Neighborhood Ministries

Hamas is crying about all the civilian deaths in the Gaza strip and the fact is that they  are much higher than Israel’s deaths but you must look at the facts before passing judgement. Hamas attacked Israel without warning and specifically targeted civilians with no military objectives. Israel had to defend themselves. The only way to do that was to take out the rocket launchers that are firing the missiles. Hamas deliberated put the launchers in population areas so there would be civilian casualties if Israel tried to destroy them. Israel announced they were going to attack the launchers and ordered the civilians to leave the area. They gave them plenty of time to leave. That cost them the element of surprise and allowed Hamas to move or protect their launchers, but Israel did not want to risk the lives of Arab civilians. However, Hamas blocked all the roads and would not allow the civilians to leave so they could use them as human shields. Israel had no choice but to attack the rocket launchers or face a lot more of their own civilians being killed. The high death toll is not Israel’s fault. They did everything they could to prevent civilian deaths, but Hamas deliberately put the civilians in harms way so they could use them to gain sympathy.

Hamas launched a huge attack on Israel which was an act of pure evil. Families were killed in their homes, children were killed at a children’s event, women and children were kidnapped and many later killed for no other reason then to instill fear. It was totally unprovoked and served no military purpose. The attack on Israel was so terrible that President Biden actually had to condemn it. In the past he always praised Hamas for their unprovoked attacks and condemned Israel when they responded to defend themselves. He seems to feel that if he is generous toward Hamas that they will like him and accept peace. That is the same view they had of Hitler when he was attacking Europe. The nations felt that if they just humored him, he would settle down and be at peace. When you give in to a bully, it encourages him to be more bold and demand more. Hitler said he was going to take over the whole world. There is nothing you could give him to satisfy him because he wanted it all. He would not be satisfied with just a couple countries. Hamas has said they are going to wipe Israel off  the map. There is nothing you can give them to satisfy them. They want to destroy all of Israel. They aren’t going to be happy until Israel is gone. Israel is just a small speck compared to the huge Arab controlled world. It doesn’t stand a chance by itself. Hamas will not stop until the world makes it clear that they stand behind Israel and will help defend it.

The Maltz Museum had a section on Hate. They included information on Hitler’s attempt to exterminate the Jews and a section on the American Civil Rights movement. I remember the Civil Rights movement well. Segregation like occurred before the Civil Rights movement breeds suspicion and fear. If you don’t know someone, you believe what others tell you about them. We have come a long way in race relations as Whites and Blacks have mingled and got to know each other.  It has done a great deal to break down old stereotypes and fears. However, President Obama did a great deal to stir up fear of Whites by Blacks and turn Blacks against Whites by drawing attention to every time a White police officer killed a Black person. He was aided by the liberal media that trumpeted every little incident like it was an earth shaking incident. In spite of the fact that Blacks are far more likely to be killed by another Black person then they are to be killed by a White person and the chances the White person will be a police officer is very small. That fear of Whites caused some Blacks to attack White people, particularly police officers. That stirred up increasing fear of Blacks by Whites. It is the old game of divide and conquer that the devil loves to play. It’s his favorite game. It is a game that Democrats are openly playing today. They are constantly accusing President Trump of every little thing and launching senseless investigations to discredit him and turn his supporters against him. They are also constantly attacking and demonizing Christians and Jews, just as Hitler did to the Jews in the 1940’s. Christians tried to ignore what Hitler was doing to the Jews until it was difficult to do much. Christians and Jews must not continue to ignore the current move in the same direction because it is becoming increasingly difficult to do much as liberals gain more power .

My wife and I visited the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage just outside Cleveland, Oh and it was impressive.  It reminded me of how many Christians, especially evangelical Christians, ignore the Jews and the Old Testament. They feel the Old Testament is no longer relevant. The problem lies with the modern understanding of the Scriptures.  It’s not Biblical. Jesus said He didn’t come to abolish the law, but to fulfil it. It also says God’s Word will not pass away. God’s Word in the Old Testament is just as relevant today as in Jesus’ time. You can’t tell a child to love their brother or sister, because they don’t know what love is. They have to learn how by watching their parents love each other. Until they learn how, you must lay down the law. They are not to kill each other, steal from each other, etc. When man rejected God, he became like a baby who wants what it wants, when it wants it. God had to teach the Jews to obey the law, before they could learn to live it. The law must continue to exist for those who don’t know God or who have just learned about God, but have not yet learned what it means to love each other. The church often uses the Old Testament stories to teach children how to walk with God, but fail to see their own need to learn from it. Just as a child needs to learn to obey before he can become a mature individual, new Christians must learn to walk in obedience before they can become mature Christians. Many Christians look down on Jews and feel God has abandoned them, however God is merely waiting for them to recognize the truth and return to Him.  Jesus was a Jew and never rejected Judaism, He merely condemned the Jewish leaders who had corrupted Judaism and rejected Him. In addition, most of the early Christians were Jews. The Bible says that in the last days, the eyes of the Jews will be opened, and they will turn to Him. We are seeing Jews turning to God in previously unknown numbers as they recognize the truth of God’s Word. Pray for more Jews to see the truth.