Christian Zionism in the News

Christ Under the Rubble: A Liturgy of Lament

January 23, 2024

Christmas 2023 was cancelled in Bethlehem to mourn the thousands of people killed in Gaza. “Christ under the Rubble” was the title of Pastor Munther Isaac’s moving Christmas sermon of lament. “If we, as Christians, are not outraged by the genocide, by the weaponization of the Bible to justify it, there is something wrong with our Christian witness, and we are compromising the credibility of our gospel message.”

Dr. Isaac’s Christmas sermon was but one of many pleas to stop the genocide. “A Call for Repentance: An Open Letter from Palestinian Christians to Western Church Leaders and Theologians” was signed by numerous Palestinian Christian institutions and organizations. “We come alongside fellow Christians in condemning all attacks on civilians, especially defenseless families and children. Yet, we are disturbed by the silence of many church leaders and theologians when it is Palestinian civilians who are killed.”

Click here for a video presentation of the Christmas worship service at Christmas Lutheran Church, together with a transcript of Rev. Isaac’s sermon delivered at that service.

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac serves as the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, and director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference. He is also the author of The Other Side of the Wall, published by InterVarsity Press.