By ISRAEL TODAY—
An interview with an American Christian commentator published by Israeli media this week reveals just how far the Evangelical Church has moved into the “Palestinian camp” when it comes to the Middle East conflict.
For decades, Israel’s most stalwart supporters were to be found among Evangelical Christians, the bulk of whom saw the rebirth of the Jewish state as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and evidence of God’s faithfulness.
But a new generation of Evangelical leaders are “committed to spreading the Palestinian version of the conflict,” said Jim Fletcher, a long-time Christian publisher, in an interview published to Israel National News. “These pro-Palestinian leaders currently control the narrative within the Church.”
According to Fletcher, there is a “massive effort…in the heart of the American Evangelical Church to lure its members to the Palestinian side.” As a result of that effort, it is now “severely mistaken to think that all Evangelicals are pro-Israel.”
Among those Evangelical leaders one should be wary of are Willow Creek Pastor Lynne Hybels, Saddleback Community Church Pastor Rick Warren, Dr. Gary Burge of Wheaton College and Christian publisher Cameron Strang.
Hybels and Burge were speakers at last year’s Christ at the Checkpoint conference in Bethlehem, where local and foreign Evangelical leaders painted modern Israel as a nation wholly disconnected from its biblical roots and prophecies pertaining to it.
Furthermore, this movement interprets Yeshua’s own teachings in a more humanistic light in order to use them against Israel.
“In the Palestinian narrative, emotion is predominant. The emphasis is on ‘land confiscations, checkpoints, detentions, beatings.’ What they call the ‘apartheid wall’ is also mentioned frequently,” explained Fletcher.
But, perhaps most disconcerting, is the lack of a strong response from those who still love Israel and see her for what she truly is, warts and all.
“To my knowledge, there are no broad-based Evangelical leaders in the U.S. who will speak out about this problem, which is developing into an epidemic,” said Fletcher, warning in conclusion that “the way things are going, support will completely flip from Israel to the Palestinians in the next generation.”
For those of us sitting in Israel, there is another worrying effect: more and more Israelis are starting to feel that, once again, they cannot trust or rely on Christians.
The mere fact that this interview was published on a religious Israeli media website demonstrates that Israeli Jews see the strong wall of Christian support eroding, and as a result the bonds that were built up over the past century are beginning to unravel.
I’m a Christian and i’m with Israel all the way.
This article is just as polarizing as the Christian Zionist movement is. Why can’t a person be pro-Palestinian, pro-Jewish, pro-Indonesian, pro-Brazilian, etc. all at the same time? Why is it implied that if a person is pro-Palestinian, they must be anti-Jewish or anti-Israel? There are even plenty of Jews who are against Zionism and advocate for the Palestinian people, but they aren’t against the Jewish people (though they may be against Israeli government policies).
If the Zionist message wasn’t so over-the-top racist, there probably wouldn’t be so much swing “the other way.” Let’s be pro-everybody, and not pit two groups of people against each other.
In 2012 I was asked to speak at the church we had attended to then, for 24 years. I was asked to speak on Bible prophecy. My messages were easily divided as Prophecy & Israel, Prophecy & the church, and Chronology of the End Times. When I presented on the church as to how it fulfills it’s turn against Bible truth and actually named names like Rick Warren, Joel Osteen and others I was effectively shut up. I was told unless I recanted I could not speak again. We left that church and have planted a new church. This is a growing phenomena and points to a time of increasing trouble. Maranatha.
Adam Maarschalk asks: “Why can’t a person be pro-Palestinian, (and) pro-Jewish……all at the same time?”
For a very simple reason: one of the oft-repeated, stated goals of Palestinian leadership has been the total annihilation of the nation of Israel! How can one be “pro-Palestinian,” and “pro-Israel,” at the same time when one group wants to obliterate the other? Palestinians need to hear the gospel just like any other nation – but when their leaders advocate the destruction of Israel, it is the Biblical duty of every Christian to oppose such views.
They are all part if the new interfaith movement. Jesus, YahShua, said we were to be ONE spirit not many! Be aware.
I stand with Israel as the Bible states it’s where Jesus, YahShua, will return in Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem in Israel. His, God’s chosen people and nation of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob (Israel). Christians, or all believers (people from every tribe, tongue, and nation) that trust in Jesus, YahShua, (Yeshua) are grafted into HIM the vine who is Jewish.
Rick Warren’s and the others are deceived and are all part if the new interfaith movement. Jesus, YahShua, said we were to be ONE spirit not many! Be aware.
Lets say, that stands before me a Palestinian and a Jewish man. Lets say , I can only give out the Gospel word to only one of them. To whom would you address the salvation message? A Jew or a Palestinian?
As far as I know, only one nation is clearly marked ” as regards the glad tidings, they are enemies”
Rom 11,28 So, instructed by scripture, my ” one time occasion scenario” would direct me to those who would be more incline to the message of glad tidings.
This has nothing to do with the calling of God ,who will surely restore the remnant which becomes the national “Israel of God. ” I am now speaking of the government of God and his ways toward a wayward people. They are known as Lo-Ammi, not my people, and Lo-Ruhamah, no more mercy. Hosea 1:6 and 9. “Goïm” is another word meaning – a pagan natIon-. This is how , in God’ s government they are seen ; not so as to the future, “for the gifts and calling of God are not subject to repentance.”