Who Should I Go For in The Israel Palestine War?
The other day my son came home from school and asked me this question, “Dad, who should I go for in the Israel Palestine War?” He’s 11 years old and as we chatted about this he simply wanted to know “Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?”
This question my son asked is what our culture is telling us to ask. Once we’ve picked a side we stop listening to the other side, then we start attacking the “bad guys” and anyone who sides with them. Our social media is full of this and it’s all very divisive.
This pattern repeats through history. We identify the “Bad Guy”, we blame them for everything, we dehumanise them, then we justify violence towards them. We see this at all levels of conflict, from kids fighting over toys, to Nations waging war.
The problem with justifying violence is that it sets in to motion a cycle that never ends. Side A feels offended by Side B, then attacks them. Side B then retaliates. Side A retaliates to Side B’s retaliation and around and around and around we go. Violence begets violence. It’s all very divisive.
This is why I love the ways of Jesus. He gives us what has been called “The Third Way.” Jesus who was a Jew living in Roman occupied Israel taught His disciples a different way of interacting with enemies and those who wish you harm. His way sounds so ridiculous that many Jesus-followers today do not even take it seriously.
Jesus taught us to, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28) Not only did Jesus teach this, but He modelled it. Whether it was healing a man who came to arrest Him, or forgiving the people killing Him He always lived by this Third Way.
Jesus Third Way is based on the belief that all people have worth and value. It says that the only way to break the cycle of violence is by love. It’s to fight evil with good. It’s actually forgiveness, doing good deeds, blessing and praying for your enemies that breaks the cycle of violence and establishes peace.
But this Third Way is costly. It requires courage, sacrifice and a steadfast belief that it is worth it. Jesus lived and died this way. I wonder if we are willing to too?
So how did I answer my son? “Who should I go for in the Israel Palestine War?” I said we should go for people, we should go for peace.
