By Tee Belman
I want to introduce you to Jewish Israel which takes a critical look at Israel’s alliances with Fundamentalist Christian groups, and provides a platform for ongoing monitoring and pro-active responses to evangelical missionary campaigns targeting Jews for conversion.
It just published Part 4 of its series “Now there arose new rabbis in Israel who knew not the Rav”
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From November 2nd through 11th, the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus (KCAC) is holding the Third Jerusalem Assembly with their partners from Covenant Alliances -an organization run by missionaries. In part 4 of the Rav series, Jewish Israel exposes the missionary connections and the “Judeo-Christian” theological agenda of the Caucus. Does encouraging a theological, covenantal relationship with passionate Christians put the foundations of Judaism at risk? What would Rav Soloveitchik say? And has former MK Rabbi Benny Elon learned from his mistakes and changed directions in his approach to the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation (IIACF)?…CONTINUE
LINKS TO PARTS 1,2 AND 3 ARE AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SITE FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INVAISION OF ISRAEL BY MISSIONARIES. AND WE ALL SHOULD BE CONCERNED
Pinchus,
In the past I have personally worked at the Feast Tabernacles in Jerusalem over chol hamoed Sukkot, participated in a documentary with ICEJ Canada’s Donna Holbrook and lectured to many “Christian Zionist” groups here in Israel. All very lovely, caring and devout people who are all very much focused on a Christian restoration in the Israel and bringing the “love of jesus” to the Jew through a number of “good works”. Although many do not engage in the overt proselytizing that you may be familiar with, they are indeed missionaries who are thoroughly immersed in missionary activity (please see the accepted Christian defintions of missionary at the bottom of this response).
Please view the reports on the last two Feast of the Tabernacles in Jersusalem here and here to gain some insight into the immense problem in Israel
As the content and research director for JewishIsrael.com Much to my dismay, I have yet to find a major “Christian Zionist” organization which is not supporting the Christian messianic community in Israel.
As for the definition of missionary, please read the following from Christian sources (more in this glossary)
Missionary: A missionary is a member of a religious group sent on a faith-based mission into an area to carry on ministries of the word and literacy, or ministries of service, such as education, social justice, health care and economic development.[Jewish Israel notes that in and of itself, being a missionary is not a negative thing. However, it becomes problematic when missionary projects and activities are directed at the Jewish people in the land of Israel with the purpose of exposing them to foreign theologies and influencing them to draw close to, accept, or incorporate those beliefs. It is known that evangelical Christians are obligated to “share their faith” via various missionary activities]
“A Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” —Charles Spurgeon the “Prince of Preachers”
The following explanation is from “Understanding Christian Missions” by J. Herbert Kane , a textbook used for missions classes in Evangelical Bible colleges
“The worldwide mission of the Christian church is rooted in the Incarnation and is part of God’s redemptive purpose for the world. God is a missionary God. The Bible is a missionary book. The gospel is a missionary message. The church is a missionary institution. And when the church ceases to be missionary minded, it has denied its faith and betrayed its trust.”
“In the traditional sense the term missionary has been reserved for those who have been called by God to a full-time ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:4), and who have crossed geographical and/or cultural boundaries (Acts 22:21) to preach the gospel in those areas of the world where Jesus Christ is largely, if not entirely, unknown…every dedicated Christian, regardless of his vocation, is in full-time Christian Service. If every Christian is in full-time service, then it is only a step to saying, as many do today, that every Christian is a missionary”
Yamit, I like the Esser Agurot blog but that’s one of the stupidest reports. I’d love to never have to see a crucifix again but as far as I know there’s no law against tourists from doing so. Some day there might be but today the above incident accomplished absolutely zero – except to make christian visitors more “chutzpadik” – which they weren’t in the first place.
Those that overstay their visas and their motives for doing so are another story. There is nothing to indicate that this was such a group.
This story should insult your intelligence. The event did all harm and no good in dealing with the problems of christian influences in Israel. The tactics of vigilante goonishness plays into their favor – not ours.
Christian Hutzpah!
24 of the Eighth Month 5771
Last Thursday at around 9:45 PM in Jerusalem, a Haredi man confronted a group of Christians from North America. They were walking up from the Old City toward Yaffo Street. Their paths met at the corner of King George and Ramba”n Streets.
The Jew told one of the women to tuck her cross, a three inch, golden cross, into her blouse, as it was offensive for her to walk around with such a symbol of idolatry in the City of Jerusalem.
Her response was to get into his face, and say that it was not a cross, but a crucifix (cross with Yoshke’s graven image), and that they can do whatever they want as they are on a pilgrimage, and are in the majority.
The Jew was puzzled, and asked, “How are you in the majority?”
The woman responded, “…in the majority, here.”
A man from the group then came up behind the Jew, and put him into a full Nelson. Fortunately, the Jew was able to get loose, fight back, and get away.
