Episode 253: Munther Isaac

Today, our guest is Munther Isaac, Academic Dean of Bethlehem Bible College and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem. Munther’s family have been shepherds in the same hills as the shepherds who heard from the angel of God that first Christmas. And although the world is fighting to dehumanize the Palestinian people and the people in Gaza, the words of the angel are still true. Jesus is good news for all people. Every human is made in the image of God and is worthy of love, dignity, and life. You know, when you are at a distance, it is easy to get caught up in the headlines and the latest violence. But we need to go deeper to see what is happening. And that’s what we are doing today. Reverend Munther takes us back through the history, showing how this conflict has roots going back decades. It didn’t just start with October 7th. Munther calls us to see the humanity in all the people caught up in this. He shares a haunting poem by a Palestinian professor killed in the violence - a man who wanted his death to bring hope, not vengeance. It's a powerful reminder that behind the headlines, there are real people, with dreams and fears just like our own. This is a conversation that won't let you look away. But it also opens up a new way of seeing - one rooted in the radical compassion of Jesus, who calls us to love even our enemies. This Advent, Christ is still in the rubble. He sees the children, the women, the men of Gaza and Palestine with love and compassion. Will we?

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor, theologian, and writer, known for his role as the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and as the academic dean at Bethlehem Bible College. He is also the director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conferences and has been a vocal advocate for peace and reconciliation in the region. His work often intertwines faith with the political realities of life in Palestine.

Munther's Book:
Christ in the Rubble