John H Armstrong

Why It's Important to Oppose Anti-Sharia Movements in America

Since 9-11 many Americans have reacted strongly against Muslims and Islamic laws. Some see the presence of Muslims as a threat to our nation. Others are more open but are still guided by a great deal of fear when it comes to Muslim practice. Many conservative commentators stir up a general, and often ill-defined, negative reaction to Islamic culture. The truth is that this is a culture they neither understand nor care to understand with any degree of empathy. Christians can, and should, do much better. If for no other reason we have clear statements from our Lord about loving our neighbors, even our enemies. Though this does not mean that we should be anything less than vigilant with regard to radical Islamic movements and people (for reasons of security) it also does not mean that we should oppose Islamic movements, people or their laws. It is this last idea (Muslim laws) that I write about today.

Make no mistake about this–there is a strong anti-Sharia movement in the United States. This movement had led to 22 state legislatures having either passed or considered bills to prohibit judges from considering Sharia law, or any foreign laws, in their decision making. But since 2011 numerous bills have either died or been withdrawn in states. This prompted Omar Sacirbey, of Religion News Service, to suggest that the anti-Sharia movement may have "lost its momentum." I hope so. 

Take Oklahoma as one example. In 2011 voters passed an amendment to the state constitution that prohibited judges from considering foreign laws, including all religious laws, in their decision making. Two federal courts have since ruled that this amendment is unconstitutional, forcing lawmakers to revise the law. A new bill passed the state House in 2011 but the Senate Rules Committee did not hear the bill until recently and the Rules Committee voted it down 9-6. In Minnesota and New Jersey anti-Muslim bills were withdrawn after various expressions of protest. One Republican legislator in New Jersey, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, said that her bill was never meant to be an anti-Sharia law bill, bur rather an "anti-foreign law" measure. She withdrew it on March 12 saying, "After sitting down with members of the Muslim community, and taking into consideration everything they'd been through in the last few weeks, I didn't want to create any more tension." It pays to sit down and listen. 

In New Jersey Muslims rallied against a surveillance program specifically aimed at Muslim businesses and community centers in Newark. They also spoke out against actions of the NYPD. In both cases their voices were heard and steps were taken to correct abuses. 

One online newsletter recently reported that similar bills have recently died in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi and New Mexico. A few could be revived next year but the trends are moving in the other direction for now. Only four states have actually passed such bills: Tennessee, Louisiana, Arizona and South Dakota. At this moment anti-foreign law bills are alive in 12 states altogether. So the movement is anything but dead. 

A recent poll shows that the number of Americans who believe Muslims want to impose Sharia on all Americans is now only 14%, down from 30% in the same poll last September (Public Research Institute). 

Why should anti-Sharia laws be opposed in America?

1. They are plainly discriminatory against Muslims. Our nation has rightly eschewed such forms of religious discrimination, especially over the last fifty years. 

2. This movement, and the passage of anti-Sharia laws, could adversely affect other religious groups such as Jews and Catholics, both of whom have religious laws that have been used by judges for many years to decide family or property disputes.

3. These anti-Sharia laws discourage businesses by invalidating foreign laws altogether.

These bills target Muslim communities at a time of deep national tension about the proper role of Islam in America. Muslim laws are seen by some as a menace to American freedoms. Behind these responses you can often find a veiled expression of xenophobia as well as a bad legal precedent that violates the practice and religious beliefs of minorities. In the light of what I wrote yesterday about our courts I believe that it will only be time until the Supreme Court will hear a direct challenge to such a state law. I think it is likely that they would strike down such a law as a clear violation of the First Amendment rights of Muslims.

Opposing anti-Sharia laws is important to a healthy democracy and to the proper understanding of the role of church and state in America. Informed Christians should promote the defeat of this kind of legislation on the grounds of religious freedom, a freedom that if threatened in one area can be threatened in another at some future point. We need to remain vigilant about our religious rights. This includes the rights of our Muslim neighbors. At its core this is what makes America unique from France, Germany and most other nations in the West. We do not promote religion through the state nor do we use the state to hinder religious practice so long as the rights of others are not violated. 

