BY AVIEL SCHNEIDER, ISRAEL TODAY—
From March 5-9 Bethlehem Bible College will be hosting its second “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference. While Israelis are celebrating their ancient divine delivery during the Purim holiday, some 30 Christian leaders will be gathering in Bethlehem to raise the banner of “Palestinian Liberation Theology” as the only true hope for reconciliation and peace in the Middle East.
The target of most of these speakers will be “Christian Zionism,” that theological viewpoint that supports modern Israel’s continued prophetic relevance and destiny, and, in so doing, also supports Israel’s biblical claim to the Land of Israel. For Bethlehem Bible College and like-minded institutions (such as “reconciliation” ministry Musalaha), Christian Zionism is a threat to peace and the fulfillment of God’s Word.
By contrast, these Christian leaders claim their own position is apolitical and biblical. With massive assistance from abroad (some of the speakers head some of America’s largest churches) they support the Palestinian struggle for freedom in their “occupied land.”
One such speaker is British Christian writer Ben White, who recently published the book Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy. Israel’s largest daily newspaper, Yediot Ahronot, on Monday highlighted the fact that the forward for White’s book was written by extremist Israeli-Arab Knesset Member Haneen Zoabi.
Two years ago in March 2010, when the Bethlehem Bible College was hosting the first Christ at the Checkpoint event, Zoabi was calling for the start of a third terrorist uprising, or intifada, against Israel. Two months later she was found aboard the Mavi Marmara, the lead ship in an international flotilla trying to break the Israeli maritime blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
That Zoabi agreed to write the forward for White’s book is evidence of just how much he hates Israel. As a result, White is once again being labeled an anti-Semite by various Jewish organizations, according to the Yediot article.
What is curious to us is why the Bethlehem Bible College would invite someone like White, who expresses such scorn for Israel that he is embraced by Israel’s most vocal antagonists, to a “Christian Conference of Hope and Reconciliation”?
It raises the question: Is Christ at the Checkpoint really about reconciliation between Arabs and Jews, or is it about further delegitimizing Israel with the aim of reversing the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?
Thank you for this article and bringing it to our attention. It would be good to have a list of the “church leaders” and the churches they lead so they can be identified and seen for what they truly represent. We need to be warned who we should stay clear of.
These are not Christian Leaders. Americas Christians are under attack from these same people. Trying to stop our Faith and destroy Christianity itself. This is the Communist Regime that has infiltrated our Government. American Christians are in the fight of their life against them.
We need a detailed list of these people and we need to expose them and what they are doing. The Christians all stand behind Israel and always will.
The way that these evil people took over America is the same tactic they are using on Israel. Confusion, deceit and they represent themselves as someone that is of good, while spreading their evil every where. We were warned in Revolutions about the ultimate deceiver.
We need to contact John Hagge and our trusted Christian leaders. I am sending this to Glenn Beck and a few others. Glenn understands our situation in America.
