Presbyterians and Israel

[Jamal]

The LA Times, an intensely Zionist publication, tries to make this seems like it's all about conflict in the church. It's not as far as I can tell. There are a few very vocal voices who disagree with the Church's position of being critical of Israel, but it doesn't seem like a major conflict. I think they're united. This is a knee jerk Zionist reaction, to obfuscate everything that appears negatively towards Israel.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 0266.story

[grahame]

I think I've mentioned this before. The so called Christian Zionist movement is a comparatively modern think. Also so is the Jews for Christ movement. Having said that Christians have always been thoughtful for Israel. Paul the apostle himself said,

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is , that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

(Romans 10:1-3) and

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

(Romans 9:3)
So Christians feel that is is their duty to evangelise the Jews, who have rejected their own Messiah. Even one of their own prophets said

For Esaias saith , Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say , Have they not heard ? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say , Did not Israel know ? First Moses saith , I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold , and saith , I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith , All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

(Romans 10:16-21)
So I consider it the dudy of all Christians to preach the gospel to every creature and that means also to the Jews. For that is what we were commanded to do by Christ himself.
But this does not mean that we should fawn over them and take their side at the expense of justice and morality. History has demonstrated that they have disobeyed God again and again. The Christian must always stand up for that which is right, not just because they believe the Jews to be "God's people". For the apostle also says,

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect . For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

(Romans 9:6) In other words not all Jews are chosen for salvation. Only those who obey the gospel by believing in the Messaiah. So in short Christians should not go all soppy and dewy eyed over the Jews.

[ootii]

...Christians have always been thoughtful for Israel. Paul the apostle himself said,

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is , that they might be saved... (Romans 10:1-3)

Grahame,

These are possibly two separate uses for the word Israel, each with a distinct meaning. The context of this discussion strongly suggests that the first mention - Christians thoughtful for Israel - refers to the state of Israel founded in 1948. This is a political entity established by a group of people. The second mention of Israel from the NT cannot refer to that political state since it was written some 2000 years prior to its foundation. This time "Israel" means "the Jews."

This is a common and confusing error. The effect of it is to suggest that those who are critical of the state of Israel, its policies, or its laws, are irrationally critical of Jews. It is especially important to avoid such ambiguities in this type of discussion.

It looks like the Presbyterians made a wise decision to position themselves strongly in the center of this debate. This is encouraging. Israel has been ruled by extremists for a long time and the Israeli electorate has failed to isolate and contain them. Since they have not done this, it is the responsibility of responsible players outside Israel to begin to do that. Once the electorate realizes the importance of doing this, they will do it on their own.

The journalist may have played up the "church schism" angle to this story a little. It's not possible to know why.

Salaam,

Omar