Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christians. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Christians plant trees in Israel’s biblical heartland. Israel365

Orly Gibson (Israel365 photo)

For Tu B’Shevat: Planting for Prayer
Christians plant trees in Israel’s biblical heartland

January 31, 2018 ---------- More than 100 Christians from around the world donated upwards of $10,000 in the two days leading up to Tu B’Shevat – the Jewish birthday of the trees – to “plant trees in the holy land and be blessed,” according to Tuly Weisz, founder and CEO of Israel365, whose charity fund spearheaded these efforts.

On January 30, the day before Israel marked the birthday of the trees with dried fruit ceremonies, Weisz and a small team of Jewish and Christian supporters planted olive trees in the West Bank settlement of Bat Ayin and the Jewish section of Hebron.

“Our Christian tree donors are not only looking to help fulfill biblical prophecy, but to strengthen the Jewish presence throughout the land of Israel,” said Weisz. “The orchards we planted in Bat Ayin are stopping the Palestinian land grab and fortifying the Jewish communities in Gush Etzion. The trees we planted at Maharat HaMachpela [the Cave of the Patriarchs] strengthen our roots in a place that Bible believers hold so dear.”

The Christian donors were told that the rabbi would pray for and bless them during the tree planting ceremonies. He not only did that, he allowed them to see it for themselves by broadcasting it on Facebook Live.

When Evangelical Christians started giving money to Israel 35 years ago, their money was not always welcomed, because their motives were questioned.

Today, however, it is widely accepted – and even celebrated – by the Israeli government that Christian Zionists pour hundreds of millions of dollars toward Israeli causes each year, including for settlement expansion. A 2009 report by National Public Radio said Christian Zionists are raising millions of dollars for the settlements, which critics view as an obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

These Christian Zionists, however, see it as their religious obligation to “bless those who bless you,” as it states in Genesis 12.

“Tears welled up in my eyes and I bowed my head down in prayer,” said Beth Madras, a Christian Zionist supporter from New York, about seeing her name read at the planting on Facebook. “I love Israel and Jerusalem with all my heart, and I pray for the people every day…I will be sure to do this year after year after year.”

Monday, January 15, 2018

Why Christians Need to Cover Mike Pence in Prayer This Week - JNN/VISION FOR ISRAEL

(U.S. Air Force photo/Wesley Farnsworth)

Standing With Israel

Why Christians Need to Cover Mike Pence in Prayer This Week

United States Vice President Mike Pence will travel to the Middle East Jan. 19-23, with other stops in Egypt and Jordan to meet with their leaders.
In Israel on the last two days of the trip, the vice president is scheduled to meet jointly with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin, and to address the Knesset. He also is scheduled to visit the Western Wall and Yad Vashem.
Palestinian leaders refuse to meet with Pence in the wake of President Donald Trump's recognition last month of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Pence postponed a planned mid-December visit to Israel so he could preside over the vote on a tax overhaul favored by Trump.
The original trip had included meetings in Bethlehem with Palestinian Authority officials. On the newly scheduled trip, prior to visiting Israel, Pence will meet in Egypt on Jan. 20, 2018, with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and in Jordan on Jan. 21, 2018, with King Abdullah II. At President Trump's direction, the vice president is traveling to the Middle East to reaffirm the commitment to work with the USA's allies in the region to defeat radicalism that threatens future generations. The vice president is looking forward to meeting with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel to discuss ways to work together to fight terrorism and improve our national security," according to JTA.
Once again, please pray for visiting Pence. May his words be God-given and anointed with wisdom. Intercede for traveling mercies, divine protection and a sense of welcome in his travels.
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Thursday, January 11, 2018

North Korea Tops List of 50 Most Dangerous Countries for Christians - CBN News


North Korea Tops List of 50 Most Dangerous Countries for Christians
CBN News 01-10-2018
WATCH HERE CBN News Reporter Paul Strand's report from the Open Doors World Watch List Press Conference Wednesday in Washington.
North Korea is the most dangerous country in the world for Christians.
According to Open Doors USA, some 50,000 Christians are languishing in prison or labor camps for their faith.
"It is illegal to be a Christian in North Korea and Christians are often sent to labor camps or are killed if they are discovered," Open Doors said on its website.
The findings are part of the 2018 Open Doors World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution.
The group released the report in a press conference at the National Press Conference in Washington, DC, today.
North Korea has ranked at the top spot for 16 years in a row. 
"Such a ranking is little surprise for the totalitarian regime that controls every aspect of life in the country and forces worship of the Kim family," said Open Doors President David Curry.

