Christian Zionism
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http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21089
Holy Land religious leaders condemn Christian Zionism as false, a corrupting influence
8/31/2006
Catholic Online
JERUSALEM (Catholic Online) – Christian Zionism is a false and extreme theological and political philosophy that is has become a corrupting influence in the politics of Israel and the United States, said a Catholic patriarch and three other religious leaders here, urging Christians churches to break their silence.
The statement, "The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism," released by Aug. 22, was signed by Catholic Latin-rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem and other leaders of Christian churches in Jerusalem, Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East and Bishop Munib Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.
“Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel,” the religious leaders said.
Christian Zionism, the statement said, is an ideology that views the gospel through the prism of “empire, colonialism and militarism identifies,” emphasizing in its extreme form “apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ's love and justice today.”
”We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation,” the four leaders said.
The Holy Land leaders condemned the influence that Christian Zionism is having in American and Israeli policies concerning the Palestinian Territories.
The leaders “reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their unilateral preemptive borders and domination over Palestine.”
Christian Zionism, they said, “facilitate and support” policies that “advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by Jesus Christ.”
They added that such policies undermine the security of the “Middle East and the rest of the world.”
“We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of others,” Patriarch Sabbath and the three religious leaders said, warning “that Christian Zionism and its alliances are justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.”
The Holy Land leaders urged the world’s Christian churches to pray for the Palestinian and Israeli people, both “victims of occupation and militarism” where Palestine’s “impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli settlements.”
“Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon,” the heads of Jerusalem faith communities called “upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations!”
They said that the establishment of “illegal” settlements and the construction of a wall in the “confiscated” Palestinian Territories “undermine the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and security in the entire region.”
Christian churches that have remained silent must “break their silence and speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land,” the four said.
They committed themselves to non-violent resistance to end the Israeli occupation, affirmed that Israelis and Palestinians can live together in “peace, justice and security,” and rejected “all attempts to subvert and fragment” the oneness and unity of Muslim and Christian Palestinians.
“All people are created in the image of God,” they said, and “called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their inalienable rights.”
“God demands that justice be done,” the four religious leaders said. “No enduring peace, security or reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued diligently and persistently but without violence.”
“This is where we take our stand,” they said. “We stand for justice. We can do no other.”
“Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our land,” the Christian leaders stated. “By standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace – and working for peace makes us children of God.” -
My first reaction on seeing this post is
"what the heck is a Christian Zionist?"
Did some searching and found a webby on them, so here it is, for the benefit of those who have this same question as me..
*disclaimer: posting this does not means I know about them or support them, just want to answer the question of : who are they?
THE LAND OF ISRAEL - A Christian Zionist View
By Halvor Ronning, Board Member of the ICEJ
A long spiritual pilgrimage would be required of most Christians today before they would ever consider calling themselves "Christian Zionists". This is true of the writer who was trained at a seminary where the predominant theology was REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY, i.e., the teaching that the Church has replaced the People of Israel, and that therefore the land of Israel today is no longer theologically significant.
In contrast, a Christian Zionist is a Christian who looks with favor on the Jewish return to Zion, the city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel, specifically because of the biblical significance of this return. -
Well said words by the church leaders..
American right-wing "Christian Talibans" have to be denied their chance to spread their extremist views. -
Curbing freedom of speech then? As long as what they say remain within the boundaries of the law, they should be allowed to express their opinion.Originally posted by LazerLordz:Well said words by the church leaders..
American right-wing "Christian Talibans" have to be denied their chance to spread their extremist views. -
haha, when I said denied, i meant robust counter-arguments that deny them full open use of the media.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Curbing freedom of speech then? As long as what they say remain within the boundaries of the law, they should be allowed to express their opinion.
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Fully agree with you on that. Unfortunately in the US, they have many supporters at the highest level. Christian and Jewish Zionism will be the order of the day for many years yet. The last US Presidential election made sure of that...Originally posted by LazerLordz:haha, when I said denied, i meant robust counter-arguments that deny them full open use of the media. -
Any one else wants to comment?
I will be most interested to hear Brey's opinion... -
I dont understand
Whats wrong with looking in favour of return of Israelis to their homeland?
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actually the ultra-religious Jews are NOT in favour of zionism.Originally posted by laurence82:I dont understand
Whats wrong with looking in favour of return of Israelis to their homeland?
ironical hor?According to one website, the reasoning behind the opposition is Zionism's disobedience to God's plan: "The Creator gave us the Holy Land thousands of years ago. Yet, when we sinned, He took it away and sent us into exile. Since that time our task is to wait for Him to send the Messiah." In the minds of these Orthodox Jews, the Zionists sin by attempting a return to the Hold Land before the Messiah comes, instead of waiting patiently in exile.
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Considering the fact there are ultra religious Jews in Israeli now, its irony.
Then again, anyone in favour of moving out and continue having no home? -
I dont agree. There will be no peace until Jesus comes again a second time & that's after Armageddon. This is the false peace being prophesized will come but it will be Antichrist instead.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross: