[martin77]

Hey TM, tell me something; How are christians supposed to regard the jewish state of Israel? Many of my friends (born again) in Kenya were openly in favour of Israel over the palestinians and painted a black and white picture in regards to the conflict. quite possibly they were influenced by the christian broadcasting stations in Kenya that borrow heavily from the christian right in the United States.

I do know that jews and Israel occuppy a special place in God's scheme of things but it is difficult to reconcille the suffering of the palestinians. Can you look at the faces of the palestinian kids in some refugee camp, terrified of israeli shells exploding around them, and argue that they deserve it because they are palestinians?

harder still is to reconcille that to the image of Jesus sitting on the edge of that well with a samaritan woman (an enemy) and offering to give her the greatest gift a human being can possibly be offered, eternal life. My image of Jesus is that while he recognised worldly political affairs (encouraged payment of taxes) he never allowed himself to be party to the conflicts that were rife in his society. He mingled freely with Romans, samaritans and tax collectors. clearly, He felt His mission was way above those conflicts.

So back to Israel. Can cChristians cheer a slaughter? Admittedly the palestians are responsibe for antrocities as well but to paint them as the bad guys and the Israelis as the good guys is a blatant lie. Is the city of jerusalem, iconic as it is, worth killing and torturing fellow human beings? more so wehn we know that we do not need it for our salvation? that you can live in Mongolia all your life and still be right with God as long as you are Born again in truth and spirit?