Priests demand probe after arson at ancient church in West Bank's last remaining Christian town

[Michie]

Priests in the last remaining Christian town in the West Bank have called for an "immediate and transparent investigation" following a series of alleged attacks by Jewish settlers in Taybeh, including a fire set near an ancient Christian cemetery and the ruins of the Church of St. George.

In a statement shared this week by Independent Catholic News, the heads of the Greek Orthodox Church, Latin Church and Melkite Greek Catholic Church stated that the assaults "threaten the security and stability of our town" and "aim at undermining the dignity of its residents and the sanctity of its sacred land."

The three priests — Father Dawood Khoury, Father Jacques-Noble Abed and Father Bishara Fawaz — condemned the fires set near Taybeh's cemetery and the church, an event that occurred on July 7.

Continued below.

Priests demand probe after arson at ancient church in West Bank's last remaining Christian town

Priests in the Christian West Bank town of Taybeh have called for an immediate and transparent investigation following a series of alleged attacks by Jewish settlers, including a fire set near an

www.christianpost.com

 

[RDKirk]

This is why Christians should not get involved with supporting specific political groups, such as the State of Israel.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

This is why Christians should not get involved with supporting specific political groups, such as the State of Israel.

The state of Israel is a nation, not a political group.

 

[RDKirk]

The state of Israel is a nation, not a political group.

A state is certainly a "political group."

A nation may be only an ethnic group.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

A state is certainly a "political group."

A nation may be only an ethnic group.

No, Isreal is the state of Jewish people, a nation of Israel.

Politics are part of every situation, even social clubs,.

Not so Israel.

 

[RDKirk]

No, Isreal is the state of Jewish people, a nation of Israel.

Politics are part of every situation, even social clubs,.

Not so Israel.

Israel existed as a nation even before they occupied the territory.

Israel existed as a nation even while they were in Babylonian captivity.

But Israel did not exist as a state during those times.

See the difference?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Israel existed as a nation even before they occupied the territory.

Israel existed as a nation even while they were in Babylonian captivity.

But Israel did not exist as a state during those times.

See the difference?

The Jewish people have always considered themselves a nation.

The State of Israel as we know it today only came about in 1947, but was indeed a nation
of Jewish people. Yes, it has changed over the centuries, as it was invaded and occupied
time and time again. However, it was the nation of Israel since Moses led them to the
promised land where it is today.

 

[RDKirk]

The Jewish people have always considered themselves a nation.

The State of Israel as we know it today only came about in 1947, but was indeed a nation
of Jewish people. Yes, it has changed over the centuries, as it was invaded and occupied
time and time again. However, it was the nation of Israel since Moses led them to the
promised land where it is today.

So then, you do see the difference.

Why are we having a debate over it?

Here is another example:

“But you [the Body of Christ] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
-- 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

 

[JimR-OCDS]

So then, you do see the difference.

Why are we having a debate over it?

Here is another example:

“But you [the Body of Christ] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
-- 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

Do you believe the state of Israel as we see it today, has a right to exist?

 

[RileyG]

Lord have mercy!

 

[RDKirk]

Do you believe the state of Israel as we see it today, has a right to exist?

"Right to exist" is a phrase you don't find in scripture.

What we do see in scripture, however, is that God will never allow the Jews as a people, as an ethnic nation, to be exterminated.

But He has allowed the political state of Israel to be conquered more than once.

We see in scripture that God does not give the political state of Isreal an inalienable right to exist. If the political state is doing wrong, He allows the political state to be vanquished.

Doing wrong, for example.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

"Right to exist" is a phrase you don't find in scripture.

Semantics instead of answering the question.

Does the state of Israel have a right to exist, or be eliminated?

 

[RDKirk]

Semantics instead of answering the question.

Does the state of Israel have a right to exist, or be eliminated?

God gives the political state of Israel no more right to exist than any other political state. Scripture shows that God has allowed the destruction of the political state of Israel more than once because of the sins of Israel as a state.

Israel maintains its existence as a political state the same way every other political state does: Through force of arms. The leaders of Israel are permitted by God to use "the sword" to maintain control to the same extend as He permitted Rome or Persia or Britain or the United States.

However, as I said earlier, I believe God does protect the Jewish people as a nation from extermination, which can't be said for every people group in the world. Every state that has ever attempted to exterminate the Jews as a people has itself been destroyed.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

God gives the political state of Israel no more right to exist than any other political state. Scripture shows that God has allowed the destruction of the political state of Israel more than once because of the sins of Israel as a state.

Israel maintains its existence as a political state the same way every other political state does: Through force of arms. The leaders of Israel are permitted by God to use "the sword" to maintain control to the same extend as He permitted Rome or Persia or Britain or the United States.

However, as I said earlier, I believe God does protect the Jewish people as a nation from extermination, which can't be said for every people group in the world. Every state that has ever attempted to exterminate the Jews as a people has itself been destroyed.

And so according to you, God doesn't will any state to exist, which would include Israel, the United States, all European Countries
etc.

So how did God protect the Jewish people during the Holocaust?

 

[RDKirk]

And so according to you, God doesn't will any state to exist, which would include Israel, the United States, all European Countries
etc.

You used the term "right to exist." Now, you've moved the goalpost to whether God wills any state to exist.

Those are different propositions.

Everything exists by God's will. But nothing has a "right" to exist.

So how did God protect the Jewish people during the Holocaust?

You could as well ask how God protected the Jewish people during their captivity in Egypt or Babylon.

God destroyed the Third Reich before it could exterminate the Jewish people in Germany, and before the Third Reich grew powerful enough to exert that effort to the rest of the world.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

You used the term "right to exist." Now, you've moved the goalpost to whether God wills any state to exist.

Those are different propositions.

Everything exists by God's will. But nothing has a "right" to exist.

You could as well ask how God protected the Jewish people during their captivity in Egypt or Babylon.

God destroyed the Third Reich before it could exterminate the Jewish people in Germany, and before the Third Reich grew powerful enough to exert that effort to the rest of the world.

So, the Declaration of Independence is false?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, "

To protect those God given rights, governments must exist. Without those governments, you'll
have anarchy and or a dictatorship.

Is it God's will that they exist or not? If not, then no nation on earth has a right to exist and
we might as well abolish all nations and have a "one world religion." Exactly what Satan wants.

 

[RDKirk]

So, the Declaration of Independence is false?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, "

Well, now, that's not scripture, is it?

To protect those God given rights, governments must exist. Without those governments, you'll
have anarchy and or a dictatorship.

Is it God's will that they exist or not? If not, then no nation on earth has a right to exist and
we might as well abolish all nations and have a "one world religion." Exactly what Satan wants.

God permits dictatorships as often as He permits democracies.

More often, actually.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well, it seems we're talking past each other.

That being said, I need a break from this forum.

So, God Bless!

 

[Lady Bug]

It's one thing to be critical of what Israel might be doing from time to time, but it devolves into supporting the Palestinian side and the majority of them support Hamas, so I'm like - nahhhhhh.

The Catholicism sub on Reddit reeks of pro-Palestinianism and I have yet to see any condemnation of Hamas.

Make no mistake, I've gone to Jewish subs on Reddit and I can assure you, the Jews (at least the ones on Reddit) hate Christians

Makes me wonder what to say

 

[RileyG]

This is why Christians should not get involved with supporting specific political groups, such as the State of Israel.

Other than historical significance or religious significance, I don’t think the modern state of Israel is important to Christians. It’s just like any other nation.

That being said, since God always keeps his promises, do the Jewish people still have a promised land? Theologically speaking?

Peace