 

The Misuse of Free Speech is Harmful

I am a huge defender of free speech. It is a core value and a cherished right of all Americans. I believe it is a double-edged sword but one that should be protected. Now and then we have obvious examples of provocative speech that causes social harm, even death outside of America. The line here is very thin and it is often extremely hard to grasp in terms of distinctions and nuances. It is this particular freedom that the Supreme Court has often had to protect by new rulings and decisions that create more misunderstanding. I am personally thankful that they remain vigilant about free speech.

I thought of this recently when Pastor Terry Jones, minister of a 25-member congregation in Gainesville, Florida, publicly burned a copy of the Qur’an last Saturday, April 28. Jones' public burning followed a personal meeting and intense conversation just one day earlier with representatives of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), including the executive director, Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe. Geoff is a friend that I deeply admire and respect. I believe he acted in good faith in trying to defuse this publicity stunt and to stop Jones from carrying out his ridiculous display of foolishness. 

The World Evangelical Alliance issued a news release about the private meeting between Jones and Tunnicliffe. I urge you to read it carefully.  

One of the great tragedies of free speech is the harmful way some Christians use it to make a statement. Such was the case with Jones' newest episode. But the misuse of free speech doesn't alter the simple fact that it should be protected under law. I do not expect Muslim societies to broadly understand our view of the law (one can pray that the day will come when this changes) but we cannot go back and restrict it in the U.S. or we will become a society that is little different than those presently inflamed by the passions of religious fundamentalism. 

 

The Tragedy of Syria: Christians in the Crossfire

If you watch or follow American news, from the left or the right, you hear continual calls for our government, working with the United Nations, to engage militarily with the Syrian government in support of the rebels in that nation. I submit that the simple view held by the vast majority of Syria's Christians is very different from what we hear day-to-day. Their message is: "Please stay out!" Why? After all, some Christians have died in the present cycle of extreme violence. And this uprising is now nearly a year old. The images we generally see are of government oppression and open attacks on rebels that defy imagination. 

As with Iraq so it now is with Syria. If the secular government is removed the end result will likely be much worse for minorities, especially for Christian minorities. Syria's religions are as follows: 74% Sunni Muslims, 13% other Muslims, 10% Christian and 3% Druze. President Bashar Assad, an autocratic leader for sure, leads a secular government. If he is removed the result would likely be a Sunni Muslim government that would be extremely unfavorable to minorities. Those Syrians I have spoken with tell me that Sunni Muslims, Christians and the Alawite community, a small offshoot of Shiite Islam, are all under threat if this present government falls. (Interestingly, the Russians and the Chinese are keeping the UN out of Syria right now. Their reason seems to be entirely based on a "balance of power" position in the Middle East!)

Like Saddam Hussein was in Iraq, Bashar Assad is an oppressive ruler. But if the West supports an "Arab Spring" the results will very likely be much like those we've seen in Egypt and Tunisia. A dentist, under anonymity, said, "Of course the Arab Spring is an Islamist movement. It's full of extremists. They want to destroy our country, and they call it a 'revolution'."

Syria's Christians date their origins to Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Church leaders in Syria have generally aligned themselves with the government urging their followers to give Assad a chance to enact a long-promised political overhaul while also calling for an end to the present violence.

Ignatius IV, patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, described Syria as an oasis of religious tolerance where Christians can worship freely, build sanctuaries and run schools, activities that are restricted to varying degrees in almost every other Middle Eastern country. Christian ministers are often shown on television in Syria taking part in joint prayer services for peace with Muslim clerics. And the defense minister of Syria is openly Christian! The patriarch actually displays a photograph of himself with President Assad on his wall. I find the same response among Syrian Orthodox Christians in the United States. 

Do not misunderstand my point. Christians have died in Syria. Things have been terrible over there the past twelve months. But recent reports from Syria suggest the rebels are as violent and aggressive as the government troops. Rebels are acting more and more like the Assad regime according to many Christians. The truth is that Christians in Syria have little or no confidence in a successful revolution. The ones I have spoken with tell me to urge Americans to stay out of this situation. It took me some time to realize why but now I think that I understand their reasons. When we removed Saddam we celebrated but the church in Iraq began a whole new period of history. Many Christians have died, churches have been bombed and most Christians have fled Iraq now, many into neighboring Syria. 

