Making Sense of a Trouble Land
Like Birds in a Cage: Christian Zionism’s Collusion in Israel’s Oppression of the Palestinian People, David M Crump (Eugene, Wipf and Stock, 2021).
I was in a hotel’s men’s room in Jerusalem washing my hands, when a grizzled elderly man stepped up to the sink next to me. He began to wash his hands. Turning his head in my direction he looked me over and said, “You’re American aren’t you?” I replied that I was. He then said, “Thank you.” He turned, dried his hands and walked away. I was speechless. (It isn’t often United States citizens are thanked when they are overseas.) At that time, I was also a little proud.
Things have changed. Through the years there have been ceasefires, declarations of peace, settlement expansions and uprisings. Peace appears to be not only illusive, but also unwanted. Amazingly Israel has oppressed and persecuted the Palestinian people in ways quite similar to what Jews experienced in Nazi Germany. Though the United States has offered a few criticisms of Israel’s actions, we have mostly been complacent and sometimes even supportive. The situation is confusing and almost incomprehensible.
It is because of the present situation that I highly recommend David M. Cump’s book, Like Birds in a Cage: Christian Zionism’s Collusion in Israel’s Oppression of the Palestinian People. Crump has done a masterful job providing a background and explanation for the mindset and actions of both the Jewish and Christian Zionists. His historical research is thorough and his Biblical interpretation is solid. This book gives the reader a very clear understanding of what is happening in the Middle East and why it is happening. Crump also makes the strong argument that Christians can no longer support the actions of Israel.
Christian Zionism is mainly located in the conservative evangelical branch of the Christian family. Through their interpretation of Scripture, they believe that aligning themselves with Jewish Zionists will pave the way for Jesus’ second coming. Crump examines their exegetical methods and shows how such methods are contrary to those used by St. Paul and by other New Testament writers. The methodology of the conservative evangelicals not only leads to false conclusions, but also to conclusions that are contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Crump’s book is fact filled, but it does not get bogged down in facts. Laced within his writing are powerful stories of the effects Zionism has had on the Palestinian people. Crumps shares several stories of his own experiences with the Israeli Defense Forces.
This book is a “must read” for anyone who wants to have a more comprehensive picture and clearer understanding of the international trouble spot and the price it is having on the lives of people.