10-15-2023 “Peace?” ~ Pentecost XX

Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor

Let’s talk about what’s going on. Let’s talk about what is happening in the Middle East. We talked about anti-Semitism Last week. That sermon was delivered in the immediate aftermath of the attack on Israel by Hamas. Since then, everything has been exacerbated. The attacks have been worse, and Israel has retaliated. Peace in the Middle East is a political oxymoron. It seems to be a hotbed of religious, political, and ideological differences. The place where prophets walked and apostles preached, the place where Jesus lived and breathed and ministered — the Holy Land seems to be a place where a litany of unholy actions have unfolded throughout history. Today is no different. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has come to the fore again, this time with casualties that exceed what any of us could have imagined.

I am well aware of the fact that there are arguments on both sides of the debate. Some feel as if Israel is an apartheid regime that has grossly violated the rights of the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Others feel as if Israel has a right to self-determination, not to mention the right to possess the homeland that was granted to them by the international community after World War II. This is not a clear-cut, black-and-white conflict, so there are no easy answers in sight.

What has bothered me is that I have heard very few people condemn the actions of Hamas. No matter where you stand regarding this conflict, the kidnapping, rape, torture, and murder of innocent Israelis is not justified. If you feel as if it is, then you need to recalibrate your moral compass.

I wrote a Letter to the Editor that appeared in The Boston Globe the other day. It also appeared in The Salem News. Patty Doyle, our administrative assistant/office manager, sent it out via Constant Contact. Let me read it to you so that we are on the same page.

Dear Editor,

The conflict between Israel and Palestine is as complex as it is historic. It predates the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948 and, unfortunately, will continue well into future. It is not a black-and-white issue, therefore, a swift and just resolution is virtually impossible.

That said, the recent bloodshed, perpetrated by Hamas, a militant terrorist organization, needs to be vehemently denounced by the international political community. I move within moderate ecclesial circles, and liberal academic ones, and have hardly heard any voices of condemnation. I looked at the social media accounts of numerous scholars and clerics whom I admire. The chirping of crickets is deafening. With a cadre of politicians, academics, and clergy outwardly sympathizing with (and some even applauding the actions of) Hamas, even in the United States, it is no wonder that such silence is ubiquitous.

There is no moral construct that justifies the kidnapping, rape, torture, and killing of innocent Israelis, especially women and children. When such heinous acts are fueled by anti-Semitism, they are beyond unconscionable.

This is not Islamophobia. Hamas embodies traditional Islam the same way that the Ku Klux Klan reflects orthodox Christianity. Both organizations are atrocious and neither epitomizes the “faith” they bastardized to legitimize their hateful, odious ideologies.

I visited the Dachau concentration camp thirty-three years ago. At the exit of the camp, a living monument to the potential of inhumanity, there is a sign that reads “Never Again” in multiple languages. This testimonial calls upon us to embrace “the better angels of our nature,” as Lincoln so eloquently wrote. It also calls to mind the words often attributed to George Santayana: “Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it.”

Sadly, I disagree with Santayana. We remember our history quite well, but our hatred of one another causes us to perpetuate it.

I expected to get all kinds of feedback. Controversy breeds contempt. Other than people who responded to the Constant Contact that went out from this office, and a few friends on Facebook, I have heard nothing. “Crickets,” as I said in the piece. This piece is controversial. Why no response? I know people do not read newspapers like they used to, but The Globe is available online and still has a substantive readership. Someone did call the church. I wasn’t here. I tried to return her call, but she gave the wrong number, which is interesting. Other than that, nothing. No response.

Here’s what I think. Some people are hesitant to speak out against Israel because they do not want to appear anti-Semitic. Others will not speak out against Palestine, because doing so is not politically correct. They are the victims in this story, according to many moderate-to-liberal pundits.

Mind you: I do not care where you are on the political spectrum. I do not care if you are liberal or conservative, a Democrat or a Republican. I do not care if your allegiance leans more toward Israel (which is where I stand) or if you think that the Palestinians have been treated unjustly, you cannot justify the actions of Hamas. Hamas — which sides with (but is a separate entity from) the Palestinians — Hamas is a terrorist organization. I cannot and will not support their actions under any circumstance. What they have done over the past week is barbaric.

Peace. Is it possible? Is it attainable? Of course, this is not the only place in the world embroiled in such conflict. Take a look at Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, China, North Korea, Cambodia, Sudan, and a host of others. We gather on Sunday and pray for peace, but we go home and turn on the news and feel as if those prayers were unheard.

We are not going to solve this problem with prayers alone. Those prayers need to be manifest in action — they need to sink into the hearts of those who seek to settle their differences with violence. For the record, I abhor violence. In my book, it is only justified as an act of self-defense, and even then it is a necessary evil.

My problem is the silence. Hardly anyone is saying anything about this. Academics, clergy, news anchors, political pundits, diplomats, celebrities (who often have a lot to say), and just your average citizens: are we so afraid of speaking out against Hamas, because they are fighting for the politically correct side? Are we so stifled by political correctness that we cannot raise our voices? If no one else is going to do it, I will. I am not saying that the Palestinians are totally to blame here. Historically, both sides have done things they shouldn’t have done. They call for a peaceful solution is a two-way obligation. However, any group — regardless of its political affiliation or theology — any group that responds to what they believe is an injustice by raping women and slaughtering children is the embodiment of evil. Period. And anyone who supports (let alone applauds) such actions is sick.

There is no solution on the horizon. Things will probably get worse before we even sniff a hint of it getting better. We should continue to pray for peace — and we need to do so fervently. We need to pray as if the answers to our prayers lie in God’s hands, but we need to act as if the answer lies in our hands. The first act is letting your thoughts be heard. You can say NO! You can say that what Hamas did is wrong.

Lastly, for those who say that I should not address a political issue from the pulpit, you need to realize that this is not just a political situation. If I were going to get political, I would talk about Israel’s right to self-determination and how they have offered a two-state solution to the Palestinians five times according to David Brog: in 1914 after the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the start of World War I; in 1947 as part of the Peel Commission; in 1967 after the six-day war; in 2000 when Arafat said no to the proposals backed by the United States among others; and most recently in 2008. The history of anti-Semitism and violence against the Jews calls for all people of all faiths to say NO MORE and to say it loudly, regardless of what others think. Peace is a two-way street.

If you are still stuck on what you should think when it comes to this issue, ask yourself what would Jesus do and follow his lead. His way would be the way of peace. Amen.