While we may think these Middle Eastern uprisings are a good thing the fact is that most of them lead to great suffering for our brothers and sisters. Perhaps we should make this a higher priority than America's own political agenda in the world. I, for one, think the church transcends military operations. I hope our government will listen to the Christians of Syria, and other minorities, and stay out. I also pray for the peace of Syria, especially for my suffering brothers and sisters there. Many of these people are wonderful Christians with deep faith in God and profound love for their homeland. Syria is a gorgeous country with friendly people. It may not be a just democracy but it is not an evil empire either. 

One of my frequent themes on this blog is global Christian mission. If we are to practice a truly global faith, and not simply an Americanized version of Christianity, we should pray for the church in Syria and then work for peace. This seems to be at the core of what it means to faithfully follow Jesus in the modern world. 

America is Safe: You Can Thank a Muslim

In all the remembrance of 9/11 I heard little said about Muslims, except faint echoes of fear and continued mistrust. For Christians this response is anything but right. Not only does it reflect fear and loathing but it is simply not warranted. Let me explain.

Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist Steve Chapman wrote a wonderful editorial on September 9 showing why we should all be thankful to the American Muslim community for our continued safety. I know this sounds crazy to some people but it is the truth.

Following 9/11 many leaders predicted we would be attacked again. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala, the ranking Republican on the Intelligence Committee said, “You can just about bet on it.” Mayor Rudy Giuliani said, “I anticipate another attack.” And Gary Stubblefield, who directed the Naval Special Warfare Task Unity in the Pacific area, said (as paraphrased in the Denver Post), “the question is not if but when dozens of terrorist cells in the United States will unleash biological, chemical and perhaps nuclear weapons against U.S. cities.” FBI Director Robert Mueller estimates the U.S. harbored “several hundred” extremists affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Who is not familiar with the routine terrorist bombings that take place in Israel routinely? A frequent comment following 9/11 was “We are all Israeli’s now.”

But this is NOT what happened. During the 9/11 ten-year remembrance we heard credit for this being given to many, including the last two presidents and many leaders in our government. But except for Steve Chapman I heard no one thank America’s Muslim community.

There are millions of Muslims living in the U.S. Had even 0.5 percent of them decided to plan attacks on us or our cities they could have succeeded. Do you seriously doubt that? Had even the smallest part of our Muslim population been radicalized immense damage could have followed. The targets are too vast to protect. Even our best security could not have totally stopped them. A few radicals could have kept us in constant fear and struck us several times since 9/11. But it has not happened. (I am not saying it will not since I am not a prophet!)

We once heard a lot about radical imams preaching fear and revolution to American Muslims. If they are, as Chapman noted, “It is not getting through.” The simple fact is plain for all to see, unless they are filled with hate for Muslims—there are few Muslims with real desire to harm the nation they also love.

A recent Pew Poll showed that 82% of America’s Muslims say they are satisfied with the ways things are going in the U.S. and 79%  rate the communities in which they live as excellent or good. American Muslims clearly love their country as much as the rest of us. It it time we acknowledge this simple fact. A decade ago radical Muslims from outside the U.S. called for uprisings and slaughter inside the U.S. It did not happen. Apparently there is good reason for why this call went unheeded. I believe it is time we recognized it and stopped fearing and loathing Muslims the way we do. This much is required by common sense. Even more is required by Christians who are to love their neighbors, especially those not loved by so many Americans who still fear them.

Steve Brown Etc. "Religion: Sickness or Cure?"

One of my favorite persons is Steve Brown. He also does one of my favorite radio programs called Steve Brown Etc.  Brown also teaches on Key Life, a fifteen-minute syndicated radio show heard around the country on around 300 radio stations and on the Internet, on which Brown teaches about grace and the Christian life. The show often ends with Brown's tag line, "You think about that. Amen." Key Life also distributes audio recordings and writings by Brown and is based in Maitland, Florida. Steve formerly taught at Reformed Theological Seminary and is the author of numerous books. The first time I heard Steve, many years ago, I was deeply disturbed. He preached grace so wonderfully that I dared not believe this could be true. His happy and affecting style disarmed me but I had my doubts about him. Later I met him and saw the man for what he is – a Christ follower who is free and filled with grace.

Love him or hate him, Steve Brown always draws a crowd. Over the past 22 years, as founder and president of Key Life Network, Steve's unique blend of orthodoxy and controversy, humor and profundity, and a refusal to play religious games, has attracted some interesting folks. Steve Brown Etc. is a place where you can hang out with Steve "and the rest" and experience radical freedom, infectious joy and maybe even a bit of surprising faithfulness.

