Memorial Day is in 10 days — a time when we remember and honor those who gave their lives in military service. It’s a solemn and important observance, one that calls us to reflect on the cost of war and the weight of sacrifice. We honor all who have served with courage and integrity, especially those who laid down their lives in pursuit of peace, justice, and freedom.
And perhaps it’s for that very reason — the cost of war — that my heart was heavy this week. Because while preparing for worship and catching up on the news, I read a headline that struck a chord that felt too close to Scripture for comfort. The headline was titled: What We Know About Israel’s New Plans to Capture the Entire Gaza Strip.
I clicked and watched, and I heard a chilling echo — one that went beyond military strategy or political analysis. Just two days earlier, my daily devotional app had brought me to Deuteronomy 7 — one of Scripture’s more unsettling chapters. It’s the passage where God commands the Israelites to clear out the inhabitants of the Promised Land:
“You must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.” (Deuteronomy 7:2)
Deuteronomy 7 is one of several passages in the Hebrew Bible where the Israelites are told to drive out, destroy, or show no mercy to the existing peoples of the land God is giving them. For centuries, this text has been debated: Was it literal? Was it hyperbolic (as some scholars suggest, given the poetic language)? Was it written to justify a later reality rather than describe an actual conquest?
Regardless of how we interpret it, these passages have been used historically to justify conquest and violence — from the Crusades to European colonization to modern Christian nationalism. And that should give us pause.
So, to then read about modern efforts to drive out a population — framed as necessary, even holy — made me uneasy in a way I couldn’t shake. I did more than pause. And it left me asking: What do we do when ancient words and modern headlines start to sound like one another — and not in a good way?
Since October 2023, Gaza has endured one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. As of May 2025[1]:
- Over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed — many of them women and children.
- More than 119,000 have been injured, with hospitals overwhelmed and undersupplied.
- Roughly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, many now living in tents or bombed-out shelters.
- Entire families have lost homes, access to clean water, and the basic means of survival.
Behind these statistics are real lives: children like six-month-old Siwar Ashour, born during the war and now severely malnourished, her family displaced multiple times due to bombings. These are not abstract numbers. These are people made in the image of God.
Whether literal or hyperbolic, texts like Deuteronomy 7 have long been used to justify violence — from the Crusades to colonization, and now, alarmingly, in today’s headlines.
Jesus did not erase these texts, but he reinterpreted them. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” “Love your neighbor.” “Put away your sword.”
He offered a radical lens of mercy, justice, and dignity — even toward those deemed “the enemy.” So, when we read ancient texts that endorse destruction, we must ask: Is this in step with the Gospel? And when those same themes appear in our world today, we must ask: Is this what faithfulness looks like?
The United Methodist Church has a long-standing witness in this space[2]. As a denomination, we:
- Oppose the continued military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
- Reject the use of Scripture to justify conquest or oppression.
- Support humanitarian responses through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which is aiding civilians in Gaza.
- Call for peace rooted not in domination, but in dignity for all people — Israeli and Palestinian alike.
I write not to take sides in the conflict or even make a political statement. But to make sure the echo continues to get our attention — especially when the image of God is being crushed under rubble.
This can feel overwhelming. I know that. But here are a few small, faithful steps we can take:
- Pray — for peace, wisdom, and courage to speak truth in love.
- Learn — listen to voices of peace on all sides, including Jewish and Palestinian advocates.
- Support — give to organizations like UMCOR that are helping those caught in the crossfire.
- Reflect — how do we read difficult Scripture? Do our interpretations lead to justice, or justify harm?
As we observe Memorial Day, we rightly honor those who gave their lives in military service. And one of the best ways we can honor that sacrifice is to be people who do not glorify war but work for peace. Who value life — all life — and who carry the memory of loss into a renewed commitment to justice.
“I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
May we be people who choose life — in our reading of Scripture, in our response to suffering, and in our witness to the world.
[1] https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-170-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-jerusalem?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[2] https://www.umcjustice.org/who-we-are/resolutions-adopted-by-general-conference-charlotte/united-nations-resolutions-on-the-israel-palestine-conflict-6112