Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Politics and Religion
My experience in the West Bank: Why I’ll never be the same: Why the status quo in Israel-Palestine ain’t status quo: Part #4

My experience in the West Bank: Why I’ll never be the same: Why the status quo in Israel-Palestine ain’t status quo: Part #4

Last updated on: July 17, 2023 at 7:49 am by Rob Dalrymple

My experience in the West Bank: Why I’ll never be the same: Why the status quo in Israel-Palestine ain’t status quo: Part #4 2023-07-17T07:49:19-08:00 Rob Dalrymple

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The city street in Hebron. Israeli settlements are built on top of the Palestinians. As a result the Palestinians must be up nets to catch the debris that the settlers throw down. Of course, the nets don’t stop the sewage and liquid toxins Courtesy Rob Dalrymple

In the summer of 2011, I traveled alone through the West Bank. It was arranged ahead of time for me to stay in a local home and to visit with numerous pastors and leaders throughout the Bethlehem area. What I experienced forever changed me.

My thought was that l really needed to go and talk to the people myself. I had read enough books. I have been to enough conferences. I had even been to the land several times—though it was always as a part of a group. This meant that the opportunities to sit in homes and to listen to people were limited.

So, I spent a week in Bethlehem. I stayed in the home of a local Muslim family. One of the young men in the home provided my transportation. They were great.

I met with pastors of local churches and a variety of Palestinian Christian leaders. I met with the dean of the Catholic University in Bethlehem. And I met with a local Imam who was anxious to meet me: it seems that he wanted to tell me himself what life was like for them.

In my free time, I walked the streets of Bethlehem. I ate lunch in their restaurants. I sat in cafés and listened to young men explain why they had no hope for their future; why they refused to get married; why they didn’t want to bring any children into the world.

I listened. And I cried.

Upon returning to the US, my wife picked me up from the San Francisco airport and she asked: “Well, how was it?”

I hesitated for a moment, then I explained that “it was incredible.” “But,” I added, “there is only one problem.”

“What is that?” she asked.

“No one will believe me,” I replied.

I knew that what I had seen was beyond belief. I realized that life on the ground in the West Bank is not what we have been told. It is much worse. Way worse. Unbelievably worse.

I had spent a week witnessing it myself. And I knew that what I had seen, what I had experienced, was problematic.

I knew that if I tried to explain what I saw and what I experienced it would be easily dismissed. When it comes to this part of the world, evangelicals both adhere to certain theological convictions regarding Israel, the Jewish people, and the end times, and these convictions have largely influenced their understanding of the conflict–and what they are willing to believe about it.

For someone to tell them that there is more to the story or that the narratives that we have been told are largely untrue, will likely fall on deaf ears.

Why? Well, they not only have to be willing to acknowledge that their understanding of the geopolitics of this part of the world is radically counter to the facts on the ground, but they must also be willing to put their theological convictions on the table.

NB: I am not suggesting that they must abandon their theological convictions. One could, in fact, affirm many of the basic tenets of Christian Zionism and still recognize that there are injustices happening on both sides of the wall

Losing the battle and the war

This means that when we try to share with evangelicals (esp older evangelicals) that things are not what you might think, we are often met with resistance.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that while we take the slow—give them only what they can handle—approach, many Christian Zionist leaders and their organizations continue to spread their agendas unhindered.

While we speak to individuals and small groups, Christian Zionist organizations share their views with large gatherings—sometimes as many as ten thousand.

While we attempt to bring a few dozen people to the land to show them what is truly happening, Christian Zionist groups travel by busloads.

Since the Christian Zionist narrative is the one the people are expecting/wanting to hear, they can build extensive mailing lists that reach thousands and tens of thousands.

Christian Zionists do not encounter the same resistance to their message. Thus, they continue unabated.

They are simply able to promote their message at a much faster pace than we are able to counter it.

While we reach tens, they reach tens of thousands.

It doesn’t take an MIT graduate to figure out that this is a losing strategy.

Sure, we are making a difference with the few folks we are reaching. But we are losing ground each step of the way.

So, after 14 years of working on bringing awareness to the evangelical community about the plight of Palestinians and the need to provide a lasting peace agreement that will provide peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians, I can honestly say that our efforts have failed.

NB: This does not mean that the effort as a whole has failed. The reality is that the tide is turning in the American landscape. Fewer people are supporting the Zionist cause today that 10 years ago. More people are becoming aware of the suffering of the Palestinians. And more are advocating for a just solution that accounts for the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Even among evangelicals, there is growing support for justice in the land and moving away from Christian Zionism.

Of course, this change within evangelicalism is largely the result of younger evangelicals. After all, they are more willing to participate in conversations about justice. And they do not have the theological baggage of the older generations that hinders them from listening.

This too highlights the problem. Younger evangelicals are growing more and more disillusioned with their parents’ Christianity. And this is fracturing the church in the US even more.

What’s next?

What does this mean for those who are working toward a just resolution? What does this mean for evangelical leaders who are trying to bring awareness to the injustices that are occurring and to the complicity of the evangelical church in supporting those injustices?

