US Christian leader Bauer: Israel a priority for evangelicals

JPost.com ^ | July 5 2002 | HERB KEINON

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US Christian leader Bauer: Israel a priority for evangelicals

By HERB KEINON

Former US secretary of state James Baker reportedly cursed Jews in a fit of anger at Jewish pressure on the first president George Bush a decade ago, saying Jews don't vote for the Republican Party.

But Gary Bauer, one of the Christian Right's leading voices in the US, says not only are more Jews ready to vote Republican, they also have a whole lot of friends in the evangelical Christian community for whom Israel is a top priority.

Bauer, a former presidential candidate and head of a Conservative think tank who left Israel after a five-day trip last night, said that in the two weeks before US President George W. Bush's speech on the Middle East, the Christian Right flooded the White House with e-mail messages. "The messages were powerful," said Bauer, who has a daily e-mail newsletter that goes out to some 100,000 people.

"The message was, 'Mr. President, we pray for you every day, I believe God wanted you to be president. If you abandon Israel, you will never get my vote again.'"

As to whether these types of messages really have an influence, Bauer said, "I do believe that in this White House, with Karl Rove who is a very bright and political man, it had an impact." But, he admits, not the only impact.

"I think the president's instincts are right, and in the past when he got off message it's been the State Department and his father [who have been responsible]," Bauer said.

"I think his instincts started reasserting themselves. I also think the information of [Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser] Arafat's payments to terror was also a factor."

Bauer's trip, his first to Israel, was sponsored by a group of Orthodox Republicans called the Jerusalem Coalition, headed by Michael Landau, a real-estate developer from New York. During the visit Bauer met with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and delivered a strongly worded pro-Israel letter.

"We believe Israel has the same right of self-defense that all sovereign nations enjoy,"the letter read.

"We believe you have shown incredible restraint in the face of the wanton violence aimed at innocent Israeli civilians. We reject the notion that America or Israel should be passive in the face of such violence."

The letter was signed by some of the leading lights on the Christian right, such as James Dobson, Charles Colson, and Jerry Falwell.

But in a reflection of why some in the American Jewish community have trouble fully embracing the Christian Right's support of Israel, one of the signatories was a woman named Sandra Sheskin Brotman, whose title was "Messianic Jewish Concert Singer."

Asked about this, and the suspicions some in the American Jewish community have of a hidden theological agenda in the Christian Right's support for Israel, Bauer replied, "Maybe we should have been more careful about that.

For evangelical Christians there is an obligation to bring the good news, so to speak, but I am painfully aware of the history here, and it is not pretty.

"We have some things to make up for," Bauer said.

"I don't think Jews should be unduly concerned about this. Your faith is strong, and the people I meet all over Israel are proud of who they are and can defend the essence of what they believe."

[Pining_4_TX]

US Christian leader Bauer: Israel a priority for evangelicals

He's not my leader. His faulty interpretation of Scripture shows that ignorant people ought to keep quiet about religion - politics, too, for that matter.

[Gurn]

Out of curiosity, to which faulty interpretation of Scripture do you refer?

And when you say he's not your leader, do you mean that he's not on the right track re: Evangelical support of Israel?

[Aleksandar Vojvoda]

But in a reflection of why some in the American Jewish community have trouble fully embracing the Christian Right's support of Israel, one of the signatories was a woman named Sandra Sheskin Brotman, whose title was "Messianic Jewish Concert Singer."

Why do some in the "American Jewish community" have any "trouble" with this woman's Christian religious choice?

[Pining_4_TX]

I am speaking of the premillenial view of the end times. It is of fairly recent invention, and although we could debate this forever, it is an incorrect interpretation. Mr. Bauer's views are formed largely by how he "feels" about things and lack systematic interpretation of Scripture. Secondly, Israel is just another country. It should have no more claim on the US than any other. It is only the faulty interpretation of the Bible which leads some Christians to have such a special interest in it. All believers throughout time constitute the true Israel, that is, God's people. In the OT that was the nation of Israel, but since the incarnation of Christ, the people of God (Israel) come from every race and nation. There is no special dispensation for Jews or any other non-Christian.

