A webinar held by the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspectives of its history, the Jewish perspectives, the Arab perspectives, and trio-reconciliation theology.
Held on June 15th, the theological webinar was themed "Looking at the Long-standing Israeli-Palestinian Grudge from Historical and Reconciliation Theology Perspectives".
The first speaker, Dr. Francis Choi, explained how to look at the Israeli-Palestinian deadlock in the past and present from a historical perspective. He explained that Israel and Palestine are in conflict with each other because of their different standpoints. The deadlock between them, involving the significance of land, land sovereignty and return, psychological reactions, trauma from suffering, natural reactions, pressure groups, capital city issues, rebuilding of the temple, as well as extremism, might further deepen the conflict.
After that, Rev. Joseph Steinberg and Rev. Afeef Halasah shared the way Jews and Arabs respectively look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the difference in ethnic backgrounds, both of them argued that Jesus Christ is the only solution. They stated that Christ’s love had enabled us to be reconciled with God, and we, filled with his love, could reconcile with people, even our enemies as His love is the only way for us to overcome any hatred, anxiety, and fear.
The last speaker, Dr. John Ong, president of the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary, described the manner in which we should look at the Israeli-Palestinian grudge, from a perspective of reconciliation theology practice.
He stated that reconciliation was at the core of the gospel and God’s work of love for His people. As Christians, our differences in ethnicity, political or theological views should not be excuses that prevent us from being spiritually and emotionally united. Genuine repentance and commitment to forgiveness were needed, which was not a one-time event, but a promise that needed a prolonged process. The greatest challenges and obstacles that we thought we could not overcome have already been conquered by Jesus on the cross, and neither Arabs nor Israelis should try to overcome them with their own strength.
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. This new creation is not only international, trans-cultural, across race and history, but more importantly, whether being Jews or non-Jews and whatever difference in color or background, these matter no more, as they all come to worship God," he added.
- Translated by Grace Song
2021年6月15日，马来西亚浸信会神学院举办的神学论坛6·15在网络上举行。此次神学论坛以“从复和神学与历史看以巴千年恩怨情仇”为主题，从历史看巴以今昔、犹太人观点、阿拉伯人观点、复和神学实践：三国一律四个角度来看巴以问题。
第一位出场的蔡春曦博士从历史的角度，为大家讲解了如何看待巴以今昔与死结。他讲到双方因为不同的立场而产生了冲突；他们之间因为缠绕了许多死结，包括土地意义、主权与归还、心里反应、苦难创伤、自然反应、压力团体、首都问题、重建圣殿、极端主义，这些死结使得他们之间的问题可能会越来越严重。
随后，施定邦牧师与埃弗特牧师分别从犹太人和阿拉伯人的角度来分享如何看待巴以恩怨。他们虽然来自双方不同的民族背景，但是不约而同的认为基督耶稣是唯一的出路。基督的爱让我们与神和好，并用祂的爱来充满了我们，让我们可以与人和好，与自己的仇敌和好。祂的爱是我们战胜一切仇恨、不安、恐惧的唯一道路。
最后，马来西亚信会神学院院长王美钟先生从复和神学实践的角度来为大家分享如何看待巴以恩怨。他认为复和是福音的核心，是神对祂的子民爱的工作。作为基督徒，我们种族、政治、神学上的差异不应该成为属灵以及情感合一的任何借口。真正的悔改和宽恕的承诺是必须的。这不是一次性的事，而是一个长期的过程，是一个承诺。最大的挑战和不能跨越的不是靠着我们自己得胜，阿拉伯人、以色列人需要靠着自己得胜，而是靠着耶稣基督的十字架已经得胜了。若有人在基督里，就是新的了，新人不只是国际性的，而是跨越文化、种族、历史的。无论是犹太人或者非犹太人，已变成不在乎他们肤色和背景，因为他们一起都来靠近上帝。
马来西亚浸信会神学院举办神学论坛：从复和神学与历史看以巴千年恩怨情仇
A webinar held by the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspectives of its history, the Jewish perspectives, the Arab perspectives, and trio-reconciliation theology.
Held on June 15th, the theological webinar was themed "Looking at the Long-standing Israeli-Palestinian Grudge from Historical and Reconciliation Theology Perspectives".
The first speaker, Dr. Francis Choi, explained how to look at the Israeli-Palestinian deadlock in the past and present from a historical perspective. He explained that Israel and Palestine are in conflict with each other because of their different standpoints. The deadlock between them, involving the significance of land, land sovereignty and return, psychological reactions, trauma from suffering, natural reactions, pressure groups, capital city issues, rebuilding of the temple, as well as extremism, might further deepen the conflict.
After that, Rev. Joseph Steinberg and Rev. Afeef Halasah shared the way Jews and Arabs respectively look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the difference in ethnic backgrounds, both of them argued that Jesus Christ is the only solution. They stated that Christ’s love had enabled us to be reconciled with God, and we, filled with his love, could reconcile with people, even our enemies as His love is the only way for us to overcome any hatred, anxiety, and fear.
The last speaker, Dr. John Ong, president of the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary, described the manner in which we should look at the Israeli-Palestinian grudge, from a perspective of reconciliation theology practice.
He stated that reconciliation was at the core of the gospel and God’s work of love for His people. As Christians, our differences in ethnicity, political or theological views should not be excuses that prevent us from being spiritually and emotionally united. Genuine repentance and commitment to forgiveness were needed, which was not a one-time event, but a promise that needed a prolonged process. The greatest challenges and obstacles that we thought we could not overcome have already been conquered by Jesus on the cross, and neither Arabs nor Israelis should try to overcome them with their own strength.
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. This new creation is not only international, trans-cultural, across race and history, but more importantly, whether being Jews or non-Jews and whatever difference in color or background, these matter no more, as they all come to worship God," he added.
- Translated by Grace Song
Seminar: Looking at the Long-standing Israeli-Palestinian Grudge from Historical, Reconciliation Theology Perspectives