Personally, I believe he should have gone farther. But Kol HaKavod to his taking action, and not standing idly by.
The truth is that Christian tourists, particularly those overstaying their visas, are becoming increasingly hutzpahdik.
And frustratingly, Jews are increasingly oblivious to their true intentions and threat of Christians visiting, and residing in Israel, as well as those who send money to Israel.
They are fooled by their smiles, their declarations of friendship and support for Israel, and …their money.
You’ve been had.
Here’s another NT quote for you:
“All right, then; I did not make myself a burden to you, but, trickster that I am, I caught you by trickery.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:16
Stupid, ignorant Jews.
To Yamit:
Knock, Knock … I knocked at heaven’s door this morning.
God asked me, ‘My child, what can I do for you?’
And I said, ‘Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message.’
God smiled and answered, ‘Request granted’.
‘Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of Battle .’
We are talking mainly about mainstream protestants and evangelicals. They are all about proselytizing it’s s core a fundamental belief to them as Kashrut is to an observant Jew. That’s what they are all about and they don’t deny it. Even if they are not active missionaries they support their missionary activities by donations. Non terrorist Muslims also support Islamic terrorists by charitable donations. We jews in Israel for most Christians who support us are the Lamb to be sacrificed for their end times trib. beliefs. Oh and by the way they also LIE!
One should be aware of the fact that Paul, a founding father of the early church, and the most successful missionary that ever lived, confessed to using deception and lies to make converts:
Shy Guy and Yamit82
I never said that ignorant Jews should work with Christians. I also did not say that we should accept Christian missionaries in Israel. You said that. I have worked closely with Christian Zionists who are supporters of Israel and the Jewish people and I have also battled Christian missionaries (Jews for Jesus, messianics and others) and support anti-missionary organizations. They are not mutually exclusive. Missionaries should be deported immediately from Israel. Not all Christians are missionaries. The major Christian Zionist groups operating in Israel have very strict rules against missionary activity. There are basically only two large groups of Zionists left: right-wing, religious Jews and Christian Zionists, mostly Evangelicals from the US, Canada and Northern Europe. Come to Jerusalem during Sukkot and meet them for yourselves. Or find them in your own community and find out for yourselves. Not everyone is an enemy although I know its seems that way sometimes. It is more politically correct these days to be anti-Israel openly. So think about the fact that many of these Christians are defending Israel while being attacked by Jews and at the same time see Jews trying as hard as possible to give up our rights to Eretz Israel. By you equating these Christians with our Muslim and Arab enemies does a great disservice.
Pinchas
When I last checked, roughly 70%-80% of the Jews worldwide are ignorant of the Torah and Prophets.
Here’s some homework for you: contact the better know counter-missionary organizations in the US and ask them about how many ignorant Jews have been lost to christianity in the US. When you get that assignment right, your next assignment is to find out what christians are doing to make the very same thing happen in Israel.
Stupid, ignorant Jews.
A sophistic and specious argument. We can and should reject both. Rejecting the former does not mean accepting the latter. Do you also infer that we must accept Christian missionaries as the price for their vocal support? If yes than i do question that support and yours. It also puts you in the general category of Heidi Fleiss
Shy Guy,
I guess you would rather live as a dhimmi under Moslem rule. “Stupid Jews.” What are you afraid of? Only Jews who are ignorant of the Torah and Prophets need to be afraid of being converted. Last I heard, Christians have not been beheading Jews who refuse to convert to Christianity, at least for a over a hundred years or so. A spiritual enemy is a threat only if you are spiritually vulnerable.
There are 60 million Christians in the US that accept Jewish sovereignty over the land of Israel and don’t want a Palestinian state. Most Jews don’t even have these credentials. Probably less than 5% of Jews worldwide believe this. These are friends not enemies. I will take a bible believing Christian who loves Israel and wants to be part of the realization of the rebuilding of the Jewish State over Thomas Friedman as a friend any day. When or if they become enemies like the Catholic Church, we can change our attitude towards them.
Think about it.
Pinchas
So, Pinchas, you’re saying let’s continue offering up Jewish souls on the alter of capitulation to christian demands for Jews to turn the other cheek?
Most ironic is that you think Israel will defeat its enemies by allowing its spiritual enemies to take root throughout all of Israel?
Stupid Jews.
It is important to Jews to be very careful in dealing with these Christian groups and certain topics should be avoided in order to maintain good relations. However, in war we must make certain alliances. If Roosevelt and Churchill could team up with Stalin to defeat Nazi Germany, then certainly we can team up with Christians groups that believe the Land of Israel belongs to us and recognize the nature of the Muslim threat. Our efforts should focus mainly on keeping Israel under Jewish sovereignty and defending Israel in international forums. When the Mashiach comes, the rest will work itself out.