For the first time, Afghanistan came in a close second behind the communist regime.

"Afghanistan and North Korea nearly tied," Curry said in a statement released by Open Doors. "Never before have the top two countries been so close in incidents. Both countries are extreme in intolerance and outright persecution of Christians in every area."

Curry says Islamic extremism remains the "dominant driver of persecution, responsible for initiating oppression and conflict in 35 of the 50 countries on the list," including in Afghanistan.
"This is a tragedy considering the efforts being made by the international community to help rebuild Afghanistan are failing to ensure freedom of religion," Curry noted. "Reports of violence and human rights atrocities from North Korea are pervasive, while the situation faced by Christians in Afghanistan may be underestimated."
"It is hard for Westerners to imagine a second country could nearly meet the levels of persecution seen in North Korea, but Afghanistan has reached that level this year," he added.
Of the top 10 countries where Christians suffer the most for their faith, nine are in majority Muslim nations. Syria and Iraq are in that top tier.
"The fact that ISIS is retreating in Iraq and Syria doesn’t matter," Curry said. "They don’t need a capital. Their hateful ideology continues to spread. They’re spreading their money, their ideas, and their influence and knowledge of bomb-making and other things."
For more than 60 years, Open Doors USA, one of the biggest persecution watchdog groups in the world, has documented the "most oppressive and restrictive countries for Christians" hoping to mobilize governments, human rights groups and other NGOs to take notice of the plight of those who suffer for their faith.

Sadly, the levels of persecution against Christians are only rising around the world.
“Unquestionably persecution has grown for the last five years," Curry said. "More than 215 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution for their faith. Nearly one of every 12 Christians in the world today lives in an area, or in a culture, in which Christianity is illegal, forbidden or punished."
Christian women are especially vulnerable because of their gender and faith.

“One of the things that pops up is the pressure on Christian women on the World Watch List through persecution," Curry said. "We found 2,260 women who were forced into marriage, who were raped, who had sexual assault by Muslim extremists.  And that is, of course, the most baseline number we can find because so many of these cases go unreported.”
This is the 26th year Open Doors has published the World Watch List.
You can find a link to the full list of countries that are the worst violators of religious freedom here.
"Open Doors monitors the intensity faced by Christians around the world, and the World Watch List quantifies what we see," Curry said. "This year, as incidents of violence related to persecution have increased – especially those related to women, it is imperative we continue to advocate and call leaders to prioritize issues of religious freedom."
According to research compiled by Open Doors, the top 10 nations where Christians found it most dangerous and difficult to practice their faith in 2017 were:
1. North Korea
2. Afghanistan
3. Somalia
4. Sudan 
5. Pakistan
6. Eritrea
7. Libya
8. Iraq
9. Yemen
10. Iran  
Believers in these and other countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East also face torture, beheadings, rape, and the loss of their homes.

"Open Doors USA is hopeful that all Americans will take notice of the horrific conditions for Christians across the world that are highlighted through the Open Doors World Watch List," Curry said.

Here are a few of highlights from the 2018 Open Doors World Watch List:
. One in every 12 Christians in the world lives in an area, or in a culture, in which Christianity is illegal, forbidden or punished.
. The countries where persecution increased the most are Egypt, India, Libya, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkey.
. Nepal and Azerbaijan are newcomers to the list
. Comoros and Tanzania fell off the list.
. Pakistan had the most violence recorded against Christians
Open Doors says the list is a way to highlight the problem and educate the public on the suffering of Christians.
"As Christians, we are called to take a stand for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ," Open Doors USA says on its website. "The Bible calls us to be a voice for the voiceless."

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem – With such high stakes, Christians need to engage in thoughtful, respectful conversations

jerusalem-siloutte

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem – With such high stakes, Christians need to engage in thoughtful, respectful conversations with Israelis, Arabs and each other about how to find true and lasting peace. [My new op-ed for Fox News.]