Maybe our current strategy needs to be assessed!

“Give it time”—you might suggest.

Sorry, I am not sure there is any more time.

The problem, as I have already hinted, is that the status quo is not static.

So, over the next few posts, I will attempt to be more explicit as to what is really happening on the ground. My aim is that evangelical Christians will listen. I hope you do. I hope you at least listen objectively enough to consider what I have to say. If you disagree with some things, so be it. But don’t dismiss it out of hand simply because you have theological convictions about the Jewish people and/or the end times.

Why does this matter? Well, injustices are happening. And, sadly, evangelicals are playing a role in supporting the continued injustices.

For the sake of the Jewish people, for the sake of the Palestinian people, for the sake of the US, I ask that you at least listen—listen for the sake of your kids and grandkids who are already likely more tuned in to what is happening.

. . . to be continued

Our goal is to keep these posts free of charge. I do not intend to ever hide them behind a paywall. I can only do this if those of you who have been blessed by them and can afford to give ($5, $10, $25, or more/month) do so. You can give a tax-deductible contribution by following this link.
Please share this post and let others know about determinetruth.
If you wish to view this blog on your smartphone through the Determinetruth app simply download the “tithe.ly church” app on your smartphone and insert “determinetruth” as the church name you wish to follow. Once it is loaded, simply click on the “blog” icon and it will automatically load.
If you would like to have Rob speak at your church or organization in person or via Zoom, please let us know by filling out the contact info on the Contact me tab on this site.

Progressive Christian

Politics and Religion

Education and Religion

About Rob Dalrymple

Rob Dalrymple is married to his wife Toni and is the father of four fabulous children, and two grandchildren. He has been teaching and pastoring for over 33 years at colleges, seminaries, and the local church. He has a PhD in biblical interpretation. He is the author of four books (including Follow the Lamb: A Guide to Reading, Understanding, and Applying the Book of Revelation & Understanding the New Testament and the End Times: Why it Matters) as well as numerous articles and other publications. He is currently completing a commentary on the book of Revelation titled, “Revelation: a Love Story” (Cascade Books, pending 2024). You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

June 17, 2022

Devotional Guide: The Book of Acts #3: Acts 9-13

Next Post

June 24, 2022 Devotional Guide: the Book of Acts #4: Acts 14-18

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 000 1 Cor 11:17-34 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Peter 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 10 Commandments 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Peter 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John 666 Abortion Acts 2:42 Ahmaud Arbery AIPAC All Saints Day America antisemitism BDS Beast Betting Bible Bible study Biblical Interpretation Biden Book of Acts Boycott Campus Protests Catholicism Ceasefire Chavez Ravine Christian Nationalism Christian Zionism Christianity Today Christmas Church Colossians Communion Convict Leasing Covid-19 Craig Blaising creation Crucifixion Daoud Nassar Deception Deconstruction Democracy Devotional guide Discipleship Easter Eden Education Election End-times Ephesians Eschatology Ethnic Cleansing Evangelicalism Evangelicals Evolution Fall Famine Fascism FIFA Freedom of Speech Galatians Gary Burge Gaza Gaza; Genocide; Boycott Genesis Genocide George Floyd Global Warming God's will Gospel Gospel of John Gospel of Luke Gospel of Mark Gospel of Matthew Government Grace Great Prostitute Hamas Harris healthcare Hebrews HeGetsUs Holy Spirit Holy Week Honor Father and Mother ICJ Immigration Indigenous peoples day Iran Israel Israel Palestine Itamar Ben Gvir James Jesus Joel Willits Jude Just war Justice Kamala Harris Kingdom Of God Kings and Queens land of Israel Law (OT) Lazarus Les Miserable LGBTQ+ Love Luke Mahmoud Khalil Man of Lawlessness Mark Mark of the Beast Marriage Martin Luther King Jr Mercy Mexican Repatriation Military-Industrial-Complex Ministry Mission Money NAFTA Nakba Netanyahu New Creation New Testament Nicaragua Nicodemus Non Violence Occupation Pacifism Palestine Parable Paul Peace Pentecost Peonage Philemon Philippians Politics Poor Power Prayer Pride Month Priests Pro-life Propaganda Prophesy Prophet Qatar Queen Elizabeth Racism Reconstruction Redemption Reformation Resurrection Revelation Roe v Wade Romans Romans 13:1-7 Rome Russia Sabbath Samaritan Seals Sermon Settlements Slavery Spiritual gifts Taxes Tent of Nations Terrorism The Beast Theology Titus Torture Trump truth Ukraine Uncategorized Veteran's Day War Warsaw Ghetto wealth Wedding Women World Cup 2022 Worldview Worship Wrath Yemen Zionism

Select a Month September 2026 May 2026 February 2026 November 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 September 2017 July 2017 May 2017 November 2016 October 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was Peter's original profession?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Carpenter Shepherd Tentmaker Fisherman

Support this
Column