We keep you in our daily Prayers, always. Please pray for us, too
I am sure Hagee is very aware of what these churches are pulling. second , why would any Christian call on Glen Beck, another mormon who thinks they replaced Israel and are the Jews who plan to rule the world. now with Romney in running for the WH is their dream come true and they will fight for rule and say anything to brainwash the US and Israel to their dying day. When is America going to wake up and quit bypassing the one decent man Santorum who they have been brainwashed to believe he can’t debate and win the WH? With G-d on his side, that would be the power, just as G-d on Israel is the power of G-d. Anyone who reads scripture knows how it will all end and scripture is more up to date than the lying media.. we need to remember how G-d tells us wickedness is in high places and fale teachers and wolves hang together to fool us. None of them are real believer’s but Santorum..the one who deny’s Christ as G-d and yet they even consider him..we are either for Christ or against HIM. and Genesis and many other scripture, the L-rd G-d speaking lets us know we are accursed if we don’t bless Israel..America needs to repent and get back to truth or as we see G-d says HE is in the Whirlwind..trying to warn us in every thing. who is listening…? Just the ones who believe G-d and will bless Israel forever..They are my heart and the heart of G-d everlasting…
Peacefakers pursue peace “at any cost” abandoning all moral/ethical/biblical principles for the sake of peace; peacebreakers take sides and divide the brethren (Rom.16), from such we are to flee; peacemakers work at reconciliation between the Almighty Awesome Creator God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob and man; and then reconciliation amongst the brothers & sisters of the “family of God”; the so-called christians participating in the Christ at the Checkpoint conference are the peacebreaker type. Two scriptural references that apply to christians who engage in peace-breaking by taking sides, are:
1.0 “Lord, what shall [these nonstate christian tribal arabs/so-called christians] do? … [Yeshua answered] What is that to thee? Follow thou Me” (see John 21:21/22). Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest for November 15, writes his understanding of this passage, as follows: “One of the believer’s severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with G-d’s order for others. You see certain people suffering, and you say — they shall not suffer, and I will see that they do not. You put your hand straight in front of G-d’s permissive will to prevent it, and G-d says — “What is that to thee?” If you sense stagnation spiritually … perhaps it is because you have been interfering in the life(lives) of others; proposing things you had no right to propose; advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to others, G-d will advise thru’ you, with the direct understanding of His Spirit; your part is to be so rightly related to G-d, that His discernment comes through you all the time for the blessing of another.”
2.0 “Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears is a passer-by who mixes in a fight not his own” (Proverbs 26:17). Joseph Rosenfarb, a jewish messianic believer, writes his understanding of this passage, as follows: “Often we find ourselves pulled into situations which are not our problem. Wanting to plese the Lord, we feel we should help. Yet, especially in situations where anger and unforgiveness are involved, we should remember to look before we leap. Perhaps there are others more suited to the job? Tune into G-d’s wisdom before making the situation worse! Often, a recipient of our kind intentions turns on us and pulls us down with them…when we become absorbed in the issues of others, we often neglect our own affairs. In addition, we may unwittingly invite an unfriendly bite, or worse. Lack of propriety is not the wisdom of Messiah.”
Perhaps we need to view the evangelicals who participate in this type of conference, in the light of these two scriptural admonitions (John 21:21/22 and Proverbs 26:17)?
March 5-9, 2012, a so-called “christian” conference will take place in Bethlehem of Judea titled: Christ at the Checkpoint – Hope in the Midst of Conflict.
The conference is organized by the Awad brothers, [apostates] who run Bethlehem Bible College in Judea. It claims to be an evangelical Christian institution, and it is the 2nd time this College has hosted a conference by this title. It is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings of evangelical Christians in the Middle East to ever take place. It comes with a strong call for evangelicals to work towards social (as opposed to scriptural) peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. It also challenges the traditional stereotypical lens through which Western Christians look at the Middle East in general.
The Arab-Israeli conflict continues to be an issue of debate for both Christians & pagan gentiles. The christian nonstate tribal arabs look at Evangelicals as seeing Arab/Israeli conflict through the eyes of prophecy, and their crime is lending unconditional support for Israel. This perceived “unconditional” support was manifest by Evangelicals in the West cheering the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and cheering on Israel’s successfully dealing with the subsequent wars and uprisings, as signs of the second coming of Messiah. All the while, the self-pitying nonstate tribal arabs wanted the rest of the christian world NOT TO forget, NOR neglect the impact these events have had on the nonstate tribal arabs claiming squatter’s rights in Judea, Samaria & Gaza. These arab christians, following the lead of anglican priest Naim Ateek, who has publically stated/written that he is seeking to “liberate the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob out of the Old Testament”, are on the slippery slope of a social-justice “theology” based upon lies such as covenant/replacement/liberation theology, which erroneously states the “christians” have replaced the jews as the chosen children of Israel. Either the God of Abraham keeps the promises He makes to His children, OR He is a liar. Those who embrace covenant/replacement/liberation theology, are stating that the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob is a liar; that He doesn’t keep His promises. So, their salvation is based upon — what? As grafted-on wild branches to the original vine/olive tree, those who follow the covenant/replacement/liberation theology path, choose to cut themselves off from the very roots upon which their salvation is based. As “wild, grafted-on branches” without the nurturance from the roots, THEY WILL DIE! And this is what those evangelicals who travel to participate in this conference are prepared to do!
