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Who is Praying for the Arabs? by Josprel Who is praying for the Arabs? In our zeal to experience the fulfillment of Bible prophecy in the Middle East, those Arabs who have been born again, have become the forgotten sector of the body of Christ. Is anyone praying for the Arabs? There are approximately 175, 000, 000 Arabs dwelling in some 21 Arab countries, and we seem unaware that Christ also died for them. Among them are Arabs who already have experienced the new birth - evangelical Christians, suffering hardships along with other dwellers of the powder keg Middle East. Since these believers are neither Jewish or Moslems, they are viewed with suspicion by both sides in the explosive Arab Israeli conflict. The hardships engendered by this "caught in the middle" status are intensified by the militant theology disseminated against Arabs by so called "Muscular Christians," some of them well known Evangelical and fundamentalist Americans. Amazingly, these Muscular Christians endeavor to hasten the fulfillment of Middle East Bible prophecy by manipulating events in that area of the world, even at the risk of provoking a full scale "holy war" between Israel and an alliance of Arab nations; a war that would result in a catastrophic loss of life on both sides. Such results are of no concern to Muscular Christians since in their view the war is absolutely necessary to the return of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, and God has preordained such deaths. Anything they can do to hasten the pace of prophetical fulfillment is considered by them to be a plus. In actuality, Muscular Christians are attempting by human manipulation to force the hand of God through political actions, finances and propaganda. Among the activities applauded and encouraged by Muscular Christian theologians are terrorist activities against Arabs by groups outlawed by the Israeli government. This includes attempts to destroy the Dome of the Rock mosque in Old Jerusalem. They believe destruction of the mosque will lead to the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, thus facilitating Christ's return. Though most Jews and Christians, who revere the Old Testament prophets, agree that the Dome of the Rock mosque someday will be destroyed and replaced by a Jewish temple, the vast majority of them are nevertheless willing to leave these events to God's discretion. Since God requires no prompting by man to fulfill His Word, they hold that the mosque will be destroyed by an act of God, such as an earthquake, not by an act of terrorism. For those who subscribe to this view, God's time clock does not run slow. When Muscular Christians are warned that their attempts to destroy the Dome of the Rock mosque most likely will trigger a full scale Arab Israeli war with horrendous loss of lives, their response is a fatalistic one; it has all been predicted in the God's Word God predetermined it all, and since Zechariah 13: 8 9 predicts that Israel will suffer the loss of two thirds of her population in her final conflict, such appalling casualties cannot be avoided; they are the will of God. Muscular Christians also view the Arabs as expendable, stating that they are the enemies of Israel and, therefore, the enemies of God. With such a calloused exploitation of scriptures, they rationalize their attempts to quicken the pace of prophetical fulfillment. Arab Christians find themselves in a precarious dilemma. Moslems hear much regarding the views of Muscular Christian preachers who broadcast over evangelically built radio and T.V. stations located in the Middle East. These preachers beam anti Arab messages that equate anti Arab, Middle East politics with Christianity, charge Arabs with condoning terrorist activities, and support the take over of Arab lands by Israel. Moslem Arabs consider such propaganda as representative of all Christians. Understandably, they react negatively to born again Arabs and the Western nations. They reject the message of redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. After all, they reason, how can an Arab be a Christian when Christians hate Arabs? As we pray for Israel, can we not also pray for the Arabs? As we love the Jews, can we not also love the Arabs? After all, God does; He loves the world. Jesus assured us of this truth when He stated that, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, should not parish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John's Gospel, 3: 16 17; The Holy Bible; New King James Version). Who's praying for the Arabs? -30- © Joseph Perrello (Josprel) josprel@yahoo.com
Article Source: http://christian-topics.info
A U. S. Air Force veteran, who served thirty months overseas, Josprel is an ordained minister, whose stories and articles have appeared in print and on the Web. He currently is authoring two novels: "Beloved Apostate" and "Kanfal." Josprel has pastored three churches, including one in Attica, New York, the location of Attica Maximum Security Prison, the location of America's bloodiest prison riot. During that time, together with other pastors in the town, Josprel counseled the families of the prison security officers who were being held hostage by the inmates. Afterward, at the request of the Attica Prison administration - who informed him that several inmates desired a weekly Bible study - Josprel conducted weekly three-hour Bible studies for the inmates and the class grew to more than fifty students. After a number of years, Josprel turned the study over to another pastor, due to heavy demands on his time; a five-time weekly radio program, a large congregation, new members classes, church administration duties, and a building program during which the congregation constructed a large new sanctuary and an education wing. josprel@yahoo.com
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