The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism
Written by Haitham Sabbah on 29. August 2006, 0047hrs // Part of Haitham Sabbah's adventure in Christianity, Israel, Judaism, Palestine, Religion, Zionism // Other posts by Haitham Sabbah
Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ’s love and justice today. We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation.
We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their unilateral pre-emptive borders and domination over Palestine. This inevitably leads to unending cycles of violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and the rest of the world.
We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by Jesus Christ. Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations!
We call upon Christians in Churches on every continent to pray for the Palestinian and Israeli people, both of whom are suffering as victims of occupation and militarism. These discriminative actions are turning Palestine into impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli settlements. The establishment of the illegal settlements and the construction of the Separation Wall on confiscated Palestinian land undermines the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and security in the entire region.
We call upon all Churches that remain silent, to break their silence and speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following principles as an alternative way:
We affirm that all people are created in the image of God. In turn they are called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their inalienable rights.
We affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are capable of living together within peace, justice and security.
We affirm that Palestinians are one people, both Muslim and Christian. We reject all attempts to subvert and fragment their unity.
We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of others.
We are committed to non-violent resistance as the most effective means to end the illegal occupation in order to attain a just and lasting peace.
With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.
God demands that justice be done. No enduring peace, security or reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued diligently and persistently but non-violently.
“What does the Lord require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
This is where we take our stand. We stand for justice. We can do no other. Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our Land. By standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace - and working for peace makes us children of God.
“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:19)
His Beattitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah
Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem
Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad,
Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal,
Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
Bishop Munib Younan,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
August 22, 2006
http://www.j-diocese.com/DiocesanNews/view.asp?selected=238#slbl238
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August 29th, 2006 at 1:41 am
Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land Hat tip Haitham Sabbah.
August 29th, 2006 at 2:38 am
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August 29th, 2006 at 4:30 am
yours isnt.
WTF
The Muslim God is the same God of everyone.
Can’t we all accept each other?
I guess not as long as Bush is looking for the Rapture!
August 29th, 2006 at 5:16 am
and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified w Read the rest
August 29th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism 3 [IMG Comment] [IMG Discuss live'n chat] Discuss live’n chat … [IMG Categories] Cat.: Palestine, Israel, Religion Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the
August 29th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
The full text of the Beatitudes:
The text of St. Matthew runs as follows:
* Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
* Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
* Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
* Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
* Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8 )
* Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
* Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)
Jesus also said, “And they shall know us by our deeds”
Christian Zionists, rather than relying on the teachings of Christ as their guidance in lifes, instead rely heavily on eschalogical teachings, primarily the book of Revelations which they believe offers the prediction and full scenario of the end times. In scholarly circles, it is widely acknowledged that the book of Revelations was written (John of Patmos, 96 AD)in response to early Christian persecution by Rome. Since it was written, it has been used by MANY to predict that the end-times are nigh. In addition to the book of Revelations, the Christian Zionists site other Bible verses in their support of the Zionists which are TOTALLY CONTRARY to the basic teachings of Christ both in the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule.
Christian Zionists also attach themselves totally to the Zionists quest to rebuild the Temple Mount http://www.templeinstitute.org/main.htm
Support of ANY brutality is 100% contrary to Christ’s teachings.
I offer this site, “Catholics and Muslims, Two Faiths, One God
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/YU/ay0502.asp as a very good explanation as to the connection between Christianity and Islam. And lest you think, “I’m not a Catholic, I’m an Evangelical or other such Christian” again I refer you back to Christ’s own teachings to love the other as ourselves as well as the teachings of the Beatitudes. If Christ’s teachings are not guiding you, but rather you are following a belief which supports the brutalization of other humans, themselves children of God as each an every human was created, then I suggest you are NOT following the teachings of Christ himself.
And Jesus will answer them, “Whatever you neglected to do unto one of these least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!”
Muslim Prayer for Peace
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations that we know each other, not that we may despise each other. If the enemy incline towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust God, for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things. And the servants of God, most gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address them, we say “PEACE”.
Ethic of reciprocity (Golden rule): “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Matthew 7:12 “Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Fourth Hadith of an-Nawawi 13
Christian Prayer for Peace
Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS, for they shall be known as the Children of God. But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those that curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To those that strike you on the cheek, offer the other one also, and from those who take away your cloak, do not withhold your coat as well. Give to everyone who begs from you, and of those who take away your goods, do not ask for them again. And as you with that others would do to you, do so to them.
To all my Muslim sisters and brothers, I wish for you peace and that soon, Inshallah, Palestine shall be free. In solidarity.
August 30th, 2006 at 4:00 am
Greetings for Chile.
I hope the peace for Palestine.
PALESTINA LIBRE AHORA!!!!
September 2nd, 2006 at 5:13 pm
[...] ork powerfully on Israel?s behalf, like Christian Zionists, are not Jewish(more about them here and here). It is not a cabal, a conspiracy, and the [...]
September 4th, 2006 at 6:35 am
This demonic document - the declaration of war against Christian Zionists - ought to be used as evidence by Israel to expel such sworn Arab enemies from the Holy Land. They clearly represent treacherous interests and misrepresent the REAL Jesus with their murderous hatred against Jews, the Promised Land of ISRAEL - the Jewish Homeland http://ezinearticles.com/?&id=99377 - and those Christian Zionists http://ezinearticles.com/?&id=285110 who know how the bloody RCC aids and abets terrorists instead of supporting God’s Word and Will.
What is so ironic is that the Vatican http://ezinearticles.com/?V&id=287598 will soon “inspire” the German-Jesuit Europe http://ezinearticles.com/?&id=159523 to wage war against Islam, wielding their dark power and influence over Germany (who dominates Europe). The EU will repel the crescent with the cross http://ezinearticles.com/?&id=165275.
September 12th, 2006 at 5:34 am
congratulations to the bishops,why isn’t this all over the media in Australia? it’s over to you now all you “christians” from the “west”, especialy the english speaking “christians”,speak up.sin no more.
April 20th, 2008 at 5:31 am
To see an excellent, hard-hitting exposure of Christian Zionism, Google “Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism.” A great read! Louise
August 31st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
First thought…
How can Muslims and Christians have the same God when they have two different names. Anyone who worships a God other than the Holy Trinity (The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) is worshipping a false God.
Second thought…
Aren’t we talking about the same God who told Abraham, whose family worshipped the moon, to “get thee away from thy kin folk” so that he could show Abraham that He was the true God, not the moon, stars, Alah, Mohammed and any other false God out there?
God is not pleased with those worshipping any other God than himself. Period. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”