A GENOCIDAL FAMINE IN GAZA: the sin of spiritual bypassing
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Western Christianity has failed the people of Gaza. Let’s admit it. We have fallen short of our Christian mandate — something must change.
The Israel-Hamas war has now stretched into its 20th month, with over 110 people killed daily for 575 consecutive days, including 31 child fatalities every single day. This live-streamed genocide is unfolding in a densely packed enclave just 41 kilometres long—roughly the distance of a marathon. To put it in perspective, Gaza is one-tenth the size of Cape Town, yet holds an average of 40,424 people per square kilometre.
Despite this, Israel’s military has unleashed over 85,000 tonnes of bombs since October 2023—surpassing the combined bomb tonnage used in Dresden, Hamburg, and London during World War II. In comparison, the Little Boy nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima yielded 15,000 tonnes of high explosives, obliterating everything within a 1.6 km radius. The devastation in Gaza now equals nearly six Hiroshima bombs, all concentrated in an area one-tenth the size of Cape Town.
The scale of devastation is described as unparalleled in the post-World War II era, with satellite imagery showing that 80% of buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed
For those seeking to embody Christ, silence is not an option. The Church’s witness must mirror the spirit of Christ—a heart that grieves with the broken-hearted, that mourns with those that mourn, and stands unwavering in compassion and truth.
Yet, instead of a unified outcry from the global Christian community, a SPIRITUAL BYPASSING set in. Rather than sorrow, some defended the massacre. Rather than mourning, some rationalised the killings. Rather than standing for peace, some justified the destruction.
SPIRITUAL BYPASSING: A CALL TO AWARENESS
Spiritual bypassing refers to the tendency to use theological reasoning and spiritual explanations as a way to evade complex realities and emotional struggles. Instead of confronting difficult questions, it allows individuals to rationalize or dismiss deep societal injustices, avoiding the discomfort of engaging with them directly.
Coined in the 1980s by John Welwood in Toward a Psychology of Awakening, the term describes a pattern of avoidance—where spirituality becomes a protective shield, sidestepping unresolved trauma, oppression, and systemic issues.
A glaring example today is the crisis in Gaza. It is far easier to place sole blame on Hamas than to wrestle with the complex pursuit of peace and coexistence. Similarly, invoking Biblical justifications for Israel’s military actions can feel spiritually acceptable, even when it means failing to challenge its conduct or demand accountability.
Historically, wars, discrimination, apathy, and oppression have allowed spiritual bypassing to seep into the Church, dulling its prophetic voice. Instead of lamenting human suffering, some use faith as insulation from moral reckoning. This selective disengagement leads to inaction, allowing tragedies like Gaza’s devastation to continue unchecked.
When suffering is ignored and trauma is normalized, bypassing the issue by spiritualizing it rather than addressing it, does not heal—it harms.
The danger of bypassing lies in its ability to silence compassion and justice, distorting the role of faith itself. When the Church excuses genocide, justifies violence, and uses prayer as a retreat rather than a call to action, its witness is compromised.
True faith does not bypass suffering—it enters into it, stands beside the broken, and works toward peace with both spiritual conviction and tangible action.
CONSIDER THE CURRENT FAMINE IN GAZA
The escalating famine in Gaza reached catastrophic proportions amid the ongoing, illegal total blockade imposed by Israel for 63 consecutive days, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, medicines, and basic supplies.
In Gaza, dozens of deaths have been reported from malnutrition or lack of medical care. The crime of starvation committed by Israel against civilians in the Gaza Strip constitutes one of the most extreme and brutal forms of genocide in recent history, stripping victims of their health and dignity. It is not limited to the deprivation of food but also seeks to eliminate the population’s ability to survive by destroying livelihoods, blocking humanitarian aid, targeting sources of production, and disrupting supply chains.
