Christians and Gaza

 

Christians and Gaza:

When I meet with most Christians and mention  the word “Gaza”, they turn around and run like a chicken being chased by a fox.  As they distance themselves from me, I hear them yelling, “It’s too political”, “It’s too complex”, It’s an insolvable problem that has been in existence for many years”,  (As if we aren’t supposed to include our spiritual beliefs along with our  politics, or that the principles of Christianity are for simple scenarios.) 

 

Being a member of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation for several years, I’ve tried to figure out how to get these pseudo-Christians to talk about Gaza.  I now have the answer:  I’m not concerned about talking about guilt, or blame, or justifications, or rationalizations.  When one thinks of Gaza (or sees the pictures of Gaza) there is only one word that should come out of a Christian’s mouth or mind – “Compassion”.

 

When you look at Gaza, don’t look  at the 16,000 dead children, and women, and men – look at the One Million people who have been dislocated.  ONE MILLION.  And that means there are One Million people who are unemployed and have been unemployed for many months.  One Million displaced people includes how many mothers and/or fathers that have no way of caring for their children?  One Million displaced people includes how many  children who have not been able to go to school?  Or play with their friends?  Or develop intellectually or socially?  One Million displaced people includes how many people who have lost all of their belongings because they could only take what they could carry on their backs when they left while being displaced?  One Million displaced people includes how many people who will be returning to their hovel only to find it demolished?  One Million displaced people includes how many people will be unable to rebuild or reconstruct their homes because of the destruction?  One Million displaced people includes how many people who did not have, and won’t have, adequate medical attention?  One Million displaced people includes how many children, women, and men have been traumatized and will suffer/experience PTSD for the rest of their lives?  One Million displaced people includes how  many people who have been separated from family and friends and community? 

 

When someone mentions the word “Gaza”, one should immediately think of Compassion for these victims without trying to lay blame, or justifications.  If Christians believe in the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus taught, they would think in terms of Compassion.  But I find that most Christians would rather think about the unloving god of the Old Testament rather than the teachings of Jesus – which is why they would  rather post the 10 Commandments in public areas rather than post the Beatitudes. 

 

I challenge any Christian to tell me why they don’t think of Compassion when they think of Gaza.