Disciples of Christ to Israel: Drop dead

Jerusalem Post ^ | 8/7/5 | SUSAN BLATT

[SmithL]

On July 27 the General Assembly of the Disciples of Christ, a mainline Protestant denomination, called upon Israel "to tear down the barrier fence." The resolution, originally entitled "Tear Down the Wall," was renamed, more ambiguously, "Breaking Down the Dividing Wall," though it remained rife with factual errors and retained the original intent.

The resolution does not deny that Israel built the fence "to shield itself against terrorist attacks," or that the fence has succeeded in saving a great number of lives (including some would-be bombers?). Yet it still demands the security barrier's removal.

Why? Because, according to the resolution, the existence of a physical barrier is creating a psychological barrier to true peace, more "visually and spiritually... devastating than abstract facts can convey."

As the amended resolution states, "By breaking down walls that separate, we actively seek peace and reconciliation in the world in an attempt to follow Jesus' example." Or as one member argued, "Every day the wall grows, the prospect for a genuine peace... diminishes."

Translation? Israelis cannot be counted on to make peace without a knife at their throats.

After reading this document it's hard not to conclude that these members have, while remaining fully in touch with their emotions, completely lost touch with "the abstract facts" of real life.

Look again at the date: 15 days after the Netanya suicide bombing. Four days after a would-be bomber was intercepted climbing the fence. If these facts do not demonstrate that completing the fence is necessary to save lives, then what would?

But this still doesn't answer the question of why two-thirds of these presumably life-loving Christians voted yes on this resolution, asking the State of Israel to put its citizens' lives in even greater peril.

It appears that many, perhaps even most, of those who voted did not actually get around to reading the document. This was not entirely the fault of most delegates since the resolution was introduced just days before the conference as an "emergency resolution" and rewritten again about 36 hours before the vote. Most other resolutions had been submitted by a January deadline, five months ahead.

In this way, the authors of the resolution succeeded not only in preventing any real study or discussion before the vote, and in delaying it until the last day of an exhausting conference, but also in framing the debate, so that to vote against it was tantamount to standing up and declaring oneself a person who no longer believes in peace.

But why did the assembly not listen to those members and their guests who opposed the resolution? The sad answer is that, for the most part, they were not given the opportunity.

Tzippi Cohen, a survivor of the Cafe Hillel suicide bombing, was not allowed to speak, ostensibly because she was not a voting member, even though she had flown in from New York hoping for the chance to address the assembly for one to three minutes.

However, Palestinian guest Rula Shubeita, of Jerusalem's Sabeel Center, was permitted to speak in favor of the resolution. Her center calls itself the "Palestinian Liberation Theology Center" and features a paean to the late Yasser Arafat on its homepage entitled, "A Word of Respect and Esteem for a Great Leader."

Shubeita told the delegates, "Because of the wall, I cannot see my brother, who lives three miles away on the other side of the fence. I now must drive 14 miles to see him." She also claimed that she can no longer visit her church in Bethlehem at all.

Actually, Shubeita, can see her brother, though she has to drive 11 miles out of her way. She omitted to say that since the arrival of PA rule and its unleashing of criminal and Islamic terror gangs, most of Bethlehem's Christians have fled to Israel and elsewhere. Bethlehem, once 80% Christian, is now less than 20%. So while she can still likely visit the church most days, it's also likely that when she gets there, most pews are empty.

Yet two-thirds of the Disciples of Christ delegates declared themselves more concerned with a Palestinian's right to drive directly to her destination than with an Israeli's right to retain her arms and legs intact; and they were clearly more interested in blaming all miseries on Israel than in helping Palestinians replace a corrupt and dysfunctional PA with something more democratic.

This was after a vigorous but limited discussion by those few who, at the last moment, somehow managed to speak.

Most eloquently, dissenting member Ken Britton of Cloverdale, Indiana, said: "For decades Israel offered land for peace - and peace hasn?t happened. If we vote for this, we are telling Israel that we don?t care about you and we don't care about terrorism, and that you have no right to exist."

The writer lives in Portland, Oregon. The vigil outside the conference was sponsored by Stand With Us, in partnership with the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel and the Judeo-Christian Alliance.

[onedoug]

Islamists by any other name....

[topcat54]

It appears that it is building again now.

Poppycock.

[BlueNgold]

The call themselves mainline. Nothing like nominating yourself as the norm. Several links relate this movement to the 'confessing' church movement, which has been linked to liberal political views recently as well. I know very little of this movement other than what I have read.

They also seem to support, as a church:
gay/lesbian rights,
'living' wage,
inter-religious engagement,
peace in the Sudan (kudos for that one),
ministry for undocumented workers,
protecting ARNWR

This denomination also has a significant pacifist history among it's leaders up to and during WWII.

They claim LBJ and RR as members, but I found no confirmation of either.

Myself: I am concerned about any church that has such clearly political topics as resolutions during their annual convention. We cannot expect the government to stay out of our churches if our churches continue to insist on being directly involved in public policy.

[Artemis Webb]

My friend I appreciate the extent you went to to bring all the data together. It's obvious you are a supporter of Israel as well as something of a student of the history of Jewish persecution.

With due respect though(and I promise I'm not being smart-assed...a little slow maybe ...but not smart-assed)I really don't understand the point you are trying to make unless it is that the history of other faiths persecuting Jews is virtually endless.

For that reason alone Israel deserves our ongoing support. They are certainly not going to get it from the rest of the world.

