Antisemitism, antisemitic words and behaviors are all sin. Same goes for Islamophobia and for anti-Palestinian words, and behaviors.
“God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.”
“For God so loved the world,” that Christ lived, died and rose again that all might be saved.
“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.”
“My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality…But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors…For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.”
“Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come…they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
From beginning to end, God is the creator of all who live. We respect God by respecting those whom God made. We are not entitled to disrespect anyone based on their faith, their place of birth or their ethnicity. Unbelievable that this must be said at all, today, again, and by Christians to Christians. But please, say it, live it, and say it again, in any way you can. It is not godly or holy to attack Jews or Israelis or Palestinians or Muslims.
Let us not behave like any who harbor such hatred, who act in violence to injure others with sticks and stones, words, spray paint, bombs or bullets. “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” Yes, we can do both by naming the sinful actions of hatred and violence and we can be a people who love. Being Jewish is not a sin. Being Muslim is not a sin. Being Israeli is not a sin. Being Palestinian is not a sin. All of these are people, God’s own creation, made to love and be loved.
It’s a shame upon the name of God when any of us is anti-any other because of their identity. Hamas is not an identity. It is a chosen affiliation and a sinful terrorist organization dehumanizing Israeli, Palestinian, Jew, Muslim and Gentile alike. It is a shame on the name of God and will be judged and condemned. May those who labor under its credo abandon it, repent of serving it, and be saved.
Lord, have mercy, for few of us know how to be merciful in this horrendous time of war and terror, from Ukraine to Gaza, and in so many other places of ethnic hatred and genocidal violence, including the neighborhoods of our own nation. Lord have mercy upon us, that we might be the United States of America, a shining city on a hill, a land of free and brave, a country where everyone enjoys the inalienable and divine rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by virtue of their humanity. May we of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church continue to be a beacon of peace and reconciliation where everybody belongs! For the glory of God and Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, now and forevermore. Amen.