THE CHOSEN Volume XXV, Issue 1 PEOPLE February 2019 ANTISEMITISM TODAY ANTI-ZIONISM AND ANTISEMITISM | COMPASSION AND THE IMAGE OF ISRAEL | HEBREWS BIBLE STUDY Anti-Zionism and Antisemitism Dear friend in the Messiah, Anti-Zionism and Shalom. I pray the Lord is blessing your life, Antisemitism family, and ministry so far in 2019! We are Of course, the picture is not entirely dark. We already enjoying the celebration of our 125th rejoice in the establishment of modern Israel as year of faithful ministry for the Lord among a sovereign nation and home for the Jewish the Jewish people. I hope you will join our people. The State of Israel rose out of the ashes celebration by attending one of our of the Holocaust to provide the Jewish people 125th-anniversary conferences or events. with a safe haven and a bastion of protection You can see the entire list by visiting against antisemitism. chosenpeople.com/125years. Although God’s choice of the promised land is Antisemitism: ancient and rooted in the Scriptures The Oldest Hatred (Genesis 15:18–21), the vision for the modern State of Israel is the fruit of the Zionist Allow me to open my heart to you. Like many movement founded in the late 19th century FROM THE others, I was badly shaken when, on the and led by the great Viennese journalist Sabbath day of October 27, 2018, the horrible Theodor Herzl. Yet, this love for Zion is not PRESIDENT murders of eleven Jewish people in Pittsburgh new. It has been the cherished hope of both grabbed our attention and directed it to the Jews and Christians for centuries because of growing problem of modern and murderous the prophetic biblical teaching describing the antisemitism. Antisemitism, called “the oldest return of the Jewish people to the land of hatred,” has been around for thousands of promise found throughout the Old Testament years. And today it seems to be intensifying. (Ezekiel 36:22–34). Social commentators, both within and outside In fact, some of the earliest and greatest of the Jewish community, have many theories supporters of the Zionist movement were about this, but they leave out what I believe is Christian Zionists who took the Bible literally. the most critical reason They fervently of all. Antisemitism is believed the Jewish the devil’s invention! people would return to When God called the land of Israel. Abram to be the father Yet, today we see a of His chosen people (Genesis 12:1–3), Satan rising tide of made the Jewish people Christians who do not the target of his fury. believe that the The evil one has tried to Live News Mark Kerrison/Alamy foundations of annihilate the Jewish Zionism and the people in every age and modern State of Israel in endless ways to established in 1948 are prevent God from using biblical. In light of the us as His instruments of growing criticism of redemption through the Israel among some Jewish Messiah. We September 2018: Campaign in London on the day on Christians and the know the devil will not which the Labor party NEC was expected to adopt the hierarchies of their prevail, although that IHRA definition and examples of antisemitism. churches, the question does not prevent him I want us to consider from continuing to try. briefly is whether we Sadly, one of his ugliest tactics has been to believe anti-Zionism and, in particular, use the Church to promote the hatred of Christian anti-Zionism, is antisemitic in Jewish people. nature. 2 The Chosen People | FEBRUARY 2019 Can we equate anti-Zionism with antisemitism? Our younger generation was born years after the Holocaust I would suggest the answer is sometimes yes, especially when and the founding of the State of Israel, and they do not have the same theological or emotional sympathies as those who those opposed to the State of Israel support the BDS (Boycott, were born closer to this time period. They did not grow up Divestment, and Sanctions) movement 1 and groups like during the days when a much larger coalition of Arab nations Students for Justice in Palestine, which harass and persecute tried to destroy Israel or when groups like the Palestinian Israeli speakers on university campuses across America and Liberation Organization murdered Israeli athletes and began around the globe. terrorist attacks within Israel. It is hard for some to The answer is also sometimes no! Some Christians simply do understand why Israel has been so careful to protect the not interpret the Bible as teaching that the land of Israel Jewish people within her borders. ultimately belongs to the Jewish people. This is unfortunate, This has been difficult for Israeli leaders. There is a mistaken but should not necessarily be equated with antisemitism. understanding that followers of Jesus who believe God gave However, when criticism of Israel specifically leads to hateful the land of Israel to the Jewish people also support every language and actions directed toward Israelis, and Jewish decision that