Last Friday I did a show with Steve, on the Steve Brown Etc. Broadcast, titled: “Religion: Sickness or Cure?” You can hear the entire broadcast here. Steve is one fantastic, happy and soulful guy. If you’ve never heard the show try it. You might get hooked and want to listen to more. I download the podcasts and listen often myself. I am never bored by Steve in the least. You ought to know him and listen to him.

Should We Condemn the Actions of Pastor Terry Jones?

By now you know the story of Florida pastor Terry Jones. Jones is the pastor of a tiny church called Dove World Outreach Center. (Where do people come up with these names?) By all appearances there is not much “outreach” going on in this church and the idea that a “dove” (as the representative sign of of the the Holy Spirit) is the basis for the mission of this church is ludicrous, at least on the surface.

After Terry Jones finally carried out his threat, first made prior to 9/11 of last year, to judge the Koran and burn it in a church service, violence broke out in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This led to the death of a number of innocent people in both countries. When prayers ended at a mosque some went across a street and began the violent attacks.

There are a number of questions we can and should ask about these events but mine is simple: What should Christians do in the public space, which is now global because of the news cycle, when an event like this one happens?

I suggest that any response less than being appalled at Jones’ antics is unacceptable. The moral high ground is lost if we condemn the actions of radical Muslims and then fail to condemn the foolishness of a Christian like Terry Jones. I realize Jones killed no one but numerous people assured him that his actions would lead to the death of innocent people. In the end he would not listen. In this sense he bears deep responsibility for his words and actions. Words and actions do have consequences and “free speech” does not mean that you can say whatever you want as a Christian.

Let me put this another way. If we do not condemn the radical fringe in our own ranks, and Jones surely qualifies as the radical fringe, then we dare not condemn the radical fringe in other religions. We rightly argue that Christianity should not be condemned based upon the actions of this one man. But we appear arrogant and ignorant to the world if we fail to strongly condemn the actions of such a pastor in our own context.

I realize Terry Jones does not speak for me but I also know that some persons (and some Muslims in particular) have a hard time making this distinction. One liberal Christian minister wrote: “Jones has chosen to descend into an ideological abyss which has nothing to do with how Jesus taught those who follow him should live does not mean that all who call themselves ‘Christian’ are as arrogant and ignorant as he appears to be. In other words the entire religion cannot or should not be demeaned because of this man . . . unless we remain silent and through our silence give the impression that Christians stand with Jones.”

I could have written the same statement and I am a paleo-orthodox evangelical Christian. The Bible has been hijacked by all kinds of radical fringe groups. But this is not a first in Christian history. In the name of Christ some of my fellow Southern church members lynched black Americans in my own lifetime. In the name of Christ, and even in the name of conservative Reformed Christianity, apartheid was defended in South Africa until twenty years ago. Such Christians argued that the Bible warranted their response. Their ideology went well beyond anything remotely biblical.

Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General for the World Evangelical Fellowship, rightly said:

While many in the western world understand that Jones and his tiny fringe congregation are not in any way representative of true Christianity, we know that his actions would have been nuanced very differently in other parts of the world and that radicals would use them to stir up violence.

Whenever we substitute ideology for serious and thoughtful biblical theology we get ourselves into serious trouble. This is the case with pastors like Terry Jones. His words and actions need to be openly condemned because the world watches and wonders what all of this has to do with the good news of Jesus Christ. If we did not have a 24/7 news cycle and the Internet we might be afforded the luxury of remaining silent about one pastor in Florida but we do not have that luxury any longer.

I wonder how many of you heard public prayers in your worship service last week for those who suffered in Pakistan and Afghanistan? I wonder how many of you heard any condemnation of the words and actions of Terry Jones? I wonder what we are (collectively) saying by our silence when the world is listening and assumes that all religious people are a lot alike.

There is a time and place for moral outrage. I am outraged at the actions and words of Pastor Terry Jones. God is his judge but his actions must be condemned in the name of Jesus, especially by those who have opportunity to speak for the gospel in a public context.

One final question: Could the fear that drives anti-Islamic response in America have caused many conservative Christians to remain silent during such a time of upheaval? Are we afraid to condemn such words in our churches lest we appear too “soft” on Islam? So many of us live in fear of terrorism but love for our religious neighbors is still the teaching of Holy Scripture regardless of geo-political violence and threats.