by joelcrosenberg
(Washington, D.C.) -- Today, FoxNews.com published a new column of mine. While I wouldn't have written the headline quite the way they did, I am grateful they allowed me to lay out my thoughts in an op-ed significantly longer than they usually run. 
AFTER TRUMP RECOGNIZES JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL'S CAPITAL, EVANGELICALS WORK FOR PEACE BETWEEN JEWS & ARABS
By Joel C. Rosenberg, December 9, 2017
Many evangelical Christians are rejoicing over President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to begin planning to move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.
However, other evangelicals who love Israel and believe Jerusalem is the biblical and historic capital of the Jewish State see the timing of the president’s decision as a mistake. They are concerned the move will cause more tension and violence, not create conditions more conducive to peace.
Most Palestinian and other Arab Christians in Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere are also opposed to the decision for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that they worry renewed violence could be directed at them and their children.
As a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, an evangelical and a resident of Jerusalem with my wife and kids, these issues are not just theological or theoretical for me. They’re personal.
I love Jerusalem. And because I love Jesus, I love both Israelis and Palestinians dearly and equally because I believe God does. The last thing I want to see is more division, violence, terror or injustice of any kind.
I long to see peace between the two sides. I pray and work for the day when both peoples can truly live side by side, and among each other, in safety, security, freedom and prosperity.
I long to see peace between the two sides. I pray and work for the day when both peoples can truly live side by side, and among each other, in safety, security, freedom and prosperity. 
Toward that end, on Monday at the National Press Club in Washington, I helped launch a new organization called the “Alliance For The Peace of Jerusalem.”
We are a group of evangelicals scholars, pastors, authors and ministry leaders who believe that now more than ever, the Church needs to be faithful to the Psalmist’s command to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6) as well as to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).
We also believe evangelicals need to be faithful ambassadors of God’s love and compassion to both Jews and Arabs, who find themselves trapped in a cycle of seemingly never-ending conflict. And we believe evangelicals need to be ambassadors of grace toward Christian brothers and sisters who have different (and deeply held) views of how best to achieve peace.
As we approach the 70th anniversary of the rebirth of the State of Israel on May 14, tensions between Israelis and Palestinians will no doubt increase.
For some, this will be a year of thanksgiving to the God of Israel who made ancient promises to the Jewish people and is keeping those promises in modern times. For others, however, the anniversary of the creation of modern-day Israel will be a year of pain, even anger. They call it al Nakba – the Arabic term for “The Catastrophe.”
Presidents and prime ministers, kings and their counselors, have been confounded for decades on how to achieve peace between Israel and its neighbors. It should not be a surprise that pastors, priests and lay leaders are often confounded by how to apply biblical principles to most effectively resolve a conflict with roots going back thousands of years.
The last thing the Church needs is to engage in a snarky political firefight over some of the most contentious issues on the planet. Rather, we need to engage in thoughtful, respectful conversations on what the Bible teaches about Israel and its neighbors, and how we can play a more constructive role as peacemakers. 
As the Alliance begins our work, we conducted a comprehensive survey of the attitudes of American evangelicals toward Israel, the Palestinians and the peace process as we enter this historic year. The results were fascinating. Let me draw out three key points.
First, American evangelicals have a remarkably deep love for Israel and the Jewish people.
Our survey confirms that the people of Israel have no better friends in the U.S. than evangelical Christians.
  • Eight in ten evangelicals believe that the Abrahamic Covenant was an unconditional promise God made to the Jewish people for all time – a mere 5 percent disagree.
  • Eight in ten believe the rebirth of the State of Israel was the fulfillment of Bible prophecy – only 20 percent think it was merely an interesting geopolitical event.
  • And nearly eight in ten (76 percent) believe that Christians should support the Jewish people’s right to live in the sovereign State of Israel.
The survey makes clear that evangelical Christians of all ages, ethnicities, incomes and regions of the country overwhelmingly believe that God has made binding promises to Abraham and his descendants: to make them a nation; to give them a land; and to make them a blessing to the rest of the world.
The survey also finds that evangelicals believe that God is in the process of keeping his promises – that he is graciously bringing the Jewish people back to the Land of Israel after 2,000 years of exile, and rebuilding the State of Israel in the heart of the Middle East against all odds.
Second, American evangelicals want to obey Jesus’ command to love Israel’s neighbors.
  • 59 percent believe Christians should do more to love and care for the Palestinian people, and 66 percent of younger evangelicals believe this.
  • 73 percent are concerned for the safety of Christians in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
  • 41 percent agree with the statement: “Jewish people have a biblical right to the land of Israel, but also have a responsibility to share the land with Palestinian Arabs.” Another 28 percent disagree, while 31 percent say they’re not sure.
Too often, we hear an “either/or” tone when Christian leaders speak about their love for Israel or the Palestinians. But the God of the Bible is not “either/or.” He is “both/and.” He loves Jews and He loves Arabs. So must the Church.
Third, evangelicals aren’t convinced they understand enough about God’s plans for Israel. 
In fact, 72 percent of evangelicals say they want to know more about what the Bible teaches about Israel’s future.
So that’s the good news. But there is some challenging news in the data as well, specifically when it comes to younger evangelicals.
Millennials are sending the Church a sobering message. They’re not against Israel. But the survey makes it clear that many of them really don’t understand Israel’s place in the biblical narrative. Thus, their support for Israel is nearly 20 points less than the support voiced by their parents and grandparents.
Extrapolate that going forward. Unless the Church gives younger believers an understanding of God’s love and plan for Israel, evangelical support for the Jewish State could plummet over the next decade as millennials represent an ever-larger percentage of the Church body.
The raging controversy over President Trump’s decision on Jerusalem – and evangelicals’ conflicted views over how best to advocate peace – underscore the need for the new group Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem.
As we head into the new year, we need educate the Church – particularly millennials – about God’s love and plan for both Israel and its Arab neighbors, and to mobilize them to both pray for and seek peace in a dark and troubled region. 
*************************
Joel C. Rosenberg, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, is a New York Times best-selling author and a founding member of the Alliance For The Peace of Jerusalem.

