tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34831955.post5548937449814328752..comments2023-10-11T09:54:46.510+02:00Comments on monteskewed: Montehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07241568086581773981noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34831955.post-37099038268255480332009-02-10T20:03:00.000+01:002009-02-10T20:03:00.000+01:00I grew up half-Arab, specifically Lebanese Christi...I grew up half-Arab, specifically Lebanese Christian, and we find this whole question very puzzling. First of all, the white Christians you are talking about think most of my Lebanese Christian brothers and sisters are not white. However, we Lebanese CHristians are closer to Jesus in our bloodlines as well as geography than almost any other Christians alive. OK Palestinian Christians, but they are our blood kin - there is no difference between a Lebanese and Palestinian Christian worth mentioning.<BR/><BR/>Geography - the story of the Canaanite woman of great faith happened in my home town.<BR/><BR/>Jesus was probably a very dark Middle Easterner. Americans know this but they still grow up with Western-looking Jesus images so they don't really get it.<BR/><BR/>I am very glad that you and your church are breaking down the barriers to what a Christian looks like and who a Christian is. <BR/><BR/>16 or 17 years ago I happened by Park Slope United Methodist Church in Brooklyn on my Sunday walk. The door was open and I popped my head in. THe preacher was sermonizing on the Canaanite woman. He claimed her story was the moment when Jesus had a paradigm shift (his term - he defined it too) and realized that His message was not just for Jews, but for everybody. The Canaanite woman wanted His blessing even though she was not Jewish. He denied her at first but she spoke back to him, and his heart was opened, and he healed her.<BR/><BR/>Hearing that sermon about a woman I consider my neighbor and ancestor seemed a significant coincidence - synchronicity.<BR/><BR/>White Europeans are indeed Christians even though they are not related to Jesus by tribe. So are Chinese, Africans, South Pacific Islanders, and everybody else... as you know, as we all know.<BR/><BR/>I guess my point is that Chinese are no more "foreign" to Jesus than Irishmen or Germans.Leila Abu-Sabahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161833022292457787noreply@blogger.com