What if I am wrong?

12 years ago, near the end of my initial trip to the Middle East, I made a commitment to return to the Holy Land. The commitment I made was specific: I’d come back every two years for a decade and invite my friends – faith-based followers of Jesus to go on a “journey of a lifetime”.

Even with the interruption of 9/11 and the subsequent war, my plan moved ahead, with trips occurring almost every two years. In keeping with that initial pledge, my family and I have just returned to the US this week from Israel - for a 5^th time. Mission accomplished…or was it?

For Jews, Christians, Druze and Muslims a trip to Jerusalem seems like it ought to be a major goal – one so achievable in today’s global network of transportation. My belief was that evangelical Christians would anxiously sign up; that they’d want to go to Israel and Egypt – the cradles of monotheism….to walk where Jesus walked.

I was wrong.

A few folks did go from our area. Not a lot. Why the reticence? Cost? Maybe. Time? Again maybe. Ambivalence? Getting warmer….

Could it be that they just don’t care about Israel? American evangelicals just may not be interested in the nation that so recently came again from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Or are we just “asleep in the light”? As the late Keith Green penned: “Jesus rose from the dead and YOU, you can’t get out of bed.”

More to the point: was my basic presupposition in error? I naturally thought that people who stake their whole of eternity on the events of the Bible would, in fact, want to go to where these things happened. I was wrong.

This started me thinking, what if I am wrong on other of my key pre-suppositions, each of which has it s roots in the Bible? Like these:

• Americans find abortion repugnant and repulsive. Americans will call abortion on demand what it is: infanticide.

• Homosexual marriage stands in opposition to all 3 monotheistic religions. Thousands of years of culture will halt same-sex unions, whether legally invented and ratified by sovereign states, or not.

• Government-approved use of illegal drugs will find no footing in America. Four decades of sowing drug-abuse have reaped a whirlwind of chaos in this land. Illegal drugs will never be legalized.

• Home schooling may well be the best form of elementary education for many students. It weaves a ratio of 1:1 teacher-student mentoring through the natural love of parents.

• Smaller government is better. The marketplace knows what is best for the economy, not government-mandated programs and stifling, regressive tax policies.

What if I am wrong on these keys of conservative thought? Will the world cease its spin on its axis? Will gravity halt? Will seasons fail to bring forth their crops in due time? No.

But something will happen. Words mean things and ideas have consequences. True to Jewish teaching, questions are vital to educating students. Asking insightful questions prompts self-discovery, which then prompts learning. A question like “What if I am wrong?” is a good question to ask in Israel….and in Idaho.

So, in keeping with self-discovery - what if I am wrong about even my “new” conclusion regarding those who fail to visit Israel? Hmmm.

Return with me to Israel once again for more possible self-discovery.

• Do Israeli policies have effects?

• Isn’t trading land for peace like feeding the alligator one limb at a time?

• Life is precious. Can any day be your last?

• Is God real? (Praying in Israel, as they say, “Is only a local call”!)

• Is a well-armed society a secure and gracious society?

• Every person a sailor/soldier/airman?

• Is our life a vapor? Many preceded us, many will follow us.

• Why do Israel’s enemies want it wiped off the map?

Regarding your life and all you hold dear - What if you are wrong?

Comments

[Lee Gaupp]

The question why always causes discovery. With results as varied as imaginable.

I always check myself with someone's famous question - "did God really say..."

Even though he is/was the father of lies I like this one to use against him. Yes God did say "to him" and then I turn to The true Father and say something to the effect - I believe, help my unbelief...

My only reason to not go to Israel is money right now. I've been on a real vacation 3 times in the last 20 years. And only once as a family of 4 and once was a forced vacation that I couldn't afford (my dad's death in 2002)

I don't always get why in everything... but I don't stop asking why...respectfully.

[David Snyder]

Asking questions is dangerous, Dennis. Got Copernicus into trouble; and Galileo; and Luther; and, well, most everyone else, including Jesus.

You rebel!