Political infighting distracts

As war continues in the Middle East, Jewish Christians need safe haven

Embattled — Members of the Israeli Defense Forces train for battle as mounting attacks from surrounding nations continue to threaten the Jewish state from every direction. Google Images

Embattled — Members of the Israeli Defense Forces train for battle as mounting attacks from surrounding nations continue to threaten the Jewish state from every direction. Google Images

Tensions between different religious groups continue to rise at events in Washington, D.C., and around the world.

According to the Washington Post, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was booed off the stage at the In Defense of Christians (IDC) Gala Solidarity Dinner Program at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., Sept. 10. Cruz made many strong comments during the event that angered numerous attendees.

“Tonight, we are all united in defense of Christians,” Cruz said. “Tonight, we are all united in defense of Jews. … If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you,” he said before walking off the stage.

disrupted— Ted Cruz was heckled for pro-Jewish comments. Photo provided

Disrupted— Ted Cruz was heckled for pro-Jewish comments. Photo provided

After Cruz made comments supporting Israel, many unidentified audience members began booing and heckling. According to Newsweek, most of the world leaders and representatives in attendance are concerned with aiding in stopping Christian persecution.

In a statement released referencing a “disruption” at the event, but not naming Cruz, IDC President Toufic Baaklini shared his perspective of what happened.

“In this case, a few politically motivated opportunists chose to divide a room that for more than 48 hours sought unity in opposing the shared threat of genocide, faced not only by our Christian brothers and sisters, but our Jewish brothers and sisters and people of all other faiths and all people of good will,” Baaklini said.

Actions of the hecklers were inappropriate and unwarranted.

This event comes during a time when tensions in the Middle East are running high. This is made clear nearly every day with another story of bombings or murders making headlines, often in retaliation to religious differences. With such atrocities as beheadings and mass murders occurring in the Middle East, it is almost as if Americans have become numb to the violence that plagues the area, especially in Israel.

Measures need to be taken to assist our ally. If we do not stand for Israel, who will? According to the National Archives, President Truman was the first to recognize Israel as an independent state in 1948. As stated by CNN, the relationships between U.S. and Israeli leaders have seen brighter days.

“It’s probably the worst relationship between a leader of the United States and a leader of Israel since all the way back to the Eisenhower days,” David Gergen, a senior political analyst for CNN who was an advisor to multiple U.S. presidents, said. “The relationship has gotten rockier over this period during the war.”

Support for Israel is now wavering in a time when it should be stronger than ever. In a time when Israel, God’s chosen nation, is being threatened, it is essential for Christians, in particular, to unite and stand with Israel.

Psalm 122:6 illustrates this.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may those who love you be secure.”

War has plagued Israel this past summer. According to the Washington Post, a waterfall of events led to the 50-day war in Gaza. This war quickly developed into one of the bloodiest conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians.

More Christians are needed to minister to groups in the Middle East so violence like this can be prevented. To many Christians, religious freedom is not an option, but rather an ideal they may never know. Some even give their lives for their faith.

World Watch Monitor reported that more people were “killed for faith” in Syria in 2013 than in the whole world during 2012. This statistic is unnerving and frightening. Christians have an obligation to protect the marginalized and work toward giving people of faith a safe place to practice where they can be free from persecution. In the Arab region, Israel is that safe place.

Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council Sept. 23, Father Gabriel Nadaf, a Greek Orthodox priest from Nazareth in northern Israel, described Israel as a safe haven in the Middle East, according to The Blaze.

“In the Middle East today, there is one country where Christianity is not only not persecuted, but affectionately granted freedom of expression, freedom of worship and security,” Nadaf said. “Israel is the only place where Christians in the Middle East are safe.”

Nadaf went on to estimate that 120,000 Christians have been killed in the Middle East over the previous decade.

“That means that every five minutes, a Christian is killed because of his faith,” Nadaf said.

Western Christians need to protect this safe haven and help forge the same freedoms they enjoy for the rest of the Middle East, for the Christians who fight for their faith, as well as their lives, every day. Peace should be known to these people.

The petty political fights within our ranks need to end. When it comes down to it, Christians believe in a loving God and that Jesus died for their sins. We should unite over these facts.

Differences between Christian groups will always exist. However, instead of heckling a speaker from the stage, Christians should present a united front against such great persecution.

No more senators should be silenced, and more importantly, no more Christians should die for their faith. We are one body, united by God, saved from sin, searching for a future when everyone can know the love we feel on a daily basis from our Savior.

STEFANICK is an opinion writer

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