Israel is one of the few countries in the Middle East where Christians enjoy full civil rights, can practise their religion freely, hold high office and do not have to fear reprisals, at least not from the authorities. Reprisals and hostility do exist, but these often come from within their own ranks or from Muslim fellow citizens. Although the majority of Christian (68%) and Muslim (61%) Arabs consider themselves ‘Israelis’ and appreciate the freedom that life in Israel offers, Palestinian nationalism remains widespread.
Christian Arabs who live in areas with a Muslim majority must therefore be particularly careful not to become targets. If they keep their views to themselves, nothing will happen to them. But the more they identify as Israelis, the more uncomfortable it becomes for them. This is clearly illustrated by the example of Arab Christians who see themselves as part of the State of Israel in every respect and voluntarily perform military service. For their protection, the Israeli army has granted them special permission: normally, every soldier is required to travel to and from their respective army base in uniform. Christian Arab soldiers, however, are allowed to do so in civilian clothing in order to remain unrecognised among their own people.
Worldwide, the number of devout Christians who recognise G-d's intentions for Israel based on the Bible, who are saddened by the persecution of Jews throughout church history, and who stand up for Israel in prayer and practical support is growing. In addition, more and more Christians and non-Christians are seeing through the one-sided reporting of many media outlets, which all too often pillory Israel and conceal the glorification of violence, corruption, and human rights violations by the Palestinian leadership.
It is all the more surprising that church leaders in Jerusalem, (the city of the great King. Mt 5:35b), in particular, do not share this understanding, but are openly anti-Israeli. Clergy do not want to be accused of normalising relations with Israel or betrayal, nor do they want to put their members in the "Palestinian" territories in danger. Some therefore go on the offensive with anti-Israel statements.
But there is also another, deeper reason: it is the heresy, widespread since the early days of church history, that the Christian church has replaced Israel as G-d's chosen people. According to this replacement theology, which occurs in various forms and under different names (fulfilment theology, substitution theology), all the promises that G-d made explicitly to the Jewish people now apply to the church.
"Palestinian" church leaders have added a political component to the replacement theology prevalent among millions of Christians worldwide and preach a "Palestinian" liberation theology: According to this, Jesus, the Jewish carpenter's son from Nazareth and descendant of the greatest Jewish king, David, was not only a "Palestinian", but the first "Palestinian revolutionary leader." In this way, terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli civilians, for example, are considered legitimate acts against the oppressor. The pro-Palestinian churches are thus causing enormous damage.
A literal interpretation of the Bible, especially the five books of Moses, in which G-d repeatedly reaffirms his eternal covenant with Israel, is rejected. The Gospel is mixed with Palestinian nationalism and Jesus' Jewish identity is denied. The fact that Jesus taught his disciples peacefulness and repeatedly reminded them that His kingdom is not of this world (e.g. Mt 26:52; John 18:36) does not apply to the oppressed in their view.
Coupled with the absence of any critical examination of the Palestinian leadership's inhumane policies, this ideology suggests that Israel alone is to blame for the plight of Christians in the "Palestinian" territories. The fate of their fellow believers in other countries in the Middle East and the freedom of Christian Arab citizens of Israel are ignored.
In Feb 2019, the IDF promoted a Christian soldier to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, making him the first soldier of his faith to achieve that rank. His identity must remain confidential as he is being considered for a high-ranking/high-risk security position.
Lieutenant Colonel I., who hails from Nazareth, said
But John 6 is clear that God has designated a people for Himself and gave them to Christ to be saved, to which Jesus said he will not lose one. I don’t believe you can refuse the gift of salvation because the work is already done and you are already a new person, but if you could (and again, I don’t know why anyone would want to), if you are one of the ones God has chosen to be His people, Christ would pursue you till He completes the will of the Father.
