Peace in the Middle East: The Solution

Peace in the Middle East? A solution? You're probably thinking: yeah...right. Well, I think I got it. No one will ever try to attempt this solution, but, whatever, people need to know. Here is a list of some of the problems in the Middle East, and their solutions. There's a single solution to all of these problems, but I'll state that one at the end.

1. Israel vs. Palestinians
This is obviously a problem. The Palestinians want their own country, and Israel's not giving them the land to have one. I think its' safe to say that most of the world thinks Israel is in the wrong here, after all, Israel is just being "intolerant." Well, sorry to bust your bubble if you think Israel is wrong here, but Israel is in the right. Why? Take a look at Genesis 15:18-21 "On that day, God made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river the Euphrates. The land of the Kenites, Kenizites, Kadmonites; the Hittites, Perizzites, Refaim; the Emorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.'" In other words, the land that Israel is on RIGHT NOW is GOD-ORDAINED for them. So, the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and all the other "hot zones" belong to Israel. Even some parts of modern day Lebanon belong to Isreal. Solution: Give up Palestinians, you're not fighting Israel, you're fighting God.

2. Arms Control
As of right now, there are only a handful of nations in the "World's Elite Nuclear Club." However, many unstable nations are beginning to experiment with nuclear devices, mostly weapons. One of these countries is Iran. The money for this nuclear funding comes from the selling of oil to the West. There are several problems and potential problems here, a few being: terrorists or extremists getting their hands on nuclear weapons, a mishandling of radioactive material that could cause death to a multitude of people, and other nations feeling threatened by there neighbor who now has the capability to blow them off of the map. Let's go with the last problem in that list for a minute. What's the natural reaction of a non-nuclear nation whose unstable neighbor just became a nuclear nation? To bolster their defenses and eventually create their own nuclear technology. And what is the rest of the "Eltie Nuclear Club" doing to prevent this: nothing. So what's the solution here? Economic sanctions obviously aren't doing anything. For one, switch to some other kind of energy supply, besides oil. This would cut off the funding for creating nuclear weapons. Another would be something a bit stronger than sanctions, maybe have the UN do something for once in its existence.

3. Middle East Situation Spills Over Into Africa
After World War II, dozens of nations in the Middle east and around the world, especially in Africa, broke away from their colonial rulers. As the Cold War became an ever increasing threat, both the West and the Soviet Union poured money and resources into Third World countries. As these superpowers weapons improved, however, old and outdated weapons were dumped into the Middle East and into Africa. In fact, 1.5 billion dollars in weapons alone has come from the U.S. to Africa. This, plus the inability to compete in the world market, has caused some of the wost violence that the world has ever seen. Today, in Africa alone, there have been over 9.5 million refugees and millions slaughtered by their own corrupt governments. Had this occurred in Europe, it would be known as World War III. Humanitarian aid to Africa occurred on and off during the Cold War, but the Cold War is over. Aid to Africa increased throughout the 1990s, but in our post 9/11 world today, the West only seems concerned for matters that is directly involved in, mainly "the War on Terror." This "war" should be called "the War on Terror that affects America." Are Darfur and the 28 other sub-Saharan nations that have been to war since 1980 not acts of terrorism as well? What about Rwanda? The U.S. lead West isn't in "a War on Terror," it's in a "War on Terror to protect themselves." To the West and Western Media, terrorism only exists where the West can be hurt by terrorism. The purely evil events in Angola, Rwanda, Darfur, and the rest of troubled Africa is not terrorism, as far as the West is concerned. Sure, the West sends humanitarian aid, and yes Africa needs that, but what the lost people of Africa need even more is an end to the violence. So, what's the solution here? Isaiah 1:16-17“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” The "Christian West" should have done this a long time ago, Africa is full "evil deeds" and no one is "defending the cause of the fatherless" or "pleading the case of the widow." I honestly don't care how liberal all of these thoughts sound, this verse from Isiah is a direct command from God to do something about places like Darfur and Rwanda. And what are we doing? Nothing. I think most of you would agree that the events of Darfur and other "hot spots" in Africa are pure evil and sin at it's lowest most base form. And what are we as Christians commanded to do about these things?
Ephesians 6:11-18"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm them, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
This verse is awesome. It talks about fighting anything from the devil. Notice that there is only one weapon of defense: the shield of faith. Every other weapon is offensive. We must face the devil and overcome him without letting him attack humanity first. And we're letting the evil one massacre humanity in Africa.


If you got to this point, congrats, I know this is lengthy, and I'm almost done.

4. The Ultimate Solution
Would you believe that there is an ultimate solution to a these problems? One that overrides all evil? There is, and its' Christ. When He returns all of these problems will be over. Until then though, we are called to fight the evil one wherever he is to be found, and right now, it looks like that's in Middle East, Africa, and the Far East. So what can we do to help? There are dozens of organizations that carry on the fight alone, and they need all the help that they can get. Missions focus on bringing the gospel, missions need to focus on bringing the gospel, aid, and protection for those who can't defend themselves. I think many Christians realize today that spiritual warfare does exist, but most Christians don't realize that spiritual warfare spills over into the physical world, and the fight must be fought there too. We gave the UN a chance, and they did absolutely nothing. It's time for us to step up.


In His Love,

Hackett