... a new book by Julia Fisher in which some Arab Christians share their stories

In the past month the terrorist organisation Hamas has rocked the world by winning the Palestinian Authority elections. This shock election result signals a new phase in the power struggle in the Middle East. It would be easy to shrink back in fear at the prospect of Israel having to come to terms with this organisation that wants her destruction. But Hamas does not represent all Palestinians; far from it.

'Future for Israel?' tells the stories of a small number of Arab Christians living in the Middle East who have one thing in common ... despite the political uncertainty of the region, they understand and embrace what the Bible has to say about the role of Israel and the Jewish people in these days. Whilst there are many Arab Christians both within Israel and the wider Middle East, not many would be prepared to go as far as these men in openly sharing their views.

In an earlier book I wrote called, 'Israel: the Mystery of Peace' (published by Authentic), I described a number of true stories demonstrating that the hatred and distrust between Jews and Palestinians living in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza so often on our television screens and in our newspapers is not typical of the way all Jewish or Arab people live today. In my regular visits to the region over the past few years, I have discovered a growing body of believers in Israel and the Middle East, both Jewish and Arab people, who have come to understand that the words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians where he refers to the 'dividing wall of hostility' having been 'destroyed' by Jesus who is 'our peace' (ref. Ephesians 2:11-22) are attainable; that it is possible to live in peace with the 'enemy'.

Of course it would be naïve to suggest that being reconciled to somebody or a people group you have grown up hating is easy. The stories described in this book demonstrate that. But that these stories are coming forth in our time, in greater and greater numbers when hostilities and political and religious divides are, in the natural, driving these two people groups further and further apart, is remarkable to say the least. Such things have never happened before except for a brief period during the days of the early church 2,000 years ago.

So does this growing movement pose some interesting questions for the gentile church in the rest of the world? It would appear so! Many Christians I meet are, at best, indifferent to this subject, or at worst are positively hostile. Many hold to the view that what happens in Israel is of little or no consequence and indeed, Israel is really rather a nuisance even existing at all. Others hold the opposite opinion that Israel can do no wrong and every Palestinian should be driven out of Israel. Meanwhile, in between these extreme opinions are Jewish and Arab believers who are meeting and praying together, sharing their lives and helping each other. When it is impossible for them to meet because of the security situation, they are hoping for a time when dividing walls and hostility in the natural realm give way so that what they believe in the spiritual realm can become a reality.

Soon after finishing 'Israel: the Mystery of Peace', and after more trips to the region, I became aware of another small but emerging group of people. These were Arab Christians, some living in Israel, others in Jordan, Egypt and the West Bank. Most of these men were pastors who had reached the point in their understanding of the Bible where they had come to accept that the Jewish people and Israel are very much part of God's plan and purpose for the world today. These men have come through the fires of war, oppression, persecution and adverse public opinion.

I wondered whether they would share their stories publicly. It is sometimes dangerous for them, as you will read in the book. However, they told me they wanted their stories published because they were alarmed at the rise of Replacement theology, especially in the western church. This theology teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God's scheme of things. For these men such a theology is a deception and a lie.

Their stories will challenge many in the church. But could it be that a handful of Arab Christians living in the Middle East today hold the key to peace in Israel? When a Jew sees how much an Arab loves him, that is powerful. It breaks the cycle of distrust and opens up the way for genuine reconciliation as the stories in 'Future for Israel?' show.

'Future for Israel?' by Julia Fisher, published by Authentic Media.

For further details visit Julia's website, where you will find details of all her other books and a tour to Israel she is leading in May 2006 which will combine meeting some of the people she writes about whilst travelling through the land of the Bible.