John R. Houk, Editor
Intro © February 21,
2019
I am huge with support for Israel and the Jewish people. You
might wonder why (though my Grandmother
once told me I had a Jewish ancestry – I was an uncaring teen at the time and
discussion is a bit sketchy in my memory). The reason is God’s Word hasn’t
changed and God Almighty has designated the descendants of Abraham, Isaac (not Ismael)
and Jacob as the Chosen People for the Land of Promise. That Land is
known today as Israel. In Jesus Redemption is to the Jew first then the Gentile. I’m
a believer in the mystery of prophetic double fulfillment.
In simple terms that means an event prophesied in the Bible may appear to have
taken place but a fuller event is still to come (the more secularist a Christian the less likely to believe in double fulfillment prophecy or Dual Prophecy):
Modern Israel coming into existence and a
unified Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty are signs (many view Jesus speaking fig tree as
symbolism of Israel - Matthew 24:32-33) of the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Yup, that makes me an authentic Christian Zionist. Bless Israel and you’ll be blessed. As a
nation, this is one reason of the importance of America (and Americans for that matter) to be a blessing to Israel.
With my thoughts in mind, Jan Markell’s article below about Christian
Pastors failing to talk and/or teach the importance of Israel is indeed a “Disturbing
Trend”.
JRH 2/21/19
Your generosity is always appreciated:
********************
A Disturbing
Trend: Does Anybody Care?
By Jan Markell
Email sent 2/21/2019
8:09 AM
Sent via Olive Tree Views
Interest in Israel is waning. Does anybody care?
In recent weeks, several publications have put out alarming
stories that evangelical support for Israel is sinking -- and especially
among young people. The periodicals state that a new survey reveals that
there is confusion about, or indifference to, the world's only Jewish state.
It is really a two-pronged phenomenon. There is a decline in
the interest in end-times (eschatology) and a decline in interest and support
for God's Covenant land and people by those who identify as a part of the
today's church.
The Christian Post states, "Seventy-seven
percent of evangelicals, ages 65 and older, say they support the existence,
security and prosperity of Israel, according to a Life Way Research
survey. But only 58 percent of evangelicals ages 18 to 34 say the same."
The various articles indicate that young people are
focused on social justice now. There is a perception that the Palestinians
are "downtrodden, persecuted, and mistreated," and therefore,
sympathy is towards them. Israel is the "occupier."
Adding to the survey were Joel Rosenberg and Chosen
People Ministries. Rosenberg stated, "Unless the church gives younger
believers a healthy, balanced, solidly biblical understanding of God's love and
plan for Israel, overall evangelical support for the Jewish state could very
well plummet over the next decade as Millennials represent an ever-larger
percentage of the overall church body."
So who or what is to blame? May I suggest some of the
following?
Pastors rarely teach or preach on the topic and thus it is
not deemed as relevant. How can young people understand an issue if it is
ignored?
·
Dispensationalism is in decline. This theology
emphasizes the important and distinct roles of both Israel and the Church.
·
Replacing Dispensationalism are the troubling
theologies known as Kingdom Now or Dominionism, Amillennialism, Replacement
Theology, Christian Palestinianism, Preterism, and more. None of these will
give Israel her proper biblical or end-time role. The emphasis will be on the
church.
·
Many popular teachers and leaders mislead on
issues relating to Israel and eschatology. Some of these include Dr. John
Piper, Lynne Hybels, Hank Hanegraaff, Russell Moore, Rick Warren, Rick Wiles,
Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, Brian MacLaren, and most postmodern
and Emergent teachers. Men like Andy Stanley tell people to "unhitch from
the Old Testament." How's that for de-emphasizing Israel's role?? Most of
the Word of Faith/prosperity teachers and almost all of the New
Apostolic Reformation promote Kingdom Now/Dominionism which does not
teach Israel's rightful role in the future. Again, these theologies place
more emphasis on the church.
·
The destructive "Boycott, Divest,
Sanction" (BDS) movement has infected all of the Mainline Protestants.
They want to strangle Israel's economy and thus "crush the
occupation." The entire World Council of Churches has signed onto
BDS.
Lynne Hybels at Christ
at the Checkpoint
Events like "Christ at the Checkpoint" have
painted Israel as the Mideast villain and bully rather than the one free
society in that region. Prominent evangelicals and social justice promoters
such as Lynne Hybels speak at this event. So do Tony Campolo, Gary Burge,
Jim Wallis, Hank Hanegraaff, Shane Claiborne, and others who attract younger
followers.
·
Periodicals for young people such as Relevant
Magazine have turned into anti-Israel propaganda.
Relevant Mag cover
· Youth
events such as the Catalyst Conference and the Justice Conference
regularly feature anti-Israel speakers, Palestinians, and speakers with
off-base eschatology. Marxist Cornell West is a regular at the Justice
Conference. These are targeting evangelical youth. Lynne Hybels has made
the youth conference circuit, even bashing Israel's wall of protection that has
reduced Palestinian terrorism over 90%.
·
Social justice is no longer just an issue for
the religious Left. If you visit the website of the National Association of
Evangelicals, you will find 65 articles about social justice! Type that
into their search engine.
·
Anti-Israel films like "Little Town of
Bethlehem" was shown at 360 venues in 2010 including dozens of college
campuses. Again, it beat the mantra of the Israeli "occupation" and
focused on the Israeli soldiers who enforce it.
Christianity Today says that at best, young
evangelicals are "indifferent about Israel." With such a non-stop
barrage of anti-Israel propaganda, how can young minds sort through fiction
to find the facts?
The Israeli newspaper Ha-aretz
is running an article that states that young evangelicals don't
have the automatic support for Israel that their parents had. This is a
generation that is suspicious of anything that is presented without
explanation. They don't want to be political pawns. They don't adopt
automatic views and positions. In order to connect them to Israel, we need to
make a case for why they should support it. Future U.S. policy towards
Israel is at stake!
All of this is happening as new and young members of the
U.S. Congress, including one radical Muslim from Minnesota -- Rep. Ilhan Omar
-- are taking a strong anti-Israel stand. Their anti-Semitism is not even
subtle. How many younger people will Rep. Omar, Rep. Tlaib, and Rep.
Ocasio-Cortez influence in the wrong direction?
While people, both young and old, can be disloyal and change
sides, "He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps."
(Psalm 121) God's love and protection will never waiver for His covenant land
and people.
How odd of God,
To choose the
Jews;
But not as odd,
as those who choose,
The Jewish God,
but spurn the Jews.
Awaiting His return,
Jan Markell
____________________
Introducing Markell’s Decline of Interest in Israel
Jan Markell
____________________
Introducing Markell’s Decline of Interest in Israel
John R. Houk, Editor
Intro © February 21, 2019
_____________________
A Disturbing Trend: Does
Anybody Care?
You may pass on these items or have people sign up on
our website. You can access our radio programming from the
last year at Complete Archives. Programming goes back to 2010 at One Place.
Also see the website for other options to catch the program, "Understanding
the Times."
Jan Markell founded Olive Tree Ministries in the 1980s to
teach believers how to be watchmen on the wall and understand the times from a
biblical perspective. She is the author of 8 books with the major Christian
publishing houses. She has also produced a dozen DVDs, some of them aired on
Sky Angel. Her popular radio program is hearing on over 800 radio
stations across North America. She hosts the largest Bible prophecy conference
in America.
Olive Tree Ministries, Inc.
Box 1452
Maple Grove, MN 55311-6452
763-559-4444 or 763-210-8291
Box 1452
Maple Grove, MN 55311-6452
763-559-4444 or 763-210-8291
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. There's
ReplyDeleteno doubt that that you should publish more about this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but typically
folks don't discuss these issues. To the next! Best wishes!!