@2024 Joseph Shulam
Themes taken from the Book of Psalms
Adapted from a sermon given in 1991. Reprinting as it is relevant to our current times.
Believers in Yeshua must not allow outside conditions to paralyze us from doing God's will, especially in Evangelism.
During January 1991, the Israeli population faced a fear that it had never known in all the six wars that Israel had had to fight in the 40 years of the existence of the state. Saddam Hussein sent Scud missiles from Iraq to the centers of the civilian population in Israel. Until that point in time, the rockets had been with conventional warheads. Each of these missiles carried 250 kilograms of explosives. The first four attacks caused about 25 light injuries and massive property damage. In fact, in the first attack, the home of our preacher in Tel Aviv was damaged. All his windows and the window frames were blown into the house, and Glass covered everything in Eli Levi's home. The Glass and aluminum demolished the sealed room in which Eli was sitting with his gas mask from the windows. Eli was fortunate because he sent his American wife and his two sons to the United States just a few days earlier because her parents insisted that they come home. If Eli's children had been at home during the blast of the missile, which landed only about 50 meters from their home, it would indeed have resulted in the death of at least one child whose bed was skewered by large pieces of Glass.
The whole population of Israel had to seal a room in their homes and apartments. They had to carry Gas masks, atropine injections, unique plastic covers, and powder to neutralize the effect of such things as mustard gas, nerve gas, and other lethal chemicals, which enhanced Saddam's arsenal of war. You can imagine little children having to wear a gas mask and not being allowed outside of their apartments for 4 or 5 days straight. This whole event was a very unpleasant, although necessary, ordeal for all of us. We all dislike the idea of war, yet we must learn to live and function under war conditions. One of the great qualities Israeli citizens have is that they have learned to allow nothing to stop or disturb their direction and purpose. People have learned to function. They go to work with their gas masks and take it all in stride.
The Middle East had been on top of the News for five weeks, and the eyes of the whole West focused on Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein was not a lone wolf who came up from the great Arabian Desert. He was a cold, logical, and intelligent politician. The force that drove Hussein was the archaeological excavations in all the major ancient cities of Mesopotamia. He had himself painted on giant billboards and dressed as Nebuchadnezzar, flanked with images of ancient Babylonian gods. I saw the first of these posters and spoke both in America and Israel that this man had the agenda to restore the glory of old Babylon to the Arab world, the reason that he started the war with Iran. It was a war for supremacy in the Muslim world. Saddam Hussein did not win his battle with Iran despite the great help he received from America, France, Germany, and Japan. His thirst for power and vision of a tremendous Arabian empire did not cease. This vision of a New Babylonian Empire, led by the forces of Islam, is a spiritual vision with profound implications for the whole Judeo-Christian culture and faith.
We should beat our breast in repentance. We should put ashes on our
heads. We should re-evaluate and re-dedicate ourselves as disciples of the Messiah who have done less than we ought to have done to bring the Good News to the Middle East - to prevent the bad News from the Middle East from coming into our homes.
As long as this Earth ball is spinning and God's mercy is still at work through Yeshua's blood and everlasting Love, it is not too late. We must change our view on evangelism and mission work for our survival.
Evangelism is not a chore or an errand the church has as a choice. It is a fight for the survival of our whole civilization, faith, and way of life.
Since the introduction of idols by the devil, there has been a battle between those who believe in God and his Word and the children of idolatry. That same battle is continuing now with Islam, among whose messengers and prophets was Saddam Hussein. In the last ten years or more, I have spoken and clamored to the brothers of the church about the need for Muslim Evangelism. In our work, we have always had open doors to Arabs and Jews. I have brought several Arabs to the Lord, and some are continually worshiping with us despite the Israeli and Jewish atmosphere in our congregation. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated.
We must act now to bring the Good News to the Middle East and prevent the bad News from the Middle East from coming into our homes.
The situation in the Middle East is not understood very well by the Western mind. The West seems to have difficulty understanding the Arab mind. Saddam Hussein had managed to catch the fancy of the Arab populous. He said to the Arabs, "Allah has not called you to serve the West - Allah has called you to be served by the West." The Arabs have the resources to rule the world, according to Saddam Hussein. He had, first and foremost, a spiritual and political vision of himself as Nebuchadnezzar and Salah el-Din. He was prepared to kill millions of people just like he did in the Iran-Iraq war and not give in to the Americans. He did not understand why the Americans had taken such a stand about the invasion of Kuwait. He saw this involvement of the West as a conquest of the Arab world with an attempt to keep the Arab rulers rich and corrupt and the people poor and underdeveloped.
