‘The Watchmen are still standing” – CUFI calls for praying against recognition of a Palestinian state
We have signed the petition; we have written to members of Parliament; we have prayed earnestly. Now is not the time to retreat; it is time to stay standing.
Ephesians 6:13 says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…”
A Biblical principle emerges from this verse that acknowledges that there is a battle perpetrated by evil; and it is God’s will for us to withstand it, to resist it, to defeat it. This requires a spiritual response, highlighted by the application of the armour. But then the verse concludes that after you have done everything in your capacity; everything that is physically and spiritually possible; after every act of obedience; every effort done in faith; every prayer and supplication made, we are required to do one final important thing – to stand.
The imminent decision by the UK government to recognise a Palestinian state (Keir Starmer set a 9th September deadline), must be fought until the eleventh hour. We must continue to pray that the proposal will be dropped in its entirety. Even so, if Britain does make this tragic decision there will be tens of thousands of Christians still standing. As the government plays with the “blessing and the cursing” of Genesis 12:3, a remnant of believers will still be standing, having never retreated.
We are not fair-weather supporters of Israel. We have not given in to the onslaught of lies levelled against the Jewish state. We have not forgotten the atrocities of October 7th and the remaining hostages in Gaza. We remember their plight and still stand. We understand why Israel has taken action to defeat Hamas. It may have cost reputation, even friends, but we still stand.
We have not walked in the counsel of the ungodly in their attempt to demonise Israel or sat in the seat of the scornful in their mockery of Israel and the Jewish people. We are still standing. Like watchmen on the walls, we have seen the devasting rise of Jew-hatred across the West and can’t help but attribute it to the rise of anti-Israel rhetoric that has flooded our airwaves. We’ve recognised the trend of antisemitic tropes and not allowed them to compromise our stand. We are still standing. We warned how recognising a Palestinian state undermines Israel’s sovereignty and why doing so will reward Hamas and embolden jihadist sympathisers across the globe.
We still stand. Not in vain belief or puffed-up arrogance. We stand humbly, realising that our eyes have been opened by the grace of God; our feet shod with peace fixed firmly on the foundation of the Word of God; and our heart crying out with grief for our nation and for its treatment of Israel and the Jewish people.
We will have done everything possible; but we must continue to stand. Thank you for standing with CUFI and with Israel and the Jewish people. Let us pray for the miraculous.
