Of Korea, the Middle East, and the Fiscal Cliff

The eyes of the world were on North Korea this morning as they launched a missile with the purported purpose of putting a satellite into orbit.  The South Koreans and the Japanese governments are filled with uncertainty as to what this launch really means.  But it does demonstrate that the North Koreans have the capacity to deliver a warhead into South Korea, Japan, and possibly even to the United States.  We know that the regime in North Korea is anti-God, anti-West, and anti-democracy.  Reports indicate that a contingent of scientists from Iran were present at the launch.  This only confirms what was already speculated of the ties between those two countries.  One can only feel for the people of North Korea, the most impoverished nation on the face of the earth.  Resources that could have been used to promote their welfare were used to enhance North Korea's pledge to be a scourge to the rest of the world.  I will be interested to see what the reaction from Beijing will be. 

Fall out continues from the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza and the renewed Arab Spring in Egypt.  Last week Khaled Mashaal, the political leader of Hamas who has been in exile from the Gaza Strip, returned amid much fanfare.  The Egyptian government under President Morsi, a leader within the Muslim Brotherhood, permitted Mashaal's return, the first time in 45 years.  Can the connection between the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas be more clear?  While in the Gaza, Mashaal said, "Palestine will be Palestine.  We will never surrender the land, Jerusalem, the right of return or our right to resistance.  We will not leave any inch of Palestinian land and we'll never give up any of our rights."  According to the article published in "Religion Today", Israeli President Shimon Peres stated in response to Mashaal's comments, "He unmasked the real nature of Hamas: to kill, to conquer, not to compromise, the people of Gaza can remain poor and hungry." 

There are two things happening now in the Middle East that I find alarming.  First, the situation in Egypt continues to unravel.  As I have shared with you, this coming Saturday, December 15, the Egyptian people will be voting on the new constitution which is primarily forcing Egypt under Islamic Sharia law.  The outcome of this election is uncertain at the moment, but if passed will have disastrous consequences to Egypt's Coptic Christian minority as well as to those liberal Egyptians who have enjoyed freedoms under the Mubarak regime.  Protests continue in Tahrir Square.  One wonders what the arrangements are between Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Egyptian military leaders.  To further compound this concern is the recent decision by the Obama Administration to deliver 20 F-16 fighter planes to the Morsi government.  Malou Innocent, a foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute is quoted in an article in Arutz Sheva, the online news from IsraelNationalNews.com, "Should an over reaction by Egypt spiral into a broader conflict between Egypt and Israel, such a scenario would put U.S. officials in an embarrassing position of having supplied massive amounts of military hardware...to both belligerents.  Given Washington's fiscal woes, American taxpayers should no longer be Egypt's major arms supplier." 

The second alarming situation still developing comes as a result of the Palestinians being given a new status at the United Nations.  Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas now believes that the world recognizes the legitimacy of a Palestinian State, although officially there is none.  But the international perception is greater than the reality.  The Israeli government compounded the problem with its granting permission to build some 3,000 housing units in Judea, Samaria (the West Bank) and around Jerusalem.  The International Community, especial the European Union nations, were incensed with many recalling their ambassadors in protest.  According to Israeli authorities, these permits were granted in areas that would not be part of any two-state solution. 

A senior Abbas aide, Nabil Shaath, said, "by continuing these war crimes of settlement activities on our lands and stealing our money, Israel is pushing and forcing us to go to the ICC (the International Criminal Court)."  Israel is withholding some $100 million in tax rebates and other fees it collects on behalf of the Palestinians to pay for Palestinian debts to the Israeli communities.  If the Arab world cannot destroy Israel through acts of violence, it will seek to do it through attacking its reputation at the World Court.  Friends, isn't it great to know that according to the Bible we know how this story will end - not with Israel's demise at the World Court or through a series of attacks, but with the arrival of their King, the Lord Jesus. 

With less than three weeks remaining, Congressional leaders and the President appear to be no closer to a solution to the impending "fiscal cliff" than they were before the November elections.  To be perfectly honest, I am not sure what a solution would look like.  The problem is that no one wants to bear the inevitable pain that will be associated with a solution.  It is time for churches to begin creating a plan to help parishioners when the difficult times come.  Clothing closets, food shelves, listing of who is a plumber, an electrician, a roofer, a doctor, etc, and the list goes on.  This is how Christians have survived difficult times in the past.  And, in our preparedness, the Church will be ready to help their communities to be salt and light in difficult times.

And so the world rushes on this Advent Season unaware of the cliff it is careening toward.  Yet, for those of us who are believers, as we prepare to celebrate Christ's birthday, we are preparing to celebrate His return.  That makes the Christmas Season extra-special.