The bottom line is that the war in Iraq was a cultural and spiritual war between Islam and Christianity, between the oriental culture of the Middle East, and the Western Civilization of the Christian world.
We must understand that the values and morality of the Arab, or oriental, mind are vastly different from those of the Western mind. Cultural empathy and sensitivity are essential for effective Evangelism and for fostering understanding and peace in the Middle East.
Evangelism, What is it? What do we think it is? Why is it?
Evangelism is TELLING GOOD NEWS. We must note that Evangelism is not just about telling but also about witnessing good news and that "good" is a relative word; it changes with time and space. What is good in one place and time might not be GOOD in another place and time. Evangelism has to be NEWS. NEWS has to have some NEW aspect to it. NEW is also a relative term that is connected to time and space.
Some believe that Evangelism makes people members of a church. When we go to evangelize, we go to make our church's attendance grow. That purpose would be good if we had good news for our church to give to the people. In times of war, people instinctively know what is essential, and their priorities change drastically to include that which is GOOD for THEM.
We are speaking, Telling, and Publishing the works of God in our lives.
We tend to push God into ancient history and what he has done for the ancient Jews in the wilderness. Or, we tend to push God's doing into the future. However our message must lift our eyes to see what God is doing personally for us right now. If you have been a member of the church of Christ and can not point to anything beyond "Salvation for eternal life," you are in one of two situations:
1) False teachings may have poisoned and blinded you, hindering your ability to properly assess God's actions in your life.
2) Not believing in God doesn't imply that you deny His existence. It simply indicates a lack of personal connection with Him.
Tell what God is doing for you!
Let's look at verses from the Book of Psalms to reinforce points about evangelism and what God is doing for you!
PS 26:7: "That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works."
Note here that the Psalmist speaks of how, what, and to whom he will publish and tell of God's works. For us in the restoration movement, the writer understands God's works are wondrous. It is impossible to believe in God without believing in his marvelous works.
PS 35:28: "And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and praise all the day long."
People today still accuse God of being unrighteous in His dealings with
Men. As God's children, we must understand and deal with praise for God's righteousness.
PS 96:10 "Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously."
Note the Psalmist's message; it is the message of God's Kingship over the world and God's judgment. This aspect of the Gospel has been neglected in "Modern" preaching. It is not considered fashionable to speak of God's righteous judgment of all creation. But if we bring the Good News, we must always frame it against the backdrop of the bad News for the unrighteousness of this world.
PS 118:4 "Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth forever."
The people that fear the Lord always realize that He is merciful. They always have a positive outlook on life because they know that God holds the world in His hand, is merciful, and does not give the world what it deserves. This is GOOD NEWS!
PS 119:4 "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed."
Having a testimony and telling it without shame is also Evangelism. In times of distress and war, a testimony of what God has done for you can be a great message of encouragement and hope to those who are in distress and discomfort. We give courage to others when we tell them what we have experienced from God's goodness.
PS 145:2 "My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever."
Speaking the Praise of the Lord has a remarkable positive influence on our world.
Handling Ridicule from the Unbelieving World in Times of Failure.
PS 27:3 "Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident."
We are confident of God's control of the situation because of our own experiences and the collective experience of the people of God. We have seen God's promise fulfilled in hundreds of cases over thousands of years. Even when the world is hostile, we know who our Father is and what he can do.
PS 3:2 "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."
The proper response to this attack of Mockery comes in the next verse, "You, Lord, is my shield." Mockery and slander will come if you evangelize in a time of distress and the enemy's attack. We experienced the effects of psychological warfare from the Iraq war, and we should be aware that the devil is a master of psychological warfare against the faithful children of God who want to proclaim the GOOD NEWS.
PS 4:6 "There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us".
This Psalm of Thanksgiving affirms that many people cannot see the Good God has shown them. The Psalmist requests that God would reveal himself to them.
More verses to emphasize this concept:
EZEK 39:23,24: And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions, I have done unto them and hid my face from them."
PS 31:16: "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake."
PS. 67:1: God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah."
Ps. 80:3: "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
Psalm 13:4: "Lest mine enemy says, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved."
