By Chris Moxon, Israel Today—
Britain’s Lichfield Cathedral has hosted a conference with the intention of ‘Holding Palestine in the Light’.
But instead, an avalanche of familiar bias aimed at undermining and delegitimizing Israel was presented by a panel of intellectuals, including the Dean of St George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem, Hosam Nahoum, who suggested that the Palestinians were converted to Christianity at Pentecost 2,000 years ago.
This of course flies in the face of the biblical record which makes it clear that the early Christians were entirely Jewish, though this included a small number of converts (to Judaism).
He later admitted that, in services, he and other Palestinians try to avoid the Old Testament (what Jews call the Tenach) and does not use the Psalms as they are “Israel-friendly”.
His interviewer, Jane Clements, even confessed that she finds it very hard to say “This is the word of the Lord” (in formal Anglican tradition) after reading some passages of the Bible which, she said, “patently isn’t the word of God”.
And yet the Old Testament is the scripture Jesus knew and loved – he even said he had come, not to abolish the Law (of Moses), but to fulfill it, as in ‘live it out’. (Matthew 5.17)
He denies, however, that his view amounts to Replacement Theology, the belief in some Christian circles that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s purposes and affections.
Yet so-called ‘Christian Zionism’ was described by the host – the Very Rev Adrian Dorber (dean of the cathedral) – as a “pernicious doctrine” when the panel was discussing the impact of evangelical Christianity on Israeli politicians.
Some of the greatest Christians of the past few centuries – men like John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, William Wilberforce, Lord Shaftesbury and Rees Howells – have indeed encouraged and supported Jewish aspirations to resettle their ancient homeland. And they were right to do so because the Bible prophets clearly speak of such an outcome.
And, yes, these wonderful Christian leaders influenced the government of the day to help bring this about. Hence the Balfour Declaration of 1917 that paved the way for Jewish repatriation. (Lord Balfour, the Foreign Secretary, effectively gave a promise that the British Government would do all in its power to facilitate a re-born state of Israel).
Professor Ilan Pappe, a secular Jew, then made the astonishing claim that Zionist leaders plotted the pogroms and expulsions of Jews from Arab countries following Israel’s re-birth in order to increase the new state’s population because “not many Jews from Europe wanted to go there”.
He also said that Jewish students in the UK identifying with Israel can expect pressure, and noted that every synagogue holds weekly prayers for Israel, which renders them “vulnerable”.
Actually, praying for Israel is a biblical command, even for Christians (e.g. Psalm 122.6 & Isaiah 62.6).
In short, much of the discussion bordered on the absurd, such as Professor Yossi Meckleberg’s statement that “there can be no thriving Israeli economy without peace, no democracy without peace, no security without peace…”
The situation, however, seems to be that Israel does indeed have democracy and a thriving economy despite a lack of peace.
In conclusion, the Lichfield dean felt obliged to defend discussing the “grubby world” of politics in a church setting as “sanctified disputation” which “redounds to the glory of God and is deep within the tradition of being an English cathedral”.
It is difficult to see how some of the secular, non-believing, obviously biased participants were engaging in ‘sanctified disputation’. More like anti-Semitism dressed up in Christian piety.
Dear friends of Israel at the Jerusalem Connection…
Yes, this is sadly a further example of the toxic spread of the lies of Augustine of Hippo and his theology of Replacement-ism, so widely taught and increasingly popular in the ‘professing’ church in these last days.
Your ministry, like many others, must boldly continue to expose and explain by biblical exposition and apologetics why this theology is wrong, and perhaps more importantly, the effect it can have on a believers understanding of Adonai’s promises to the ‘lost sheep if Israel’ and the wider fellowship of believers too.
So don’t be shy, write, witness and argue for the truth… remember, if no one tells them, then how will they know?
Here is my recent letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury on hearing about the conference at Lichfield: To: The most Reverend Justin Welby, Arch Bishop of Canterbury.
Dear Sir.
I wish to express my concern about recent and possibly future events supported by members of the Anglican clergy and its members, which both cast a shadow of shame on the Church at large and I believe require repentance and an apology from those who have the power and responsibility to prevent or allow them to continue.
If I may respectfully declare:
Hear the Word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say; He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock. Jeremiah 31:10.
The above words of the great prophet of biblical Israel is concise, detailed and comprehensive.
It is a ‘letter’ from millennia ago to you and I, as the nations and the gentiles, in fact literally; the Isles!
It calls on the nations and the Isles to declare and to proclaim that the Creator of the Universe has made a promise concerning a group of people called Israel, whom we today might collectively call ‘the Jews’.
It speaks of recorded history, of future prophecy, and it also tells of the scattering of the Jewish people called Israel.
It says that He; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob WILL regather Israel, and will keep and watch over them, just as a shepherd does his flock.
So in this regard, Bishop Welby, I write to you Sir, as an overseer and a shepherd of a flock; the flock of believers within the Anglican Community, and I challenge you about your ability, discernment and complacency in respect of how you have performed your duty to watch over your flock; the Anglican Christians of this country.
In particular, I would ask if you were aware or perhaps warned about the events that took place at Lichfield Cathedral earlier this month, under the ‘guise’ of a supposed ‘peace and reconciliation’ Conference called: Holding Palestine in the light: The context of the conflict?
http://srnet.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Palestine-Israel-Conference-October-2016-Lichfield-Cathedral.pdf
I have no desire here, to critique the conference or the various speakers statements word by word, as this sadly is just one more in a long line of similar events that profess to be one thing, but only produce lies, distortions and in regard to the hosts and supporters of the Lichfield Cathedral event, make clear that biblical Christian exegesis is not of any importance to the anti-Israel haters agenda.
I am reminded of the biblical warning of the Apostle Paul in Acts 20…
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
The warning of course in context, was in regard to false teaching, legalism, and so on, but I would implore you to consider the effect of ANY words or ‘teaching’ which would basically deny the biblical promises regarding the restoration of Israel as a distinct people, and their regathering to their ancient homeland in Israel, which for some time was called Palestina by the Roman legions under Titus, when they captured Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and expelled almost all of them in AD 70.
The BDS and Pro-Palestinian campaigns and speakers, so prominent recently at Lichfield Cathedral, are clear evidence that the ‘wolves’ are no longer at the door, but have been invited in, by gullible and naïve clergy and members within the Church of England.
Arch Bishop Welby, history has a way of exposing our mistakes, poor judgements and good intentions… but ultimately wrong decisions
.
Sir, I would urge you to take the time to read more ‘critically’ the various reports of what was said and was on display at Lichfield, and seek the Lord in light of His inerrant Word, in regard to the statements made and impressions given, and ask yourself which side of the Lords pre-written ‘history’ your Churches support or maybe simply tolerance of the Lichfield Cathedral event, or future Israel/Palestine ‘Conferences’ will be viewed, by our Creator, in light of the meaning of the earlier passage from Jeremiah 31:10.
Somewhat ironically, I write this letter to you on the very evening that the Israel haters and historical revisionists of the world gained the ‘legitimacy’ of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: UNESCO, as yet another ‘tool’, to attack the written Word of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in regard to the Biblical historical home of the Jewish people, the legitimate independent State of Israel and its place as a past, present and future home for the Jews of the world.
Do you sir, as the most senior leader of the protestant Church in England, with associated Bible believing Christians throughout the globe, really think this ongoing, determined and multi-fronted attack on the Nation State of Israel, and by association, the right of Jews around the world to have their own homeland, and sanctuary of Jewish Biblical expression, is NOT associated and sadly assisted by various C of E leaders, like the Bishop of Lichfield?
Both the events at UNESCO and Lichfield are just two sides of the same coin; historical revisionism and the blatant refutation and rejection of the written Word of God!
The Lord promised to shepherd His people Israel, and regather them to their ancient land… to say otherwise is a lie, because; Thy Word is Truth!
Yours sincerely, in Yeshua (Jesus) wonderful name. Alan McIntyre.
Readers of The Jerusalem Connection; I hope you will Amen my thoughts and be strong and bold in your faith… declare His truth!