Sin and Hostility (Advent 14, 2023)

There is no getting a lasting peace when one group seeks the obliteration of another group. Because conquering is not enough anymore when two groups sincerely see land as rightfully theirs. The Jews because God gave it to them (reasonable enough for those who believe in God). The Muslims because the Ottomans claimed it.

“One of the leading clerics, Dr. Ali Daghi, Secretary-General of the International Muslim Scholars, wrote: “There is a consensus among Muslims, in the past and present, that if an Islamic land is occupied, then its inhabitants must declare jihad until it is liberated from the occupiers.”

The Ottomans lost the remaining land by siding with the Germans in WWI and the last vestiges of the Ottoman Empire limped toward its demise in 1922. But the ideas of infiltration, reproduction, and conquest are still alive in this idea of Once Muslim, Always Muslim. To them, the Ottomans had it forever and amen. They’ve got a big gold dome to suggest that it’s now occupied Islamic land in their eyes…and conquest to get it back can be overt or covert as a bloodless war of infiltration. Jihad has been declared, demanding “liberation.”

Back to Bethlehem, according to this article, Jews and Christians alike are being driven from Arab territories.

“Christians are now minorities in Palestinian cities where they had historically maintained a majority. In Bethlehem, they shrank from 84 percent in 1922 to 28 percent in 2007, when the [Palestinian Authority] carried out a major census.”

So “due to the war” Bethlehem is removing all Christmas decorations. Jesus’ birthplace is being reduced.

Palestinian groups may deny reports of only 11,000 Christians remaining in Bethlehem and insist that Christian percentage of the population is 18%. No offense, but it’s still a decline 10% beyond the prior low in 2007 and down from 84% over the last 100 years. That percentage decline can be because Christians are leaving (which they are) or because infiltration of migrants and high birth rates change the population to super-majority Muslim.

Either abandoning an area or becoming outnumbered serve the same purpose. Conquest by surrender. Conquest by invasion. Conquest by reproduction. It makes no difference. It’s still conquest, it’s still jihad, and it’s still war.

And God is still working His plan to resolve it once and for all.

Sin and hostility persist and in fact, that’s why Jesus had to come in the first place. No amount of peace accords, no matter how good or how fair or how noble, can solve the sin problem. Only a Savior can do that. Only God can do that.

Questions for further thought:

Where is the one place in the Middle East where minorities still thrive?

Thinking to the new percentage of “foreign born” in the United States reaching an all-time high of 15%, how many of those “foreign born” bring ideologies and religious ideas that are incompatible with Judaism and Christianity? Even those traveling to the US proximally from South American countries, where is their native homeland?

On one hand, it’s easy to imagine declarations of “occupied territory” happening here. Is it just as likely that God may be bringing people to a place of hearing the Gospel?

If God could bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in accordance with Scripture, could God bring foreigners to hear the Gospel in lands not their own?

Mary and Joseph did not set up shop in Bethlehem but returned to Nazareth by way of Egypt. What is our role as Christians, and should we welcome equipping newcomers with the Gospel and then encouraging their return to their roots to share the good news in their home countries?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we do not understand the ways of God or why He allows things that seem so antithetical to peace on this earth. Remind us that “everything exposed by the light becomes visible– and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” Teach us, Lord to live as those who are wise, making the most of every opportunity “because the days are evil.” Help us to see Your ways even amid what can instill fear, that we would “not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:13-17). As the end of all things is near, teach us to “be alert and of sober mind so that [we] may pray.” (1 Peter 4:7). We trust, Lord, that You know exactly what You’re doing. Help us to work with You, for Your glory. Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.