Egypt's Muslims Stand By Coptic Christians at a Mass

I wrote a post on January 7 about Muhammad and Muslims. I think it is important for us to realize that what we are fed by the media, especially the more conservative TV media and the numerous talkers on radio, is often imbalanced. It is definitely not gospel. We ought to see it for what it really is, opinion and often opinion of a militant sort.

Here is a wonderful story that could help us build bridges of peace. Not all Muslims are committed to violence and not all Muslims read the Koran in the way the radicals read it. To suggest otherwise is slanderous and dangerous. My central point is this: If Jesus calls us to be peacemakers should we not actually be known as real peacemakers in how we respond to the modern world? Check out this story you are very likely to have missed.

Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as "human shields" - Ahram Online.

Islam and Christian Charity: How Far Should We Go?

I wrote yesterday a review of the film: Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet (January 6). Just after posting this review I read an article in the Christianity Today online site that caught my attention.  I highly recommend it as a fair piece of journalism and a helpful way to raise important questions. The crux of the story concerns “sacred space” and whether or not Christian churches should open space to Muslim neighbors for prayers and worship. One pastor offered a neighboring Islamic congregation the use of his church's space for five months for Friday prayers when they requested. Jason Micheli, pastor of Aldersgate Methodist in Arlington, Virginia, shares part of his theological reasoning in a sermon published at Scot McKnight's Jesus Creed blog. In McKnight's blog he recommends a marvelous book by my good friend Gerlad McDermott that I highly recommend as well. It is titled: God's Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religion? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church. If you are perplexed by this issue, and desire an even-handed and scholarly response from a solidly evangelical theologian, I recommend this book highly.

Micheli similarly defends his decision by appealing to Jesus and Christian love: "[W]hen we say that Jesus is the only way to the Father, we don't just mean our belief in Jesus is the only way to the Father. We also mean Jesus' way of life is the only way we manifest the Father's love. That we would welcome Muslim strangers into our sacred space with no strings attached is not a reduction of what we believe about Jesus (or a betrayal); it is, I think, the fullest possible expression of what we believe about Jesus."

I agree with Micheli. Allowing non-Christians to use our space, even for some religious purposes, is not a clear denial of our faith. It is also not idolatry, at least as I understand it. It would be idolatrous to deny our faith in order to reach some kind of syncretistic compromise since Jesus is Lord. But I do not think sharing our homes and worship places with others denies anything about our faith. In fact, I think it commends our faith in a context where many believe that our faith is intolerant and unloving. There is a world of difference between preaching Jesus as Lord and sharing our space with non-Christians out of love and charity.

Question: Is allowing a local election to use a church building as a polling place a denial of the kingship of Jesus?

Before you answer remember early believers died rather than say, “Caesar is Lord” at an annual political event. And remember, empire and church are not one.

Question: Is sharing our homes with non-Christians, or our worship space, a violation of 2 John 7-10? Read the text and pay careful attention to the context before you assume too much.

It seems to me that the biggest challenge to the early church was from those inside the church who denied the faith by their life or their teaching, not those outside.

Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet

In 2002 PBS released a documentary on the life of the prophet Muhammad. The timing of this was not humanly planned since 9/11 occurred while the project was being finished. In fact, some of the final filming was in post 9-11 New York City. A New York City Fire Department captain, who is a convert to Islam, was featured prominently in expressing his disdain for the attack. The two creators of this film are both Muslims, one an American convert. The producer and director of the film, Michael Schwarz, is Jewish. Several of the commentators are also non-Muslims who have done considerable research on Islam.

This film seeks to tell the story of the seventh century prophet who profoundly altered world history during a public mission of only twenty-three years. Today 1.2 billion people follow the teachings of this man. This film, three years in the making, follows the story of this man according to the commonly received stories of Muslim historians. It includes visits to American Muslim sites and conversations with Muslims who are seeking to live out their faith peacefully in our context.

This film is informative and even, at times, riveting. Critics will say it tells one side of the story and whitewashes a number of problems. I am not a historian of Islam and not a proponent of religious pluralism either. I found the story simply and stunningly told. I also learned things that I did not previously know.

I have watched more than my share of videos that are very critical of Islam, suggesting that it is a religion of violence and that there is no basis for peace so long as Muslims live in our midst and promote the teaching of the Koran. I am quite sure this is not an answer to our present political, social and religious conflict.

