Walking on a balance beam - taking sides

Pro-___________

Pro- Something

Anti-Something else. 

Clear lines, 

black and white,

justice. 

Simple.

But....

Complicated.

Injustice.

Shades of gray, 

Blurred lines,  

Support this - Ignore that...

Truth - We just want to expose the truth. To what extent will we go to support our cause and to debase the other? Many issues we face have people who would identify as pro - or anti- towards it.

Here is Israel - the Land Between, there are Pro-Israel and Pro-Palestine. Often people will come with certain ideas and notions about what they want to support and what they want to believe.  They come with their frame-work and they are looking to fill it with pictures. They want to hear stories that will fit with what they already think is 'truth'.

I'm not trying to say that there is no absolute truth. There is, and there always will be. But when it comes to these conflicts, there is often more involved than just one simple truth.

I feel like living here - is like living on a balance beam. There are people on both sides of the balance beam, and I want to reach out and take their hand - but I do not want them to pull me off of the beam. It is a balancing act, a challenge to not let you heart to be pulled by ones stories in a way that would automatically condemn the other.

In no way do I want to diminish the suffering and struggles that are experience on both sides of the conflict, at the hands of all governments involved. But neither I do not settle for simple answers that might alleviate suffering for one in turn for suffering of others.


We look to Jesus as our example. We quote the things he says and the actions he did. But what about the things that he didn't do? What about the opinions he didn't voice?

Jesus never condemned the Romans.

Jesus never condemned the occupying army with which the Jews had resisted for the the previous couple hundred year.

Jesus did say - Give to Cesar what is Cesar's.  (Matt 22:21)

Jesus did say - When you are forced to carry the burden one mile - carry it two.  (Matt. 5:41)

The Apostles Paul and Peter reiterates and states that we should submit to the government in authority. (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13)

So how does this translate to what we see happening on the ground? I don't know exactly. The longer I am here the more complicated it seems to become.

It will probably include submitting to the authority on both sides. In Israel I am accountable to their government and laws. In the West bank I am accountable to those in authority there, and on both sides they deserve the same respect and obedience.  Just because I don't agree with some of their injustices they do, doesn't mean that I can discount them completely.

There is one thing I am sure of - which will always be true. 

God loves the people on each side of this conflict.