G-d Talk
Can we talk about G-d? And Gadi rocks it, as usual.
I grew up in the South in the 1980’s, an active member of a church that was then called liberal Protestant and that you would now call Progressive. We spent a lot of time distinguishing ourselves from “those” Christians. We were not conservatives, Republicans. We were pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and gays in the ministry, and pro women in the ministry. That’s how I got there: my mom was warmly welcomed when another denomination rejected her because she was a woman. I have not turned away from any of those ideals: in fact, I believe in them now more than ever.
The difference was: back then, we believed in G-d. Maybe not everyone did. For a long time in my twenties, I was active in a church that was half white and half Liberian immigrants. There was a lot of conflict because the Liberians opposed it when the pastor wanted to do a gay wedding, and they opposed many lefty type social causes. But the Liberians really believed in G-d. That’s what drew me to them. Because I do too.
Most of my Progressive friends (to the extent they still speak to me) are not believers. Many of my Reform Jewish friends tell me that talking openly about faith in G-d would be odd in their circles or synagogue. As the not Jewish Zionist who believes in G-d, I am either odd or refreshingly real. I sense that they want to be open about faith… I sense this because they told me… but they fear their Reform friends would reject them.
It is not exactly a state secret that evangelical Christians tend to be big supporters of Israel, for messianic reasons or why ever. I have been asked if Israelis are creeped out by this. My response is first, I am no expert on Israeli opinion. Second, Israelis are far from monolithic. Third, I think Israelis are happy with all the allies they have.
Which brings me to an amazing podcast with Gadi that I was blessed to listen to this weekend. (Look! I’m using G-d language!)
Pastor James Kaddis, an evangelical pastor in the US, interviewed Gadi. I think that Gadi was a little less guarded in his comments than he often is. He knows his audience. Pastor Kaddis speaks Arabic. He knows the Middle East. He is no fool.
Pastor Kaddis calls Gadi a brother. At the end, he prays for Gadi and Israel. Gadi is not religious, but he can roll with it. Rather than thumb his nose at people of faith, he takes this pastor and his audience seriously.
A minute of silence for Israel’s Memorial Day happened during the interview, and Gadi and Pastor Kaddis shared the moment of silence. The whole country of Israel stops for these moments of silence. You can see that Gadi’s reaction as he observes the moment of silence for those who died so that Israel may live.
Do you have to be religious to believe in something? Of course not. But some of us are.
I am not an evangelical. I am not even a Christian, precisely, depending on how you define that. I am a Zionist.
Today I was honored and blessed that a Substack writer I’ve followed a long time, Sheri from Israel Diaries, subscribed to my Substack. If you don’t subscribe to her, you must! She tells the truth of what is going on in Israel. I highly recommend her Substack.
I will get ready for bed, before yet another day trying to teach kids who scream all the time, and like Pastor Kaddis, I will pray for Israel.
