COMPLICIT CHRISTIANITY: How Gaza is shaping missions in the Middle East.

com-pli-cit:  Whenever someone makes it easier for a wrongdoing to be committed, they’re complicit in it.

INTRODUCTION

Consider the following scenario:  A prominent Muslim leader from one of the major Islamic nations in the world bends down at a military arsenal to sign a bombshell that is destined to destroy a Christian village somewhere in Europe.  With a thick permanent marker, he writes these words as a prayer:   “Finish them off”.  We can only try to imagine the outcry from the Western world and the uproar from the global Christian community.  This will be perceived as an Islamic declaration of war against Christians in Europe.

Now, place yourself near Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.  It is May 2024, at the height of the Israel/ Gaza war.  Former US ambassador to the United Nations and US presidential candidate, Nikki Haley, bends down, takes a permanent marker and writes “Finish Them off” on an artillery shell that is destined to the Israel Defence Force.  The sentence “Finish them off” is a direct reference to the Palestinian community living in Gaza.  Ms. Haley then draws an emoji heart with the words “America loves Israel”.

The politician’s graphic show of support for Israel came at a time when more than 40,000 Palestinians have already been killed, including more than 25,000 innocent women and children.

There was no outcry from the Christian world.

What made this display of solidarity with Israel even more controversial was the fact that Haley is a self-confessed, spirit-filled, born-again Christian.  This led the global Muslim community to view her actions not only as a political declaration of war by America but also as a spiritual declaration of war by Christians against Muslims.

Through utter ignorance, Ms Haley made Christianity complicit in in the suffering of countless people in Gaza, and by association engaged the biggest Christian nation in the world, and Christianity as a whole, in a spiritual warfare that sparked what could become the gradual disintegration of modern missions in the Middle East.

If only Ms. Haley, and Evangelical leaders in the West, understood the serious consequences of their unwavering loyalty to Israel, and the grave consequences it holds for the Gospel in the region

A WAR OF PREEXISTING NARRATIVES

Over the past year, much has been written, spoken, and prophesied about Israel and the war in Gaza. The complexity of the situation has been heightened by conflicting views on when the war started, why it happened, and who was to blame. The focus gradually shifted from the original attack on 7 October 2023 to finding scapegoats and finger-pointing.  This changed realities into perceptions and perceptions into opinions.  The insurmountable suffering of people became less important than who was right and and who was wrong.  The conflict in Gaza gradually turned out to be more than just a military exercise, it became a battleground of spiritual narratives fought from within the comfortable couch chairs of preexisting theologies.

For pro-Israel advocates, the blame fell squarely on the shoulders of Hamas, and therefore, by association, all Palestinians.  Especially those living in Gaza.  In their eyes Hamas (i.e. Palestinians) was responsible for the killing of 1,139 Israelis, injuring 8,730 people and the abduction of 240 civilians; and therefore the people of Gaza should bear the blame and be held accountable.

As a sovereign nation, so Israel supporters argue, Israel has the right to defend itself and secure the release of all hostages at any cost.  By using children as human shields and operating from tunnels under hospitals and places of worship, including Churches, Hamas is therefore responsible, by default, for the death of every child, every woman and every person that has now reached a tally of more than 41,000 people.  The immense suffering and destruction, equal to three Hiroshima nuclear bombs dropped on an area the size of Detroit city in the USA, should not be blamed on the IDF but should be attributed to the actions of the terrorist group, Hamas.  The number of people who die every day is an unfortunate war statistic that needs to be viewed as collateral damage.  Or so they argue.

For those who look at the conflict through more human lenses and not geographical lenses, the picture differs substantially.  Suffering becomes more humane and less political.  Every death is seen as an individual who had a name, belonged to a family and lived in a community.  Every single death is mourned by many, regardless of belief, culture, nationality or association.  Thousands became victims of circumstances they never pursued or desired.  Consider the following:[1]

• If 40,000 individuals were lying next to each other, side by side, in Paris, the first person would be at Notre-Dame and the last would be in Versailles. The line would be 24 kilometres long.
• It would take an average person walking at 5km per hour 5 hours to walk from the beginning of that chain to the end. Every step would witness the body of another human being who died with dreams and ambitions.
• For children, the situation is worse. Of the more than 40,000 people killed, nearly 17,000 are children. They could fill up 550 classrooms.

We all have the freedom to choose our alliances and friends, but wisdom is found in how we express those alliances.  Ms. Haley is well within her rights to choose her allegiance with Israel but to express her affiliation on a bombshell that will ultimately take lives and kill innocent people, is foolish and repulsive.  When we publicly choose sides, we automatically become complicit to the actions and ideologies of those we choose to side with.  For the Muslim world, containing nearly 70% of all unreached people in the world, the Christianity that blesses one at the expense of another is revolting.  This Gospel will ultimately reveal a God that few Muslims would be drawn to.

A MISSIONAL APPROACH

Strangely, and ironically so, while many Christian leaders in the West have explored the Scriptural relevance of Israel, the Biblical legitimacy of siding with Israel, and the prophetic impact of the war, few have contemplated the missional consequences in the region and the devastating effect their support for Israel will have on future mission endeavours.

