the times they are a changin'

On my run the other day I was listening to Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'"

The times are changing.

I don't just mean the time change of this weekend.

I don't just mean the seasonal change.

I mean what's happening in our world.

Here are some incomplete thoughts and reflections.

Israel / Gaza / Palestine

With what is happening in Israel / Gaza / Palestine we hear rumours of more and more violence. Killings. Retaliation. 

We hear of Christians who are almost delighted with what is happening. 

They rejoice that Israel is taking back all the land, not caring about the human cost, not caring that every single person killed is a person created by and loved by God, not caring that it is citizens - men, women, children -  not terrorists, who are being killed.

There are some Christians who are looking forward to a rebuilding of the temple - a sure sign that they don't understand the gospel.

It is so sad to hear of pastors calling for & endorsing war. Nations must provide security, but religious leaders giving religious cover in the name of God to slaughter people should make us quake - we will answer to God for every innocent life we give permission to kill.

Does anyone else notice that some Christian "just war" proponents give full support to Israel while Israel violates the principles of just war? Just war theory is appealing to Christians living in Empire, but it's an impossible reality in modern warfare.

Middle East

We should not think there could not be a WWIII

There are new alignments of nations. 

New alliances between China and Russia. North Korea connects with China and Russia.

There are multiple opposing navies in the Mediterranean.

We need calm leaders and Christians & pastors doing all they can to call for peace while confronting evil & the circumstances that promote it.

Saudi Arabia has been awarded the next FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia has a terrible record on human rights, making the previous hosts, Qatar, look positively rosy. Saudi Arabia is actively oppressing and killing people in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia, while trying to act like a go-between in the middle-east conflict, actually is the home to top Hama leaders. 

the rest of the world

In many places in the west - USA, Canada, Britain, and others - anti-democratic leaders are on the rise. Extremism and violence, lying (an old-fashioned word for misinformation) is on the rise. 

AI tools make it easier to spread falsehoods.

The list goes on and on.

The world is a mess.

The world hates those who strive for peace - shalom.

Persecution of those who name the name of Jesus is on the rise, and will increase.

I read from John 15 this morning.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9