Israeli politicians make. This is false. All leaders people in general, then I believe the line is crossed. are human and capable of mistakes. Israel is not a perfect This is when anti-Zionism becomes antisemitism! country! They have made mistakes. I am hoping that Bible believers will Our Response carefully study the Scriptures and to Anti-Zionism conclude that at the heart of biblical Zionism is the understanding that God Again, we ask the question, Is anti- gave the land of Israel to the Jewish Zionism antisemitic (especially the people. It is a land to be shared among Christian version of anti-Zionism)? In RosaIreneBetancourt 10 / Alamy Stock Photo all her inhabitants since Israel was order to answer this question, we must chosen to bless the nations of the begin with a clear definition of biblical world (Genesis 12:3, Isaiah 44:8). And Zionism, which is sometimes it is a land and a people to be loved, misunderstood, especially by the prayed for (Psalm 122:6), and reached Christian anti-Zionists who might be with the gospel message. more influenced by culture than by The negative spillover of anti-Zionism what they read in the Bible. is impacting the view of many toward Biblical Zionism holds that God gave the Jewish people within and outside of Israel. When embraced, this critical the land of Israel to the Jewish people Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial Israel Solidarity Rally. through an unconditional, irrevocable attitude toward Israel can easily, and covenant made between Himself and our forefather, Abraham, unfortunately, lead to antisemitism. as found in many chapters of Genesis (12, 15, 17, 22, 35). The belief that God gave the land of Israel to the Jewish If Anyone Should Oppose All Forms people is still well-accepted by the majority of Christians in of Antisemitism, It Should Be US! the United States, as shown by a recent survey of evangelicals (sponsored by Chosen People Ministries and Joel Rosenberg Recently, Jeremy Sharon and Sara Rubenstein, writing for the and implemented by LifeWay Research,) entitled Evangelical Jerusalem Post, reported on the European Jewish Congress Attitudes Toward Israel and the Peace Process. held in November 2018. It was sponsored by the Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, who initiated the development of The Survey reports that over 80 percent believe the Abrahamic a Catalogue of Policies to Combat Antisemitism. The Covenant continues, and over 80 percent also see the 32-year-old chancellor was quoted as saying, establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948 as the fulfillment of prophecy.2 “Antisemitism and anti-Zionism are getting blurred, but they are two sides of the same coin.” 4 Yet, according to Bob Smietana, who reported on the data discovered by this survey, negativity toward Israel and the He recommended the following actions, hope of Zion seems to be influencing the younger generation The recommendations, which it is hoped will be adopted by of Christians. the EU and by national governments, include adopting the Older American evangelicals love Israel—but many younger International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working evangelicals simply don’t care, according to a new survey Definition of Antisemitism; the appointment by EU from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. Three-quarters countries of a special commissioner for combating (77 percent) of evangelicals 65 and older say they support antisemitism; a commitment of a percentage of GDP the existence, security and prosperity of Israel. That drops to annually to fighting antisemitism; barring antisemites from 58 percent among younger evangelicals, those 18 to 34.3 political parties and public office; committing financial and The Chosen People | FEBRUARY 2019 3 other resources to guaranteeing security for Jewish communities in Europe; making Internet companies liable for antisemitic content on their platforms; and advising companies not to do business with countries or organizations that support antisemitism in any way.5 Kurz added, Fighting antisemitism deserves much more than simple statements of good will—we need concrete policies and 6 reinforced legislation. Operation Good Neighbor. Israeli Commander comforts a Syrian baby. Photo, IDF Oh, how I hope the Church will take the lead on encouraging the above! How can we possibly reach Jewish people for Jesus The Importance of without cultivating a love for all Jewish people, including Israelis, and to have a tender heart toward Compassion and the Zion? This is my prayer for you in this New Year, that God would give you the same heart as the Apostle Paul, Image of Israel who wrote in Romans 10:1, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” Christians are commanded to reach the world for Jesus according Opposing antisemitism may be a crucial first step in to passages such as Matthew 28:19–20 and Acts 1:8.