Politics and the Garden Tomb

This year, Easter Sunday fell on the Sunday after Passover,
and so I decided to visit the Garden Tomb. However, parking was horrid, and my
friends and I missed the 7:30 am service. Thankfully, we finally found a place
to park, had breakfast in a hotel near the Garden Tomb, and were able to attend
the 9:30 am service – held in English, Hebrew, and Arabic as the winds began to
gust, and attendees were bathed in cold rain and hail. Perhaps, in light of the
message that was spoken and the political climate in Israel the weather was a
confirmation of the spiritual condition of Israel and the Body of Christ in the
Land…

A friend of mine recently wrote to ask about the political
climate in Israel. I had no idea how to really answer. The truth is, same –
same. The elections are over, Netanyahu is tasked with forming a fourth
government under his leadership, and everyone is fighting for their piece of
pie in the government. The wheeling and dealing goes on despite the Passover
holidays, and life goes on.

The Politics of Voting in Israel

The truth is, I hate politics. However, and thankfully,
despite everything that happens in the political world, God remains sovereign,
working HIS will, and manipulating the powers to bring about His purposes. Somehow,
I think many believers in Jesus have forgotten this.

With the approach of the elections the main question was
Gantz or Netanyahu? Basically, a lot of people wanted to see Netanyahu gone
because of his power plays, the possible corruption charges he is still facing,
and his failure to deal with the real social needs of the people in the
country. Others wanted to see him stay in power, as the “protector” of Israel
and the only leader who can keep “enemy” far away. Now before you shout, “too
simplistic” at me, please be kind to me… I am sharing MY perspective, and I
know it is a bit simplistic… but bear with me.

The truth is, I didn’t like either group. I’ve not liked
Netanyahu since the last election. I was actually getting ready to leave to
vote for him, when he got on the radio and urged people to get out and vote,
“otherwise Arabs will take over the country.”

I said “No!” I sat down, did an Internet search, and voted
for someone else. I will never select a candidate to vote for based on
fear or the desire for change. I must cast my vote for the person I believe
will truly serve the needs of the people of my nation – the entire nation and
not just my own special interest group.

This year, I still couldn’t vote for Netanyahu because he
was still running a fear-based campaign. But Gantz wasn’t much better,
concerned for the needs of the Jewish people in the Land and ignoring any of
the non-Jewish constituency. Was there no one who wanted to represent the entire
population, for the good of the nation? Yes, this is the Jewish homeland, but
even Old Testament law made specific and clear provision for non-Jews who
wanted to live amongst us because we too were once “strangers” in another land.
The idea was, that the “stranger” should not be made to be felt a
stranger, but to be a part of us, and in so doing, they would be attracted to
the truth of the One True God and eventually, truly become a part of us.

I finally found a small party, with little funding, but one
that was not interested in meeting the needs of a specific core group, but to
look to the needs of all the citizens of the land, while maintaining a strong
stance on security of the nation. Of course, they lost – but no, I did not
waste my vote. I contributed to the balance of parties elected, that will have
to be worked with to form a new government.

Currently, Netanyahu is tasked with parceling out
ministerial seats to parties interested in working with him and eventually,
based on give and take, and the political clout of the parties being partnered
with, a government will be formed. A human, sinful, self-centered, power hungry
government that God will use, despite itself for HIS purposes.

Dvora! How Can You Be So Negative?

I don’t mean to be negative, but I guess it does seem that
way. But you tell me:

• Is placing an
  ultra-religious rabbi with no medical education in the position of Minister of
  Health for the best “good” of the people of the land?
• How will an ultra-religious
  politician in charge of the Ministry of Interior (who makes decisions about
  citizenship and visas) serve the needs of non-Jewish citizens in Israel?
• How will a liberal
  education minister who makes birth control available to pre-high school
  children good for the morality of the people of the land?

The list goes on.

Perhaps it is my American upbringing. When I first learned
about political issues in school, they still taught the concept of being a
“civil servant” – someone who served the people of the land, often at
great sacrifice to self. I have a feeling being a public servant is lost in today’s
political climate. Now its about who has the most power and the strongest fist.