Friday, December 8, 2017

Life Behind the Scenes: What in the World is Going on? By Mary Lindow Identity Network

Life Behind the Scenes: What in the World is Going on? By Mary Lindow

Identity Network  Dec. 8, 2017

 
Save me, O God! The water is up to my neck; I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground; I am out in deep water, And the waves are about to drown me. I am worn out from calling for help, and my throat is aching. I have strained my eyes, looking for your help. Psalm 69:1-3
 
There are so many things going on in the hearts of God's people.
 
Many believers have gone through pain and devastation because of betrayal and disappointment in those with whom they have at one time "walked with" in the Lord.
 
"For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one that hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God among the people." Psalm 55:12-14 
 
Levels of Separation and Deception
 
Church leaders and members or friends often separate. Their unresolved issues and wounds infect others around them. With their tongue and pen, (and Facebook posts) their resentment and bitterness spread in uncontrollable proportions. Christians in other ministries and relationships receive the bad report and often, they don't even know the people involved but - because they have leaned their ears to hear the suggested and well-placed evil reports, the conversation poisons them like toxic waste in their soul. If unchecked, this becomes a hideous, malignant cancer-like cell eventually damaging their mind and above all, their spiritual discernment.
 
"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them, But the rebellious stumble in them." Hosea 14:9
 
The age-old serpent, the ultimate enemy of our souls, has not lost the art of deception even after centuries! He, even now, can cause God's people, including the sincere ones, to miss the mark if they are willing to only hear one side of a story!
 
The Great "Occupy Something" Movement
 
The "frenzied entitlement culture" we are seeing hold their protests as a result of selfishness and feeding upon fear, have begun to reach a newly fevered pitch. People are "herding" their way into public venues to protest whatever they may be angry at in the moment, and mostly remaining ignorant as to what or who is really driving and orchestrating the events, reflects the hardness of heart and disrespect for the needs and lives of those around them.
 
This type of behavior is a prime example of even how believers have become "selectively " hard of hearing when it comes to serving one another, or encouraging one another, or having patience with one another!   One moment we are asking for forgiveness and prayer, and in nearly the next breath, slanderous retorts are spoken out in anger and those driving the malicious train, mean to use others as their well-placed pawns of destruction.
 
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, Fighting and slander, along with every form of nastiness." Ephesians 4:31
 
Once bitter words are spoken or written, they cannot be retracted. Sadly, those who often shout the loudest about being maligned are often the perpetrators of assassinating the characters of those whom have been in disagreement with them or who have possibly warned them about a need for a course correction.
 
"He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool." Proverbs 10:18
 
Today Many Things have Degenerated into Blurred Insignificance and Uncertainty.
 
The beauty of what God's purpose in His people really is meant to passionately reflect is - missing. Things that are now being said and done do not mean what they did mean originally in His Word. Twisting of truth to fits one's own idea of God's will has become acceptable and is often left unchallenged. So many spiritual and scriptural terms are put into motion, but they are not in the same dimension and point of view, which are in the Divine plan!
 
The tragedy is that so many well-meaning believers have gone on with the outward appearance of searching for the will of the Lord, and yet they fail to see that the power of His radiant life is missing! The Apostle Paul warned us in his letter to Timothy about this, "This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come, having the form of godliness (true religion) but denying the power there of. "
 
My heart is broken to see things as they are happening all around us.
 
