June 27, 2003
To: Project Straight Gate
P O Box 14491
Scottsdale AZ 85267
Dear Mr. Carlson,
I came across an article about Project Straight Gate in the New Times and found it very interesting. I also came across your web site on my mother’s computer in Mesa, Arizona. For several years I have had a deep concern for Palestinian human rights and the plight of the refugees. I abhor the oppressive occupation of the Israelis upon the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. However, this is not a very popular view by most Americans, especially the conservative evangelical church. Whenever I hear of a suicide bombing performed by a young Palestinian I wonder if my concern for Palestinian human rights is a worthy cause. Whenever I hear about Hamas and their fundamentalist agenda, I again wonder if my concern for the oppressed Palestinians is a correct concern.
I have heard many negative comments about Palestinians by evangelical Christians. Whenever I voice a concern about the Palestinians I fear that I be condemned by my evangelical brothers and sisters in Christ. Therefore, I keep my concern secret in fear of their condemnation.
To many of my brothers and sisters in Christ the Israelis are God’s chosen people by virtue of being physical descendents of Abraham, or being of the lineage of Isaac, not Ishmael. It does not matter whether they believe in God, worship God, or not. By their physical ancestry of Abraham, they are God’s chosen people. Therefore they deserve the Holy Land and the Palestinians need to go. Scriptures such as the promise of the Holy Land to the Israelites in the Old Testament justify them expelling the Palestinians from the Holy Land. The Holy Land belongs to the Israelis only according to some dispensationalists. When the Palestinians objected to the creation of the state of Israel they were going against God’s plan. To them the two-state solution is unacceptable because they do not believe there is any scriptural justification for a Palestinian state.
Whenever I hear Christians like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, John Hagee, and Hal Lindsay, I almost believe them, because they sound so convincing. Is dispensationalism the correct interpretation of scripture? It seems like the only way to interpret scripture, but something seems wrong with it. Is there an alternative to the view of dispensationalism?
In Christ,
Gregory C.
P.S. I welcome your insights about this topic. I love both the Israelis and Palestinians and I desire for them to live side by side with each other in peace.
We Reply on 7/ 2/03
Dear Gregory C.
I am moved by your letter because your questions have defined our purpose better than anything I could ever write. Thank you.
As for my answer to your questions about scripture, we have already written them down in two articles, SHERRY’S WAR (B-129) and WHY JUDEO-CHRISTIAN DO NOT DEMAND PEACE (B-130). I am sending these to you. There are also several good books on our Website bookstore (www.whtt.org/bookstor) by Dr. Gordon Ginn that would be helpful.
The New Times artical is (http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2003-02-13/feature.html/1/index.html)
You have also asked specific questions about Palestinians so I am sending a copy of my own personal experiences in my visit to Gaza covered in a video-tape (V-154).
I am going to share your letter and many will want to answer you. We will withhold your address and forward the responses
Please call me when you can and leave your phone number.
Charles E. Carlson
480 947 3329
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