From Jerusalem to Gaza

I have been thinking about the renewed violence in the Middle East over the past few weeks. These violent episodes have been taking place in not only Iraq but also in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and as always--between Israel and Palestine. We hear from the conservative media that Muslims simply desire to fight a jihad against Western Culture and religion. We hear from the liberal media that diplomacy is the better choice in hoping for a permanent peace. From a Christian perspective, does the Bible offer any advice for peace?

One, of course, could legitimately argue that the Bible contains many examples where the God of the Old Testament orders war and promises to protect the Jewish people in their quest for land. In the New Testament, Christ brings a new order and commands us to love our neighbor as heartily as we love our God.

Perhaps we can find a bit of an answer in the book of Acts, Chapter 8, when Philip is visited by an angel and told, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." Then, in a parenthetical comment, we discover the words, "This is desert." In other words, Philip is ordered to leave the comfort of the city in which he has been residing and preaching and go into the wilderness. He has no idea why until he meets an authoritative representative of the Queen of Ethiopia. Even though the man was just returning from Jerusalem himself, he still had no idea how to interpret the Scripture he was reading. It was not until Philip explained it to him that he understood.

While diplomacy in the Middle East is a very large gamble on the part of the Obama administration, I believe it might offer the best hope for peace in the area--and correspondingly--in the world. Treating each other with respect may actually work; nothing else has up to this point.