Integrity amongst the nations

Now, although some might think I'm totally against Israel I have to say that I am not at all pro-Palestinian (as some have suggested).

BUT

As much as I think it is right to take up arms against a bunch of people whose stated intent is to eradicate Israel. I also think it is right to get down and dirty with people who are firing rockets into Israel with the intention of making life uncomfortable and bringing them harm with said rockets.

AND

My beef with Israel is that they need to comply with international law in the way that they engage and the people that they seek to wound - for at the moment they are (from what I see and hear and read) sitting on the wrong side of the line that separates right from wrong).

I see the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) have been discussing the situation and have voted on a resolution to establishing  an independent Commission of Inquiry into violations that may have been committed during Israel's latest military offensive in Gaza.

How did your country do?

Sad to see that amongst abstentions we find the United Kingdom but at least they didn't join with the United States who had the solitary 'No' vote :-(

It was good to see the emphasis, by UNHRC's Navi Pillar has said that Israel might have committed war crimes during its current military campaign in Gaza. Speaking of accountability she said,  'The first step toward ensuring the cycle of human rights violations and impunity is brought to an end. . .  A lasting peace can only begin with respect for human rights and human dignity on both sides, and ultimately, in the full realisation of the right to self-determination.'

Pillar went on to condemned Hamas' practice of using indiscriminate rocket fire on Israeli civilians and spoke of them, 'Locating military assets in densely populated areas or launching attacks from such areas.' Words that are right and most welcome and yet destined to be as much ignored by Hamas as the other words will be by Israel I would imagine.

Pillar rightly pointed out what any right thinking person already knows:

'International law clearly states that the actions of one party does not absolve the other party of the need to respect its obligations under international law!'

So here we are with rockets on one side and a lack of restraint on the either.

Neither hold the morally high ground of integrity and in terms of proportionality Israel is a good few goals down as I see it.

This needs to stop and there needs to be a truce and some real move towards curbing expansion, stilling the rockets and getting something real and meaningful in place with regards to bringing about a peaceful settlement to all this.

But of course that was probably needed in 1948 I guess :-(

Please pray for peace in this troubled place.

Jesus - the Prince of peace?

Met someone who spoke, perhaps a little glibly, of Jesus as the Prince of peace? as they did, behind them was a wall of newspapers with headlines proclaiming the news, those things of  importance that sell newspapers.

Palestinian death toll rises (now 500+)

Flight MH 17 crashes in Ukraine (305 lives lost)

van Gaal heralds new United era (there's always one paper that misses the point isn't there?)

Christians flee Mosul as they are order to pay to live there or 'face the sword'

Christians often speak of Jesus as the 'Prince of peace' and yet, some 2000 years since He was born round the back of a pub in Bethlehem , there doesn't seem to much of the stuff flying around does there? All that 'peace of earth - goodwill to all men' is most definitely lacking when Israeli tanks can purposely target a hospital - something which according to the Law of Armed Conflict and the Geneva (and other) conventions confers the title of 'war crime' upon them. It surely isn't seen when the militants of ISIS are sweeping across Iraq and engaging in ethnic cleansing of the Christians. It's nowhere to be found when some wicked geezers with a piece of hardware apparently take out a civilian airliner (with the tacit approval of a nation whose record on integrity was pretty much zero before this all began and is now in the negative numbers).

So how do we, as Christians, give an answer for the lack of that peace (shalom) that Jesus is supposed to have brought? Have stocks run low and so supply is limited perhaps? It could be, as one foolish person said, 'That the shalom Jesus brings is only for those who are His!' An explanation that denies the words of John 3.16 where we are led to believe that God loved ALL the world so much that He sent His Son Jesus, the Christ, to come to save and bless ALL within it.

Now I happen to think I might have an explanation. Of course it could be a comfortable and convenient way of making me feel good about all the stuff that's going on in the world around me, but I don't think so (because I'd hate that). It goes like this:

Jesus came into this world to reconcile the people on it with the God what made it (because the wrong stuff had caused a divorce between Him and us).

Jesus, realising that 'without the shedding of blood there could be no forgiveness' - Heb 9.22 - takes our place on the cross - his blood paying the debt that the wrong stuff has brought into being and restoring the relationship with God and man.

Jesus, job done, goes back to be with God (the father) and in His place we have the third member of the Trinity (Father, Son and) the Holy Spirit, who guides, comforts and counsels us in the things and thoughts we should have.

Now the shelves are stacked high with Shalom and yet there is a distinct lack of Shalominess to be found because although all that is required is for each of us to take this peace from the shelves for ourselves (and those around us) - and for us to become a source of that Shalom; the reality is that we'd rather do it in our own strength and intelligence.

Now wonder the world is pants then is it?

All we need to do to accept the gift of live Jesus has won for us by His death on the cross is to take it from His hands (a 'Thank You' would be nice) and live within the reality of that act.

The same is true of His Shalom - we need merely to take  it upon ourselves and, beacon like, shine it into every corner of our world and if we were only to do this then I believe we'd be in a very different place because truly the darkness cannot overcome the light (John 1).

So today whilst the wicked do their works of darkness - why not choose life in Jesus and taking His light and Shalom upon you oppose their deeds and step by step change the world where you are and, as others join the effort, across the world.

Not proselytising but setting free.

Not opposing those who choose not to follow Jesus, the Messiah, but blessing them because that's what being Christian should be about.

Not ignoring the written word because all we need is love but keeping it because loves is what it's all about.

All you need to realise is that God's peace is limitless!

He's the supplier and looks to us to be the distributors and find more who are willing to act as agents for the product!

Pax