Pray for Israel and the Jewish People

     I was shocked by conversations I had with several young people this week.  They are confused about the tragedy in Israel.  They told me they are being taught in school and by their friends that somehow Israel deserved their people being killed because of the Palestine situation.  This idea is a lie.  The massacre of innocent people on October 7 has nothing to do with the Palestine people. They despise Hamas.  Hamas is now using them as human shields.  Their lives mean nothing to Hamas.  Hamas’ intention is to kill Jews and destroy Israel.  What happened is genocide.  The cowardly terrorists attacked innocent and defenseless people not soldiers.  They beheaded babies, burned old people alive in their wheelchairs, killed whole families in their homes and took approximately 150 people hostage including children.  These people were killed because of their religion and race.  In every genocide that has happened in modern history the killing of innocent people was blamed on the victims as if they deserved to be killed.  Hitler did it and now certain people are blaming the Jews for the massacre.  The historical facts are that in 2005 Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip as a gesture of peace allowing Palestinians to control their own government.  Hamas took control of the government in 2007 and, since then, Hamas has used the Gaza strip as a staging area to launch attacks on Israel. Hamas is funded by Iran which has millions of dollars to give to terrorists because of the sale of oil since the Biden administration lifted the sanctions on Iranian oil imposed by the Trump administration. 

   The church cannot be silent when 1,300 Jews were massacred because of their faith.  Israel faces dark days ahead as they try to rescue the hostages who are enduring unimaginable torture.  I call on every church to proclaim October 22 as Pray for Israel Day.  Take time that day to speak in support of the Jewish people and condemn their slaughter.  I call on national church organizations, including the Church of God, to speak in support of the Jewish people and Israel.  Your silence is deafening.  The church must combat the popular notion that massacring Jews by terrorists is acceptable.  If we remain silent while innocent people are slaughtered for their faith then we are complicit this genocide.

Pastor Milan