Posted on 02/25/2018 11:53:02 AM PST by WisconsinRep
The leaders of the major Christian sects in Jerusalem closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, for several hours on Sunday to protest an Israeli plan to tax their properties.
The Christian leaders responsible for the site issued a joint statement bemoaning what they called a “systematic campaign of abuse” against them, comparing it to anti-Jewish laws issued in Nazi Germany.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
PS. I don’t condone uncivilized behavior, but I can tell you from having lived in Israel and keeping very close ties to family and friends there, you have no idea how aggressive the christian missionary activity is. While some on this thread cheerfully applaud attempts to convert Jews, it is a rather sore subject in the 1 Jewish State in the world that has a long national memory of Crusades, Inquisitions, Auto-de-fe’s, Pogroms and the incredible hatred inculcated in our neighbors during our exile that made life miserable for centuries. Much of this activity included “missionary” work of the type where you choose between accepting Christianity or the sword/burning at the stake.
So now, when we have one place in the world to regard as a haven from all our past sufferings, there is a lot of resentment for missionaries and their organizations that just can’t to seem to respect the Jewish nature of Israel and insists on “poaching” the tiny remnant of the Jewish people that dwell there. Imagine Jewish Missionaries in Saint Peter’s square.
Go ahead. I have my flame suit on, but be aware, I don’t give a damn for your desire to convert everyone to Jesus. You should enjoy your religious beliefs, but don’t dare try to shove it down my throat. Have the decency to respect other people who simply disagree.
It should be noted the Christians proselytizing Jews in Israel borderlines on illegal and “offering or receiving material benefits” for conversion is illegal by Israeli law.
Missionaries are allowed to proselytize, although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) voluntarily refrains from proselytizing under an agreement with the Government.
SOURCE:
https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2001/5697.htm
Then you have to take up your complaint with Jesus Christ, our, and your, Messiah. It is he that commanded the evangelizing of the world in the great commission, which features the baptizing of converts, Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15,16, Luke 24:47-49.
Aggressive Christian missionary activity in Israel? By the tiny, maybe 2%, Christian minority?
Aggressive missionary activity is like rape. No should mean no. If they are truly Christian they would respect anybodys wishes on this subject. It reflects poorly on the intention.
Before 1918 much of the land “owned” by Christians was conveyed to the Greek Orthodox Church, to protect it from seizure by the Ottomans. The church had some protection from foreign powers (Greece and Russia). Thus the church became a major landholder, in name only.
Since selling land to a Jew later carried with it a death penalty (Jordan), “owners” would let the church front for them; sell the land as if it were church property; and after a complex process through many intermediaries, it could become Jewish-owned, with the original owner protected.
Because of these factors, gaining clear legal title to land is complex, and sometimes carries with it both financial and physical risks.
It is also even possible that some church ownership of property may still be a “cover” for other owners, and if so, these others would benefit from the tax-free status.
I would hate to be a title insurance co. in Israel...
I was confirmed in a largely Italian-American church, a good portion of my wife’s family are of Sicilian origin. They still have no special love for Jews, I’ve heard several call them ‘Christ killers’. With what secular Jews have done to this country through the ACLU, other ultra Lib causes, maybe their disdain is right. I also have a friend that is pretty orthodox Jewish, is a right-wing gun loving patriot, two different things.
Sad to see FReepers bashing Israel on behalf of the Greek Orthodox scumbags or Arab-run “Catholics” who have supported the PLO and even Hamas against Israel for decades. The latter are agitating more than usual because they are egged on by the first Marxist pope...who dines with tyrants like Erdogan and bashes Trump and Israel.
