A Christian Zionist leader has denounced the recent letter by some of America’s leading evangelicals voicing support for a Palestinian state, criticizing the signers for their “appalling ignorance.”
Dr. Jim Hutchens, president of the Jerusalem Connection and the Washington-area director for Christian United for Israel, acknowledged the “deep chasm” growing among evangelicals regarding Israel.
He contends, however, that the modern state of Israel is part of the fulfillment of God’s covenant of a homeland for the Jewish people.
Evangelicals supporting a Palestinian state have an “appalling ignorance of both secular and biblical history,” said Hutchens, according to OneNewsNow. The Zionist leader noted that there has never been a sovereign state of “Palestine.”
In July, 34 prominent evangelical leaders signed a letter voicing support for President Bush’s Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, emphasizing their support for a two-state solution.
The leaders also said they wanted to repair the “serious misconception” that all American evangelicals are against the two-state solution and the creation of a new Palestinian state.
“Historical honesty compels us to recognize that both Israelis and Palestinians have legitimate rights stretching back for millennia to the lands of Israel/Palestine,” states the letter dated July 27 and published in the New York Times.
Signers included Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary; David Neff, editor of Christianity Today; Richard Stearns, president of World Vision; Tony Campolo, president/founder of Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education; Stephen Hayner, former president InterVarsity Christian Fellowship; and Joel Hunter, senior pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, Fla., and member of the executive committee of the National Association of Evangelicals.
Hutchens, however, disagrees and points to the Replacement Theory as the theological explanation for evangelical support of a Palestinian state.
“I would suggest that the basic theological underpinning of this is super-cessionism,” he said, according to OneNewsNow, “and that is to say that the church is the new Israel, that Christians have replaced Jews as the covenant people of God … [and that] the covenants that God made with Israel and the Jews are now null and void because they have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah.”
Yet Hutchens believes that the covenant between God and Israel still holds. He proposes as solution to the Israel-Palestinian problem that Israel annex the West Bank and Gaza and for the Israeli military to uproot terrorists in the region.
The debate on Israel and Christian support for the biblical land has stirred tension among evangelicals – arguably the world’s most vocal supporters of the state; evangelicals make up 1/3 of American tourists that visit Israel, second only to American Jews.
Among the critics are those against the “blind support” that some Christians give to Israel despite the fact that the Knesset – Israel’s legislative body – bans evangelism in the country and has proposed punishment including imprisonment and heavy fines for guilty parties.
Megachurch pastor Joel Hunter, one of the signers supporting a Palestinian state, noted:
“There is a part of the evangelical family which is what I call Christian Zionists, who are just so staunchly pro-Israel that Israel and their side can do no wrong, and it’s almost anti-biblical to criticize Israel for anything,” he said, according to the New York Times. “But there are many more evangelicals who are really open and seek justice for both parties.”
Award-winning talk show host Janet Parshall is an example of a long-time pro-Israel Christian leader who has recently come to criticize the state.
“I thought, wait a minute: we can’t just blindly support Israel,” said Parshall after she heard that the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus does not associate with groups that share the Gospel.
“We have to able to tell them, as a friend, [that] you can’t do that. You can’t silence us.”
Vocal pro-Israel supporters include Dr. Jack Hayford, president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel; Paula White, co-pastor of the 22,000-member Without Walls International Church in Florida; Pastor John Hagee, founder of Christian United for Israel and senior pastor of the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in Texas; Pastor Steve Munsey of the 12,000-member Family Christian Center; and Stephen Strang, founder and president of Charisma Magazine.
Comments
First of all, Israel is a nation unto itself, wo why do we think we have the right to say where its borders are? Why do we have the right to tell the people of Israel they must let their sworn enemies live within their borders? Most of the Palestinians want to see every non Muslim dead, that is their belief system! We are not Muslim's either and that is why the U.S. is on their hit list as well.
Think about it, these people want all of us dead, why do we support them? They are a huge threat to the United States as well as to Israel.
China will even kill those people who evangilize in their country. Are we telling China they have to give up part of their country to a sworn enemy?
Israel is a small country surrounded by enemies who want them all dead. They are a democratic nation. We should be supporting them period.
The Lord God made provision for Israel from the time of Abraham and the statement dannygirl made regarding Matthew 21:43 was meant individually, not for the entire nation of Israel. It is not commonly believed that Israel forfeited her rights to the Kingdom of God, rather it is believed that each person must come to belief in Christ as their personal Savior.
