Palestinian Pastor Steven Khoury on Christian Response to Gaza Crisis

Christian Response to Conflict

• 💡 Christians are called to a higher calling of God's righteousness, distinguishing good from evil and remaining biblically centered.
• 🕊️ The Beatitudes highlight the blessing for peacemakers, emphasizing the need to define what this truly means in conflict.
• 🌍 Regardless of political stances on Israel and Gaza, Christians should maintain a biblical perspective.

Navigating Information and Truth

• 📰 Headlines and statistics, such as those concerning child malnutrition in Gaza, can be misleading or inaccurate, requiring careful discernment.
• 🔍 It's crucial to seek out trustworthy sources and listen to voices from both the Israeli and Arab sides to understand the reality of the situation.
• 🤔 Using common sense is vital; no reasonable person, regardless of faith, condones the killing of innocent civilians.

Compassion and Pro-Israel Stance

• ❤️ Being pro-Israel biblically does not equate to being anti-Arab or anti-Palestinian; it means being against Satan and his works.
• 🤝 Christians should be sympathetic to the suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza, acknowledging their pain without condoning violence.
• ⚖️ While acknowledging the sad reality of war and collateral damage, the focus should be on calling everyone to righteousness and a higher calling.

Seeking a Higher Standard

• ⬆️ Israel is called to be a light to the nations and should strive to rise above extremism and terrorism, rather than stooping to their level.
• 🙏 Christians are encouraged to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the land, encompassing all people within Israel.
• 🧅 The Holy Land is likened to an onion, where peeling back layers reveals interwoven pain that evokes tears.

Prayer for Peace and Wisdom

• 🕊️ A prayer is offered for leaders on both the Israeli and Gaza sides, asking for their hearts to be broken from stubbornness, wickedness, and hatred.
• 🤲 Intercession is made for the innocent civilians on both sides, for the hostages, and for calmness and peace.
• ✨ The prayer also asks for wisdom and for Christians to be conduits of hope and support, particularly through initiatives like Holyland Missions feeding thousands.