This is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Beit Jala. In this church I then, in the year 1985/86 together with another German pastor and Shihad die Gottesdienste für die Gemeinde gestaltet, Lieder herausgesucht und dann im Gottesdienst gesungen.
Er war ein echt netter Mensch. Alle Palästinenser, die ich kennenlernte, waren nett und haben mich gut behandelt. Meine angeheiratete Familie hat mich angenommen, hineingenommen und die herzliche Verbindung besteht bis heute.
Ich wage heute gar nicht daran zu denken, welche Lehre mich beeinflusst and the view I have developed, I would, however, remained in Beit Jala. I would probably not perceived as wrong.
You have to prevent even just that one person reads the Bible as God's word seriously and to get practical teaching. (Normal in many churches, is not it?). Then he is open to all, has to offer the world of ideologies, doctrines, political views and religions. And mixing with the Christian faith is then not a big deal anymore. For Christians in Bethlehem anyway. is your tradition and community but they hold but no real faith. Even then, could I see that only when true faith be there was, the people clearly distanced themselves from their Muslim compatriots. However, I also heard anyone express solidarity with Israel.
I believe that the Palestinian Christians lived and still live in a permanent ideological dilemma. Your way out as on the two issues, the Muslims, and Israel to talk as little as possible. Then you come not in the embarrassment of having to reveal themselves. This led to many but also to an identity crisis. The resulting solution was: a emigrate), b) are reflected clearly in one way or the other. Most of those who remained in the country, beat on the other side just to see Jadalla Shihad.
I would probably be both spiritually and politically stuck in a gray area. But when I had God - as in many places in my life - his hand in the game.
that I However, at this time in my political views (if I even had an attitude!) Has been very pro-influenced Palestinian was can be seen from the fact that I had in the first years Germany (from 1989) went pro-Palestinian events. I had, because my life among the Arabs was not bad, shifting my identity and I felt completely one with the Palis. And I wanted to show it. I was even at Felicia Langer Events in Tübingen, and I clapped their applause! However, I never had
Israel-hostile attitude. Since I'm with my husband rumgereist very often in Israel, we have identified many nice Israelis Engelen t.
Nevertheless, I listen in the first few years in the CGR at lectures and sermons on Israel only with anxiety and sometimes had to go out early, because I adulation when von dem wunderbaren, auserwählten Volk, das die Wüste zum Blühen bringt, geschwärmt wurde, nicht ertragen konnte. Erst nach und nach fing sich mir an, das Wort Gottes zu erschließen.
Wir wurden in der Gemeinde dazu angehalten, die Bibel ganz zu lesen. Die Bibel nach Bibelleseplan in einem Jahr durch! Das blieb nicht ohne Auswirkung. Zusammen mit einer guten Auslegung bzw. Lehre hat es den Effekt, dass man die größeren geistlichen Zusammenhänge erkennt, Gottes Wort als sein Wort an uns Menschen wertet und natürlich entdeckt, was die Bedeutung von Israel ist.
Wie ich allerdings I have an almost enthusiastic love for His people, is still inexplicable to me. Because he gave me this love for the Jews and Israel has placed in my heart.
I was changed, my attitude turned around 180 degrees. Nevertheless, my heart is still very much for the Palestinians, as I always kind, warm-hearted people have kenengelernt. But it is now difficult to show that. For the Palis are just so pathetic and do everything wrong, what you can do wrong. D he can be Christians by the Muslims in a political attitude, crowd d ie Muslims are upset by Islam, and all can be spoon-fed by their Muslim "brothers" abroad in this conflict and abuse. you are allowing radical and corrupt the shots and do not have the courage to rebel against the lies and the obvious injustice. you all up to Bethlehem - the most famous Christian city in the world - and cry the adjacent places the Muslims and then, because the Israelis into the dangerous region can no longer do tourists.
They can be for sixty (!) Years in pen in filthy refugee camps. And there are wealthy Palis, who build their new comfortable house right in the camp, but so it is not the same visible. The sometimes vast social differences, but of course reluctant to be related to language . There, it would also not face to lack of money, but a political weapon in the world, will not cease to regret the suffering of the Palestinians and as a result of the inhuman oppression of the Israeli Besatzung anzuklagen.
Diese schwache und ganz eindeutig ungerechte und nicht friedensbereite Haltung der Palästinenser, wie sie sich heute mehr und mehr zeigt, macht es mir eher leicht, meine Sympathiebekundungen für die die Palästinenser zu zügeln.
Aber ich sehe, dass es auch anders geht. Es gibt ganz wenige echte Christen, die in ihrem Umfeld das Evangelium und die Liebe Gottes verbreiten. Ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste. Man weiß nicht, wie lange noch. It is necessary to support and pray for them.
When I look at the photos, I always think back with some nostalgia to the time when the situation there is not yet quite so hopeless was the borders open and Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour were still Christian.
be When are the Palestinians to peace? I think until they open the Bible and see it:
"Even if I did not stay with you, ye shall yet have peace My peace I give unto you a peace that can give you no one in the world. . Therefore, be without anxiety and fear! " (Jesus to his disciples)