Volume 22 Issue 4 www.lightofmessiah.org April 2014

Itching Ears???

esus and the Apostle Paul of . Their massive annual budget, did not hesitate to expose, mostly funded by evangelical Chris- confront, and bring to light tians, goes to politically stand with Is- the truth about people rael as a nation and fight anti-Semitism, who were either teaching both very important and worthy causes. false doctrine or endanger- However, there are problems of which ing Jthe cause of the proclamation of the every Christian should be made aware. Gospel. Of course Jesus’ main targets were the Jewish religious elite of His day who Christians United for Israel is a political put religion in front of the truth of God. organization and not evangelistic. Not only do they avoid a proclamation of the The of Jesus’ day built rules and reg- gospel to the Jewish people, John Hagee ulations around Judaism that created barri- does not believe Jewish people need Je- ers to knowing God personally and through sus to go to heaven. Of course John Hagee Wanting to be like Jesus and Paul to would never overtly admit to this but it does faith. It was not the law that Jesus attacked the best of my ability I feel it necessary (after all Jesus was the author of the law) not take a theological scholar to understand to address some of the issues, give my his position. His ministry would not exist if but the misappropriation of the law by take, and even give warning to those of the religious leaders. We are all power- he proclaimed the message of Jesus to the you who care about our ministry to the Jewish people. They would not support him. less (religious or not) to follow God’s law Jewish community as well as who care righteously. That’s why Jesus came as about the truth of God’s Holy Word. the Jewish Messiah to the Jewish people. When John Hagee began CUFI he made an agreement with the Jewish communi- There is a bit of a danger on my part ty in that if they joined him The Apostle Paul indicted those who put from giving warnings about other min- law before grace and faith; and also those for a Night To Honor Israel he would istry leaders in my prayer letter. How- guarantee there would be no evangeliza- who were in doctrinal error. In his battle ever, I have given my life to reach for the truth of the gospel and the procla- tion of them by CUFI then or ever. He Jewish people with the message of would never have gotten his overwhelming mation thereof, he corrected, reproved, Jesus. And danger to that desire and even condemned those with whom he support by the Jewish community unless and vision is a danger that needs he made that agreement with them. The had differences. He would separate him- to be exposed even if there is a cost. self from people if the situation required proclamation of Jesus to and for the Jewish community is forbidden by CUFI at any it, and at the same time lovingly pleaded There are two organizations that are with those in error to turn from their ways of their events. Jesus is not lifted up to the funded mostly by Christians who have Jewish people. Even more tragically his and back to the truth. Paul even said that a heart for Israel and the Jewish peo- some preach the gospel with pretense, underlying Scripture passage from Isaiah, ple who do damage to the cause for “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,” is but that whether in pretense or in truth he which I work. Those organizations was glad that Jesus was being proclaimed. a passage about bringing the truth to the are Christians United for Israel led Jewish people, something that is withheld by John Hagee and The Interna- from them by Christians United for Israel. I am in a difficult position in Jewish min- tional Fellowship of Christians and istry. More people in the Christian Led by Yechiel Eckstein. world are capitalizing on the Middle For the sake of my people I will not remain East conflict, the study of Jewish roots, silent. My people need to hear the truth John Hagee, who began Christians about Jesus. Christians United for Israel the plight of underprivileged Jewish United for Israel in San Antonio people in other parts of the world, and does not help our cause. Attention and sup- TX in 1978, is a powerful supporter port is directed away from the proclamation “prophetic” events to build their min- of the State of Israel. His organiza- istries and organizations. And many of the Gospel in the direction of support of tion is the largest organization calling the Land and people (again worthy causes). Christians are buying into it, some of it itself Christian (although organiza- real, some of it hype, and some of it dan- tions are not Christian only people are) gerous to the cause of Jewish evangelism. The International Fellowship of Christians that stands politically with the State and Jews is an organization that does hu- Page 2 Light of Messiah Ministries manitarian work in Israel and advertises • Investigate the ministries you sup- themselves as fulfilling prophecy by tak- port. This should be a no brainer. ing Jewish people and flying them to Is- However millions of dollars are do- rael out of Russia and then giving them nated by well meaning Christians humanitarian aid. There is a great need who do not investigate the organiza- for humanitarian support of Jewish people tion that they support. Sometimes in Israel. But at what cost to the Gospel? money is not being used for the in- tended purpose or even worse, is being The director of the International use for the opposite of the intention. Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), Yechiel Eckstein, is a Jew- • Be very wary (not paranoid) of any ish non-believer in Jesus and is ve- group teaching Jewish roots, or us- hemently opposed to the proclama- ing Israel, the Jewish people, or ho- tion of the gospel to the Jewish people. the cause of the gospel of Jesus to the locaust survivors to raise funds. Its Jewish people to consider the enor- kind of humorous I would warn you In an article in on Octo- mous cost of getting embroiled in other about ministries teaching Jewish roots ber 21st, 2010 he says, “I have always had causes, no matter how good, that dis- because I do! However we teach Jew- one red line: that I would never work with tract from the message of Jesus to the ish roots for the specific purpose of any group involved in missionary activity Jewish people, or to any people. We are helping Christians pray for the Jew- targeting the Jewish community,” insists surely called as believers in Jesus to help ish people as well as equipping gentile Eckstein. “However, if there are groups that the poor, care for the homeless, take care believers to more effectively share Je- believed in the end of days or that all the of the widow and orphan, and provide sus with their Jewish friends in a cul- Jewish will eventually turn to Jesus, but in for those in need. However, if we neglect turally relevant way. It’s a way we do the meantime they see it as their obligation the message of Jesus in the process, we evangelism and proclaim the gospel. to share with us a love for Israel, then that are no better than the world around us. is acceptable to me. I still have my red lines • Please call us for direction. We receive today and I will never work with groups like Our ministry is committed to one thing. calls almost every day from Christians Jews for Jesus or Messianic community.”… We are here to bring truth to the Jew- researching other Jewish ministries ish people and to believers in Jesus who and Messianic congregations. We are Yechiel Eckstein raises hundreds of mil- care about the Jewish people and Israel. here to point you in the right direction. lions of dollars a year from well mean- So what is a Christian to do? There is a ing evangelical Christians who want to dilemma. Let me give you some ideas. I have written this letter to give informa- help the poor and underprivileged in tion not to tell you where to give your sup- Israel. I was recently speaking to a Chris- • Support Jewish evangelism first. port. I hope the challenge has been given tian lady who did not know either that Our first and primary calling is to graciously. I care about my Jewish people Yechiel Eckstein was not a believer in Je- take Jesus to those who need Him. and about Israel. But most importantly we sus, that he was opposed to the Gospel to Please give this letter to anyone sup- stand for the proclamation of the gospel the Jewish people, or that he supports ef- porting CUFI or IFCJ. If they are not “to the Jew first and also to the gentile.” Ro- forts to undermine ministries like ours who supporting a ministry actively shar- mans 1:16 Thank you for standing with us. share Jesus with the Jewish community. ing Jesus with Jewish people they should be. If you are supporting one Thank You!! Over the course of our conversation we of these organizations please recon- figured that over the past 10 years with sider sending support to a mission, his annual budget nearly a billion dollars like ours. Then if you want to support The signs of the times point people to has been raised to bring Russian Jewish a ministry doing benevolence work in matters of eternal significance. Jewish people to Israel and to help poor people Israel our ministry has suggestions. people are asking questions. We are helping in the land of Israel. I asked her how many to answer them. Your prayers and financial flights would a billion dollars buy and if the support make our ministry possible. money was being used effectively why the same infomercial is being shown on Chris- How to Contact Us As always, thank you for caring enough, and tian television and the Fox News Channel. trusting us enough, to send us back to the Light of Messiah Ministries Jewish people with the love of the Lord. The answer is obvious. Yechiel Eck- stein is an expert fund raiser and many P.O. Box 501179 unaware Christians take the bait. Can Atlanta, GA 31150 In His service, God use it for His glory? Of course! Phone: 770-642-4706 But oh that some of that well-mean- Fax: 770-642-0319 ing support would go to the advance- Murray Tilles...for the staff ment of the Gospel to the Jewish people! E-mail: [email protected] Light of Messiah Ministries lightofmessiah.org I would ask everyone who supports