Reflections from Christ at the Checkpoint: What side of history will we be on?

HUMAN RIGHTSTHEOLOGY
Written By Nicole Gibson

by Bryan Carey

Christ at the Checkpoint (CATC) was by far the most impactful conference I’ve ever attended. As Israel’s ongoing war of ethnic cleansing and genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza continued a mere 50 miles away, CATC elevated the voices of Palestinian Christian leaders. Nothing can compare to hearing from Palestinian Christians themselves at this particular moment of crisis. Jesus was born on the margins of the Roman empire, and today we have the opportunity hear and experience the Spirit of God speaking powerfully from the underside of oppression and empire. Palestinian Christians Munther Isaac, Shireen Awwad, Anton (Tony) Deik, Lamma Mansour, Daniel Bannoura, Jack Sara, Anthony Khair, and Daniel Munayer spoke with such power, grief, and conviction to call the Christian body to see Palestinians in their suffering and to weep, repent, advocate, and participate in the liberative work of the Spirit in Palestine/Israel today. 

Even while these Palestinian Christian leaders affirmed their love for Jewish people and the depth of solidarity they feel from Jewish allies around the world in the ongoing work to end genocide, occupation, and apartheid by the state of Israel, they spoke with authority and clarity to call western Christians to confront our own anti-Palestinian racism and the underlying Christian Zionism that results in harmful theological and political positions. It is this instinctual “stand with Israel” posture that is allowing the U.S. government to continually supply American bombs to kill Palestinians at genocidal levels, including around 15,000 children. The Christian posture to “stand with Israel” is complicit with and guilty of the ethnic cleansing and genocide against Palestinians.

It is of first importance that Christians listen to the stories and voices of Palestinian Christians themselves. Looking back on moments in history, I have wondered where I would have stood and what I would have done when society condoned slavery, apartheid, Jim Crow that led to the Civil Rights Movement, and much more. Would I have raised my voice and sacrificed for the sake of justice and a holistic peace for everyone? Or would I have stayed quiet, feeling inadequate or paralyzed? This is our historic moment to respond, and because of the complicity of Western Christians providing theological cover and political support for Israel, we are guilty of the current genocidal onslaught, and we are also the community with the most ability to push U.S. leaders for change.


SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

We must educate ourselves by listening to Palestinian voices and sharing them with others in our community. We can also ramp up our involvement and work for change, but we must start by listening, learning, grieving, and repenting of our complicity and silence. 

Listen to speakers and leaders from Christ at the Checkpoint here (Palestinians in bold):

As you take the time to learn, share these voices in your community. Share what you’re learning. Go to the PCI resources page to find books and documentaries, and start book groups and documentary screenings in your church or community. As you learn in your community, your church has the opportunity to begin advocating collectively. Especially for Americans, the U.S. has unique mechanisms to allow citizens to influence the wheels of power and stop our tax dollars and bombs from continually crushing Palestinians. Start small and ramp up your involvement. Start listening to, learning from, and sharing Palestinian voices today. 

Nicole Gibson
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