Whenever things heat up with Israel, people want to know how to think about the conflict in a way that is fair and balanced. Here is a repost of something I put together in 2011. It’s a group of some of the best resources I’ve found on the subject. Please link to other resources in the comments.
Talking about Israel and the Arabs is a minefield among evangelicals.
There is probably no quicker way to be labeled anti this or pro that.– Mike Kuhn, pg. 109
For anyone working with Muslims the issue of Israel is bound to come up eventually. So what is the way forward?
For starters, here is a short article: How Evangelicals Are Learning to Be Pro-Palestine, Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace, Pro-Justice and Always Pro-Jesus (HT: JC).
One great secular resource is the very unique book called The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. It’s a narrative non-fiction that displays the humanity on both sides of this complex issue. I have heard that both Palestinians and Jews claim the book is fair. But more than fair, it’s also an enjoyable, fascinating read!
See also chapter 7 in Fresh Vision for the Muslim World by Mike Kuhn.
For a solid and balanced biblical-theological perspective, see John Piper’s Israel, Palestine and the Middle East. Piper also has some shorter resources:
- Israel, Arabs, and the Family of God
- Prophecy and the Invasion of Lebanon
- Do Jews Have a Divine Right in the Promised Land?
It’s nice to know we don’t have to take sides on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The important thing is to use this issue to point our Muslim friends to Jesus, the hope of all and our only lasting peace.
Related Post: Christ at the Checkpoint
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