Annapolis: Having Tea with the Mad Hatter

Well, it has been quite a week for the peacemakers. Watching the carnival unfold at Annapolis this week, I was inspired to reach for Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland, where the main character falls down a rabbit-hole into a world far removed from our own, one where the rules of logic and common sense simply do not apply.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal declared that he would not even shake Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's hand, and on Monday, the Saudi embassy in Washington expelled Israeli journalists from its premises for seeking to attend a press conference. The Gulf Arab emirate of Bahrain flatly rejected a proposal to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, while the Palestinians refused even to recognize the country as a Jewish state.

If Israel's Arab foes won't shake hands with Israel and won't even recognize Israel as a state then what are the chances that they will truly wish to live in peace with Israel?

Shouldn't Christians get this class called Geo-Politics 101?  Many don't as now 80 so-called evangelical leaders have signed a statement indicating their belief "that the way forward is for the Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate a fair, two-state solution."  They are basically putting their blessing on the absurdity of the Annapolis Summit as reported by Christianity Today online. 

You folks don't get it: If the accords at Annapolis were put in place, without God's sovereign protection, Israel could be erased from the map.

They state, "We call on all evangelicals, all Christians, and everyone of good will, to join us to work and pray faithfully in the coming months for a just, lasting two-state solution in the Holy Land. We call on all involved governments to work diligently toward this goal. And we covenant to pray for the leaders of all the nations engaged in this effort, hoping for them the blessing of our Lord, who said, 'Blessed are the peacemakers.' "

Some of the signers include representatives of Bethel University, Westmont College, Wheaton College, current and former representatives from the National Association of Evangelicals, Fuller Seminary, Asbury Seminary, Denver Seminary, North Park University, Christianity Today editors, the Evangelical Covenant Church, and a few dozen more. Many individuals signed on including Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, and Leighton Ford. You can view the entire list here.

By plunging down this rabbit-hole, we have placed ourselves in a land of make-believe, only one where the consequences are likely to be far more painful and real than those in the children's story.  America needs to brace up.  We are leading the brigade that is "dividing the land" (Joel 3).  The consequences may not be pretty in an election year when we are seeking "righteous kings." Do we deserve them?