So much is falling short of its original blueprint. There is so much labor and "rallying" being pumped out there into the minds and hearts of people and it is being poured into the "Self Promotion Machine" more than any time in the history of God's people! Yet the toil is ending in heartbreaking disappointment!
 
Saints, only those devoted to humility and honor can be saved from this deadly poison that lulls those longing to be entertained and pampered into apathy and spiritual powerlessness!
 
God's faithful people in this hour should seek Him and that which is upon His heart. What the Lord is doing in this era is so different, and we should be sensitive to Him!
 
He is looking for His "People of the Secret Place" in which the power of resurrection may freely function. The Apostle Paul said "according to the power that works in us." (Ephesians 3:20b).
 
These "people" will have to be men and women who have "seen!" They shall be like "a voice in the wilderness."
 
It is becoming increasingly clear that God must do a fresh thing with His followers.
 
And that actual "thing" is that He is drawing them to seek the Lord Himself and His recognizable presence! Away from the throng, nearer to the Word, bowed in repentance and prayer.
 
The Psalmist said, "When You said oh Lord, Seek My face; My heart said unto You, Your face, Lord will I seek."
 
Will You Set Your Heart to Seek Him?
 
Oh that God may find His Davids in this crucial hour that will set their faces towards Him at the command of His voice! Without it, the Human race will continue its fall and decline into further confusion, tragedy, and self-preservation.
 
"Man's goings are of the LORD; How can a man then understand his own way?" Proverbs 20:2
 
It's easy to say, "give your cares to the Lord and trust Him" when everything in life seems to be going well.  It's easy to say, "I trust you Lord with everything I own" when bills are paid on time and when you just got a promotion at work.
 
However, if God striped you of everything you own; If God told you to leave the very job that's paying your bills, will you trust the Lord enough to do it?  Will you trust God even when you don't understand; even when life hurts?  If God told you to leave the familiar and enter the unfamiliar, will you trust Him?
 
For many of you, God has done just that. 
 
He has taken you from what's "oh so familiar" and redirected your paths into the unfamiliar.  You don't understand what's happening in your life; what to do or where to go. 
 
The only thing you know is that the Lord gave you a word (instruction, a promise, vision, etc.) and the only thing you have to hold on to is that word.  I understand the feeling; you're not alone. 
 
There is Encouragement for You Today
 
Many things happen in our lives that we will never be able to explain or understand because God is orchestrating the events of our lives "behind the scenes" (read Job 1-2). Moreover, we cannot detect God physically (through our senses) and we cannot comprehend His plans.
 
"But the hour cometh, and now is, When the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: For the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: And they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24
 
Therefore, since we cannot rely on our perception or our reasoning we must turn to something else that is more reliable if we are going to be able to remain calm in the midst of turmoil, to find rest during the storms of life we must rely on God's knowledge instead of our own. 
 
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9
 
Let us run right now to the throne of grace and mercy.
 
Now! While our hearts are freshly tenderized and troubled over the recent events in the earth! Here is something to remember.  Man is fallible; we fall short and at times we're unable to keep our promises.  Man can give you instructions that are misleading and imperfect. 
 
With God, none of these things are possible. God keeps His promises, God gives you right instructions according to His perfect will and He won't mislead you. No matter how much you don't understand life as it is right now, no matter how uncomfortable it may seem or how hard it gets, don't give up.  If God is with you -  the same God who spoke life into you, the same God who IS and knows the beginning and the end, the same God who knew you before the foundation of this world -is with you, then ask yourself who or WHAT can stand against you.
 
Consider the Source and Seek to be Obedient to the Lord
 
Even when you don t understand what God is doing in your life; don't worry about "this or that" because God has provisions for you. There is the safe voice of the Father calling us. Let us respond with ears to Hear and hearts that obey.
 
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
 
Mary Lindow
 

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Joel C. Rosenberg: With President’s historic yet controversial decision on Jerusalem, Evangelical leaders call Christians around the world to pray for the peace of Jerusalem as never before.

