Paul Johnson is pastor of Mountain Community Mennonite Church in Palmer Lake, Colorado. Barb Eichelberger is Chair of the Outreach Committee. This piece originally ran
I share the longing of many others in the Mennonite church for an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of the West Bank, and I grieve the suffering of Palestinian people. But I have reservations about the boycott-and-sanctions movement against Israelis because it is likely to be counterproductive. Christians, who have deep roots in the traditions and sacred texts of Judaism, should build reconciling relationships rather than coerce or make threats.
Ties aren’t just underappreciated in American society, they are vilified. That’s why baseball has no limit to its innings, while ties are intrinsic to the more global sport of soccer.