This motif of keeping bad news from coming to the enemy camp is widespread in the Bible. We see it in David's eulogy of Saul and Jonathan, "Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice." (2 Samuel 1:20)
This is a part of the psychological warfare that has always been waged. The faithful of God's children do not want God's name to be dragged down because we
are suffering.
The natural reaction of the redeemed is to praise the Lord who redeemed them.
PS 107:2 "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand
of the enemy;"
It is impossible to be redeemed and keep it to oneself.
I f a person has a great thing happening to him, it would be natural to share it with those he communicates. We see what an important part the information and psychological warfare played in the Iraq War.
PS 91:2: "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
During distress, an essential part of Evangelism is body language and how we approach our fellow citizens. Exuding trust and security has evangelistic value far beyond our words.
During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Haim Herzog and Nachman Shai played crucial roles in their respective capacities, contributing significantly to Israel's war efforts.
Haim Herzog:
Haim Herzog, who later became the sixth President of Israel, was a Major General in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the Yom Kippur War. Although he was retired from active military service then, his expertise and experience were invaluable. Herzog served as a military analyst and commentator, providing critical information and morale-boosting commentary to the Israeli public. His clear, confident explanations of the complex military situation helped calm the public and maintain morale during the difficult early days of the war when Israel faced significant challenges.
Nachman Shai:
Nachman Shai, then a military journalist and public relations officer, became known as the "voice of the war" for his reassuring radio broadcasts. He served as a spokesperson for the IDF, delivering updates on the war's progress. Shai's calm and authoritative delivery gave the Israeli population vital information and reassurance. His broadcasts were crucial in maintaining public morale and providing a sense of stability amid the chaos of the conflict.
Herzog and Shai's contributions were vital in managing public perception and maintaining national morale during the Yom Kippur War, demonstrating the importance of effective communication in times of crisis.
PS 145:5 "I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty and thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness".
Here, we also see the effect of speaking not only about the good things God has done for us but also about all the terrible things he will do to His enemies. This is a part of the GOOD NEWS that we must not shy away from.
Evangelism is also for the sake of those whom we love and care about. We stay strong under the most adverse circumstances because of Love we want to receive and also because we are needed and we have Love to give.
P S 122:8: "For my brethren and companion sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.".
If we love people, we must want them to spend eternity with us and all the saints. We do not want death to be a final separation from our loved ones.
Conclusions:
In the history of missions and Evangelism, we have been fair-weather friends to the people we wanted to bring salvation to. In times of trouble, the missionaries often ran for cover back to the United States. The message that this action leaves behind is that a missionary is willing to save their souls but not eat their food, drink their water, or stay with them in times of distress. In other words, the missionary is a fair-weather friend.
Wartime is a time when people are looking for security. God is our security. This is a message that is valuable to people. They need God more during distress and uncertainty than in times of plenty.
As believers in Yeshua, we must learn some sound biblical marketing principles from the business world. Problems can be seen as opportunities to show and tell of the Glory of God.
Believers in Yeshua who are soldiers can find unique opportunities to express their faith and make a positive impact in times of war. In these ways, believers in Yeshua can shine as lights in the darkness, bringing hope, comfort, and the love of God to those around them even in the midst of war. Here are three such opportunities:
Offering Spiritual Support and Comfort:
Role as Spiritual Leaders: Believing soldiers can serve as chaplains or unofficial spiritual leaders, providing prayer, counseling, and spiritual guidance to their fellow soldiers.
Sharing Hope and Encouragement: They can share scriptures and messages of hope and peace from the Bible, offering encouragement during difficult times and reminding others of God's presence and promises.
Demonstrating Yeshua's Compassion and Integrity:
Acts of Kindness and Service: Believing soldiers can show Yeshua's love through acts of kindness, such as helping injured comrades, supporting those struggling with the stresses of war, or showing mercy to enemy combatants.
Maintaining Ethical Standards: They can stand as examples of integrity, refusing to engage in unethical behaviors, and upholding moral standards even in the chaos of war, thus witnessing to the difference their faith makes in their lives.
Promoting Reconciliation and Peace:
Peacemaking Efforts: Believers can actively work towards reconciliation and peace, both among their comrades and with local civilian populations, embodying the peace of Yeshua.
Advocating for Justice and Fairness: They can use their positions to advocate for just treatment of all individuals, standing against injustice and brutality, and promoting humane and fair treatment in all situations.
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