Thinking and Praying in the Aftermath of October 7

On November 5th of many years ago, I walked down to the front of a church in response to an “altar call,” and I prayed the “sinner’s prayer.” I mark that as the beginning of my Christian life.

I know that my mind works in odd ways, but that date also helps me clarify some of the moral and political issues in the last decades. You see the day before November 4th is another important date. Every November 4th, the state of Iran encourages its citizens to hold rallies and mark “Death to America Day.” Usually, it is a twofer day, as “Death to Israel” is added.

It is important to realize that both Hamas and Hezbollah are the proxies of Iran and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. As well, the Muslim Brotherhood has shaped the charters/constitutions of Hamas and influenced Hezbollah. These relationships are often effaced in reporting in Canada. Yet these truths are important to know in what follows because, on October 7th, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel at the Nova festival, killing many and capturing others. Today is the first anniversary of October 7th.

In light of this violence and the ongoing war, how do we as Christians think, speak, pray, and act on the anniversary of October 7? Here are five reflections.

First, beware of and reject moral equivalence masquerading as compassion.

As the war drags on, it is easy to forget what happened on October 7th and take a “high-minded” and “compassionate” view that, as one man said to me recently, “both sides just want to kill each other. They are both equally at fault.” Moral equivalence in the face of evil and injustice is, in fact, immoral and unjust and, therefore, not even remotely compassionate.

In the context of the events since October 7, several truths are important to recognize. One side wants to increase civilian casualties, and the other side wants to minimize civilian casualties. If one side were to lay down their arms, there would be peace; if the other side were to lay down their arms, there would be much bloodshed. One side started an unprovoked war, and the other side did not. One side does not want peace, the other side does. One side proudly engaged in an orgy of murder, rape, and barbarism on October 7th and the other side did not.

Second, beware of and reject the widespread antisemitism at work in Canada.

We need to call out the double standards which are at work. They are, at best, mere prejudice. They are, at worst, antisemitism. The Bible calls us to reject prejudice.

Once again, several truths are central. “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is a call for the end of Israel and the death and expulsion of Jewish people. If Jewish people were to shout out such a slogan directed at Muslims, how would Canadians react? Why are the perpetrators given a pass or “the benefit of the doubt?”

When one country invades another to start a war; and when the aggressor starts to lose the war, no one expects the aggressor to have the absolute right to dictate when the war will end and on what terms. But this is not the case with Hamas and Israel. If one side is caught lying publicly time after time in a way that slanders, why are they given a “pass” that would not be given if Israel did the same thing? When a different standard is applied to the Jewish people time and time again, you have, at best prejudice, but at worst, antisemitism.

Third, beware of and reject being silent or ambiguous in regard to October 7th and what it unleashed because of a concern for evangelism.

All North American pastors should be haunted by the events that led Martin Luther King Jr. to write a letter to local pastors in Birmingham Alabama defending his actions. MLK was in jail for protesting racism, violence, segregation, and exclusion in Alabama. Some pastors publicly rebuked him for doing so when he should be concerned with evangelism. His response is the now famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

You cannot read the Bible as saying that evangelism involves being silent about evil and injustice so that people will come to Christ. This is especially true in the issue before us—anti-Jewish prejudice and outright antisemitism in Canada.

Will you share the gospel and hide the fact that Jesus was Jewish? That He is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah? That most of the New Testament was written by Jewish men? That what our Jewish friends call the Tanach is identical to what we call the Old Testament and that it, alongside the New Testament, is the authoritative infallible word of God? That the Old Testament truly records millennia of Jewish residence in the holy land? Given that an essential part of the gospel is that you will repent, why do you think that being silent about deeply held sin will lead to true repentance and faith in Christ?

Fourth, beware of and reject the idea that the main issue concerning October 7th and what it unleashed is the theological question concerning the status of Israel and Jewish people after Christ.

To be clear, the status of Jewish people after Christ is an important theological and missiological issue. However, it is not the issue that will provide guidance when praying and thinking about October 7th and what it unleashed.

Some may want to say, “My studies of the Bible lead to a position on Jewish people and Israel that means the Bible demands our unqualified support!” Others, on the contrary, may want to say, “My studies of the Bible lead to a position on Jewish people and Israel that means the Bible says they are no different than pagans, and that means they do not matter at all.” I have put the matter crassly, but unless it is put crassly, it is unclear why people think this is the primary way to sort out what we face today in the aftermath of October 7th.

The perspective we need comes from an historic and biblical Just War perspective. My article to this point shows that from that perspective, we should see what Israel is doing is a just war, and that their engaging in a just war after the horrors of October 7th has revealed widespread and deep-seated prejudice and antisemitism. These are issues that we Christians should speak about and pray about.

Fifth, pray that you and your church will seek and embrace moral clarity!

Increasingly one of the most important ways that Christians can be a blessing to our city and our nation is by pursuing the truth, rejecting lies, and thinking and speaking with moral clarity.

In conclusion, I want to share seven simple points to guide our prayer, even prayer in public worship.

One, pray for the swift unconditional surrender of Hamas (and Hezbollah) and the release of the people they kidnapped and are holding hostage.

Second, pray for healing and comfort for all the innocents who have suffered.

Third, pray for a just and lasting peace after the surrender of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Fourth, pray for more and more Canadians to repent of their antisemitism.

Fifth, pray that moral clarity and the courage needed to accompany moral clarity will grow in all those in positions of authority and will grow in us!

Sith, pray that God will turn more and more people in the Holy Land to receive Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

Seventh, pray for the flourishing of gospel churches in the holy land, and that despite ethnic and linguistic differences, the bonds of affection between Christians will grow and grow.

George Sinclair is the Rector of Church of the Messiah in the heart of urban Ottawa. He was the Chair of Essentials Canada and founding Chair of his denomination (ANiC). He currently serves as the Chair of the ANiC task force to make ANiC more deeply biblical at every level. He is the Principal of Ryle Seminary. He is blessed to have been married to Louise since 1981 and they have 9 children and lots of sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren. George is an original Council Member for TGC Canada.