So, how will Western Christian support for Israel add or detract from present, past and future mission activities in Gaza, the Arab world and surrounding Muslim Nations?

There are 6 points to consider:

1. The end of Christianity in Gaza, the birthplace of the Church

“Israel’s assault on Gaza could spell the end of the Christian community’s long history in the enclave.”

This statement by Mitri Raheb, an Evangelical Lutheran pastor and founder of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, should fill the hearts of every Western Christian with a deep sense of anguish and concern.  When the birthplace of Christianity is destroyed the spiritual foundations of our faith will join the ruins of destruction across Gaza.

On 19 October 2023, Israel bombed the Church of Saint Porphyrius, Gaza’s oldest, killing at least 18 Christians. This number might seem small compared to the 41,000 who have been killed up to date but it equals 2% of the total Christian population of 1,000 members in Gaza.  The Western world was silent.

Contextualising this number might be helpful:  if a nuclear bomb is dropped on Texas in the USA and 2% of Christians in the state die in the attack, more than 550,000 believers would have lost their lives.  The world will be in uproar and the global church will be in mourning.  But not for Gaza, where Christians are paying the price of an unholy war, executed by Israel, and armed by Western nations.

In the fourth century, Gaza, located along a major trade route with access to a vibrant port and a cosmopolitan city, became a major Christian mission hub. After 1948, when the state of Israel was established and 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes in what became known as the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, more Palestinian Christians joined the community on the coastal enclave.

Estimates have indicated that the number of Christians in Gaza dropped in recent years from the 3,000 registered in 2007, when Hamas assumed complete control of the strip, triggering Israel’s blockade and accelerating the departure of Christians from the poverty-stricken enclave.  Today, less than 1,000 Christians remain of whom a number have died during the current conflict.  Some officials from the Catholic Church have calculated that since the start of the war, the number of Christians in Gaza has shrunk to 600 – 40% less than when the war started.

Mitri Raheb further said it was conceivable that the current conflict would spell the end of its long history in this strip of land.  “This community is under threat of extinction,” Raheb told Al Jazeera. “I’m not sure if they will survive the Israeli bombing, and even if they survive, I think many of them will want to emigrate.”

“We know that within this generation, Christianity will cease to exist in Gaza,” he added.

2. An increase in persecution 

In the hearts and minds of most Muslims in the Middle East, the conflict in the region has always been between Muslims and Jews, the Muslim World and Israel.  But after 7 October 2023, and the global support of American Christians for Israel, a new role-player appeared on the scene:  Christianity.

On Wednesday 24 July 2024, before Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at a joint meeting of the US Congress, he stopped to meet some 15 to 20 pro-Israel evangelical leaders.  Among those in attendance were Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Pastor John Hagee, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Philos Project Executive Director Luke Moon, televangelist Paula White, Friends of Zion chairman Mike Evans and Jordanna McMillen, U.S. director of the Israel Allies Caucus Foundation. A group of Latino evangelical pastors including Carlos Ortiz were also present.

“Our message today to the prime minister (Mr. Netanyahu) and to the Jewish people of Israel and the United States, [is] that the Christians of America stand solidly with Israel,” said Pastor Hagee. “We feel that they have every right to be totally victorious in this military conflict and we’re here to tell them [ourselves],” he added.

These words by past Hagee expressed an unadulterated support for Israel’s military attacks on Gaza.  There was no reference to peace or reconciliation, but “to be totally victorious in this military conflict”.  This was seen by many in the Muslim world as a formal declaration of war. It was a shift for the church in the West that now moved from peacemaker – to warmonger.

During the last two decades, Christianity was perceived in the Middle East as a force of peace and slowly but surely gained inroads into the hearts of local communities.  The local Church became a source of hope amongst refugees and in countries like Syria and Yemen who faced the daily challenges of war and hardship.

But now, the new face of Christianity will once again be placed under the magnifying glass.  It is inevitable that Christians in the middle East will pay the ultimate price for the irresponsible and ignorant support Israel enjoys from her Western Christian counterparts.

Christians in the Middle East often become “soft” targets for retaliatory attacks by locals when Islam is perceived to be under threat or insulted. For instance, in 2015, numerous Christians were killed, and 45 churches were set ablaze during protests in Niger over the French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad. Support for Israel is likely to provoke similar reactions in the Middle East, and every uninformed statement by Western leaders could become a burden for the church in the Middle East. Sadly, the Christian community in the region will continue to bear the scars of persecution for the ignorance of those in the West

3. Suspicion and animosity towards foreigners

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend” is an ancient proverb which suggests that two parties can or should work together against a common enemy.  In the context of Gaza, this centuries-old wisdom could be translated as “The friend of my enemy is my enemy” as well. Our call to read it this way is directed at both the nation of Israel and Western nations that support Israel.  Any foreigner entering the Middle East as a missionary in years to come will be viewed as a friend of Israel and an enemy of Islam.  This is not a prediction but already an existing reality.

