JFJ Forums

In the newest version of David Reagan's Lamplighter, there is a great article giving a brief history of Christian Zionism, "Christian Zionism: What is it? Is it biblical? Is it dangerous? Does it Matter?" page 3. http://www.lamblion.com/magazines/magazines.php

I wasn't thinking so much for those of us who already our Christian Zionists, but of some of the Jewish people here who don't quite get us.

There are some other good articles, as well. One on how the Israeli flag came to be, and another one on the Bush doctrine (now nonexistent Bush doctrine).

A very enlighteneing article. And without doing much homework on the backgrounds of political figures, I actually have made the statement that we should know what people (elected leaders) think on this subject.. because I don't agree that there aren't those out there who are trying to "help God along" in His plan. (Which is misguided, IMO.) Or the opposite.

For example: when Romney was a real contender, I asked what the LDS position is on the Jews/Israel. Um.. hello! It matters. Same goes for all of them. I think it is a fair question considering the situation in the Middle East and our involvement.

Thanks for the article.

My personal opinion is that when God wants to use politics He does (as in the UN) but He could just as easily move His hand over the Middle East and destroy the enemies of Israel, or shout them out of existence. Including us, if we turn out backs on His Chosen.

I am all for Christian Zionism.

My husband and I have worked with Christian Zionists
before without issue because they do not try to convert us.

Israel needs all the help and support she can get....

"Pastor Hagee is a good example of a problem that has plagued Christian Zionism since the mid-20th Century. The problem is that Christian Zionists sometimes become so enamored with the Jewish people and the Hebraic roots of the Christian faith that they decide that since the Jews are God’s Chosen People, the Jews must have a way of salvation that is separate and apart from accepting the Christian Gospel. This unbiblical viewpoint is known as Dual Covenant Theology. . .

This is gross apostasy. Peter confessed Jesus as 'the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God' (Matthew 16:16). Later, Peter declared in his first sermon at Pentecost 'that God has made Him both Lord and Christ [Messiah] — this Jesus whom you crucified.' Paul proclaimed the same message in the Jewish synagogues, 'proving that this Jesus is the Christ [Messiah]' (Acts 9:20-23). John went so far as to declare that anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ [Messiah] has the spirit of antichrist (1 John 2:22). Furthermore, Jesus Himself declared point blank that He was the Messiah when the Jews asked Him (John 10:24-33). . .

Those Christian Zionists who have embraced Dual Covenant Theology have embraced a lie. Paul wrote that the Gospel was meant for 'the Jew first' and also for the Greeks (Romans 1:16). Loving the Jewish people so much that you refuse to share the Gospel with them is loving them right into Hell. Fortunately, the vast majority of Christian Zionists have rejected the apostasy of Dual Covenant Theology."
Reagan, David. "Christian Zionism: What is It? is It Biblical? is It Dangerous? Does It Matter?" Lamplighter 29.3 (2008): 5-6. 27 May 2008 <http://www.lamblion.com/magazines/magazines.php>.

In addition, Matthew 28:19-20--what Christians call the Great Commission--makes it very hard to take any Christian seriously who isn't witnessing to Jews or anybody else. All Christians are to be evangelists, that is, "good messengers" of the Good News. There is no other message for the Christian but that Christ died for your sins to bring you to God.

Therefore, the only Christian you can really trust is the one who is honest about, and practices, what his faith teaches. Otherwise, you are dealing with the fakes or the fooled who mislead you in hate or in ignorance. Neither brings you Good News.

Ripley:

I agree with what you said. I have been thinking lately about your posts. But I'm also thinking a lot about what our Founding Fathers wrote. We are to bless Israel--this is what the Bible commands--but does that include militarily, is that as a country or as individuals, and at what cost to ourselves as a country? Do you have scripture to answer each part of my question, or can you give your usual wise words to enlighten me? I could use a little help thinking through some of my confusion.

Todd

Seems like I read somewhere that Jerry Falwell confronted Pastor Hagee about his position and Hagee agreed with Falwell...said he'd been misquoted or misunderstood or something.

But Chava, revelation320 is right: Non-evangelizing Christians who are Zionists, although they may be Christian, are worshipping the G-d of Israel only with words at that point (Isaiah 29:13-14, Mark 7). However, a Christian has eternal life (John 3:16), even when they keep silent about the Gospel (Romans 6).

Well, these are all Evangelicals, so hopefully they are honest.
I guess they figure we will all convert and be saved when
Jesus comes back....until then I guess they are willing to
patiently wait.

It is my understanding that they believe that Jews have to
be in Israel for him to come back; by helping us they help
bring back their messiah faster. So I guess the end justifies
the means.

Don't agree with it of course, but as long as they are willing
to support Israel, and not try to convert us personally, I'm
fine working with them.

See my response to Rev above....
I assume that they do evangelize others; just not those
of us who work with them.

I also don't consider it my place to judge them on their faith
and actions......especially when I do not agree with said faith.

Two more paragraphs from the same David Reagan article, with the footnotes so that you can read for yourself the sources Reagan uses:

Hagee has believed in this theology for many years, although he has consistently denied it.24 But his actions have spoken louder than his words, and on several occasions even his words have betrayed him when he would let it slip in interviews. For example, in an interview with the Houston Chronicle in 1988 he said: “Everyone else, whether Buddhist or Baha’i, needs to believe in Jesus, but not Jews. Jews already have a covenant with God that has never been replaced by Christianity.”25

Hagee finally decided to come out of the closet with his recent book, In Defense of Israel.26 Incredibly, he proclaims in the book that “The Jews did not reject Jesus as Messiah.”27 He explains: “. . . if Jesus refused by His words or actions to claim to be the Messiah of the Jews, then how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered?”28 These incredible words are no slip of the pen. Hagee proceeds to make the statement over and over that Jesus refused to be the Jewish Messiah, “choosing instead to be the Savior of the world.”29

24) G. Richard Fisher, “The Other Gospel of John Hagee: Christian Zionism and Ethnic Salvation,” www.pfo.org/jonhagee.htm.
25) Houston Chronicle, “San Antonio fundamentalist battles anti-Semitism,” April 30, 1988, section 6, p. 1. http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archiv...988_540301
26) John Hagee, In Defense of Israel: The Bible’s Mandate for Supporting the Jewish State (Lake Mary, Florida: Front Line Press, 2007).
27) Hagee, In Defense of Israel, p. 132.
28) Ibid., p. 136.
29) Ibid., p. 143.

(Can someone with In Defense of Israel verify that the Reagan quotes in that book are correct, please?)