Perhaps there is no more important conversation for the Christian community today than that of Christian Zionism, the idea that the modern
nation-state of Israel is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Articulated by evangelical leaders such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Hal Lindsay,
John Hagee, and Ralph Reed, Christian Zionism is a dangerous theology and interpretation of Scripture.
Christian Zionism claims to know how God's prophecy will be fulfilled, a proud and foolish claim for a community who claims Christ as fulfillment of
Hebrew Bible prophecy concerning the Messiah. Peter thought he had understood God's prophecy, too - that's why he drew his sword in the Garden of
Gethsemane. Christian Zionism also relegates the Church's status to irrelevance, the faithful Christian's only duty now to unconditionally support
the State of Israel so that God's prophecies will come true. If we must make God's prophecies come true, we can prevent them from coming true, thus
rendering Creation more powerful than the Creator, the ultimate in pride and folly. Christian Zionism also looks forward with glee to the final
battle, which will end in another Jewish Holocaust, all of them slaughtered except for the faithful remnant of 144,000.
The calling of the Christian is the calling to discipleship, to following Jesus Christ. Part of that calling is our solidarity with our brothers and
sisters in Christ in the land of his birth.
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