Who are these evangelical enablers of nonstate tribal arab (whether christian or pagan) self-pity? They are, by-and-large, persons who hold membership in denominations which preach covenant/replacement/liberation theology (i.e.the anglican/presbyterian/episcopalian churches, either eastern orthodox or roman catholic churches, lutheran churches, mennonite churches, united churches of god, united methodist churches).
The confirmed speakers for 2012 along with an e-mail address of sorts:
John Ortberg, Senior Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Phone #650.323.8600 & a personal Email contact form
Lynne Hybels (Willow Creek), lynne@lynnehybels.com
Shane Claiborne (Simple Way), has no e-mail; contact Darin Petersen, E/O & Treas. at: darin@thesimpleway.org
Tony Campolo, (Evangelical for Social Action),can be reached thru’ his Exec. Ass’t. jwarren@eastern.edu
Ron Sider (Evangelical for Social Action), rsider@eastern.edu
Samuel Rodriguez (National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference), Pres. of NHCLC, e-mail org. attn to info@nhclc.org
Chris Wright (Langham Partnership International),International Director, send e-mails to either the Canadian office or the U.S. office to the attention of Rev. Dr. Christopher E. Wright, at: stephen.andrews@langhampartnership.ca and/or ben.homan@johnstottministries.org
Chris Seiple (Institute for Global Engagement), Send SpokeMail to:
http://www.spoke.com/public/directEmail.spoke?pageType=person&uid=91741379&elq_regfromID=pA0rkMz®fromID=pA0rkMz&arg0=Chris&name=Chris+Seiple®from=pd-opemail&dispatch=choose&person_search_path=%2FpA0rkMz%2FChrisSeiple&companyName=Cambridge+Research&ext_regfromID=pA0rkMz
Ken Sande (Peacemaker Ministries),send e-mail to his attention at: Mail@Peacemaker.net
Sang Bok David Kim (chairman of the Asia Evangelical Alliance and the World Evangelical Alliance), send e-mail to his attention to: mail@efionline.org
What can you do about this? You can write e-mails to those planning to participate, and/or write the State of Israel ministry’s responsible for allowing people who hate the jewish people to enter the State of Israel for this conference, and/or take out an advertisement in Haaretz, or the Jerusalem Post, how this “theology” DOES NOT represent those who “love, honor & obey” the instructions of the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.
Government of Israel Ministeries who need to know about hostiles who may be coming through Ben Gurion Airport, Lod for the “Christ at the Checkpoints” conference to be held March at Bethlehem Bible College:
Government of Israel Offices website: http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Government/Offices/
Prime Minister’s Office: attention Benjamen Netanyahu: PM_ENG2@pmo.gov.il
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: attention Avig Lieberman: sar@mfa.gov.il
Ministry of Immigration & Absorption: attention Sofa Landver: info@moia.gov.il
Ministry of Defense: attention Ehud Barak: pniot@mod.gov.il
Ministry of Justice: attention Yakov Ne eman: mancal@justice.gov.il
Ministry of Internal Security: attention Itzhak Aharonovitz: sar@mops.gov.il
Shalom! I am 100 percent Pro Israel and Pro Jewish and Zionist to the core and I do believe Jesus is Messiah. I despise replacement theology. Genesis 12:3: Bless the Jews and you will be blessed. Curse the Jews and you will be cursed. Historically proven. I love you, Jewish people, even if you choose not to believe in Yeshua. I still stand with you and love you and support Israel and I protect and defend the Jewish people 100 percent unconditionally.
All Christians: You must stand with and support and protect Israel and the Jews. It is your duty to Jesus Christ. He and the apostles were all Jews. Love Jesus? Love the Jews!