Eyebrows Raised in Israel
Presbyterians vote yes on B.D.S.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised anymore when Israelis raise their eyebrows of suspicion when I say that I love the land, language, people, and God of Israel while also being introduced as a pastor from the United States. I have never once been asked which denomination I am associated with, as most Israelis differentiate between Catholics and Protestants, but don’t tend to distinguish between Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians. But as a result of a Presbyterian campaign known as B.D.S.—Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions—even my eyebrows of suspicion are raised!
In a landmark and highly charged measure that already has been fraying Jewish-Presbyterian ties, the legislative body of the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination narrowly voted Friday to shed investments in three American corporations linked to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
This article was originally published at Breaking Israel News. (Click this image to view it there)
They voted to divest about $21 million from Caterpillar, Inc., Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions reportedly because their products are being used to “bulldoze Palestinian homes, run checkpoints, and construct the border between Israel and Gaza.” Does that cause anyone else’s eyebrows of suspicion to rise? You have to wonder if those same “products” have benefited Palestinians or maybe even prevented terrorist activity, or if this was selective sanctioning…who knows?
The Presbyterians went on to split their pants by placing their feet on both sides of the partition plan and affirming a two-state solution that is more of a problem than they are willing to admit. They have in effect set the stage for other Protestant denominations to enter or to continue the B.D.S. debate, which means Israelis will have even more reason to raise their eyebrows in suspicion when they meet Protestant pastors like me.
After hearing about the Presbyterians’ divestment decision on June 20, 2014, I immediately checked to see if my Methodist denomination had any recent discussion, debate, or decision on divestment in Israel. The Methodist Board of Pensions recently sold stock in a security company operating in Israel because it was outside its policy of investing in prisons, but stopped short of falling into the Presbyterian anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian abyss of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel.
Mark my words when I say that the Presbyterian Church will see immediate fall-out on many levels because of this action. As a start, I hope and pray that there are Presbyterian pastors and parishioners who have enough chutzpah to stand up and hold their denomination accountable for this B.D.S. decision. The Methodists should brace themselves now if they follow the same path as their Presbyterian cousins.
At their convention in 2012, Methodists voted two to one against divestment from three companies doing business in Israel. The issue is likely to come up again in 2016.
I will not board the “Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands” bus. I will however keep my eyebrows raised until I see if there will be any B.D.S. regarding Israel coming out of the Methodist denomination vote in 2016. If so, they can expect to hear from this Methodist pastor.
To be honest, I am embarrassed for all protestant pastors, Presbyterian or other, who will be unfortunately and unfairly lumped together with any denomination riding on a B.D.S. protest bus driven by a Fatah/Hamas unity government that has its sights set on driving Israel from their God-given land.
“Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? And against whom have you raised your voice, and haughtily lifted up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!” (2 Kings 19:22, NASB ).
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June 25, 2014 at 9:59 am /
Great work Keith! Right on the money.
I find it ironic that “protestant” churches are falling into line with Rome’s adgenda in the Holy Land . Boycotting YHVH’s people in THE LAND, in favor of absolute CHAOS. I mean could it be any more obvious whom they serve? The words “depart from me, i never knew you” make more and more sense to me all the time.
Thank you Keith and BFA for REPRESENTING the TRUE spirit of protestantism AND love for our brothers and sisters in ISRAEL, and our brothers and sisters in “romanized” christianity.
June 23, 2014 at 3:50 pm /
Having not been a member of the Presbyterian church for over 40 years, I am not familiar with their current mindset. But I have since been a member of a church that “committed suicide” by doing away with God’s authority, His word. I can’t do anything about Presbyterian irrelevance, except to caution them and their B.D.S. not to split their B.V.D.S. as they straddle the borders and ignore God’s protection of Israel.
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