To condemn an entire nation because of this verse is wrong!
I am sorry that Israel is entertaining the idea of banning Christian believers from spreading the Good News, but if we persist in forcing our ideas of how they should run their country can you blame them?
Where is the Love of Christ in that?
Dannygirlagain:
I am amazed that you condemn others who disagree with you while also demonstrating by your words an unchristian like spirit. You continue to defend a nation who has rejected Jesus Christ through their unbelief.
Didymus:
I have noticed her irrational and extreme positions from our ongoing dialogue these past few days. I could understand if she had a reasonable and biblically sound argument. All I have received is extreme rhetorical statements and insults which will not give a positive message to other readers. How unfortunate, to say the least.
Oline4Him
Dannygirl,
>What are talking about??
You know exactly what I’m talking about.
>Didn't you tell me to relax and have a beer?
Yes, I did. And I recommend that you have another one. Cheers!
>Don't you hangout with that gnosticgodslayer guy?
Sorry, I don’t know him, and I'm sorry I mistook you for a guy, but your unladylike comments made me think otherwise.
Online4Him,
I don’t know if you noticed this yet but dannygirl is an extreme pro-Israel fanatic, were balance, understanding, and reason apparently mean nothing. His posts are so irrational that I have to wonder if he is even for real or if he is just pulling our leg.
If he is for real, he’s one of those folks who will happily destroy the village in order to save it. As evidenced by his numerous posts he will happily destroy Christianity, curse and condemn every Christian who posts (which he has so far done on every thread of commentary I’ve read so far), twist and misconstrue everything that is said so that nothing can be understood, all to supposedly defend an over the top extremist position that other ‘pro-Israel’ Christians, who have posted here, have been condemned as ‘anti-christ’ for not holding to.
In other words, he is just another one of those irrational extremists who is all too common in this Arab-Israeli conflict. The Palestinians have their suicide bombers, the Israelis have their illegal settlers, and we have folks like dannygirl.
Dannygirlagain:
Once again you revert back to making false assumptions; I never said, “I would like to see Israel come to an end” or “I hate Israel and want to see them destroyed”. Why are you presuming to know what people are thinking? Why are you trying to put words in my mouth? You have failed to not only understand my speech, but you have also failed to understand what the New Testament says about “true Israel or the people of God”.
You referred me back to Romans 11, and yet you fail to understand the context of what is being said. Verse 31, 32 says, “Even so have these also now NOT BELIEVED, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in UNBELIEF, that he might have mercy upon all”. No one, including the Jews will obtain mercy without faith IN CHRIST. You are presuming that Israel according to the flesh (the collective Jewish nation) is saved despite the fact that the majority of them DENY Jesus Christ through UNBELIEF. Again, true Israel are BELIEVERS in Jesus Christ; which make up the Church.
Israel forfeited their status by rejecting Christ: Read the following passages, John 19:15 says, “But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.” Matthew 21:43 says, “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from YOU, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”
Galatians 3:26-29 says, “For YE are all the children of God by FAITH in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all ONE in Christ Jesus. And IF ye be Christ's, THEN are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the PROMISE.
Israel certainly has a right to exist and co-exist with its neighbors but let us not forget that there are Christian Palestinians who follow Christ. We must continue to pray for all believers in Christ.
Dannygirlagain:
God Almighty told Moses on Mount Sinai that “if” the Israelites obeyed His voice, “then” they would be “a peculiar treasure. . . .a kingdom of priests and an holy nation.” Exodus 19:5, 6. In his first letter to believers, Peter used these same words that God had spoken to Israel, and he applied them to the Church. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people. . . .Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God.” 1Peter 2:9, 10.
In the Old Testament, God spoke about “Israel mine elect.” Isaiah 45:4. In the New Testament, Paul wrote “to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ” in Colosse (Colossians 1:2). After reminding them that that there is now “neither Greek nor Jew,” Paul then specifically told the believers that they were “the elect of God.” Colossians 3:11, 12.
Thus Peter and Paul agreed. They both took the exact words that God spoke in the Old Testament about Israel and applied them to the Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus Christ! They both taught that believing Jews and Gentiles, combined, “are now the people of God” (1Peter 2:9, 10; Colossians 3:11, 12; Galatians 6:16). The “two” are now “one” and are of “of the same body.” Ephesians 2:14-16; 3:6.
In regards to “salvation is of the Jews” – There is no 56-68 in Luke chapter 2. The exact phrase is in John 4:22. The Samaritans took the Pentateuch as their Bible and claimed to be more orthodox than the Jews, but they worshipped God blindly – they knew not what they worshipped- and therefore worshipped Him “in vain” (Mark 7:7). Jesus therefore affirms the absolute superiority of the Jewish religion, having already made it clear that that superiority is in no way related to the place of worship (John 4:21). It is best to read any passage in its context.
Dannygirlagain:
First of all, it is presumptuous to call those who disagree with you (false Christians). It is also a false assumption to say to those who disagree with your theology as being haters of Israel. We are sharing our thoughts pertaining to the article at hand. Please, do not make it personal and take pot shots at those who disagree with you.
It is true that “all Israel shall be saved.” But, the big question is “Which Israel?” Who then is the “all Israel” in Romans 11:26? The answer is in the context. Paul wrote, “I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” Verse 13, 14. Paul hoped that as the Gentiles responded to his preaching about the Messiah, that this would “provoke. . . . some” of his Jewish countrymen to re-examine the claims of Christ.
Hopefully, this would lead “some of them to believe in Jesus. Then this combined group of believing Jews and believing Gentiles would form the “all Israel” which shall be saved.
Now for the entire context. “For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Verses 25-27. The context clearly reveals that the “all Israel” in verse 26 is a united group of believing Jews and Gentiles who have responded to the gospel. To believe otherwise is to deny the context, reject “the mystery,” and to rebuild the wall that Jesus Christ died to abolish.
Paul deals with this highly explosive issue in Romans 9:2-8. His words require careful thought. With “continual sorrow” in his heart, Paul wrote about his Jewish “kinsman according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises” Verses 2-4. God did make promises to Israel in the Old Testament. Yet, what if some Jews do not believe in Him? Can God fulfill His promises to an unbelieving Israel in the flesh? If not, has His Word failed?
Paul’s answer to these important questions is clear. “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” Verse 6. Notice that the concept of “two Israels” is Paul’s assurance that God’s Word will not fail! Look carefully: “They are not all Israel [the Israel of God], which are of Israel [the Jewish nation].” Thus a Jew can be of the Jewish nation, and yet not be part of the Israel of God. Now, here is the highly explosive question. To which Israel will God fulfill His promises?
Paul continues, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Verse 7. Since not all physical descendants of Abraham are automatically God’s children, therefore His promises are for those “in Isaac.” Abraham had two sons. The first was Ishmael, who was born when Abraham had failed in God’s promise (Genesis 16:1-3, 15; 21:1-3; Romans 4:18-21). In Galatians 4:22-31, Paul reveals that Ishmael represents unbelieving Jews, while Isaac represents both Jews and Gentiles who have faith! “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” Galatians 4:28. The children of promise are those who “receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:14. Therefore, the Israel that is “in Isaac” is the Israel of God in the Spirit.
When did the doctrine of Zionism enter "Christian" theology? From my reading this doctrine was "invented" in the late 1700's or early 1800's. Where do you find this doctrine before this in Christian writings? Everyone thinks he has the right to invent "new" interpretations of the scriptures, which is why we have over 35000 Protestant groups who all cliam to know what the bible says and can quote texts left and right to prove their intrepretation. (I once had an instructor in college who had heard a sermon in the '40's proving that rubber tires would be rationed during WWII.) The scriptures say that there should be "no private interpretation of scripture" which is the opposite of "corporate intrepretation". Zionism or the land of ancient Isral permeantly belongs to the Jewish nation is a modern invention (and therefore PRIVATE Interpretation) and such a doctrine is not found in the first 8 centuries. The early Christians believed that they were Israel and many of them lived in the land of ancient Isreal. The current nation of Israel continues to persecute indiginous Christians. Read the ancient writings of the Church (not Rome) and learn the history of the Church before 1000 AD and find the common ancient teaching of the Christian Church. Thanks jeb
I think it's time for me to go. I've done my part. I hope I caused a few people (especially the athiests) to consider more than their empty beliefs that lead only to the grave. I hope I made a few christians think as well - my hope was that they might see Christ deserves our all, and no man whatsoever is to be trusted. Take care. I'm not coming back to this site. Jesus is coming. His reward is with him. Hold on to the cross with all your might, no matter what people say or do, be they Christian or non-Christian. The bridegrooms door will open and shut in the blinking of an eye, and it will be closed forever. Don't waste your time doing something the Lord doesn't want you to be doing. He has a great reward for those whom he finds so doing upon his return. He will put you in charge of many of his possessions. God bless and be well. To God be the glory. Bye.
