Whose Land? Whose Promise?

Gary M. Burge

Paternoster, 286 pages, £14.99 hb.

ISBN 1-84227-232-2

I can count on one hand the number of evangelical leaders willing and able to write a book like this and know of even fewer evangelical publishers willing to print it. Gary Burge, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, is also president of Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding. While evangelical Christian Zionism counts it supporters in the tens of millions, EMEU founded by John Stott, is today an endangered species.

The purpose of the book is summed up in the sub-title, ‘What Christians are not being told about Israel and the Palestinians.’ There is a culpable silence among evangelicals in addressing the gaping chasm between the alleged biblical mandate for nationhood and the contemporary state of Israel. Put simply, if Israel (and Christian Zionists) makes a biblical claim to the Holy Land then Israel must adhere to biblical standards of national righteousness.

Gary Burge tackles this forbidden subject with a fine blend of biblical exegesis and critical reflection based on his numerous visits to Israel and Palestine. He handles comprehensively biblical texts dealing not only with the Land in both the Old and New Testaments but also the prophetic warnings against the ill-treatment of non-Israelites.

Based on these prophetic warnings, Burge faces head on the evidence that would lead us to fear another Jewish exile from the land - the theft of land and water, the destruction of hundreds of Palestinian villages, the illegal settlements, the daily human rights abuses, closures, arrests, detentions, torture and deportations - which the wider church and Jewish community largely chooses to ignore to their shame.

We are also introduced to many of the Christian leaders of the Holy Land courageously bearing witness to Jesus Christ among Christians Jews and Muslims.

Burge has been vilified for his views and accused by the Anti-Defamation League of being anti-Semitic. I take this as a sign instead of his theological integrity and faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ. He shows that it is indeed possible to be pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian without being either Zionist or anti-Semitic. I commend this rare and important book unreservedly.

A criticism? We need a cheaper paperback please Paternoster, and quickly.

Stephen Sizer

400 words