I am having one of those moments where it's hard to turn the other cheek.

Lord, forgive me for feeling this way.

I should really stop reading Ynetnews.
According to Wikipedia, "Ynetnews is an English language Israel news and content website operated by Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper".

Most days, I find fascinating articles about life in Israel, archeology, tourism and religious topics. But there are days when I just want to go to this site and be able to have righteous temper tantrums.

The abuse Christians (and Muslims, but that's a whole other topic) suffer on this site through talkbacks to articles is unbelievable. Most days, there are few voices of reason.

In order to understand: just about every poster can publish comments on this site, even rude, racist or abusive ones.

If you are faint of heart, don't go there...!

Some recent examples are the article on "Cox: Where are Christian tourists?" or "The Garden Tomb – Secret of the missing tomb".

In the first article on Christian tourism to Israel, a poster, only identified as Israeli, writes: "WE DO NOT WANT THEM!!! Get the *** out of here Xrist idol worshippers, we dont want your support or your pressence." [sic]

In the second on the Garden Tomb, another, Michael U, of SF,CA, states: "I don't go to xtian sites trying to lure xtians to the Jewish religion. I leave them be... But I am a regular reader of Ynet, as many other Jews I know. Why should we have to read about the man on the stick?"

I know that Jesus reminded us to turn the other cheek, and I will do that, but what does anyone give the right to be angry about things happening to them or about prejudice being displayed towards them, but then go about lambasting another group and uttering incredible insults to this person's religion?

Father, please remind me that the eyes of the Jews are blind to the redeeming power of Jesus at this point in time. It would be so easy to start judging some of the posters of Ynetnews if it wasn't for the knowledge of God's plan. 2 Timothy 4:3 talks about a time when people will turn to what their itching ears want to hear.

If you have thought about where Israel and the Jews fit in, read the 11th chapter of the book of Romans sometime.
posted by Elke at 11:00 PM