Lima Bastami, Director of the Legal Department at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, stated: “The crime of starvation in Gaza is fully-fledged and committed in broad daylight; it requires no investigation committees or judicial rulings to prove it. It is enough to note that Israel has closed all crossings into the devastated Strip for over two months, completely banning the entry of food, medicine, and goods – a well-established reality openly acknowledged by Israeli officials without fear of accountability. Gaza is filled with irrefutable evidence of the crime’s horror: the emaciated bodies of people and children, tens of thousands lining up daily at charity kitchens, and the escalating death toll from hunger, malnutrition, and associated diseases.”
She added: “Despite this, the world buries its head in the sand, waiting for ‘ceasefire negotiations,’ forgetting that humanitarian aid is a non-negotiable right and that no justification can excuse starvation.”
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, around 60,000 children require urgent treatment for severe malnutrition, and approximately 16,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are in desperate need of healthcare, while families across the Strip face unimaginable hardship amid a worsening hunger crisis, ongoing displacement, a collapsed healthcare system, and relentless Israeli military attacks.
CONFRONTING SPIRITUAL BYPASSING: A CALL TO ACTION
The refusal to confront reality—especially in the context of the war in Gaza—reflects a profound failure to acknowledge human suffering and engage with systemic injustices. When Christians turn away from such atrocities, they not only prolong a cycle of harm but also evade their spiritual and moral duty to be light bearers and agents of hope. The consequences of this inaction will extend far beyond the present, leaving a lasting stain on history.
Genocide, one of the most egregious crimes against humanity, demands unwavering recognition and condemnation from the Church. To dismiss, rationalize, or downplay the magnitude of such suffering is to participate in a collective spiritual bypassing—one that allows individuals and societies to sidestep the uncomfortable truths of history and shield themselves from truly engaging with the devastation endured by countless people.
BREAKING THE CYCLE: BIBLICAL VIRTUES FOR GENUINE ENGAGEMENT
To combat spiritual bypassing, we must embrace a spirituality rooted in Biblical virtues—virtues that do not avoid suffering but enter into it with Christ-like compassion and action.
Consciousness
Awakening to injustice begins with honest self-examination. We must acknowledge and confront our own biases, challenge our preconceived narratives, and actively engage with the uncomfortable truths shaping our world. Spiritual integrity demands that we seek a more just and equitable society, refusing to use faith as a shield for complacency.
Compassion
Hannah Arendt warned that the death of human compassion is one of the earliest signs of a society on the brink of barbarism. The war in Gaza has exposed a major weakness within Western Christianity—the obsession with being “right” at the expense of being kind and compassionate.
Christ embodied indiscriminate compassion—a love that transcended politics, nationalism, and personal grievances. If we claim to follow Him, our response to suffering must reflect His heart rather than the rationalizations of power structures.
Connecting
Authentic engagement means embracing the complexity of emotions, histories, and theological positions. We must pursue dual connectivity:
- Feeling the pain of those who suffer, mourning with them in emotional, physical, and spiritual solidarity.
- Supporting those working toward solutions. The Third Way and Dia-logos is preparing to launch a project that will bridge the Church with those serving in the region—creating real pathways for engagement.
Contributing
When prayer alone feels insufficient, it becomes a call to action. Faith must move beyond words into works. The suffering in Gaza demands more than petitions—it calls for advocacy and tangible support. Scripture reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
Ways to contribute:
- Amplify voices—share stories, challenge misinformation, and educate others.
- Support humanitarian efforts—organizations like Jerusalem Evangelistic Outreach are directly providing relief.
- Call for accountability—urge leaders, churches, and global bodies to take meaningful action.
- Live out the Gospel—embody peacemaking, advocate for justice, and refuse to justify suffering.
Commitment
Addressing systemic injustices requires a deep commitment to transformation—both personal and collective. Spiritual bypassing fosters complacency, allowing oppression to thrive unchecked. By aligning our faith with genuine social engagement, we can actively dismantle structures of injustice that have endured for far too long.
Healing comes when people come together with empathy, understanding, and a shared commitment to support one another. The Church must no longer stand in silence but rise as a voice for hope, justice, and restoration.