Why The Fuck Aren't American Churches Calling Out Genocide?
Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash
The church is arguably the most “trusted” institution that the average American looks to for moral solidity. Despite sects in denomination, the church is regarded as a sacred place that bleeds God’s love and peace over anyone who wants it. Yet, the church’s silence regarding the genocide in Palestine couldn’t be louder.
It's telling that the church, the followers of Christ, the so-called representations of Christ, have been so complicit in the massacre of innocent people at the hands of Israel. Research has shown that 4 in 5 American Christians believe that Israel has a right to BOLDLY defend itself, as it pertains to the genocide in Palestine. 130-plus days of genocide, documented and available for view on screens in the palm of our hands. This situation evokes one of the most haunting parallels from the Vietnam War era. It reflects a jarring reality where, amidst the horrors of conflict, the mundane act of prioritizing healthful eating feels incongruous, a stark reminder of the normalization of tragedy and death.
There are countless examples of innocent lives being erased. Interestingly, the same people who claim to follow Christ are comfortable sitting in silence while the land and people the historical Christ came from are being massacred. The prominent Christian voices were rendered speechless.
WWJD? The Church Isn't Interested In What Christ Would Do
It's only possible to be a follower of someone or something by being devoted to what that person or system represents. And if Christ was anti-famine, anti-killing, and anti-harm, how can churches and Christian institutions condone the genocide that Israel is committing against the people of Palestine? In modern terms, Christ was radical and spoke out against systems of abuse. He did it for "the least of these." Yet, it is virtually impossible to have a productive conversation with many Christians about Israel's accountability, as the discussion often deflects to facts about Hamas which, in any scenario, would never justify genocide. Moreover, simply questioning the atrocities occurring in Palestinian territory leads to ethical judgments and accusations of antisemitism, shutting down dialogue. The harsh reality is that the church isn't interested in being in the realm of what a Christ-like response would be like, as they’re mostly indoctrinated with Zionist roots.
A better question would be, "Why the fuck aren't churches calling out genocide?" This goes beyond ideology and dogma that separate denominations within Christianity; how does the church reconcile its "Christ-likeness" while they're watching settler colonialism and ethnic cleansing? Where is the outrage for American tax dollars funding a mass slaughter in the Middle East? 88% of American Christians believe that for there to be peace in the Middle East, there must be a mutual agreement between Israel and Palestine. Ironically, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have actively rejected the possibility of Palestinian statehood, stating that it would be an "existential threat" to the state of Israel." If the message of Christ is all-things against what's going on in Palestine and if American Christians believe in "peace in the Middle East," why are they silent about the atrocities that are happening there? We must remember that complicity shouldn't, by default, be regarded as indifference. And unfortunately, chaos in the Middle East, to many American Christians, gives credence to their faith, believing that the horrific events going on in Palestine are "necessary occurrences" as they're fulfilling "biblical prophecy."
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24: 6-7)
And the church is inclined to assign the horrific events that are taking place in Palestine as a direct interpretation of Jesus’ words.
Inclusion of Church and Genocide
There is a universal underestimation of how much Christian Zionism plays into U.S. policy in the Middle East. The Canon of Christian Zionism isn't just limited to "God's chosen" people walking into a physically promised "Holy Land," but to prompt the so-called "end times," and the 1948 establishment of the state of Israel was a significant fulfillment of "prophecy" for many Christians, especially evangelicals. Both Christian and Jewish Zionists shared A similar consensus that another prophecy was fulfilled when President Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the Capital City of Israel in 2017. Even though there are varying reasons rooted in the intricacies and specific tenets of their religions, the blind support for Israel is a means of interpretation of scripture and holds significant spiritual connotation that goes beyond international law. Essentially, in Jewish Zionism, anyone or anything that stands in the way of Israel is an enemy, and righteous indignation can be as gruesome as it can be. In Christian Zionism, these events are necessary as they also provide evidence of a possible second coming of Christ.
Imagine one's humanity being overlooked because of another's interpretation of scripture. Imagine weighing one's right to life, peace, and dignity against another's belief in fulfilling "biblical prophecy." Imagine these truths with an added layer of nationalism, where the execution of genocide can be easily digestible because it's rooted in what is perceived as "religion." Imagine one's safety being so compromised that they're constantly exposed to death while those doing harm are expecting to get closer to "God's presence" by doing so. And even though there are intricate differences between Jewish and Christian Zionism, they have been actively able to work together in the oppression of Palestinians and find comfort in their meticulous justifications.
So, why the fuck aren't churches calling out genocide?
Because the oppression of Palestinians has been intertwined with their interpretation of "biblical prophecy" and the superiority of anything mirrored to God’s “chosen” people, Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6) If one's religion is rooted in another's oppression, then it's not religion; it's hate. And the silence from the church loudly speaks to Christianity being used again to endorse and justify immoral pursuits grounded in white supremacist values that primarily benefit a select few at the expense of the masses. It's slavery, Jim Crow, the cover-up of abuse and scandal, and sure enough, the 2023/2024 Nakba is, too, a bullet point of barbaric actions paraded as righteous actions by the Christian West. We can no longer allow "leaders" to use the Christian faith as a tool to enact horror globally.