Joel-TempleMount2

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

With President’s historic yet controversial decision on Jerusalem, Evangelical leaders call Christians around the world to pray for the peace of Jerusalem as never before. [Here’s the statement we just released from the Alliance For The Peace of Jerusalem.]

by joelcrosenberg
Time and again, Jerusalem lies at the Epicenter of the momentous events that are shaking our world and shaping our future. This week is no exception.
As a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen -- and a Jewish Evangelical -- and most recently as a new resident of Jerusalem where my wife and kids and I now live, these issues are not just theological or theoretical for me. They're personal.
Lynn and I love Jerusalem -- we love both Israelis and Palestinians. We love them dearly and equally, as we believe God does. We don't want to see any more divisions or violence or terror or injustice of any kind. There has been too much suffering, too much bloodshed. We long to see peace between the two sides. We pray and work for the day when both peoples can truly live side by side, and amongst each other, in safety and security and freedom and prosperity -- free and willing and eager even to seek the Prince of Peace and make Him known to the rest of the world. 
On Monday at the National Press Club, I helped launch a new organization called the "Alliance For The Peace of Jerusalem." The timing, I believe, was from the Lord. Now more than ever, the Church needs to be faithful to the Psalmist's command to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6) . Now more than ever, the Church needs to "seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). Now more than ever, we need to be faithful ambassadors of God's love and compassion to both Jews and Arabs trapped in a cycle of seemingly never-ending tension -- and ambassadors of grace towards Christian brothers and sisters who have different (and deeply held) views of how best to achieve peace.
Here is the full statement the Alliance's executive leadership released today -- I hope you'll take a moment to read it in full, share your comments with me on my "Epicenter Facebook Page," and share this with your family and friends at this critical hour. God bless you.
Evangelicals Conflicted Over President Trump’s Decision on Jerusalem and How Best to Make Peace. New survey shows nuances in Evangelical thinking toward Israel; Leaders say praying for the peace of Jerusalem more urgent than ever. 
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2017 – Even Evangelical Christians who love and support Israel have diverse views on how best to proceed with peace, including a range of reactions to President Donald Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
According to a new survey, “Evangelical Attitudes Toward Israel and the Peace Process,” the overwhelming majority of Evangelicals do support Israel. Eighty percent of evangelicals agree that God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants was for all time; 76 percent say Christians should support the Jewish people’s right to live in the sovereign state of Israel; and 69 percent say Israel has a historic right to the land. Additionally, 66 percent say Israel’s existence, security and prosperity are things they support.
Yet the data also show evangelicals are conflicted on the best way to move forward with establishing peace. Forty-one percent of survey respondents argue the Jewish people have a biblical right to the land but also have a responsibility to share, although another 31 percent are not sure. In regard to the one-state versus two-state solution, there is a high level of uncertainty, as 23 percent stated the Palestinians should be allowed to create their own sovereign state while 31 percent disagree and 46 percent of respondents are unsure. This level of uncertainty is even higher among the millennial generation, of which 4 in 10 (41 percent) have no strong views about Israel.
The LifeWay Research study, released this week, is co-sponsored by Chosen People Ministries and New York Times bestselling author Joel C. Rosenberg.
“While the survey didn’t ask questions specifically related to the capital or embassy location, the responses clearly show that while there may be support, there are also many questions about the details of how and when this could or should work,” said Dr. Darrell Bock, New Testament professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.
In response to changing views of Israel among younger Evangelicals, a group of faith leaders, scholars, authors and pastors formed the Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem, an organization dedicated to better public understanding of the complexities of the Middle East including its historical and biblical roots as well as calling Christians to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
“The president’s decision and the domestic and international controversy it has aroused underscores the importance of calling the church to pray faithfully and consistently for the peace of Jerusalem—now more than ever,” said Rosenberg, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen. “It is clear from the survey that Evangelicals want peace. The question of how to get there has confounded presidents, kings and prime ministers, so it’s not surprising that the church isn’t clear how best to apply biblical principles concerning Jerusalem to a conflict that’s thousands of years old. There are very different views in the Christian world on how best to make peace, which is why we must show grace to one another in these very important and timely discussions. This is exactly why the Alliance exists.”
The Alliance will strive to educate the church about Israel’s role in the biblical narrative—past, present and future—while also affirming God’s concern for Palestinians and all peoples of the Middle East.
“I applaud the support of the Evangelical community for Israel, and we are ready to make the case to the next generation of Evangelicals about God’s continued purposes for the nation of Israel—which includes Jerusalem,” said Dr. Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries. “Yet, the survey also indicates that Christians, especially the younger generation, deeply care about the Palestinians and how they will achieve freedom and opportunity. Our Alliance will encourage everyone -- Evangelicals especially, to fervently pray for God’s peace to rest upon all people in the region.”
The “Evangelical Attitudes Toward Israel and the Peace Process” study was conducted Sept. 20-28, 2017. The survey asked 2,002 Americans with evangelical beliefs about a wide range of issues involving Israel and the Palestinians. Results were unveiled Dec. 4 during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington.