JERUSALEM (AP) - American televangelist John Hagee led several hundred flag-waving followers across Jerusalem on Monday, a colorful display of the growing alliance between Christian evangelicals and Israel.
Hagee, who calls himself a Christian Zionist, pledged his unconditional backing for the Jewish state. He also vehemently denied he is anti-Catholic, telling reporters that comments attributed to him were either false or mischaracterized.
Presidential candidate John McCain recently distanced himself from a Hagee endorsement because of what Catholics alleged were disparaging remarks by the pastor, including suggestions that Catholic anti-Semitism shaped Adolf Hitler.
Some dovish Israelis are equally uncomfortable with Hagee and other evangelists because of their support for West Bank Jewish settlements and criticism of peace efforts with the Palestinians.
Hagee, who heads a megachurch in San Antonio, Texas, established "Christians United for Israel" two years ago. About 1,000 followers are on a 10-day visit to Israel to show their support and pledge funds to Israeli causes.
Police blocked traffic on Jerusalem's busiest street as followers waved flags from all 50 U.S. states and chanted "we love you, Israel," "Israel is not alone" and "God bless Israel."
"You can see that they really love us from all their heart," said Becky Davidov, 57, who works in a jewelry store. "We could use some more friends like these."
"It's all very nice," said David Yom-Tov, another shopkeeper, "until Jesus comes back again."
Indeed, many Israelis and Jews are troubled by what they suspect is the source of the unbridled support — a belief by some evangelical groups in an apocalyptic battle between good and evil in which Jesus returns and Jews either accept Christianity or perish.
Israel's government has so far chosen to enjoy the generous financial and political support of leaders like Hagee, and worry about the second coming later.
Hagee, on his 24th visit to Israel, has met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said their meeting did not indicate Olmert agreed with all of Hagee's positions.
"In all too many places in the world, there is hostility toward the Jewish state," he said. "When people profess their support for Israel, obviously that is something we can appreciate."
In this trip, Hagee's group pledged $6 million in donations, and it plans a large march to Washington in July to call on the Bush administration not to pressure Israel into making any concessions to the Palestinians.
Hagee's followers say their main inspiration is not the Armageddon, but rather, rectifying what they view as a historical Christian wrong — silence during the Nazi Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were killed.
"Our motto is: 'Never again, not on our watch," said Iris Dixon, of Texas.
At a solidarity event on Sunday in Jerusalem, Hagee insisted that the contested city remain united and under Jewish control. Palestinians claim the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as the capital of their future state.
Hagee's politics are a source of concern for some Israelis and Jews who support peace with the Palestinians.
"In my eyes, this man represents an approach that is very dangerous to the future of Israel," said Yossi Beilin, a dovish lawmaker. "In my eyes there is nothing more ridiculous and tragic than to see in this man a friend to Israel."
Last week, the president of the largest branch of American Judaism — the liberal Union for Reform Judaism — called Hagee an "extremist" on Israeli policy who disparages other faiths. Rabbi Eric Yoffie called on synagogues in the movement not to work with the evangelist.
In a conference call with reporters Monday, Hagee responded to Yoffie.
"He supports this very serious charge by repeating verbatim the Catholic League's claim that I called the Catholic Church 'a great whore,' a 'false cult system,' and an 'apostate church,'" Hagee said. If Yoffie had checked his facts, Hagee said, "he would have found that I have never called the Catholic Church by these names."
Hagee said it was true that he grown "skeptical of territorial concessions" but said his fundamental philosophy was that "Israelis alone have the right to make the existential decisions about land and peace."
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments
What do Hagee and others say about all of the Jews who have died without Christ? Didn't they need to accept Him as their Messiah?
inthebeloved - My I ask.... what are your feelings for Jerusalem, for the land of Israel? What are your beliefs of the end times?
inthebeloved -
I believe that God made promises and gave prophecies in the Old Testament that have not been fulfilled yet. I believe that God does not change nor break His word. In order for replacement theology, which is un-scriptural, to be correct those things would have to be true.
Of course Jesus fulfilled promises made in the Old Testament. That doesn't in anyway validate the belief that God has turned His back on His chosen people.
Whether you were to post verses or chapters, the matter is still the whole of scripture vs taking parts out of context (the context of the whole Bible). When read as a whole, the pattern of God's Word is undeniable. That is why I suggested a few posts back that someone read the Bible. In order to really understand the scripture, it has to be read as a whole from beginning to end. Only then does one see the amazing completeness and continuity from beginning to end.
Just out of curiosity...... what is your take on Romans 11:25-32?
RBB -I don't believe its possible to post entire chapters here, so when one posts scripture it does have to be more or less, 'pulled out'...the hope is im sure, for most who do this, that the reader will read it in its correct context. amen?
Jesus came and fulfilled the old covenant and the promises it contains, and to point all to a new way: That way being found in the new covenant instituted by himself through his sacrifice: His death and resurrection.
Does that mean the old testament is of no value? God forbid! of course not.
Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.1Cor.11
Do you not believe our Lord fulfilled the promises made under the old covenant?
When one believes one group is under the new covenant and, another group (race or ethnic group) is still under the old, that is dual covenant theology my friend.
God bless...
awake777us and inthebeloved - As with most errors people can make with Biblical matters, if you take passages out of context and not view the scriptures as a whole, you can make mistakes in what they say. In order to view scripture as you do, you would have to completely ignore the Old Testament, assume that God didn't mean what He said, and also ignore passages such as the one I've mentioned already.
RBB- Its always been about faith and grace not race and place.
Any and/or all who reject the grace offered by Christ are lost: that sadly includes anyone who has died without accepting Jesus as Savior, Lord, and Messiah.
For you to misunderstand or misapply the scriptures which state, under the new covenant, just who the people of God are, and to believe those who have (and do) reject Jesus as the true Messiah are "God's chosen people" is faulty theology. Its actually a form of false teaching known as dual covenant theology. (something Hagee himself, has been accused of believing)
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Rom 2:28-29
What Paul is saying here is those who claim to be heirs of Abraham by virtue of their physical traits (bloodline) alone are not really Jews at all. Paul explains in Chapter nine why ethnicity now plays no part in who God considers to be a Jew.
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Rom 9:6-8
RBB- You are not God's "chosen people" because of the nationality of your father.
John 1:11-13 NKJ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Hagee and the body of Christ need to point the Jewish people and everyone else to Jesus, You cannot be the chosen people and reject Christ at the same time. True Israel are those that have received Jesus as the Messiah. You need to read the Scripture more carefully. :-)
awake777us - Actually you need to read Romans 11:25-32 and the rest of the Bible. The Jews are still and always will be God's chosen people. We as Christians are adopted sons and daughters.
bernie.dehler - I know no Christians that are embarrassed by Pastor Hagee, and I know a lot of Christians. Who are you referring to? If you have proof of any wrong doing on his part please present it, not some vague innuendo and rumor.
Quote:
"Police blocked traffic on Jerusalem's busiest street as followers waved flags from all 50 U.S. states and chanted "we love you, Israel," "Israel is not alone" and "God bless Israel."..."
Instead of shouting 'we love you Israel' wonder what would have happened if they instead shouted 'Jesus loves you Israel, he died to give you eternal life!'
But that would never happen with Hagee and his followers for they see no need to give the Gospel to ethnic Jews.
Sad...
Rev Hagee needs to read 1Peter 2:9-10 & Romans 9:6-8 Believers in Christ are God's chosen people.