On Christian Zionists and the NYJW’s James BesserResponding to my recent Slate article on Christian Zionism, the New York Jewish Week’s Washington correspondent expresses concern over theology. I reply below.
James -
Thank you for your compliments.
I have to agree wholeheartedly with your closing sentiments, that it’s a mistake for Jews of all stripes not to engage in real dialogue with Christian Zionists, whether partnering with them or not.
I disagree in part with your assertions about Christian Zionists’ theology. I agree that it should be investigated, but I disagree with some of the conclusions you’re drawing. You write of several of their beliefs that give you pause: “that the “Second Coming” is coming soon, that a restored Israel is part of the prophetic scenario, that there will be tremendous “end time” battles that won’t be good for Israel or the Jews.”
I agree that all of those beliefs are held by a great many Christian Zionists, but think the difference between you and I here is on whether we think that matters. There’s nothing inherent in the combination of those three statements that suggests advocacy for Israel is tied to End Times theology. I know from covering the Jewish world that a great many distinct beliefs and assumptions can be maintained in one person’s mind without there necessarily being any practical connection between them.
In my experience covering the Christian world, I’ve found very similar delineations. For most of the Christian Zionists, that delineation seems to keep the “End Times” and “Israel advocacy” ideas segregated. Neither is necessary or influenced by the other, though both beliefs are maintained simultaneously.
And I think that’s both predictable and pragmatic: there’s probably no faith that could believe those things work with each other and also be able to maintain a consistent and broad political advocacy; another recent Slate article, about Christian Reconstructionism, outlines the consequences of mixing some of those beliefs together, and they are: a conflict with the most popular understandings of the Constitution and drop in the universality of the religious appeal. This makes it difficult for such a political movement to gain steam, and is why, I’d estimate, such a movement can’t thrive.
So, there’s both positive and a negative proof for why I think Christian Zionists have successfully segregated those beliefs: their statements tend to suggest they have, and their lack of advocacy along the lines of the Christian Zionists suggests they’re not acting upon similar beliefs.
You raise another, very important point regarding political advocacy:
How will they relate to an Israel that seems on the road to a comprehensive, negotiated peace – should that day ever come? I hear a lot of mixed messages from the Christian Zionists I’ve talked to, and I can’t answer the question.
It’s possible we’ve had different experiences, and I hope you’ll share yours in more detail if they are, indeed, different. All the Christian Zionists I speak to aren’t seeking to meddle in Israel’s internal decisions or democratic systems. And the negative evidence for that — no intervention during any peace talks, agreements, or significant adjustments, from Oslo to Gaza withdrawal, to Camp David, to now — is significant.
I’ll close by again citing your closing, and saying we do, definitely need to see more dialogue and debate to understand this. Up until now, I think both of us have been disappointed by the lack of facts in whatever Jewish decisions have been made until now. Maybe our reporting can help to shed some more light.
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The core of Evangelical belief:
1. Only Christians who have personally accepted Jesus Christ go to heaven.
2. It is the responsibility of every Christian to spread the Word of Christ.
So Jews will not go to Heaven and Christians fail in their duty if they do not spread the Word.
Comment by waldo — August 27, 2010 @ 5:28 am