I read with enjoyment the Presbyterian News article “Mission Challenge ’09 speakers commissioned.” Hearing about missionaries and their work is always important. And, in fact, two will be coming to my Church on October the 18th. I am looking forward to hearing about the needs of the Roma people.
This is a combined group of peacemakers and missionaries and I clicked on the link to see who the peacemakers were. There is a list of them at International Peacemakers. I also looked at the picture there and found that instead of the eleven Peacemakers they had spoken of there were 12. But I think they just used an old picture, because Shehadeh Shehadeh is not mentioned in any of the 2009 lists. But there he sits. And I saw that he was an Israeli!
A man from Israel and I was excited because perhaps now a person from Israel who really cares about Israel or at least two sides of the story either had been or would be talking to Presbyterians. I found his biography. Read a bit of biographical information on the 2008 Peacemakers site.
Shehadeh, who is also a retired Episcopal Priest, in his bio states he is “vice chairperson of the general counsel of a political party called “Democratic Front for Peace and Equality ". So with my curiosity in hand I went looking to find out about that particular party. It is the Communist Party of Israel.
And so listed in every Presbytery newsletter, that I looked at, advertising Shehadeh’s visit is the information that he is Vice Chairperson of the General Counsel of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality. (The Communist Party) Oh well, his picture is there but I don’t think he was or well be commissioned this year. Hopefully.
UP-date- I just received an answer to an e-mail I sent to Dayna Oliver of the Peacemakers. Shehadeh was a participant last year, not this year.
7 comments:
Wow. Just, wow.
I didn't think that I could be stunned by what happens in our denomination any more. I was wrong.
Viola, thank you for your integrity and perseverance in pursuing the back stories that so many would never see.
Despite some definite improvements in some areas of our national denominational life, this is a real setback. And, it is also a sign that so many of our leaders really are clueless.
One of the frustrations of Viet Nam was when there would be a great battle to take some hill or high ground, and the American troops would win the battle, take the high ground at the cost of life and limb, and then just abandon it. The VC or the NVA would simply waltz back in and take it back.
When Christians abandon the high ground of the Gospel of Peace, and of caring for the widows, the orphans, the destitute, the sick and the imprisoned, who takes it in their place?
If you don't like Communists taking the high ground that you presumably believe rightfully belongs to non Communist Christians, then I suggest re-taking the high ground and holding it this time.
On the other hand, when Jesus told the parable of the sheep and the goats, it was only on the basis of people's actions that he decided who was to enter His Kingdom, not their political party.
I forget whether it was the sheep or the goats that he said were clueless.
I didn't know that Christians had abandoned caring "for the widows, the orphans, the destitute, the sick and the imprisoned"?
Also Calvin has some interesting things to say about the parable of the sheep and goats:
"Come, you blessed of my Father. We must remember Christ’s design; for he bids his disciples rest satisfied now with hope, that they may with patience and tranquillity of mind look for the enjoyment of the heavenly kingdom; and next, he bids them strive earnestly, and not become wearied in the right course. To this latter clause he refers, when he promises the inheritance of the heavens to none but those who by good works aim at the prize of the heavenly calling. But before speaking of the reward of good works, he points out, in passing, that the commencement of salvation flows from a higher source; for by calling them blessed of the Father, he reminds them, that their salvation proceeded from the undeserved favor of God. Among the Hebrews the phrase blessed of God means one who is dear to God, or beloved by God."
Notice that the division happens before the works are judged. We do not earn our salvation but our work follows from the salvation God gives us through the death of His Son.
I will not spend my day arguing with you on my blog Jodie. If you wannt to post here it must be just a few comments.
Viola,
"I didn't know that Christians had abandoned caring "for the widows, the orphans, the destitute, the sick and the imprisoned"? "
Learn something new every day. They have walked away from such ministries in the PCUSA by the tens of thousands. Given up on schools and hospitals all over the world. Shut down their overseas missionary programs completely in the 70s. What you see today is just a vague whisper of what was once one of the greatest ministry organizations the world ever saw. Now a long gone memory. And even what we have now the conservatives think is too much.
Calvin said "he reminds them, that their salvation proceeded from the undeserved favor of God."???
How the heck did he draw that conclusion from Matthew? The text says no such thing. Classic Calvin, to literally add to the text to fit his own agenda.
He would have done better had he stuck to his own theory about the plain meaning of the text.
You know Jodie I almost bit on that-I won't. God knows what Evangelicals do- I don't need to defend that before God and certainly not you. "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."--"If God is for us who is against us?"
Don't comment here again.
If you want an example of theologically conservative Christians caring for the needy, check out all the ministries of First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, www.fpcbellevue.org. And that's just one example.
Debbie Berkley
Bellevue, WA
Fremont Presbyterian Sacramento too, Debbie, but I didn't want to go there: http://fremontpres.org/
But you are right its just a strangly wrong idea that the Evangelicals don't care.
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