{"id":1879,"date":"2014-07-23T13:56:26","date_gmt":"2014-07-23T13:56:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/?p=1879"},"modified":"2014-07-23T13:56:50","modified_gmt":"2014-07-23T13:56:50","slug":"should-christians-participate-in-boycotts-or-divestments-of-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/should-christians-participate-in-boycotts-or-divestments-of-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Christians Participate in Boycotts or Divestments of Israel?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Tom Brennan
\n\"Boycott-divest-sanction\"<\/a>
\nIn recent years political and academic associations and now church denominations have voted to divest their investments from any companies or corporations that have contracts or business dealings with Israel. Most often these actions reflect a sincere sympathy for Palestinian refugees. Most recently the Presbyterians have voted to divest the church\u2019s investments from several corporations. Can a church in good conscience and in obedience to the Bible do so? How do those who support Israel engage the denomination in a constructive discussion of the implications of their decision? We start by considering a search of Scripture.<\/p>\n

The first thing is to admit that Israel is not a perfect State. There is poverty, crime, secularism and other modern ills. But Ancient Israel was disciplined through famines, plagues and exiles for idolatry and other forms of disobedience. Since 1948 Israel has continuously been the only functioning democratic country in a region all too often ruled by non-democratic means.<\/p>\n

Beginning with Genesis 12:1-5 we clearly see the Almighty\u2019s command to Abram to go to a land which He would give to him and his children (descendants). Nowhere else is a withdrawal or change of that command and promise written? Israel, ancient and future features prominently in the Bible. Although important events occur which are to lead up to the birth, death and resurrection of the Messiah, all critical happenings are in what is today\u2019s State of Israel.<\/p>\n

In many places the word \u201cforever\u201d is used to describe relationships and commitments between the Almighty and His people. The phrase \u201cI am God; I do not change\u201d is a hard concept to understand in today\u2019s relativist, postmodern society. One particular Passage Acts 1:1-10 clearly describes the resurrected Messiah\u2019s taking leave of His disciples. He instructs them to stay in Jerusalem after He leaves to receive the Holy Spirit. But He ascends to heaven, glorious and in the full view of the amazed and awestruck men. They stand there with their eyes wide staring upward until shocked back to the vice of one of two unusual men who literally just suddenly appear. They are asked why they are just standing there. Before they can struggle to answer, they are told with authority that Jesus will return in like manner to this place in glory. This will be the place where the great reckoning will begin, and it will not begin in London, New York, Paris or Moscow but here in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

There are secular and humanitarian factors to consider in boycotts, divestment’s and sanctions that harm Israel\u2019s economy as well. The current trend is to accuse Israel falsely of a policy of apartheid. South Africa and Southern Rhodesia actively practiced by law this brutal and unproductive form of society and government for some time. Eventually enlightened, genuine leadership ended it and produced dramatic results. Israel has no laws of any kind that permit or tolerate apartheid, period.<\/p>\n

Anyone who even casually consults the daily news reports will be shocked by the outright brutality of the current state of affairs in Syria, Iraq and in other areas where persecution of Christians and even Muslim sects is ongoing. Churches have been burned and in a growing number of countries Christians are being imprisoned and sentenced to death for their beliefs Israel protects and guarantees freedom of religion and religious practices.
\nIsrael\u2019s population includes not only Orthodox Jews, the State\u2019s official religion, but varying sects within Judaism, Christian Arabs, Muslims, The Druze and other groups. Economic sanctions would harm the ability of the majority and minorities who are employed within the contract arrangements with boycotted companies. An economically weak Israel would be vulnerable to serious internal pressures and possibly to military action by the surging violent groups currently at work in the region. If Israel falls, who takes its place. Where do persecuted Christians go? Will the Messiah return as He said and who will be waiting?<\/p>\n

We must give credit where credit is due and compliment the churches for their expressions of concern for a people who have been played like pieces in a large and heartless game on the international game board. But we need to ask them to search the Scriptures to support their positions. Considering the long view which the Bible has employed for over 3,500 years will give us things to consider which we should weigh against social pressures.<\/p>\n

Shouldn\u2019t we as Christians place first emphasis on obedience to Scripture and form our decisions from the words of the Bible ? Should we not engage others in finding ways to relieve the much too long distress of the people who are the most in need. When faced with a discussion of this topic speaking the truth in love, calmly and from a solid Scriptural base will help us support Israel and win over more friends for The Land.<\/p>\n

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By Tom Brennan In recent years political and academic associations and now church denominations have voted to divest their investments from any companies or corporations that have contracts or business dealings with Israel. Most often these actions reflect a sincere sympathy for Palestinian refugees. Most recently the Presbyterians have voted to divest the church\u2019s investments more \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[323,75,625,125,119,126],"class_list":{"0":"post-1879","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-editorial","8":"tag-bds","9":"tag-israel","10":"tag-israeli-news","11":"tag-news-from-jerusalem","12":"tag-palestinian","13":"tag-peace-process","14":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1879"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1882,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879\/revisions\/1882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejerusalemgiftshop.com\/israelnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}