is a gift from God and only from within Him. The Messiah is the “Prince of Peace”. The Quran resonates with words for violence. Ishmael was exiled and became a “Wildman”, a problem for his neighbors. But Ishmael is still family and reconciliation is a necessity after he puts away his sword, and not until then.

In the ancient world it was a general social practice that a conquered nation assumed the gods of its conquerors. Not so in Israel. No missionaries were sent; no wars of religious conquest, people became members of the Assembly by desire and choice and were admitted only after a period of waiting. The first followers of The Way of the Messiah were Jews and Gentiles who saw the truth in the fulfillment of the prophecies and were also attracted by the path, The Way, the followers practiced. “See how these Christians love another”. The ancient world was a pitiless and merciless environment. Only the Jews seem to have any obligation to protect widows and orphans and the poor. The synagogues cared for the unfortunates and the rabbis considered this an obligation. The first deacons were administrators that saw to the care of those in need.

The unfortunate Romanization and symbiotic relationship with a political body that resulted from it saw the church become a tool of political ambition and too often repression accompanied a missionary effort. Up until then the Apostles trained Disciples who traveled the known world with a message of true peace.

Today the world is in a state of almost constant fear and threat from an Islam that knows no real peace and forces submission under threat of death. The wars in the Middle East are a true battle of faith, political or economic wrappings hide the real truth. Israel will survive not because of arms and might but because of a Covenant made by God. Christians are part of that Covenant and standing with Israel is our obligation. Only in God is real peace assured.

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