[jackv]

These are definitely of the false church that we hear about in the last days! Good grief!

[jer33 3]

Are you buying into this propaganda? You listed liberal churches that have been infiltrated by folks with a different agenda than glorifying God.

[familyop]

I was a Southern Baptist. It's not what it once was. ...no more of that incrementally and increasingly Hellenist, increasingly anti-Jewish, socially libertine, ostensibly stoic crowd for me.

[jer33 3]

****I was a Southern Baptist. It's not what it once was. ...no more of that incrementally and increasingly Hellenist, increasingly anti-Jewish, socially libertine, ostensibly stoic crowd for me.****

Very interesting comment. I personally have NEVER run across the folks you are referencing in any worship service, prayer meeting, sunday school class, bible study or fellowship. In fact we have a Jewish pastor at our church and support Jewish missionaries. May I ask where were you going to church?

[familyop]

"I really don't understand the point you are trying to make unless it is that the history of other faiths persecuting Jews is virtually endless."

That's it. The history of the persecutions and propaganda to carry them out is full and long. It's unlikely that I'll find and read much of it in my lifetime. Most people are unaware of most of it--especially the earliest of it. Thank you.

My eyes were opened after beginning to read all that I could find about Paul, Pilate (see Josephus, Philo and Paul's place of origin), Herod [who was not, after all, of Jewish heritage, and was appointed by the Roman Senate under Antony, according to early Catholic commentaries; see "Gloss," "Aug., de Cons. Evan., ii, 5," "Ambrose, in Luc., iii, 41," "Pseudo-Chrys." in Thomas Aquinas' (who also blamed and defamed the Jews) Catena Aurea, Gospel of Matthew, chapters 27 and 28], Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement, Jerome, Augustine, Eusebius (see his "Church History," Philo's Account of the Ascetics of Egypt, Book II, CHAPTER XVII for information on origins of certain books of the New Testament), Constantine and others.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

the existence of a physical barrier is creating a psychological barrier to true peace

I thought the constant barrage of terror inflicted upon the Israelis by the formerly Jordanian Arabs did a darn good job of creating a psychological barrier to peace.

[familyop]

...Texas, then the Midwest (Ozarks). Many questions and much study moved me to change as the church of my youth also has changed (with regards to realignment of the Trinity, divorce and so forth). And yes, one local church will vary from another according to different regional cultures.

You might find the following interesting, BTW, even though it doesn't concern Southern Baptists...yet.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1362179/posts

Hail Mary (Protestants start taking Jesus' mother more seriously)
TIME ^ | Mar 14 05 | TIME
http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/covers/1101050321/story2.html

[Wilhelm Tell]

"By breaking down walls that separate, we actively seek peace and reconciliation in the world in an attempt to follow Jesus' example."

In other words, the Disciples of Christ organization (I cannot bring myself to call it a church) will not be happy until every Jew is crucified.

[Wilhelm Tell]

Those "abstract facts" sure annoy the Left, don't they?

Do you mean "abstract facts" such as the broken bodies of Israelis who were killed by terrorists' bombs? The left sees the carnage as "abstract" because to them the Israelis have no right to exist. In such a way the Nazis tried to dehumanize their victims by referring to them as if they were referring to inanimate objects and not people. Thus did the "good" Nazi tell himself that what he was doing was little different from burning stacks of wood.

Here we see some leftists using Nazi-like language because their little minds are infected with the same hatred that drove the Nazis. Just when I was hoping that leftists had finally abandoned Stalinism I find that too many of them need to abandon Hitlerism as well.

[Salem]

Main Entry: fraud
Pronunciation: 'frod
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English fraude, from Middle French, from Latin fraud-, fraus
1 a : DECEIT, TRICKERY; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b : an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : TRICK
2 a : a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : IMPOSTOR; also : one who defrauds : CHEAT b : one that is not what it seems or is represented to be
synonym see DECEPTION, IMPOSTURE

Main Entry: ⁴fake
Function: noun
: one that is not what it purports to be: as a : a worthless imitation passed off as genuine b : IMPOSTOR, CHARLATAN c : a simulated movement in a sports contest (as a pretended kick, pass, or jump or a quick movement in one direction before going in another) designed to deceive an opponent d : a device or apparatus used by a magician to achieve the illusion of magic in a trick
synonym see IMPOSTURE

Main Entry: pre·tend·er
Pronunciation: pri-'ten-d&r
Function: noun
: one that pretends : as a : one who lays claim to something; specifically : a claimant to a throne who is held to have no just title b : one who makes a false or hypocritical show

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[Slings and Arrows]

The "mainline" denominations are to Christians as the ADL is to devout Jews.

I'm glad someone understands this. I'm not nearly as devout as I should be, but my favorite prayer is "Dear G-d, please tell Abe Foxman to SHUT UP!"

[Cincinna]

"mainline Protestant denomination"?
I never heard of them before this, and I am involved in mainstream Protestant church affairs.

[monkeyshine]

I hear that!

[Fred Hayek]

This Protestant has a view similar to yours. While their is a disagreement regarding the Messiah, the Jewish people are still covered by millenia of covenants still in force. G*d does not back out of His covenants.

[Mr.Atos]

My ELCA Lutheran pastor started preaching that crap one Sunday. I stopped going back and resigned from the council.

[jjmcgo]

The first two sentences of your explanation are sophistry. The last sentence calls for the conversion of the Muslims to Christianity.