April 8, 2014
Beliefs

Is support for Israel waning among evangelicals?

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Israeli and American flags fly at Congregation Beth Shalom in Overland Park, Kan. on Wednesday (January 16, 2014). RNS photo by Sally Morrow

Israeli and American flags fly at Congregation Beth Shalom in Overland Park, Kan. on Wednesday (January 16, 2014). RNS photo by Sally Morrow

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(RNS) Evangelical support for Israel has shifted within the last decade; many are no longer considered automatic supporters.

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  • Shang

    Free Palestine

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  • Guest

    “David Green is the current chair of Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma….”

    correction: Mart Green is the chairman of the Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees. He’s also stepping down from that role this week, but will remain on the board.

  • Leo

    As a Christian, I know that Israel is the only country that I could live in safely in the Middle East. I support it totally.

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  • Larry

    Ask the Jordanians.

  • Fr. John W. Morris

    Have you ever spoken with a Palestinian Christian about how much harm Zionism has done to them and their families. Perhaps if you did, you would have a different view of Zionism. The Zionists have driven Palestinian Christians from land and homes held by their families for centuries. They face constant harassment from the Israeli authorities who make every possible effort to remind them that they live under the power of Israel. The Christians of the Holy Land are being crushed between the Zionists and the radical Muslims. Ultra-Orthodox Jews routinely spit upon Christian clergy walking down the streets of Jerusalem, and harass Christian processions on their feast days. The Zionists have taken land from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and try to interfere in the internal affairs of the Greek Orthodox, the oldest Church in the Holy Land. The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law of the prophets and that those who are in Christ are the true sons of Abraham. Christian Zionism is a denial of the entire message of the New Testament.

  • Larry

    And Fatah and Hamas has no role to play in the condition of Palestinian Christians? The leadership of the Palestinians has been ethnically and politically cleansing itself of its Christian population for decades. Their benefactors (Arab League and Iran) have supported such actions for some time.

    That being said, the settlements must go. A 3 state solution appears to the the only viable choice here (Israel, West Bank and Gazastan). If the experience of the Gazans is any proof, a Palestinian state can only truly function if it has friendly relations with Israel.

    I make no comment in defense of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredi). Their antics have strained the patience of everyone. Including the majority of Israelis and world Jewish population in general.

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  • CMR

    @ Fr. John W. Morris: “The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the law of the prophets and that those who are in Christ are the true sons of Abraham. Christian Zionism is a denial of the entire message of the New Testament.”

    You are 100% CORRECT in that statement! Why do clergymen and people in general NOT SEE THIS? The (literal) Jews and the nation of Israel have absolutely NOTHING TO DO with the prophecies re: the “end times” and the second coming of Christ….

  • Edward Borges-Silva

    Perhaps…Just as some evangelicals, and Jews for Jesus, see hope for some middle way politically, maybe there is a way theologically and eschatologically between the schools of dispensationalism and reform christianity. I used to be a staunch dispensationalist and wholly committed to the State of Israel, further study and reflection has made me more thoughtful about reform arguments on the question of the covenant between God and Israel vs God and the Church. The writings of Bishop Elias Chacour were quite an eye opener for me with respect to the plight of Palestinian Christians. Ultimately, I believe the entire world will be in a state of great tribulation before Christ’s Return, the land of Palestine may be a factor in that trouble, but in the meantime Christianity needs to hue to the principles of reconciliation, non-violence, patience and peace.

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  • Omar

    Free Palestine? So Jordan needs to give up their part of Palestine too right??

  • Omar

    Sadly the modern church is ignorant of militant Islam’s desire to destroy Israel. Also the land promised to Israel by God is much larger than the land they occupy today. Any church group that boycott’s Israel for occupation is out of their mind…

  • Omar

    Any American church group that does not support Israel in their struggle to exist is supporting the Islamic holocaust that is against them.

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  • Sammie

    Thank you ! I’m so frustrated with the church and Americans who keep rallying war against innocent people . This is not being human and what Christ taught. God does not need war machines to fullfill his propecy yet he fortold us it would be so in the end. Men’s hearts are failing because everything they are supporting is a lie and it’s pride to admit maybe they could be wrong!!! I was taught Zionist agenda and now I’m appalled I was blind !!! May God open eyes to truth love and compassion and not be lead by false teaching and patriotic guilt . It’s a Lonley road standing against a crowd that says your not an American if you don’t support Israel and your not a christian if you don’t support Isreal??? I’m a christian and All I need is Jesus Christ!!! That’s my hope not being and American or a supporter of Zionist liars . The truth will prevail!!

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  • billy

    This evangelical is not waning in support of what God has said He supports. If others want to dispensationalize Israel into a black hole along with the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit, then let them answer to the Father why they took away what He set from the foundation of the world. I’m not going to stand in judgment for that and I hope they change so they don’t have to either.

  • True Christians love their enemies and forgive those who despite fully use them If they are Christians who obey Jesus sermon on the mount because if we love only those who love us, even th evil do this… so as for the Palestinian Christian as well as Any Christian in whom there is no Jew or Gentile in Christ, they should love the Jews and share the Gospel with them and convert or at least show the love of Christ to the unsaved Jew As should you, assuming you are saved in Christ. God loves Jews, Gentiles and even American religionists who think they works in His name but He never knew because they practiced iniquity. Ask the American Indian how he feels, or the Mexicans driven from the South West how the feel. oh bad example they are returning, so ask the legals how they feel when illegals are occupying the USA. True Christians home is heaven, not Palestine or Vatican or Usa either
    Heaven, not “Palestine” or the USA either!