"A call to repentance, a word of hope"

This week we - eighty Christian leaders from twenty countries – are meeting in Jerusalem for 5 days. We are leaders of the Christians for Israel movement. We are here to meet with Jewish and Christian leaders in the land, to learn more about the situation in the Middle East, and to pray for the Jewish people and their neighbours and the peace of Jerusalem.

We wish to state publicly that we reject the recent proclamations of many Christian church denominations condemning Israel. We recognize that Israel is not perfect. But we deeply regret that many churches choose to ignore both history and the realities on the ground, and publicly condemn Israel as being solely responsible for all the problems in the region. We are concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide. We are outraged that the nations of the world are doing so little to protect the Jewish people and defend their right to live in the land in peace and security. We are especially alarmed at the plans to divide Jerusalem.

Contrary to the impression sometimes created, there are millions of Christians in the nations who share these concerns. We represent many of these ordinary Christians.

We believe that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. God is faithful to His promises. He has not terminated His everlasting covenants with the Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants, and the Church has definitely not replaced Israel as God’s covenant people. The return of the Jewish people to the land is a wonderful sign of hope – it proves that God is faithful to His word, and that He is preparing all things for the coming of Messiah and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth.

We acknowledge with deep shame that the church for centuries has rejected, persecuted and murdered the Jewish people in the name of Christ. We repent of the supersessionist theologies of the church which have claimed all of God’s blessings for themselves, and have denied any continuing place for the nation of Israel in God’s plan of redemption of this world. We cut the root and stole the fruit.

Tragically, many Christians today have lost their belief in the coming of Messiah, and their hope in the coming glorious Kingdom of God on earth of which the prophets of the Jewish Bible speak so clearly. Instead of condemning the Jews for returning to the land, we call on Christians worldwide to repent of Christianity’s appalling treatment of the Jewish people over the centuries, to fight anti-Semitism in all its forms, to pray for the coming of Messiah and the Peace of Jerusalem, and to comfort the Jewish people.

On this 65th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel, we wish to encourage the Jewish people to trust in the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is your strength and shield. Turn to Him and serve Him with all your heart. Do not be deceived by the attitudes of the nations and the values of this world, nor be discouraged by those who do not understand your calling.

Together with you, we look forward with eager longing to the coming of Messiah, the kingdom of God and the restoration of all things.

Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness;
Tremble before him, all the earth.
(Psalm 96:9)

Jerusalem, 7th March 2013
Yerushalayim, 25 Adar 1, 5773

Willem J.J. Glashouwer (President)
Harald Eckert (Chairman)
Andrew Tucker (Executive Director)

Drake Kanaabo, on behalf of the leaders from East Africa (Uganda and South Sudan)
Elemi Samson on behalf of the leaders from Central/West Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone)
Graeme Lee, on behalf of the leaders from Australasia (Australia and New Zealand)
Stenli Suyadinata on behalf of the leaders from South East Asia (Indonesia, South Korea).
Roger van Oordt, on behalf of the leaders from Europe (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ukraine)
Fred van Westing, on behalf of the leaders from USA.

Christians for Israel is an international, non-denominational Christian ministry.

Our mission is to bring biblical understanding in the church and among the nations concerning God's purposes for Israel and to promote comfort of Israel through prayer and action.

Christians for Israel has affiliates, partners and representatives in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Congo, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia and Former Soviet Union, Singapore, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia.

www.c4israel.org
www.whyisrael.org

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