Devotions

The "Security" Paradox: Why the Christian "Third Way" is Disappearing ​The debate over the West Bank often hits a wall of very real fear: the concern that a power vacuum would inevitably be filled by Hamas. This is a security challenge that no one—regardless of their politics—can ignore. ​But as we move through early 2026, there is a perspective from the ground that is missing from this high-level debate. For the Christian community in the Holy Land, the current definition of "security" has become a vice, squeezing the life out of one of the world's oldest faith communities. ​1. The Paradox of Presence ​The military presence in the West Bank is often framed as a shield against a Hamas takeover. However, for those living there, this presence is resulting in the very thing security is meant to prevent: the loss of innocent life and the destabilization of daily existence. ​When snipers are positioned on the roof of a Christian school or tear gas cani...

The "how" of war does not change the "what" of suffering. Regardless of the political lens through which one views the Middle East, a devastating reality has emerged in early 2026: we are witnessing the potential erasure of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities. ​From the besieged ruins of Gaza to the volatile streets of the West Bank and the rocket-strained Galilee, the word "safety" has become a relic of the past. ​Gaza: A Community on the Brink ​Before the current conflict, the Christian community in Gaza was already tiny—roughly 1,000 people . Today, that number is shrinking at a rate that signals an existential threat. ​ The Casualty Count: Nearly 5% of Gaza’s entire Christian population has been killed in just over two years. ​ Direct Military Action: Approximately 25–35 Christians have died due to airstrikes, shelling, or sniper fire. This includes the 18 people lost during the October 2023 strike on the St. Porphyrius Greek Orth...

The kingdom of God is real and present now, not deferred.  It advances through witness, suffering and love, not coercion or violence.  No earthly state — including Israel, USA and UK — is the kingdom or gets theological immunity. The more a nation claims to follow God and doesn't the more judgement it probably gets.  The fighters of the kingdom are unarmed, which means Christian Zionism's militarism and the violence of any other would be Christian group is not just politically wrong but theologically incoherent. In disarming Peter, Jesus disarmed the whole church.  Palestinian Christians are brothers and sisters whose suffering cannot be invisible. Iranian Christians are brothers and sisters whose suffering cannot be invisible.  In a broader sense we humans are all children of Adam, Noah, Abraham... And the God who St John says "is love". As for Jesus, His kingdom is not of this world, and needs no fighters.  Time we all acted like it!

The barefoot Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Center are closing in on Washington, D.C., nearing the end of their incredible 2,300-mile journey. What began as a spiritual pilgrimage has blossomed into a global conversation, sparking a fascinating "critical appreciation" among Christian communities—from the pews of the American South to faith circles in the UK. ​As I follow their journey, I find myself holding a nuanced view that merges several of these perspectives. I believe in Jesus —that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the source of ultimate peace. In that sense, I hold a conservative theological conviction. However, as many know, I am also Theologically Radical Reformed (Anabaptist) and a Red Letter Christian , which leads me to see this walk through a kind lens. Also as a Theologian and Social Scientist I can look at these things through the lens of an anthropologist.  ​1. The Progressive Voice: "Modern Magi on the Road" ​For some Progressive a...