WARNING: This is a high volume ping list
Posted on 03/08/2005 7:05:29 AM PST by ZGuy
In a recent op-ed column ("A pernicious, dangerous alliance," Haaretz, February 23), MK Avshalom Vilan expressed concern about the alliance that is being "forged" between evangelical Christians in the United States and the extreme right in Israel. A sober and correct consideration of the situation would lead to the conclusion that today, more than ever, the State of Israel and its leaders should welcome the embrace offered by the evangelical community, which should not be taken lightly. This support is particularly important given recent expressions of anti-Semitism and the anti-Israeli attitude of Europe and the UN.
In contrast to the evangelical movement, the liberal Protestant movements declared a consumer boycott and a move toward divestment from Israel a few months ago.
The economic, political, public relations and tourism support of the evangelical Christians is invaluable, and is critical to the continued existence of the State of Israel. Evangelical Christians are highly important allies - particularly at this time, when Israel finds itself at a political and social crossroads.
The Torah writes about "a people that shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations," but when there is such a large and significant movement of believers who offer their love without limits and without conditions, it is only right that we cooperate with them and thank them for their help, rather than attack them. At a time when the rest of the world is arrayed against us, evangelical Christians are true friends who stand alongside us.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Rabbi Eckstein is the president and founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
I'm glad at least some observant Jews know who their friends are.
Then pray tell why do Jews vote for Democrats? Is there a difference between secular Jews who attend religious services but question if there is a God, and Jews who believe in God?
Then pray tell why do Jews vote for Democrats? Is there a difference between secular Jews who attend religious services but question if there is a God, and Jews who believe in God?
For the same reason so many Jews refused to believe that the Nazi's didn't have their best interest at heart.
They were blind to what the reality of the situation was. Like sheep to the slaughter so to speak.
-God
Bump
Ping!
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/543642.html
Excellent article. I'm glad someone in the Jewish community is saying it. It's embarrassing that we have all these liberal Jews (in name only) that think they speak for everyone.
I thank G-d every day for Evangelical Christian support.
Almost like asking if there is a difference between the
Christian who believes the Bible to be the inerrant word
of God but votes for Democrats.Of course there is a
difference? Jews are essentially Humans, and no different
for it. God chose His people -because He is God and can
choose whom He will favor. But in the Bible Old Testament--
or Hebrew Bible there is record of children of Israel who
heard and obeyed the Lord And there are also recorded example of those who grew fat and when strong turned from
the One who Created them to worship Him.
I watched an excellent documentary last night about the wall, and it opened my eyes. The settlers must move out of Pali lands and the Palis in Israel should move out in exchange. Of course, we should pray that the new Palestinian leader will be successful in both securing the rights of his people and in reining in the terrorists.
There has got to be a middleground or else the sad cycle of bloody retailiation will continue.
Terrorists get their power when the whole Pali population is oppressed, and this occurs when Hamas and ilk blow people up. Then the Israelis blow something up and tighten the noose on civilians (to find the needle in the haystack)and Hamas gets new recruits. It is not unusual for Palestinian laborers to wait 2 hours at a checkpoint, then wind their way around a huge wire barrier just to wait at every other checkpoint. Something has got to give. The documentary showed the aftermath of a roadside suicide bomb and it broke my heart to see a female Israeli soldier choking back her tears and saying she couldn't take it anymore. Likewise it breaks my heart to see a Palestinian mother weeping over the death of a child.
More hate is not what is needed on either side. If Israel is to remain Jewish, there needs to be a solution acceptable (and fair to) to both sides. Otherwise Palestinians will outbreed and outvote Israelis. The other solution is to keep up the cycle of retailiation and then deny Palestinians the vote, which is anti-democracy.
With that said, I am so thankful I was born here instead of there.
"Spreading the good news" cannot rationally be divorced from the meaning and content of the gospel.
Nonbelievers in Jesus often find this irritating. Jews recall a history of violence in the name of Christianity.
If it is of any comfort to Jews, there are 2 things that should be noted:
1.) In the evangelical understanding, individual conscience plays a very large role. A conversion not flowing from individual conviction and conscience is invalid. Thus "forced conversion" is an oxymoron.
2.) When Christendom was persecuting the Jews, the spiritual forebears of today's evangelicals were also being burned at the stake. Sometimes Jews are angry that evangelicals aren't more repentant regarding the persecutions of the the Jews. But it is also true that evangelicals often don't see themselves as connected with the anti-semitic state churches of Europe, except as their victims. My grandparents left everything behind and came to America to be free of those churches.
The criticism evangelicals have of Jews is that they have often forgotten that their God is THE God, the God of all. Monotheism inherently engenders opposition --sometimes violent (and the Jews have had more than their share, for sure) so there is the contradictory attempt to squeeze the Only God into the role of a tribal deity, so as to make it easier to get along with outsiders. The problem that arises, is that being "the chosen people" only makes sense in the context of a global mission, a mission the Jews continue to fulfill, even though they are often unaware of it themselves.
WARNING: This is a high volume ping list
Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,
'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" [Psalm 118:26]
Barukh haba b'Shem Adonai
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord
Y'shua HaMashiach
http://www.rb.org.il/noahide/noahcom10.htm
...Most rabbinic authorities associated with positions of spiritual leadership in the Torah-observant Jewish community have taken one or the other of two positions regarding "interfaith dialogue" and "interfaith cooperation".
One position, advanced by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik of blessed memory in 1965 in the Torah observant ("Orthodox") quarterly "Tradition", in an article entitled "Confrontation", stated that the Torah observant community should not participate in interfaith dialogue, but it could and should involve itself in interfaith cooperation [on shared social issues].
The other position, advanced by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein of blessed memory in his responsa collection, "Igrot Moshe", was that the Torah observant community should neither participate in interfaith dialogue nor interfaith cooperation...
...There are also Evangelical Christians who covertly use forums for "interfaith dialogue" as a come-on for proselytism. In private discussions among themselves which have come to our attention, Evangelicals openly acknowledge this intentional misuse of "dialogue"...
Figured it was retorical-but had to jump on it anyway
just for the unititiated.The left likes to make much of how
the Christians killed so many Jews during the Crusades.And
they insist Hitler was a Christian and . .. and . . . and --
but do agree with you in much .
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.