The Ties That Bind

'Over the last 20 years, you have proven in the best possible way what true friendship is, what true love is. . . .'

Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) near the Monastery of the Cross (iStock photo)

As biblical Christians who understand that God is fulfilling Bible prophecy concerning Israel in our day, it was a great joy to see the fruit of some of our labors this week.

My husband and I attended the 20th anniversary of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (KCAC) in the Knesset’s Jerusalem Hall.

Scores of Christian supporters from around the world gathered for the anniversary milestone in a show of solidarity amid the war against Hamas in Gaza.  (Facebook photo below:)

Members of Knesset expressed surprise that Christians had flown into a war zone just to mark the occasion.  The group comprised mostly evangelical Christian leaders. Some of us have been active in the group since its inception in 2004. In the first decade, by the grace of God, my husband and I along with another pastor co-chaired five Jerusalem Assemblies in the Knesset which brought together many of the Jewish and Christian faith leaders who are working together today.

Seated with Peter Darg and myself yesterday at the roundtable were Pastor Jobst Bittner and his wife Charlotte.  In 2007, he organized the first March of Life, with children and grandchildren of Nazis breaking the silence concerning the deeds of their ancestors. The March of Life movement has spread to over 400 cities. Pastor Bittner has motivated thousands to raise their voices for remembrance and reconciliation, for Israel and against modern antisemitism.

Originally billed as a celebration, yesterday’s event became a somber commemoration following the single deadliest attack on Israeli troops since the war broke out —24 soldiers killed in one day.

When the cross-party KCAC was started by visionaries MK Dr. Yuri Shtern of blessed memory and Josh Reinstein, there was much skepticism in the Knesset to rub shoulders with people perceived as dreaded missionaries.

But my heart was warmed yesterday when the current Caucus co-chair, Knesset Member Yuli Edelstein, greeted us with these words,

“Over the last 20 years, you have proven in the best possible way what true friendship is, what true love is and what shared goals and values we share.”

Caucus Director Josh Reinstein originated the concept of “faith-based diplomacy,” and he said, “Today everybody understands the importance of Christian support for Israel.”

The KCAC is an increasingly influential pioneering body that has formed partnerships with 53 parliaments around the globe and now boasts a network of over 1,500 legislators.

Most recently, the KCAC launched an international push to dismantle UNRWA, the U.N. organization that deals exclusively with Palestinian refugees and their descendants amid growing national and international concerns over its terror ties with Hamas.

All the Israeli parliamentarians who addressed the afternoon event stressed that the war against Hamas in Gaza is not just a war on Israel but a war on shared Judeo-Christian values.

“This is a war by radical Islam against Jews and Christians and our way of life,” stated MK Matan Kahana of the National Unity Party.

MK Tatiana Mazarsky (Yesh Atid party) noted with great depth of warmth, “It is not enough just to express sympathy—help us get the truth out actively. We don’t have anyone to trust anymore except for you.”

Dr. Juergen Buehler, president of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, the largest Christian organization in Jerusalem, and who has two sons serving presently on the front lines in the IDF, gave a heart-felt speech: “This nation needs action…in a very practical way,” he said, urging church leaders to go beyond lip service. “It is not acceptable that in our countries more Muslims are demonstrating in our streets against Israel than Christians standing for Israel. We need to speak up in our countries as never before.” 

In a very touching moment, MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) read Psalm 140 with translation into English by former MK Rabbi Yehuda Glick who was visibly upset by yesterday’s casualty figures. Psalm 140 mentions the violent man (Hamas in Hebrew) three times:

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;
Preserve me from violent men,
2 Who plan evil things in their hearts;
They continually gather together for war.
3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;
The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah
4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men,
Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.
5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set traps for me. Selah
6 I said to the Lord: “You are my God;
Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further his wicked scheme,
Lest they be exalted. Selah
9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
Let the evil of their lips cover them;
10 Let burning coals fall upon them;
Let them be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;
Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”
12 I know that the Lord will maintain
The cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence.

Yes, indeed, Yes, we pray for Israel and the world to be delivered from this evil violence, Hamas.

As I reflected upon heartfelt exchanges between Israelis and Christians at yesterday’s historic event, I pondered how God is uniting the People of the Book. We ministered the Isaiah 40: 1 comfort to a much hurting nation, and at this point in time, I believe Psalm 44 describes the emotions of the Jews, who appear to be isolated and longing for God to act. He will. He has promised, yet this is where they are at the moment in the redemption process:

PSALM 44: 13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scorn and a derision to those all around us. You make us a byword among the nations, All this has come upon us. . . .
22 Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord?
Arise! Do not cast us off forever.

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
Our body clings to the ground.

26 Arise for our help,
And redeem us for Your mercies’ sake.

Amen and Amen!

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