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Posted on 02/20/2012 5:07:43 AM PST by SJackson
The Evangelical Left is hosting a “Christ at the Checkpoint” jamboree at the birthplace of Jesus Christ to identify the Savior with Palestinian liberation. This anti-Israeli mobilization will include leading evangelicals from the U.S.
“We are not accusing the Israeli military of putting Jesus at a checkpoint,” insists one disingenuous spokesman, who complains that “some” critics will incomprehensibly interpret it that way. “This is a conference about empowering the Palestinian church.” If so, then why is the conference not less provocatively titled?
Palestinian politicians are often accused of speaking sweetly about peace and co-existence in English to Western audiences but far more stridently in Arabic to their own constituency. Perhaps that same spirit afflicts organizers and defenders of Christ at the Checkpoint.
Another spokesman for Christ at the Checkpoint promises it will challenge the “theology of the land” and the “end times” beliefs of pro-Israel Christians, while advocating a “theology of peace.” But will this theology of peace also challenge Islamists and Palestinian nationalists who reject Israel’s existence or any future for Jews or Christians outside of subjugation?
Major U.S. speakers at the March 5-9 Checkpoint event in Bethlehem include evangelist Tony Campolo (former spiritual counselor to Bill Clinton), Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter (board member of National Association of Evangelicals and spiritual counselor to President Obama), Chicago megachurch co-founder Lynne Hybels of Willow Creek Community, and popular religious campus anti-war activist Shane Claiborne of The Simple Way in Philadelphia.
Church of England priest and anti-Israel activist Stephen Sizer will also speak, as will Porter Speakman, Colorado producer of the anti-Israel film for evangelicals “With God on Our Side,” plus Gary Burge of evangelical Wheaton College outside Chicago. So too will Ron Sider of Evangelicals for Social Action and Chris Seiple of the Institute for Global Engagement, along with Sang-Bok David Kim, chair of the World Evangelical Alliance.
Christ at the Checkpoint’s official purpose is help evangelicals to seek “peace, justice, and reconciliation” by empowering the Palestinian church and exposing the “realities of the injustices in the Palestinian Territories,” while also challenging Christian Zionism.
“Some have accused the conference as being part of a process of demonization of state of Israel,” admitted conference organizer Alex Awad of Bethlehem Bible College, who is also a missionary supported by the United Methodist Church. “I totally and absolutely reject this accusation,” he declared, insisting Christ at the Checkpoint merely wants Israelis and Palestinians to “live in peace and harmony.” Awad further clarified: “We are not anti-Semitic, we are not against Jewish people.” But he admitted: “There may be some criticism of Israel.” No doubt!
Awad implored that criticism of Israel not equate with anti-Semitism. Perhaps this appeal would be more persuasive if Christ at the Checkpoint includes serious criticism of Palestinian authorities and attitudes that persist in denying Israel’s right to exist. And this event would truly convey its desire for “peace” and “reconciliation” if it condemned not just evangelical and Jewish pro-Israel theologies but also critiqued Islamist theology asserting that conquered Islamic lands may never revert to non-Islamic control. But don’t hold your breath. In the mindset of many Christ at the Checkpoint organizers and speakers, a Texas Baptist who believes God still blesses the Jews is more morally culpable for Mideast conflict than a Hamas-supporting Islamist in Nasrallah who believes Allah wants to drive the Jews into the Sea.
“Absolutely this conference will not advocate replacement theology,” Awad also promised, referring to the belief by some Christians that the Church has completely replaced the Jews in God’s eyes. He added: “But there may be some people in this conference who present this point of view.” Again, no doubt. Awad declared of his own Bethlehem Bible College, which is hosting the event: “We don’t believe God replaces people.”
Awad further explained that Christ at the Checkpoint is simply inviting the international community to come see “our situation” by looking at the “wall,” the “siege,” and the “settlements.” In other words, to examine Israeli injustices but not examine why Israel is unable fully to withdraw when Palestinians are unwilling to accept Israel. The event will not “impose a solution,” Award promised, but is only hosting theologians to “pray and meditate.” And then the Holy Spirit will lead them into “solutions.” After all, the event has no “agenda.”
Another defender featured on the Christ Checkpoint website promised the event will not offer any “political solutions,” whether “two-state” or “one-state,” i.e. the abolition of Israel as a Jewish democracy. Instead it only urges “equality for all.” Still another defender explained the event was about how to expand the “Kingdom of God among the Palestinians.” But the conference schedule seems heavy on political and social critique and very little on the topics of evangelism and discipleship that typically characterize church conferences focused on expanding the “Kingdom of God.”
