There are many Zionist Christians who believe that Israel can do no wrong and that any who challenge the State for any reason by default already are. When the righteousness of the Israeli government’s political decision making is questioned they call it “anti-Semitic.” They think “Palestinian” is a synonym for “Terrorist.” They watch Glenn Beck more then they read the Bible. And they say “Hallelujah” when Netanyahu so much as burps.
While I’m being somewhat sarcastic, this is no hollow caricature. These people are as real as the liberal journalists and talk show hosts who hate them. Not knowing where their political conservatism ends and their Zionist Dispensationalism begins they say absurd things like
The United States must join Israel in a pre-emptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God’s plan for both Israel and the West… a biblically prophesied end-time confrontation with Iran, which will lead to the Rapture, Tribulation, and Second Coming of Christ. (John Hagee)
While I believe God has a rich history in store for national Israel despite their present unbelief (in accordance with Romans 11:1-29) I don’t identify with this kind of Zionism because of staunch disagreement with the theological and ethical convictions that undergird it. It is a myopic worldview that lacks Biblical support. But unfortunately the pendulum of confusion and the avoidance of reality about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict swings both ways. That’s where the “Christ at the Checkpoint Conference” comes in.
CHRIST AT THE CHECKPOINT
The “Christ at the Checkpoint Conference” in Bethlehem next year (below are videos from Stephen Sizer, Gary Burge, Lynne Hybels [Bill Hybel's wife], and Shane Claiborne discussing it). The gathering is intended to encourage the global Body of Christ (particularly young adults) to support Palestinian Christians who find themselves suffering under what they refer to as “The Israeli Occupation” of Palestine. Christian leaders like John Ortberg, Tony Campolo, and many others will also be involved. With more and more leaders jumping on the anti-Israel bandwagon each year in an attempt to fight confusion with confusion, my spirit is agitated and my mind is vexed. The theological foundations of this misguided justice initiative are faulty. And whatever is built upon them will eventually crumble; even if what is built is partly Biblical. It is the alternate extreme of Hagee’s hybrid of politics and prophecy; and equally as disturbing. It is like a poisoned well–just because there is water in it doesn’t mean it’s worth drinking.
SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS
Solidarity with Palestinian Christians is a noble mandate. Peace in the Middle East is a godly vision. The identification of abortions of justice is a worthy cause. And support for our blood-bought Christ-adoring Arab brothers and sisters is an important prophetic call. But there are two serious problems with the sort of the solidarity and support that Sizer and Burge are advocating, and that other well meaning but naive Christians are embracing.
First, the worldview of men like Sizer and Burge rests upon the conviction that Israel is a racist and apartheid regime whose national identity and destiny has been rendered “irrelevant” by Jesus and the apostles. They argue that Israel has no right to the Land believing Israel to be a “cruel and dehumanizing” State. Conveniently ignoring important issues like Islam, jihad, anti-Semitism, the scores of Israelis brutally slain by Palestinian terrorists that all contribute to Israel’s political posture towards Palestinians (and by default the precious Christian community among them) they level the accusation that to endorse the State of Israel is “an abomination” and “heresy.” Overlooking the legal history of the State of Israel that preceded its establishment (such as the Balfour Declaration and the San Remo Conference), the Arab role of Arab displacement in 1948-1949, and Israel’s legitimate security concerns they claim that Israel is a vindictive and militaristic regime that mercilessly eradicated the indigenous population and is thus worthy of international scorn. This bunk and slanted narrative is no trivial matter. In addition to being historically inaccurate and out of touch with reality at present, it is what motivates those who are organizing this event that is supposed to champion justice. How can this be? Championing justice while ignoring history and only telling part of the story is in itself an abortion of justice.
Second, this call to solidarity with Palestinian Christians (of which I myself passionately embrace and promote) is anemic, one-sided, and antithetical to the true spirit of Gospel reconciliation by virtue of fact that the same affection and support is hardly and if ever shown to Messianic Israelis (who also experience persecution and opposition from the Israeli government and the Jewish community within). A Biblical alternative to this half-baked peace initiative would be to encourage solidarity among Palestinian and Israeli Christians while rallying the international community around the one Body. We need to stop talking about “Palestinian Christians” and “Israeli Christians” and start talking about “the Church” lest we encourage the strife that has for so long dominated the atmosphere in the region (which this event has already done in the Land and will continue to do). While I’m sure such verbal support will be encouraged at the gathering, it will come from those Westerners, Palestinians or Israeli’s who reject Israel’s national identity and destiny. And this contradicts the sentiment.
