I am convinced!
» That Israelis have the right to defend their borders against those Arab neighbors who long to see them destroyed.
» That Israel’s Semitic Curtain has stolen land and produced an economic embargo upon the Palestinians, driving them to poverty and despair.
» That Palestinians and others who seek justice via suicide bombings of civilians are cowards, rightly dubbed terrorists.
» That Israel’s practice of unleashing disproportionate retaliatory strikes against Palestinians is unjust.
I am also convinced!
» That Christians have a Biblically-mandated obligation to challenge and, where possible, dethrone the powers of injustice, violence, oppression, and terror.
» That the prophetic tradition of confronting such evils needs to continue in our day — and should not be intimidated by the reactions of reactionaries.
» That the church cannot sit idly by, under the guise of dealing only with “spiritual matters,” while politically charged issues destroy people’s lives.
Then again, I am not convinced.
» That study reports originating from well-intended Presbyterian visitors to the Middle East, while shedding some light on the situation, can capably reflect the sum realities they are intending to explain.
» That pronouncing judgment against any of the parties involved in the Middle East doesn’t further entrench the conflict there and unleash needless rage within our churches here.
» That the past process of studying and publishing such pronouncements has much constructive value today.
Sure, it’s right to speak up for peace, mercy, and justice. But simply speaking out, without fearlessly and self-critically measuring the effects of such pronouncements, runs the risk of provoking more war, hatred, and injustice. “Talk is cheap.” “Advice is worth the paper it’s written on.” So go the clichés. In the present case, talk is costly. And, the field of teleological ethics presses us to ask if the situation actually is being improved by our efforts.
But, still, I am convinced.
» That the church can discuss these and related matters in a way that invites others to discuss them – modeling how thoughtful believers relentlessly pursue the high-minded values of love and justice – looking for appropriate ways to apply and implement them.
I just have a suspicion.
» That we can be prophets of greater impact by following some different methods today than those used in the past.
Face it. The greatest influence on public opinion these days is exerted not by labor unions or advocacy organizations or church denominations that spout their positions forcefully and predictably.
The greatest influence is coming from conversation partners. Pundits. Broadcasters. Yes, those radio and TV talk show hosts who have mastered the art of engaging a conversation. They lend a microphone to multiple viewpoints. They throw in a provocative thought here. They argue a point there. They slide between pomposity and humility with the greatest of ease. And their influence on public opinion eclipses all others.
Before losing ourselves in the 21st century, maybe we Presbyterians might want to use some 20th century technologies — the radio, TV and Internet — to engage a conversation.
We just might influence a few opinions and fuel a movement that will break some chains of injustice.
—JHH