The line was drawn in the sand on 15 November 2023 when Rev Franklin Graham met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gave him the assurance that “millions of Christians around the world were praying for him and for Israel”, and then announced the donation of 21 ambulances, including 7 armoured ambulances, by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian charity he heads. The cost of one equipped armoured ambulance can run well into US$300,000.00

The prayers and gifts were honourable incentives, but many Muslims perceived this as an act of solidarity with the “enemy”, and not as charity.  It sent a clear message that Christians have selective agendas as to whom they choose to support and that it was clearly Israel against Palestine. This while hospitals and homes were bombed in Gaza, ambulances destroyed, and people killed. The scene was set.  A friend of my enemy is automatically an enemy of mine.

When Nikki Haley autographed the bombs six months later there was no doubt left in the hearts of any Muslim in the 22 nations of the Arab World that Christians are at war with Islam.  And who can blame them?  The ball was firmly set in motion.

A missionary working in Jordan shared how, for the first time in many years, she was spat upon when walking down the streets of Amman. This was not only uncommon in the past but strange to a nation that was always seen as moderate and neutral.

Just like Muslims cannot forget the Crusades they will not forget this.  Make no mistake, the current support of Western leaders for Mr Netanyahu and Israel will set missions back to decades past.

4. A unified Islam

For the first time in modern history, we see the signs of Islamic cooperation on political and religious platforms.  Where history has always exposed the deep divide within Islam, with Sunni’s fighting Shia’s in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and even in Saudi Arabia and Iran, they now have a common enemy and share a common objective.   Shia Hezbollah has now joined forces with Sunni Hamas, a marriage previously unthinkable.

The strength of Christianity in the Middle East could always be traced back to a combination of missions and divisions. This trend will now be reversed.  The war in Gaza has unified Islam like no previous event in Islamic history.  A unified Islam and a divided Christianity (Point 5) will shift the gravity of faith in the Muslim world in a new direction.

The Yaqeen Institute surveyed nearly 2,000 English-speaking Muslims in an attempt to shed light on the thoughts, emotions, and faith-based responses of Muslims around the globe[2].  The survey found that:

• The assault on Gaza has awakened the hearts of Muslims globally and brought about a revival. In this vein, 78% of those surveyed reported that their relationship with Allah has improved since the assault on Gaza began.
• Globally, Muslims are in agreement that the assault on Gaza has awoken the Muslim spirit and united the ummah.
• The failure of Western and Muslim governments to help the Palestinians has also reinvigorated discussions and beliefs about the importance of a unified Islamic state for the well-being of the Muslim world. Regarding Western governments, 95% of people believe that their stance towards Palestine has been either ‘slightly’ or ‘extremely’ immoral.

A new invigorated and united Islam will no doubt influence missions negatively in the Middle East.

5. A divided Christianity

Luk 11:17  Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 

These words of Jesus are as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.  It should sound as a sober reminder to the church that unity, before anything else, is key to a fruitful faith.  Before seeking solidarity with Israel, we should seek unity within the Church.  It has become too easy to sacrifice Kingdom unity on the altar of geographical solidarity.  What we aim to uphold can ultimately be our downfall.

Sadly, few global events have divided the church so extensively as the current conflict in Gaza.

A Chicago Council on Global Affairs-Ipsos survey[3], fielded March 8–11, 2024, finds the American public divided over Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.   Across partisan lines, the bulk of Republicans who give their opinion say that Israel is justified in defending its interests (53%), while the bulk of Democrats say otherwise, that Israel is not justified and has gone too far (51%). Independents are most likely to say they don’t know enough to form an opinion (45%) but lean toward saying Israel has gone too far (32%) over being justified in its actions (22%).

In the church, however, the response was much more animated and less Christ-like.  On Social Media fellow believers verbally abused one another with little regard for the words of Christ to love one another as He has loved us.  A divided Church cannot share a unified message.  This will be clear for all to see.

Make no mistake, the Church is divided, and unless we can learn to disagree in ways that will glorify our Lord, we WILL lose our witness and missions in the Middle East will become futile.

6. More opportunities for African missionaries.

There is one positive outcome of the political turmoil in Gaza:  AFRICA.

When South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023, a new allegiance opened up between Africa and the Muslim World.  South Africa alleged that Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, violating the Genocide Convention. South Africa requested the ICJ to order Israel to halt its military operations and ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians.  Africa, and in particular South Africa, was suddenly perceived as a friend of the Middle East and, while Western missionaries will be viewed with suspicion in the future, doors have opened for African missionaries.

CONCLUSION

Complicit Christianity, pro-Israel advocates who support the military engagement in Gaza, will ultimately lead to the extinction of the Palestinian Church, the increase of persecution for local believers and a decrease in regional mission activities.  The influence of Western Christian leaders and their vocal commitment to the destruction of Gaza could be compared to the Crusades which started in the 11th century, and will be equally devastating for the future of missions endeavours in the Middle East.

 

[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/27/israel-killed-40000-people-in-gaza-what-does-that-look-like

[2] surveyed 1800+ English-speaking Muslims.

[3] https://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/american-public-divided-over-us-approach-israels-war-gaza