Posted on 12/24/2023 5:35:45 PM PST by KingofZion
There will be no musical festivities. No tree-lighting ceremony. No extravagant decorations that normally bedeck the West Bank city of Bethlehem at Christmas. With the war in Gaza raging, this is a city in mourning.
In perhaps the most overt display of how Israel’s war in Gaza has dampened Christmas celebrations in the city seen as the birthplace of Jesus, a Lutheran church put up its crèche, but with a sad and symbolic twist. The baby Jesus — wrapped in a keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered scarf that has become a badge of Palestinian identity — is lying not in a makeshift cradle of hay and wood. Instead, he lies among the rubble of broken bricks, stones and tiles that represent so much of Gaza’s destruction.
“We’ve been glued to our screens, seeing children pulled from under the rubble day after day. We’re broken by these images,” said the Rev. Munther Isaac, the pastor at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church who created the crèche. “God is under the rubble in Gaza, this is where we find God right now.”
The war began on Oct. 7, in response to Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel that left about 1,200 dead.
*** Last month, the patriarchs and heads of various churches in Jerusalem in a statement urged their congregations to forgo “unnecessarily festive activities.” Instead, the statement said, priests and worshipers should “focus more on the spiritual meaning of Christmas in their pastoral activities and liturgical celebrations.”
Local Christian leaders say there are about 35,000 Christians in the Bethlehem area. The symbolism of Christmas is part of the soul of the city.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
They loved October 7th.
But, no tears for Jews on Oct 7, NYT?
This is disgusting to those who believe Jesus was born to serve as a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It is fitting that an Evangelical Lutheran Church did this as it represents the corruption in that church.
It’s ELC. This is what you expect from them. They are totally inclusive, except for dead Jews.
That's a pretty puny God you got there, 'Rev'.
What's under the rubble in that muzz shithole are innocent souls and the EVIL FILTH who caused it all.
I swear these people are insane and evil.
How’s this Christmas for the babies and girls those bastards raped to death and beheaded?
And they don’t celebrate Christmas in Gaza.
In fact all over the world Muslims and leftists are marching against Christmas.
I certainly hope Israel kills every single Hamas.
>> a Lutheran church put up its crèche... [with] baby Jesus — wrapped in a keffiyeh... a badge of Palestinian identity... he lies among the rubble of broken bricks, stones and tiles that represent so much of Gaza’s destruction.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has an outpost in Bethlehem...? Who knew? I’ll bet Mary is a tranny and the Three Wise Guys are polyamorous homos. And I don’t want to know about the sheep!
(They loved October 7th.)
Apparently.
Horrific.
The ELCA has a close relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan.
There ARE many Christians in the hostile lands who struggle to keep, practice, and share their faith despite the hosility of militant Islam.
You are correct.
It is the spirit of error that you just described. It is the spirit of antichrist; a false, non-biblical image.
(wrapped in a keffiyeh, the black-and-white checkered scarf that has become a badge of Palestinian identity)
Just like Islamic terrorist Yasser Arafat.
>> There ARE many Christians in the hostile lands who struggle to keep, practice, and share their faith despite the hosility of militant Islam.
Yes, and GOD bless those who truly contend for the faith as per Jude.
The ELCA, however, does not practice Christianity. They are friends with the world first and foremost — and you know what James had to say about that.
These “Lutherans” in Bethlehem seem to be cut from that same cloth.
The people ‘of Gaza’ can end the war in a week... all they have to do is turn over the monsters and dump Hamas.
Boom.
The War is over.
If instead the people ‘of Gaza’ protect the monsters of Hamas - the war will go on. And on. And on. As it should, until Israel tracks all the monsters down and kills or captures them.
Want the war over people ‘of Gaza’. Act like decent citizens and stop the ‘no snitch’ crap. Turn ‘em over..turn ‘em in. End the war.
Maybe next time they’ll think twice before attacking Israel.
Bethlehem is a Muslim city
This is wise advice for another group I can think of.
It is horrific. Full blown Stalinists. Maybe worse!
That’s right. I read 70% of them still support Hamas. Although, I have heard some stories about local uprisings,
At this point anyone in Gaza who hasn’t surrendered to the IDF is complicit. That includes people who call themselves Christians.
L
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