In Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza, theologian and pastor Munther Isaac brings a much-needed Christian voice to the forefront of the Palestinian struggle. Through a searing theological, historical, and political analysis, Isaac challenges the Church—particularly in the West—to speak out against the genocide in Gaza and stand in solidarity with all Palestinians.
The book’s title is taken from a powerful visual and sermon by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem: a depiction of Christ born in the rubble of Gaza, evoking the real-life horror of children pulled from debris after Israeli airstrikes. But the metaphor does not stop there. Isaac presses the point—many in Gaza remain buried beneath literal rubble, unaccounted for, casualties of an ongoing war that he boldly calls by its true name: genocide.
A Theology of Truth Amid Rubble and Ruins
From the start, Isaac insists that this is not a war discovered “after the fact.” Rather, it is a systematic campaign of violence, long foretold by Israel’s settler-colonial history. The first chapter introduces the tragic case of Hind Rajab, a child killed in the rubble, which Isaac uses to frame the book’s moral urgency: this is not merely a humanitarian tragedy—it is a theological and ethical crisis for the Church.
Isaac pulls no punches. “Even the description of the situation as merely an occupation is inaccurate,” he writes. “A careful and honest reading of the past and the present will clearly show that what we are dealing with is settler colonialism.” He provides a concise yet compelling overview of Zionist ideology and the ongoing blockade of Gaza—what he terms “the immediate context for October 7.”
The Forgotten Christians of Gaza
Part of Isaac’s mission is to correct the common Western assumption that all Palestinians are Muslim. He reminds readers that Gaza is home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities—communities that, like their Muslim neighbors, are being bombed, displaced, and killed.
“Today in Gaza, Christians, like all other Gazans, are victims of a vindictive war,” Isaac writes. His lament is also a wake-up call for Western Christians who are often unaware of Palestinian Christians’ very existence, much less their suffering.
This historical and theological ignorance, Isaac argues, is not accidental. It is sustained by both political and theological complicity—especially among Christian Zionists, whom Isaac accuses of promoting a version of Christianity that sanctions colonialism and even genocide.
The Church’s Moral Test
Throughout the book, Isaac critiques Western churches—particularly Evangelical and European denominations—for their silence, or worse, their endorsement of the Israeli narrative. He describes personal encounters with Christian leaders who refused to condemn the killing of civilians in Gaza.
“When the church sacrifices truth for the sake of conformity,” Isaac warns, “something is seriously wrong with our Christian witness.”
His words cut deep, especially for those within church structures who prioritize political alliances over prophetic truth. Isaac reminds his readers that Christian theology, grounded in the life and teachings of Jesus, cannot remain neutral in the face of oppression. Citing Matthew 25:41–43, he points to Jesus’ unequivocal call to serve “the least of these,” emphasizing that spiritualizing such verses while ignoring the suffering of real people is a gross distortion of Christian faith.
Naming Genocide and Colonialism
Isaac does not shy away from controversial but necessary terms: genocide, apartheid, settler colonialism. These are not simply rhetorical flourishes—they are legal, historical, and moral categories.
He is clear in his position: “Hamas is a response to Israeli colonialism,” Isaac writes. “If people are genuine in their desire to destroy Hamas, I suggest we begin by getting rid of the occupation and apartheid.”
Isaac expresses his personal commitment to nonviolence, yet he refuses to ignore the context that gives rise to armed resistance. He points to the tragic irony of colonizers lecturing Palestinians on nonviolence, while their own histories are saturated with violent uprisings and wars of independence.
Media, Dehumanization, and the Biblical Counter-Narrative
Another major theme in Christ in the Rubble is the role of media and narrative. Isaac observes how Palestinians are often reduced to numbers, while Israeli victims are portrayed with names, faces, and family stories. This disparity contributes to dehumanization—making Palestinian suffering easier to ignore.
He also exposes how Christian Zionism—older than secular Jewish Zionism, he notes—continues to fuel a theological framework that justifies occupation and colonial violence. “It is really hard for us Middle Eastern Christians to understand American Evangelicals who are obsessed with war and violence,” he writes. He is particularly scathing in recounting how some pastors in the U.S. have publicly opposed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Gospel as Resistance
At its heart, this book is a call to return to the radical message of Jesus—a message not of neutrality, but of courageous resistance against injustice. Isaac challenges Christians to see Gaza not as a distant political issue, but as a moral test of their faith.
“Oppressed people understand suffering when they see it,” Isaac writes. “Because they have been on the receiving end of ideologies and theologies of supremacy and control.”
The solidarity Isaac seeks is not symbolic—it demands action. The Gospel, he insists, is not meant to comfort the powerful but to empower the oppressed. This means that Christians must oppose not only the violence of bombs and bullets, but also the violence of silence, distortion, and complicity.
A Universal Message of Justice
Though Christ in the Rubble is rooted in Christian theology, its message transcends faith traditions. The call to resist colonialism and genocide is not just a Christian responsibility—it is a human one. For Christians, Isaac’s appeal to scripture and conscience is both familiar and challenging. For those of other faiths—or none at all—it serves as a sobering reminder of the moral costs of inaction.
Above all, Isaac urges readers to stop telling Palestinians how to resist, and instead, to listen—really listen—to the voices of those who suffer. To bear witness. To act.
Final Thoughts
Christ in the Rubble is not just a book—it is a moral reckoning. It offers history, theology, and personal testimony woven into a prophetic indictment of complicity and a bold call to conscience. Munther Isaac has given the Church a gift and a challenge. Whether it accepts that challenge—or retreats once more into silence—will define its moral legacy for generations.
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