Arab and Christian?

A strange detail of the West's overall perception of Arabic culture is that we consider all Arabs to be Muslim. Perhaps it doesn't seem so strange – there are many aspects of the Middle East's complex history and personality that a Western perspective misses, and Islam is a huge, diverse, rich and dominating influence all the way from the Atlantic coast to the Far East. It clearly forms an intrinsic, everyday part of life for the Arab world and is the reason why Arabic culture has had such far-reaching influence beyond today's Saudi peninsular. But think about it: Christianity itself was born and grew up in the heart of the Middle East – and Islam considers Judao-Christian teaching as its own theological heritage.

Seems an obvious thing to miss, doesn’t it? Jesus was Palestinian. Jewish, but Middle Eastern. As different cultures confront each other among us, it’s important to challenge assumptions – such as: all Arabs are culturally Islamic. The story of the Arab people is a complex, developing one – as much today as at any time.

The Melkite Church has roots in Jerusalem and in Antioch – the very place that Christianity was launched into the Gentile world – and Christians have shared the region with Jews and, later, Muslims ever since; sometimes in peace, and sometimes under oppression and in conflict. An Arab Christian in Galilee will discribe Jesus as a 'compatriot' with good reason.

Today in Israel, however, indigenous Christians are a minority among a minority. With an increasing sense of isolation, even within their own Arab communities, more and more are now leaving an already divided land, letting another important facet of the Middle East's diverse culture leak out of the fertile crescent. The Elijah Trust works with Arab Christians who choose to stay in the Holy Land, working towards peace, equality and secure cultural identity for generations to come.

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