Any call to solidarity with one people group at the expense of the marginalization of another is not just, righteous, or pleasing to the Lord. And any call to support one people group at the expense of the other’s right to exist and defend themselves against those who have no problem blowing up women and children with bombs strapped to their chests is morally insane.
THE NEED FOR A BIBLICAL ALTERNATIVE
Solidarity and support that is built on an illegitimate prejudice against Israel and a curious lack of affection for Messianic Israelis won’t foster or facilitate reconciliation in a region that desperately needs it. It will foster mounting animosity. It already has. And it will continue to do so. Thus the Church in the nations and in Israel need a Biblical alternative to Hagee’s Dispensationalism and Sizer’s anti-Zionism. Both are profoundly out of touch with reality and altogether insufficient for the crisis at hand.
While many godly values, Biblical principles, and noble mandates are promoted by many of these leaders and will be presented at the “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference, it will be tainted by a theological and political persuasion that is hostile to Israel, antithetical to the apostolic Gospel, and detrimental to the Church in the region that will undoubtedly compound the tense relationship between Arabs and Israeli believers. How could it not when it’s being propagated by individuals like Stephen Sizer and Gary Burge whose rabid anti-Israel convictions have clouded their ethical, theological, and ministerial judgment? The reproduction of these values will produce bitter fruit in the emerging generation that is already punch-drunk on a sentimental and humanistic justice message. And this grieves me.
Until Sizer, Burge, and their cronies publicly renounce their inaccurate propaganda, apologize for misrepresenting the history of the Middle East as they have long been guilty of, and declare and demonstrate their solidarity with the fledgling Messianic community in Israel who also experiences persecution from the Israeli government, they have little right to speak of “justice” and show little reason to be taken seriously.
All believers with a conscience should readily reject a call to social justice that is predicated on the assertion that Israel is an apartheid regime and “abominable” for Christians to support (Sizer’s words). I say this not just because I disagree with it historically and theologically as if it was a merely academic controversy but because of the material consequences of this theology in the future as the Jewish people are becoming more and more isolated and scorned because of Islamic rage, liberal naivety, and Christian apostasy.
While I don’t doubt the sincerity of Sizer’s affection for the Arab Christian community in places like Bethlehem (of which I also feel) I doubt that this is what is primarily motivating his labors. Judging by his writing and teaching, the delegitimization and dismantling of the State of Israel and the discrediting of anyone who supports it is. And that troubles me. Not only because it’s morally and Biblically bankrupt but because it will also hinder the very thing he and his contemporaries claim that desire: peace among Arabs and Israelis.
Along with many others, I’m longing for the day when the walls will be torn down between Isaac and Ishmael that the brothers may finally dwell in the affectionate bond of the covenant that was cut through the shedding of the blood of our Jewish King. Apart from Him there can be no peace in Zion.
Until He returns,
Dalton Lifsey
Tauranga, New Zealand
Shane Claiborne on Christ at the Checkpoint 2012 from Christ at the Checkpoint on Vimeo.
Where did you get that “quote” from John Hagee? Curious, and I can’t really comment without confirming it and the context in which it was said.
The errors of pre-trib dispensationalism notwithstanding, I think John Hagee does an admirable job in rallying support and Christian solidarity with the Jewish people. We need this far more than the false teachings of Stephen Sizer and co. who undercut the ongoing nature of the Abrahamic covenant and deny Israel any future place in the unfolding of God’s eschatological plan. Do you really think the two are equally wrong, as if the truth were somehow in the “middle”?
Hi Peter,
Thanks for chiming in. Great question(s). In my judgment the two most dangerous doctrines at work in the Body of Christ right now related to Israel are Supercessionism (Sizer) and Dispensationalism (Hagee). While I have more in common with Hagee when it comes to affirming Israel’s national identity and destiny I have more in common with Sizer when it comes to the Gospel and the nature of the Church. Hagee believes that Israel is saved without being born again. THAT is a serious deception! One that is definitely on par with Sizer’s anti-Zionism!
Sizer and Supercessionists are correct when they declare that there is only one people of God and only one way to be saved (by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone). Where they err is in denying Israel’s ongoing national distinction within that one-ness and unity. For example Paul said that free, slave, man, woman, Jew and Greek are all one in Christ and constitute “the Church.” But last time I checked I’m still a free MAN and my wife is a free WOMAN. Just because we are one in Christ doesn’t mean our distinct functions, callings, and identities are erased. So it is with Jews and Gentiles (which is why Jesus and the apostles repeatedly affirmed Israel’s ongoing national distinctions and future destiny; as in Matthew 19:28; Romans 11:1-29; etc.).
On the other hand is the errors of Dispensationalism that argues the Church and Israel are two separate entities and “never the two shall meet” in eternity. The Church gets the heavenly new Jerusalem and Israel gets the earth. We aren’t one – we are two. But this is antithetical to what Paul teaches in Ephesians 2-3, Galatians 3 and Romans 11 where he explains that we Gentiles have been grafted into the commonwealth of Israel and have become “one new man.” And the extreme forms like what Hagee pushes denies Israel’s need to be born again by grace through faith in Christ.
So to answer your question of whether I think they are equal in wrong-ness I would yes but with different ‘side effects.’ Both undermine critical realities that Paul labored to affirm. And here’s why I believe they are equal: because both will cause offense, confusion, and apostasy when the pressure comes. I foresee much of the John Hagee-esque political support crumbling under the weight of the final crises when the much anticipated secret rapture doesn’t happen and standing with Israel requires our very lives. During that time I also foresee the Sizer-esque Replacement Theology crowd becoming caught up in a strong delusion for willful rebellion against the written word. Because in that day, to deny prophecy as it is being vindicated before our eyes will require a willful act of rebellion. The events will harden their willful unbelief and seal their apostasy and terrifying fate.
The fruit of Sizer’s theology will produce hostility and willful unbelief. Hagee’s will produce offense, disillusionment and falling away. The former will be aggressive and the latter will be passive. So in that sense I would agree with you that Sizer’s is more dangerous. But in the grand scheme of things I think we will look back and see just how destructive both doctrines were.
BUT having said that, I believe that there will be MANY who now embrace Hagee’s theology who will abandon it and shine brightly during those tumultuous years. And the reason will be because they were taught to love Israel. See, guys like Hagee are anticipating a Jewish Holocaust in the near future (rightfully). But they don’t think the Church will be around to witness it or be affected by it. So who’s to say whether sentimental, political support for the State and the Jewish people who we only know in theory but not in actual relationship will survive and translate into sacrifice and service and love when the pressure is on and our lives our on the line?
While Sizer and cronies agitate my spirit, the deceptive nature of Hagee’s politically driven Dispensational gone-any-minute eschatology is something that we should not underestimate.
Take away point: both will have disastrous effects in and on the Church. And so I think to be lenient about the one just because it may not cause as much damage as the other isn’t necessarily helpful or wise.
I’m praying that the Lord grabs a hold of guys like Hagee, Beck, and co and burdens them with the weight of what is to come and the Church’s role in the midst of it. Critical days to be merely sentimental and political about Israel.
Bless you brother
Dalton
Hi Dalton,
Thanks for your reply, and I found it very insightful. I do not know much about Hagee’s theology, so I have to take your word for it, unless I start doing some investigation of my own. If John Hagee actually believes that a Jew can be saved outside of Christ then you are right, as that is a serious error indeed. It is hard for me to believe that a preacher of his calibre would fall for that, as I remember him to be so steady and uncompromising in so many other respects (I used to watch his sermons on tv back in the 90′s, but have not watched him much since). Some people I know started a local chapter of Christians United For Israel at York University in Toronto three years ago, and I have played a role in helping with teachings, bible studies, etc. Thanks for the heads-up.
Even this morning I was talking to the Lord and getting a witness from the Spirit about trying to minimize “the great falling away” for the Church prophesied in the Scriptures. If we do not give people the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, then we are doing them a disservice and failing to prepare them for the trials to come. Replacement theology and “unsanctified Zionism” that fails to hold the line on the requirement of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation for BOTH Jew and Gentile are serious errors indeed. Pretribulationism is also a serious error…Thanks for taking a stand.
In the “one new man”,
Blessings,
Peter
Peter,
In Hagee’s book “In Defense of Israel” he outlines his Dispensational view of the Church’s support of Israel and ends up in the gutter saying Israel is saved as a nation under the Abrahamic covenant apart from Christ. He has since done some ducking and weaving and its unclear what he actually believes.
This issue of Israel is fraught with difficulty on every side. But as the Day draws nearer the Lord will give increasing grace to “understand perfectly” (Jer. 30).
Bless you brother
Dalton
We have been researching at covering CaTC on our blog for nearly a year now http://roshpinaproject.com/?s=Christ+at+the+Checkpoint&submit=Search
http://roshpinaproject.com/2011/11/18/the-growing-case-against-christ-at-the-checkpoint/
Awesome. Thanks for the link.
Dalton