Well, we will surely know, when Christ's feet touch the Mount of Olives and he saves Israel from its own foolishness. I am sad that you prefer to believe the Religious Right. But this is your decision. They will fail you. They will disappoint you. "Woe to the man who trusts in man." Don't you see? The Religious Right will betray you. I just hope the Lord can give you the stregth and the grace to stand firm in Jesus. Those you trust in, God is jealous of. He will put your faith to the test, my friend. Be prepared for the shock of your life. Be ready for anything. But, alas, you've decided I am not a Christian and my advice is worthless. Very well. I am not offended. Not at all. It's actually quite fine. In fact, this is the very first time someone from the RR has challenged me. It makes me feel a little odd but I'll work it out with God's help. I am supposed to be glad and jump up and down for joy when someone calls me evil. I am not following Jesus's advice. I am not jumping up and down for joy - I am saddened. But then jumping up and down was never my way of expressing myself. God forgive me. There's a song written by CS Megaphone, "If God's approval is what I seek, yeah, then your disapproval doesn't bother me at all." These lyrics mean more to me now than they ever did. Thank you. God bless you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, Dannygirl. May he protect you from all evil, and give you the strength to stand firm in your darkest hour. Lord knows I cannot help you, so it's gonna have to be him who does.
A little clarification: a Chrsitian must be willing to give up everything to follow Christ. This means his possessions, his family, his church (if they reject him that is), his nation, this whole world, and his very life. This is my point. A Christian cannot obey men if it makes him disobey God. if the Religious Right is telling Christians to do wrong, a Christian must leave them and find a better situation, even if it means (as many an OT prophet found out) sleeping in holes in the ground. You have to question what men are asking you to do and see past their smiling faces, and find out if such a thing is what God wants you to do. You have to question my dear, you cannot follow the blind, you will fall into the same pit they will fall into. If you keep your eyes on Jesus and don't let men distract you, then you are on the right path.
The Apostle Paul said he counted everything as garbage for the sake of winning Christ, his heritage, his very life he deemed as nothing in order to gran hold of Jesus. He gave up being a Levite to get close to Jesus, don't you see? Your teachers are tellign you Israel is more important than following God. Don't buy into it. You really do not understand the scriptures, my dear. God will take care of Israel. Israel never needed anyone else's help but his. So try to understand that we must first and foremost be servants of God. Jesus gave up being the king of Israel to be able to sit at the right hand of God - going on two thousand years now. Amazing. If you can understand this, you might move on to being a self-sufficient, mature Christian. God is most important, and if he says, as he has said many times, that he would completely destroy Israel himself (check the story of Moses who prayedthat God would have mercy on Israel and not completely destroy it) then following God's will is what is important. "Not my will but thy will be done." Stop focusing on Israel. God will take care of Israel better than you or I, or any false prophet that exists within the movement called the Religious Right. And many of their prophecies have come to nothing - which therefore makes them false and phoney and if they continue their lies - condemned to hell forever and ever. I hope you understand one day. Jesus himself will do only what his Father desires, and if that means casting men into hell then he will do it without question, without looking back. Try to understand the dynamics of what is going on here. Only God is right. I am wrong, you are wrong, Israel is wrong, America is wrong. Don't you get it? What God says goes.
Dispensationalism? Are you kidding? We never had to worry about any of this. The Lord told us to love one another and wait for him, that's all we were told to do. Who cares about the rest of it, which will happen whether we want it to or not? Who cares? Keep oil in your lamps, Jesus said. Why do I have to study the age of law, the age of grace, the age of judgement, the age of peace, and eternity? What does any of that have to do with the price of rice in China? All I have to know is that this present age is evil. Keep your Dispensationalism and your maps and your Rapture Wall-Posters which sell for what nowadays? $15.99 ??? Give us a break.