Just a few days ago we were again made aware of Muslim extremism and its use of violence.

LOS ANGELES, January 3 (Compass Direct News) – At least 21 people were killed and scores were wounded on Saturday (Jan. 1) when a bomb planted outside a church in Alexandria, Egypt exploded as congregants were leaving a New Year’s Eve Mass celebration. The explosion ripped through the crowd shortly after midnight, killing instantly most of those who died, and leaving the entrance-way to the Church of the Two Saints, a Coptic Orthodox congregation, covered with blood and severed body parts. The bomb blast overturned at least one car, set several others on fire and shattered windows throughout the block on which the church is located. Egyptian authorities reportedly said 20 of the victims have been identified. At least 90 other people were injured in the blast, 10 seriously. Among the injured were eight Muslims. Burial services for some of the victims started Sunday in Alexandria. Witnesses said a driver parked a car at the entrance of the church and then ran away seconds before it exploded. Government officials have claimed they found remnants of the bomb, filled with nails and other make-shift shrapnel, at the site; they suspect an unidentified suicide bomber, rather than a car bombing. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the attack comes two months after an Islamic group known as the Islamic State of Iraq issued a threat stating that, “All Christian centers, organizations and institutions, leaders and followers are legitimate targets for the muhajedeen [Muslim fighters] wherever they can reach them.”

I am well aware of the extremism that threatens the peace of many people, especially Christians. I am troubled by this mixture of religion and politics. But I am particularly disturbed by the way some Christians advance a fierce anti-Muslim agenda in response. Muslims live in my community. From all that I can see they are good neighbors. The vast majority do not endorse anti-American sentiment or terrorism. If Muslims are my neighbors then I am not only to love them but to incarnate the good news in a way that shows them that Jesus is Lord.

One thing is very clear to me in seeing Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet. Jesus openly revealed himself as Lord and God. Muhammad never claimed this for himself and was mortified that anyone would claim it as Christians did for Jesus. Muslims believe that Jesus is a great prophet but not the divine Logos, the eternal Word of God. It seems to me that we who worship Jesus as Lord should be the first to humble ourselves before the revelation that God has given to us and not make the passions of anti-Islam a vital part of our day-to-day speech and life. 

I have a lot to learn here. I do not pretend to be an apologist on this subject. I do know passion that seems quite out of control when I see it and I see too much of it among Christians.

Little Town of Bethlehem

Opinions range from one extreme to the other on how to find “peace in the Middle East.” Many Christians actually think peace is impossible since the great prophetic clock is ticking down day-by-day to the return of Christ. Others, especially among some liberal critics, think the single solution is for Israel to stop its unjust practices and cease to be a state at all. Still others see the political solution in a “two-state” formula that recognizes a Palestinian State. I share this view politically but I think this process is far more complex than any single political solution.

A recently released DVD, Little Town of Bethlehem, brings forward a different approach, that of a growing non-violent movement modeled on the approach of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the leaders of the non-violent approach is Palestinian Christian Sami Awad, whose grandfather was killed in Jerusalem in 1948. Today Sami Awad is the executive director of the Holy Land Trust, a non-profit organization that promote Palestinian independence through entirely peaceful means. This moving film is the story of Sami’s faithful attempts to follow the way of Jesus in seeking peace.

Sami is helped by Yonatan Shapira, an Israeli Jew whose grandparents were Zionist settlers who witnessed the birth of the Israeli nation. Today Yonatan is an outspoken advocate for nonviolence, both in his homeland and beyond. And Ahmad Al’Azzah is a Palestinian Muslim who has lived his entire life in the Azzah refugee camp in Bethlehem. Today, Ahmad heads the nonviolent program at Holy Land Trust, where he trains others in the methods of peaceful activism. The story of each of these men is told on this film.

The film raises one primary question: “Can the cycle of violence be broken?” The answer is that it can but only by using the methods of peace, not war.

The film was produced with a younger audience in mind and hopes to help the next generation embrace a new model in the Middle East, the one least tried and most like the way of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. You can see a trailer of this film and understand something of the power of this story. The film does not set out to focus on who’s right and wrong in the Middle East but rather to offer a new, almost completely untried, way. Let us all “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” This film will promote the truth of that prayer and give you new hope as a believer.