Christian Zionism
July 31, 2005
I have stayed away from this topic this summer, but you know how sometimes you go looking for stuff on the internet that you just know is going to make you mad. Well, I did that today - and it all began when I accidentally ran across the picture on the right from this CBN page, entitled: “Pitching Tents in the Holy City.” Wow. A good Evangelical Christian, worshipping her God and Creator, all the while praying for Israel with the huge flag superimposed behind her. Ridiculous.
And then I kept looking around and ran across these pages, that just make me pretty ticked when I read through their sites: Christian Friends of Israel, Why Israel?, Israel My Beloved and Bridges for Peace. Why do I get mad when I read these sites, let me give you a few examples:
- “We’re here to pray and comfort the Jews in the midst of all the problems and conflicts in their land, and to assure them that they, and the nation of Israel, have a glorious future awaiting them…” (link): I am all about comforting and praying for the Jews, but I wonder how many of these ‘evangelical’ Christians who make the trek to Jerusalem cross a checkpoint, go to a refugee camp or spend much, if any, time in the West Bank or Gaza?
- “In the face of Intifada, suicide bombings, and wrangling over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the “wall” or “security fence,” in this land of conflict and bloodshed, Christians here pray and hold on to the shining hope of Israel” (link): Wow. Talk about getting one side of the story.
- “Palestinian suicide terrorists have been ripping Israeli families apart at an accelerated pace since September 2000,killing mothers, fathers, babies and granparents, and leaving the survivors to cope with a hellish new reality” (link): Sure, but this is a Christian Zionist site, in fact, the website of the International Christian Zionist Center, so, be sure not to mention how the political policies and military orders have been ripping apart Palestinian families for over 50 years; let’s not talk about that.
- “Every time Israel’s neighbors have risen up to eliminate Israel from the planet, God has caused Israel to prevail. One more time this will happen, with results far, far more astounding than before. The world will be thoroughly astounded, then thoroughly enraged, at the outcome when Israel is once again forced to go to war against the Arabs. A fitting summary is found in another translation of the verse: “Their enemies will be torn to shreds, with no one to save them.” (Micah 5:8b CEV)” (link): Wow. Let’s just talk about some real shitty exegesis to begin with. How do people come to believe this stuff? These are the people that there is no arguing with. None.
Why is it that America and a vast majority of evangelical Christians have almost total support for Israel? Why is it that you so rarely hear about churches taking trips to visit Palestinians and hear about their plight? Why are these Christian Zionist organizations so interesting in “caring” and “letting the Jewish people know we have solidarity with them in their struggle” when there are so many atrocities happening because of the Israeli government? Why can’t anyone challenge Israel without being condemned as an Anti-Semite?
Tags: Christian Zionism, Israel, Middle East, Palestine, Zionism
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
July 31st, 2005 at 3:38 am
Thanks for keeping it real Adam…
July 31st, 2005 at 6:32 am
Of course you know the answer to your questions. Christian Zionism has little to do with genuine concern for the plight of the Jewish people and much more to do with a belief that if we support the Jews, it will lead to an acceleration of that parousia. This is self serving apocalypticism at it’s finest.
July 31st, 2005 at 10:50 am
Okay, Adam. You picked an easy target. But what about those of us who realize that both Israeli’s and Pal’s are guilty of great crimes? How are we even to proceed through such a complex foray of information and actions?
July 31st, 2005 at 10:02 pm
adam, you ask a great question… i think it has to do with our refusal to live in the tension of “both/and” rahter than the “either/or” dichotomy which makes one side right and one sie wrong… tension and gray areas are far more difficult to navigate… your question causes me to think even more about some of my preconceived notions. thanks. (i think, no really, thanks… i have plenty of time for thinking…just as soon as i finish_____” ;)
July 31st, 2005 at 10:28 pm
You already know most of the answers to your questions. They just don’t make sense in light of what you have seen and experienced this summer. Welcome to the mixed blessing of actually going and visiting other parts of the world. You can never quite fit in to the American culture again. Nor the American Church culture. Something in you has been unalterably changed in a way that won’t let you.
August 1st, 2005 at 9:17 am
…I applaud Keith’s comments…especially his last sentence. Sincerely, I thank God for what all you have experienced…and for that “something in you” that “has been ularterably changed.” I’ve experienced something similar as I’ve worked with those who minister to the refugees of our world. So many over here in North America have experienced the political AND spiritual truths of other places in the world…and thus little heart change for what others are experiencing.
August 1st, 2005 at 9:19 am
PS…Oops…that last sentence in the last post should read…
So many over here in North America have NOT experienced the political AND spiritual truths of other places in the world…and thus little heart change for what other are experiencing.
…I apologize for cluttering up your good site. :)
August 1st, 2005 at 12:40 pm
I appreciate the insight I got from reading this.
I am surprised that you assume that Isreal is an evil place for trying to defend itself from terror bombings.
Why should they not just let bombers in to murder kids eating ice cream or at a club?
Can’t you see the double standard.
August 12th, 2005 at 2:34 pm
Hi,
Ok you must remember the “Palestinians” are not from Israel. They are refugees from the neighboring Arab nations. Palestine was a name given to Israel as an insult to the Jews. It is not the name of a culture or people. What has happened to these refugees is awful but the blame falls more on the Arab nations than on the State of Israel. When Britain divided up land 1/3 went to the Jews, Israel, and the rest went to the Arabs, Jordan. Since the 60’s with Arafat, an Egyptian, they claim there was after thousands of years a race and culture called Palestine. This is all political. If the land was so important to the Arab culture was it a waste land while under Islamic rule during the Ottoman Empire?
I think the US has no business interfering and I think Israel has to make up its mind what to do. But it is my opinion Israel will fall apart soon. It is giving away its lands. Son there will be nothing left.
Sorry if I sound too preachy. I took a class on the history of the State of Israel at the University of Miami. I am also a former Orthodox Jew and now Christian. There has to be a way of helping the refugees than cutting up Israel. Once these lands change hands, Jews are not longer able to visit their holy site.
August 12th, 2005 at 2:41 pm
P. S. “Every time Israel’s neighbors have risen up to eliminate Israel from the planet, God has caused Israel to prevail.”
If the author of this quote does not already know, this is basic Jewish theology that states God will always protect Israel in the end. Though they must suffer at times, He will destory her enemies. They take this mean that They alone has survived Egpyt, Babylon, Persia, Rome, Greece, etc.
Heck Mark Twain says it too.