[Gurn]

I didn't realize that there had been a definitive answer on the different schools of thought/interpretation about the end times. In fact, I thought that because of the very nature of it (it hasn't happened yet, so only God the Father knows for sure), there was no legitimate way for us to "know" which interpretation was correct.

[Lent]

His faulty interpretation of Scripture shows that ignorant people ought to keep quiet about religion - politics, too, for that matter.

Hey, it's a relatively free country. You're entitled to your opinion. But I can see that epithets like "ignorant people" tend to be cast by those inclined to overlook their own ignorance.

[TheGunny]

And where did you earn your degree in Theology? And how many years have you devoted to study in english or the origional language?

[BrooklynGOP]

Why do some in the "American Jewish community" have any "trouble" with this woman's Christian religious choice?

Judaism is not a missionary religion. I doubt any Jews have any problems with her religious choice.

[IronJack]

Gary Bauer endorsed John McCain when the former dropped out of the GOP primary. He has exactly zero credibility to me. And an equal relevance.

[TheGunny]

Amen!!

[11th Earl of Mar]

Gary Bauer endorsed John McCain when the former dropped out of the GOP primary. He has exactly zero credibility to me.

Me either. I have as much respect for Bauer as I do for Buchanan. Both are "conservatives" who seem more concerned about their own political lives than they are about conservative issues.

And let us NEVER FORGET his John McCain endorsement.

[IronJack]

I don't think Buchanan is in the same league as Bauer. Buchanan is a little strident in much of his criticism, but everything he says contains a grain of truth, or at least a possibility. Gary Bauer's endorsement of John McCain was pure politics, nothing more. And if a so-called spiritual leader can succumb to the political lure that easily and that completely, his convictions do NOT rest on principle. At least not BIBLICAL principles ...

[Phillip Augustus]

AMEN.

[BibChr]

It is of fairly recent invention, and although we could debate this forever, it is an incorrect interpretation

Sounds like you got your position from an eight-minute Sproule tape-clip, or some basket-case like Camping. That is a DEAD-wrong statement; the earliest eschatology known was a premillennial eschatology with a degree of "literalism" (i.e. taking all of Scripture seriously, not just the parts you like) that might make you uncomfortable.

When I read the first part of your response to this ("Bauer's not my leader") I expected to post a "ditto" to you — but because of Bauer's disappointing presidential campaign, and because of his astonishing endorsement of the worst remaining candidate (John McNutcase) — not because he doesn't agree with you that God lied in Jeremiah 31:35-40.

Dan
Biblical Christianity message board

[Phillip Augustus]

You are absolutely correct in saying that there is "no legitimate way for us to "know" which interpretation was correct". In that case, why should we listen to Bauer? Not knowing the truth, I would take my chances with what nearly two millenia of Christian thought was over a relatively recent interpretation, or, better yet, render to Caesar what is Caesar's, and approach foreign policy with a hard-nosed utilitarian, secular viewpoint and go from there.

[ZULU]

"But in a reflection of why some in the American Jewish community have trouble fully embracing the Christian Right's support of Israel, one of the signatories was a woman named Sandra Sheskin Brotman, whose title was "Messianic Jewish Concert Singer.""

???? So what? When you need help. you shouldn't be criticizing people who are willing to assist you. Besides, anybody in THIS country has the RIGHT to try and convert anyone else unless the somebody else says they are not interested.

Much ado about nothing by the usual suspects - the liberal, left-wing media.

[Conservative Chicagoan]

BUMP

[Alouette]

Why do some in the "American Jewish community" have any "trouble" with this woman's Christian religious choice?

Why do some in the "American Evangelical community" have any "trouble" with my Jewish religious choice?

[safisoft]

It is of fairly recent invention, and although we could debate this forever, it is an incorrect interpretation

Like Ignatius' view of "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" were recent? In fact, a chief source for the historicity of John's account is the Apostle John's "disciple," Ignatius.

All believers throughout time constitute the true Israel, that is, God's people. In the OT that was the nation of Israel, but since the incarnation of Christ, the people of God (Israel) come from every race and nation.

Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The Lord of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the Lord, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever.” Jer 31:35-36

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew... And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in;” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. Rom 11:1-2a; 17-22

Sounds like your's is a dangerous philosophy to be so sure of.