Read this post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3635143/posts . The question arises because a large number of Replacement Christians believe the land belongs to them. This is the same battle that has been going on for 2000 years. If you read the proposed law, no property that is used for worship will be taxed. The Christians are selling the land that they have acquired for centuries to build hotels and business on, and don’t want to pay taxes. Understandable, but not any different than church property that is sold is this country.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/242384
...The Greek Orthodox Church considers itself the second-largest landowner in Israel, after the Israeli government, with properties in Jerusalem, Israel and Judea and Samaria. But in recent years, church leaders have quietly sold off several properties to anonymous investors fronted by companies registered in far-flung tax havens, causing home owners of apartments on some of the properties to worry about unknown parties wishing to build on the sites of their homes.
The other initiative about which church heads are furious is the move by the Jerusalem Municipality to collect municipal property taxes from church assets in the city. So far, church property has been exempt from paying property tax. But last month the Municipality issued a statement in which it said it had begun a major process of collecting municipal taxes from offices, schools, and buildings designated for various purposes and owned by the churches.
However, Azaria made it clear that municipal taxes would not be collected from houses of prayer, which are exempt from taxation...
,,,This is in contrast to Haifa and Tel Aviv, which collect property tax from the business assets of the churches. It should be clarified that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, like all houses of worship of all faiths, is exempt from municipal taxes and the municipality does not collect property tax from houses of prayer.”
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It's my understanding is that this issue, which comes up from time to time, is the Catholic Church's insistance that they pay no taxes, as was policy under the Ottomans. Israel taxes commercial activities by "tax exempt", in this case religious, institutions. IMO, a policy I'd support here. In fact I'd get rid of tax exempt institutions altogether and like Israel exempt their social contributions only. For about ten minutes, till I remembered Lois Lerner would be making the decision about contributions. My guess if they don't work it out, they'll argue about it another 70 years. Given the fact that an Iranian nuke won't exempt Christians or Christian institutions, it may not be the most serious issue from a strategic perspective.
Essentially this is similar to Native owned land in the US. Don’t tax my hotel.
“Sowing discord amongst Gods favored children?”
No, God loves pulled pork!
Since other such property in Israel outside of Jerusalem is taxed, this seems to be another case of denying Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem.
Don’t worry about flames. Having lived there, I think you are absolutely correct. There are a large number of Replacement Christians that feel that they have have replaced the Jews. As far as ownership goes, there has always a title question. There was no Christian Ownership until Constantine conquered the land and set up what became the Catholic Church in 325 CE. The othodox and Roman Churches fought over the area during the Byzanyine Period until the land was conquered by the by the Muslims in the 7th Century. The Crusaders retook the land in the 11th Century and lost it again in the13th Century. It was reconquered by the West in 1917. Israel declared its Starehood in 1948. So who owns the land? The only ones that ever purchased the land was Abraham at Hebron and David in Jerusalem. The rest were all acquired by conquest. The Church is playing politics in Israel, as they always have. The first thing they did was accuse the Israelis ofbeing Nazis, which is particularly offensive. I am sure that you will be flamed as you suggested.. As long as you speak the truth, what difference does that make?
Swine are good for casting demons in. They are scavengers are are therefore considered unclean. Jesus and the Disciples did not eat pork. He is our Example.
Also not popular to mention here, but there is discrimination against Reformed Judaism in Israel.
Last year, a young man spoke at our church. He, his mother and siblings were muhamedan refugees from Syria. Ma worked at two jobs to make ends meet, so had no time to teach that false doctrine.
While pursuing a degree and having little interest in muhamedanism, he was befriended by several Christian classmates, who witnessed to him. Eventually, he came to faith. He is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Southern Alberta, and is a youth leader at his church down there. Though mother has not come to Jesus, he is still witnessing to her but several siblings have. In time, I’m sure his mom will ‘come into the Light’.
He also shared with our church, that he was intrigued by bacon when he was still a muslim, but would not touch it, just savouring the glorious smell of bacon frying. After he came to the Lord, he went to the grocery store and bought 2x500g packages (2.2 lbs) of bacon and feasted on them! He made himself sick on bacon but now eats it in moderation.
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