Opinion on Christian Zionism?

[Sultan Of Swing]

Christian Zionism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I will start off by saying one benefit of Christian Zionism is that I've heard it brings more money into Israel from foreign Christian benefactors. Probably helps tourism as well.

Otherwise, what is your opinion of it? Y'know, the modern American Christian evangelical types that believe Israel is God's chosen people and all the prophecies are being fulfilled with the return to the land and some belief in an impending third temple on the way etc. going as far as John Hagee's own brand which says we mustn't preach to Jews because God will save them another way, etc.

Do you find all the evangelical love and affection for Israel a bit soppy, or is it admirable and mutual?

(Note: I am not a Christian Zionist myself)

 

[metis]

I would suggest that any Christian that takes the Bible seriously would have an affinity for Zionism, even if they don't support all that Israel does. I don't support all that Israel does, nor do the vast majority of fellow Jews I know.

 

[rosends]

I am appreciative but leery. Some might be completely sincere but some, I fear, have an ulterior motive.

 

[Flankerl]

Disgust.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

Disgust.

Ha, could you please expand on that? Why does it disgust you?

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

I am appreciative but leery. Some might be completely sincere but some, I fear, have an ulterior motive.

What kind of ulterior motive, do you think?

 

[rosends]

What kind of ulterior motive, do you think?

Pressure to convert or seeing Zionism as a means to bring about a second coming and Judaism as hampering that.

 

[Flankerl]

Fascinating, yet this is still the Judaism DIR.

Ha, could you please expand on that? Why does it disgust you?

At the end of the day its either conversion or dying as a sacrifice to their God.

For what I care they can keep their money.

 

[Levite]

...what is your opinion of it? Y'know, the modern American Christian evangelical types that believe Israel is God's chosen people and all the prophecies are being fulfilled with the return to the land and some belief in an impending third temple on the way etc. going as far as John Hagee's own brand which says we mustn't preach to Jews because God will save them another way, etc.

Do you find all the evangelical love and affection for Israel a bit soppy, or is it admirable and mutual?

While in theory I am always glad when non-Jews find their way clear to support Jews living in a Jewish homeland in the ancestral territory of the Jewish People, I find that many Christian Zionist movements have unpleasant ulterior theological motivations.

The one I run into quite a bit is the notion that Christians must support the return of the Jewish exiles to the holy land because when enough of them get there, they will start an apocalyptic war with the Muslims, in which the bulk of both will be wiped out, signifying the impending return of Jesus and the ascension of Christianity to world domination. They don't usually phrase it quite so bluntly, but that's what it boils down to.

I have also occasionally run into the notion that Christians must support the return of the Jews to the holy land because that is where they are prophesized to gather when Jesus returns to judge them and throw them all into Hell. And the notion that Christians should support the return of the Jews to the holy land because it is only when they return to their homeland and are unable to find peace there that "they will truly understand their need for the salvation of Jesus."

To be fair, I do know some very nice Christians-- mostly ministers and priests who are collegial acquaintances of mine-- who are Zionist without apparent ulterior motive. They say they support the right of the State of Israel to exist because it's due justice to the Jewish People, and because there needs to be a Jewish State that can be an ultimate refuge for the Jewish People. And some of them acknowledge they support Israel in part because they understand that Christian persecution of Jews, historically, is in part responsible for the acute need of the Jews for a safe land of their own.

These kinds of Christian Zionists I have absolutely no problem with, and am grateful for their support. Unfortunately, though, they seem to be in the minority, and the majority of Christian Zionists seem...sketchy, at best.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Do you find all the evangelical love and affection for Israel a bit soppy, or is it admirable and mutual?

I think it intellectually bankrupt.

 

[Akivah]

I will start off by saying one benefit of Christian Zionism is that I've heard it brings more money into Israel from foreign Christian benefactors. Probably helps tourism as well.

Otherwise, what is your opinion of it? Y'know, the modern American Christian evangelical types that believe Israel is God's chosen people and all the prophecies are being fulfilled with the return to the land and some belief in an impending third temple on the way etc. going as far as John Hagee's own brand which says we mustn't preach to Jews because God will save them another way, etc.

Do you find all the evangelical love and affection for Israel a bit soppy, or is it admirable and mutual?

Israel doesn't have a lot of allies, so we can't afford to be choosy. I'd accept their help and support, while remaining alert to their motives. They usually include some sort of conversion component.

 

[4consideration]

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[Tarheeler]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of it.

I can understand Christians supporting Israel as a democratic nation in the Middle East, as a rich cultural and historical area, and as the central site for the beginning of their religion. But, unfortunately, that isn't what we often hear about; what we end up with is the desire to support Israel in order to bring about what they see as the end of the world.