A young Palestinian Christian spokesman for Christ at the Checkpoint explained: “We would like to bring Christ to the reality we face.” But that reality focuses exclusively on purported political liberation of Palestinians from Israeli occupation. It is mainly a variant of the liberation theology of the 1970s and 1980s that replaced Christian beliefs about salvation with Marxist demands for political revolution.
“Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah were quite critical of the behavior of ancient Israel and yet, Biblical scholars do not classify them as demonizers of Israel,” explained Alex Awad in his ongoing defense of Christ at the Checkpoint. So the U.S. evangelicals swarming to Bethlehem largely to criticize Israel and stay mum about Palestinian problems are successors to the prophetic Hebrew tradition of Jeremiah and Isaiah.
American evangelicals are overwhelmingly pro-Israel, not just for idiosyncratic theological reasons. Like most Americans, they notice Israel is democratic and pro-American, offering tolerance to religious minorities, including Christians. Meanwhile, most of Israel’s neighbours are not. Current Palestinian rulers offer little hope that their victory over Israel would advance justice for anyone, much less the tiny and dwindling Palestinian Christian minority.
Christ at the Checkpoint is primarily a public relations scheme to dissuade American evangelicals from pro-Israel views. To succeed, they will have to mount blinders on cooperatively gullible evangelicals, guiding their eyes towards disruptive Israeli checkpoints, while hiding the rest of the surrounding reality.
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Article printed from FrontPage Magazine: http://frontpagemag.com
URL to article: http://frontpagemag.com/2012/02/20/christ-at-an-israeli-checkpoint-2/
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These bozos should try this in Saudi Arabia - see how long they last!
Why am I not surprised? Hybels also. Sheesh!
How do people claiming to be Christians end up working on behalf of Satan?
“Jesus Christ to identify the Savior with Palestinian liberation”
Such is the nonsense of idiot liberal “theology” including some idiot churches around the world, including the USA.
The REAL Jesus Christ returns to save the Remnant of Israel from the Antichrist-led world that gathers together to try and destroy her.
Zechariah 12:1-3, 14:1-5, Revelation 19
This kind of nonsense is setting up the false peace of Daniel 8:23-25, 11:37-39 where Israel is divided for “peace”.
The screams and hollers for “Palestinian justice” will create a Palestinian state. The man who brokers a 7-year peace deal is the Antichrist. You can take that to the bank.
This idiocy will continue until the Abomination that causes Desolation is birthed. It is so prophesied in Scripture.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24:14-16&version=KJV
Matthew 24:14-16 King James Version (KJV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2013:14-15&version=KJV
Mark 13:14-15 King James Version (KJV)
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
IT has been well suggested that the 1st Beast is great political corruption and the 2nd Beast is corruption within the Church.
What a shock. How surprised they will be when not only their beloved "Palestinians", but all the Arab nations which surround Israel are destroyed in the Psalm 83 campaign.
It is so foolish and destructive to declare war on God and be an enemy of His. I just don't understand why people continue to choose that path.
Jeremiah and the ancient prophets were critical of the Children of Israel and their kingdoms. Therefore, anyone who criticizes Israel, even unfairly, is a latter-day prophet. The founding fathers fought against English imperial rule. Therefore, anyone who attacks and Englishman is like the founding fathers. How to exemplify the great men of old: Remove rationale, mimic superficial actions, dare anyone to contradict self-congratulatory comparison.
Yes the First Beast Antichrist is a political leader, also worshiped as a “messiah”, essentially. (verse 4)
The Second Beast False Prophet is a “religious” leader who causes the world to create and worship images of the First Beast Antichrist. (verses 11-18)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2013&version=KJV
Here is Wisdom (for lurkers as well)
Revelation 13 King James Version (KJV)
1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The hour is late and the Day approaches.
And as the Days of Noah an Lot were, so shall it be in the days of the Coming of the Son of Man.
fyi
Don’t forget that it was Satan quoting the Scriptures while he tried to tempt Jesus. Nobody knows the Bible as well as he.
Useful Idiot news
How blasphemous to politicize the image of Christ for political gain.
Oops. He was a Jew of the tribe of Yehudah - ben David no less - not a descendant of Esau. These pseudo “Christians” need to read the book of Obadiah.
Christ IS at the checkpoints.
Some of the Israeli soldiers manning them are Orthodox Christians!
Yet another liberal protestant FAIL!!!!
Please - don’t make us bring up the liberal non-protestants.
They claim the name of ‘Christ’ over this anti-Semetic rubish? End days deception...
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
If I were satan in a contest with God for the souls of men, my first avenue of infiltration would be the churches.
Mr. Campolo is a false teacher. Anyone listening to this guy is blinded.
One example among many:
“Beyond these models of reconciliation, a theology of mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions but have much in common with each other.”
-Tony Campolo
(Page 149, Speaking My Mind)
Heretic Quotes From Tony Campolo:
http://battle4truth.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/heretic-quotes-from-tony-campolo/
“The Evangelical Left is hosting a “Christ at the Checkpoint” jamboree at the birthplace of Jesus Christ to identify the Savior with Palestinian liberation”
Liberation theology is NOT Christian. It VERY clearly “misses the mark” with regard to the GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!
These views are not consistent with evangelical Christianity as I know and practice it. Time for a new term. EINO? Or maybe just sell outs.
The Evangelical Left is hosting a "Christ at the Checkpoint" jamboree at the birthplace of Jesus Christ to identify the Savior with Palestinian liberation.That'll work for David Duke fans and other skinheads.
It is good to see Stephen Sizer and Gary Burge correctly identified with the Evangelical Left.
EMpowerment is a communist code word. You have to be within their circle to exactly know what it means.
The church is woman, and empowerment is a dark force, force for its own sake, collectivism and corruption as a condition for entrance gain into any education, business or government position. It's a blood oath of raping for sake of countering the rapist, the way communists want to replace the absolute power of the Tsar with the absolute power of the communist, instead of letting people free.
REvolution is satanism, it is about absolute power, a beast, and it is not about freedom or leaving people alone, it is about gaining a seat of power, musical chair style.
Pigasteinian feed fest.
I stand corrected.
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Don't tell our President or his Reverend, J. Wright, who made the ten top antisemites of 2011 list. The only American, quite an accomplishment.
From high heels to military drillsAnna King, 20, puts off promising modeling career abroad to don army uniform, become Hummer operator. Jerusalem-born model is one of only 100 Christians serving in IDF
~Yaron Sasson
Khaki is the new black: Some prefer easy money and the glitzy cat walk, while others opt for grease, sand and military uniform. At this very moment, Anna King – a Christian model from Jerusalem – could have been on the line between New York and Beijing, skipping from photo shoots to runway shows. But King chose to become a Hummer operator at the national center for ground forces training (MALI).
King was born 20 year ago in Jerusalem. Her grandfather is a member of the ascetic Amish sect, and the deep love for Israel was bestowed on her by her parents, who met during a Christian festival that was held in Israel.
Her father established the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem – an organization that supports Israel and encouraged wider Christian understanding of Biblical Zionism.
During her high school studies, King got an offer that changed her life. “I went to get a haircut with my mother,” she recalls. “The barber and his wife, who designs wedding dresses, asked me if I modeled. They said it was good money and showed me some catalogs.”
King began her modeling career shooting evening and wedding gowns for a local catalog; shortly thereafter, she signed a contract with a modeling agency.
“When I got my enlistment order I was contemplating whether to stay in Israel,” King admits.
“They wanted me to model for another big catalog and offered to fly me to Beijing and the United States and sign me on a big modeling contract,” she adds.
‘Gun shells in pocket’
But despite the great temptation, King decided to complete her military service. “I know that modeling offers good money, but it was important for me to enlist. My parents didn’t think I would go through with it, but they supported me.
“During basic training I would come home with stacks of gun shells in my pocket. My mom was mortified, but she slowly got used to it,” King notes.
Currently, King is one of some 100 Christians serving in the IDF. After completing her basic training at the southern Zeelim military base, King was given the position of a Hummer operator.
Although she is a self-proclaimed “spoiled only child,” King’s army service is far from pampering. “Drills can last from midnight until the first hours of the morning, and sometimes we can sleep a whole week in a pup tent,” she said.
In six months, after she completes 20 months of military service, King will receive her Israeli citizenship. Shortly thereafter, she will be released from the IDF, and would be able to switch back from camouflage to makeup.
Were Jesus to attempt to attend this "checkpoint" demonstration, as a Jew it would be a problem.
Heck, try a pro-Israel demonstration in Bethlehem and see what happens.
I suspect the President considers Jeremiah Wright a prophet of sorts.
He certainly has proven profitable to him.
Though in a white neighborhood, not to be confused with the White House his parishoner lives in.
Of course the White House belongs to all of us, the Wright house belongs to Jeremiah.
The Obama house
isn't up to the standards of an Emporer. Although I like it.
It’s her family that hosts a Feast of Tabernacles event each year in Jerusalem
ICEJ -Feast of Tabernacles Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjdetBBMtik&list=UUzyM02j2JslVcfOWRVmskoA&index=24&feature=plcp
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