But tragically, theology is riddled with politics. I see it
on my Facebook page every day with pro and anti-Trump posts, as though Trump is
the great Savior of America. But He isn’t. He, and others, are elected officials
whom God is using – despite themselves – to bring about God’s purposes in the
world and for Israel.

To listen to some people talk, you’d think that the only
thing God cares about is Israel, and how America relates to it. Don’t get me
wrong. I am not saying God doesn’t care about this, but I think He has many
other concerns as well, and some of them just might be more important. No where
in scripture is there a verse that reads, “By your vote, all men will know you
are my disciples,” or “By your political stance, all men will know you are my
disciples.”

The last time I read the Bible, the verse is, “By your love
one for another, all men will know that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).

But here in Israel (and I’m guessing in your country as
well), Christians are arguing and divided over political issues, who should
lead and who not. But I’m more disturbed by some of the following issues I’ve
heard discussed and the posited opinions over the past few years and recent
months:

• Can a Catholic be a saved
  Christian?
• There is no such thing as a
  Palestinian, so as long as you call yourself a Palestinian, I won’t have
  anything to do with you.
• If you don’t support
  Israel, you can’t possibly be a Christian.
• President Trump is a
  Christian.
• Netanyahu is strongly
  influenced by Christians – we can trust him.
• Arabs have no place in
  Israel, it’s a Jewish state.
• Israel has to take the land
  and can never let it go, it was promised to us, its ours!
• If you don’t believe in a
  literal 7-day 24-hour creation, all of your theology is suspect and you cannot
  possibly be a good Christian.

And the list goes on

Where is the Love?

And what does all this have to do with the Garden Tomb? As
the rain and hail fell, those of us who remained for the resurrection Sunday
service were reminded of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We were reminded
that at the last Supper, Jesus had to interrupt the disciples who were arguing
about who was most important, by washing their feet, and reminding them to
serve each other and love each other.

The speaker then added that he would be amiss if he did not
remind us that the Body of Christ is as divided today, as those disciples
arguing at the table were then. He shared that especially in Israel, never
before has the body been so divided over political and theological issues… and
that we are not united. He then added that he thought it was the same
worldwide.

He challenged those of us listening to take this message to
heart, and to seek the Risen Lord, and to love each other, to forgive each
other, and to seek the Lord’s unity for the body. It was in this spirit that we
then partook of the bread and wine of communion.

Prayer for God’s Definition of Unity

That is the point of my blog today, not to say that my
opinion is right or wrong – most likely I’m very right on some issues and very
wrong on others. Its OK. They are, for the most part, temporal issues and quite
truthfully, the last time I checked, I am not God. I am not the judge, and I
cannot point a finger at those who agree or disagree with me.

This morning, during my devotions, I was strongly reminded of who my brothers and sisters in Jesus are:

Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

I Corinthians 12:3

Can I love you even if you disagree with me? Can you love me
even if I disagree with you? Unity is not about us agreeing on every detail of
life, on every theological perspective, and on every political issue. Unity is
about our focus, our purpose, our goal, and our aim in life being to give glory
to God, to love one another, and to share with others the amazing good news
that Jesus died for their sins, and there is hope for a life that is above and
beyond what this world has to offer.

Unity is about being focused on the glory of God and the
best good for my brothers and sisters… and I’m not trying to preach, but I must
state clearly, that Jesus said my brothers and my sisters are not just the ones
who are a part of the body of Christ. The Samaritan was brother to the Jew – an
unheard-of thing in the time of Jesus. [By extension, one could argue that the
Samaritan was not “saved.”]

Do I hurt for my unsaved brothers and sisters? Do I ache for
their deliverance from the sin that makes them a prisoner to this world and
would rob them of eternal life? Am I more concerned about a political solution
for my nation, or for the fact that every man, woman, and child who does not
know Jesus is by default headed to a godless eternity?

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB)

It was this passion for Jesus that changed the lives of the
Apostles and those who heard their message. It was this message that changed
the Roman world of their day, as the persecutors became the persecuted and
placed their faith in the Jesus.

This is the power of the life of Jesus in us who proclaim
His name to change the world. Let us pray for HIS wonderful message to be
spread, and for that we can must pray for our leaders in every nation. As it is
written:

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (HCSB)