Focusing on what unites us

By Alfred Muller in Netanya

24 februari 2011

Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians know they have to recognise each other as brothers and sisters. They have been talking for years They organise conferences and other events where they meet. Differences of opinion remain, but as they are involved in the ministry of reconciliation they realise that there is no alternative. Didn't Jesus command us to love each other? 

Lisa Loden, a Jewish believer, teaches at the theological academy in Nazareth. Unlike at conferences, where people only meet for a short time, she works with Arab Christians every week. 'Forming relationships is not a matter of course if the believers don't live close to each other, go to the same church or worship the Lord in the same way', she tells me in her house in a suburb of Netanya.  

Lisa sees relationship like a circle, not a straight line. People build relationships, and withdraw. 'There are difficult times when emotions run high. People are prepared to press on, but at same time they withdraw. That's human nature. If you are hurt or your people are hurting, you withdraw and spend time focusing on yourself.' 

Social class
By nature we all prefer contact with those who share our background or opinions. In this time of globalisation ethnic conflicts rise up again. Lisa quotes, 'In too many places the blood of ethnicity, tribe, racial hatred, social class or nationalism flows stronger than the waters of baptism and our confession of Christ.'[from'Reconciliation as God's Commission' 2005]. 

Reconciliation involves working hard at building up relationships and focusing on what unites us. It's not just a matter of saying: “The foundations are laid, we are brothers and sisters.” It 's a process in which the Lord has to be involved in order to establish a deep relationship. We neither skip over the problems, nor over the foundations that unite us; you need time and trust. Difficult events like the war in Gaza or the incident with the flotilla put pressure on the relationship. If believers have formed a bond, they are able to overcome these difficult events.' 

Claim to the Land
Believers need a greater trust in God as a righteous judge to be able to cast their burdens on the Lord. This also means that they surrender their claim on the land, and their hope of restoration, to Him. 'If someone has lost all their belongings or is forced to live under occupation every day, their life with God has to be very strong in order truly to forgive and let go. In the end what matters is that God conquers our hearts and that we surrender everything to Him. We all fight the same battle, but in different areas of our lives.'