Evangelicals and Israel
A new political/religious group has formed to rally Christians in support of Israel. Christians United for Israel, a primarily evangelical group, just held a Washington, DC summit where members met with congressional representatives and advocated pro-Israel policies. All because, as group founder Rev. John Hagee says, Christians are Biblically commanded to support Israel (i.e. Romans 15:27).
So, while anti-Semitism flares up on the international left, pro-Jewish sentiment is being embraced by the American right. What’s going on here?
Well, the International left is terminally ill with the cancer of Marxist/moral relativistic thought and has lost all ability to distinguish right from wrong in any meaningful or realistic way. I’m disinterested in them. What I’m interested in are the evangelical Christians who are increasingly pro-Israel.
Pat Robertson claims the support is born of a shared covenant and a common enemy (radical Islam). Of course, others point out that evangelical support for Israel is also heavily influenced by Biblical interpretation. The prophecy of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ cannot occur unless Israel is whole.
It is this aspect that has led many to view the Evangelical/Israeli alliance with skepticism and derision. But I think such distrust is misplaced. Yes, the Biblical tale of Armageddon isn’t particularly nice to the Jews, but there’s no evidence that any of these Evangelical groups are planning to hurry things along. They are sincere in their support of Israel and should not be condemned simply for believing in the Book of Revelations.
History does not offer many examples of overt let alone fervent Christian/Jewish alliances. Anti-Semitism has been the norm for centuries upon centuries. So I, for one, am glad to see such pro-Jewish voices coming from American Christianity—even if I don’t agree with every policy position they put forth.
Given that the Democratic Party has traditionally been and still very-much is a pro-Jewish, pro-Israel party, it appears as if America can proudly claim to be the most anti anti-Semitic nation on Earth (well, outside of Israel). That’s at least one positive unifying belief in today’s divided culture.
So, while anti-Semitism flares up on the international left, pro-Jewish sentiment is being embraced by the American right. What’s going on here?
Well, the International left is terminally ill with the cancer of Marxist/moral relativistic thought and has lost all ability to distinguish right from wrong in any meaningful or realistic way. I’m disinterested in them. What I’m interested in are the evangelical Christians who are increasingly pro-Israel.
Pat Robertson claims the support is born of a shared covenant and a common enemy (radical Islam). Of course, others point out that evangelical support for Israel is also heavily influenced by Biblical interpretation. The prophecy of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ cannot occur unless Israel is whole.
It is this aspect that has led many to view the Evangelical/Israeli alliance with skepticism and derision. But I think such distrust is misplaced. Yes, the Biblical tale of Armageddon isn’t particularly nice to the Jews, but there’s no evidence that any of these Evangelical groups are planning to hurry things along. They are sincere in their support of Israel and should not be condemned simply for believing in the Book of Revelations.
History does not offer many examples of overt let alone fervent Christian/Jewish alliances. Anti-Semitism has been the norm for centuries upon centuries. So I, for one, am glad to see such pro-Jewish voices coming from American Christianity—even if I don’t agree with every policy position they put forth.
Given that the Democratic Party has traditionally been and still very-much is a pro-Jewish, pro-Israel party, it appears as if America can proudly claim to be the most anti anti-Semitic nation on Earth (well, outside of Israel). That’s at least one positive unifying belief in today’s divided culture.
posted by Alan Stewart Carl at 7:00 PM
5 Comments:
Count me among the skeptical. Haters only absolve Jews from their hatred for reasons of political expediency. And stories like this recent one don't support your analysis.
I learned a long time ago that truly caring for someone else doesn't mean saying you love them alot; it means making the effort to understand them and see things from their point of view. I have known too many evangelicals who claim to love Jews and support Israel, while at the same time making ham-handed attempts at proselytizing, and demonstrating quite clearly that they do not understand the Jewish perspective at all. Some of those people may mean well, and some certainly do not. But none of them are truly friends of Jews, or of Israel.
I am sure there are plenty of evangelicals who claim a love for Israel but don't truly want to understand Jews. However, if you get a chance, read some more about John Hagee and his church (Cornerstone Church, here in San Antonio, interestingly enough) and you'll be hard pressed to say he doesn't understand Jews or that he makes no real effort to support them. It's clear to me that his compassion is earnest. That's not to say all evangelicals are like Hagee, but I think more are than a lot of people give them credit for.
I'll check that out. Thanks!
This is simply a case of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
And, on a slightly different note, shame to any Christian who supports bombings or suicide bombings or any type of warfare. Have you even bothered to read your own book?
Alan,
You might want to read the post I have. Christian Zionists are not as benign as you might be believe and can be harmful to trying to create a lasting peace.
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