All too many American Evangelical supporters of Netanyahu are motivated by the hope that he will fulfill their eschatological expectation; they have little regard for our lives and welfare here in Israel. We are mere pawns in their eschatological scheme of things. Their concern is not for us but the product of a fascination with purportedly end-time developments regardless of moral considerations. This is to divorce spirituality from holiness, the biblical message from moral standards. It is to empty the biblical message of the main part of its content, leaving an empty shell of supposed prediction. Biblical eschatology has to do with holiness, justice, righteousness and peace. Much of the radical support for Israel has all too few of these values in mind. That is to be greatly regretted.
“I am skeptical humans are the main cause of climate change and that it will be catastrophic in the near future. There is no scientific proof of this hypothesis, yet we are told “’the debate is over’ and ‘the science is settled.’ …”
Yeah that excerpt from the article Roscuro quoted is really good. I’m also with BobBuckles in that I wonder what Roscuro objects to in what Netanyahu said about Arabs. I only read headlines on that controversy…
I don’t get it either
Lots of Arabs, most of them Muslim, live peacefully in Israel.
Most Muslims living inside and outside Israel want to destroy his country.
I don’t understand the quote either. and I disagree with what little I do understand.
the quote that All too many Americans expect Netanyahu to fulfill eschatological expectations.
I think the real motivation is that Israel has been surrounded and threatened by enemies since 1948. If the Arab states cared, they would have made peace long ago.
Bob & Solar, the second article I linked to had the Netanyahu tweet that he used to try to step up voter turnout for his supporters: “The Arabs are flocking to the polls in droves.” If Obama had tweeted something about white Republicans flooding the polls during the last election, there would have been accusations of race-baiting leveled against him – Netanyahu should not get a pass on this.
Chas, basically, the first quote is asking that the American Christian right be more cognizant of what conditions in Israel are really like, before giving unquestioning support to Israel’s current political leader.
I read the link, missed seeing that quote I guess.
From Israel’s (security) perspective, they’ve got plenty to worry about these days. I suspect that explains the prime ministers’ re-election more than anything.
Nut I don’t remember anyone crying racism about the President’s remarks, like the left is doing with Bibi’s. .
“With their Senate majority imperiled, Democrats are trying to mobilize African-Americans outraged by the shooting in Ferguson, Mo., to help them retain control of at least one chamber of Congress for President Obama’s final two years in office.
In black churches and on black talk radio, African-American civic leaders have begun invoking the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, along with conservative calls to impeach Mr. Obama, as they urge black voters to channel their anger by voting Democratic in the midterm elections, in which minority turnout is typically lower.
“Ferguson has made it crystal clear to the African-American community and others that we’ve got to go to the polls,” said Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia and a civil-rights leader. “You participate and vote, and you can have some control over what happens to your child and your country.””
“President Obama is featured in a new ad for the Democratic National Committee, the first in a $1 million campaign to turn out young, minority and female voters in the midterm elections.
The radio ad titled “Obstruction” released Monday laments the opposition Obama has faced from congressional Republicans. It is aimed at black voters and will run on African-American radio stations nationwide.”
“Print, radio and online ads will target African-Americans, Hispanics, women, Asian-Americans and young voters.”
““It’s helpful for Quinn to associate with Obama, particularly in the African-American community,” said Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “In terms of highly competitive races across the country, this is one of the few where the president can come into Chicago and it’s a plus for the Democratic candidate.” ”
“The cities on the president’s tentative campaigning schedule also have large black populations. In Wisconsin, Obama is scheduled to appear at a rally in Milwaukee County, home to about 70 percent of the state’s black population.
In Pennsylvania, Obama is scheduled to appear in Philadelphia, the fifth most populous U.S. city, with a population that is about 44 percent black, according to data from the U.S. Census.”
The Real, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. It is bad when any politician tries to manipulate voters based on race. Just because the left doesn’t like Netanyahu doesn’t make him right.
Kbells, there is a very large pro-Israel movement in evangelicalism. Much of it is based on the dispensational theology of the Scofield study Bible. Some are more extreme, like John Hagee, but even those who are more moderate frown on criticism of or opposition to Israel. My family circle growing up was very much in that camp. Have you ever seen the publication Israel, My Glory? I remember hearing one speaker who was involved in trying to return all the Jews to Israel, because he believed it would help bring about the millennium. I wonder now what Israel’s immigration department thought of his organization.
On roscuro’s first comment: I wonder how large a segment of Israel supporters — or of evangelicals in general — that really represents anymore. I’d say it’s rather small and very “fringe.”
Dispensationalism is losing followers in significant numbers — I suspect those who continue to plot out the rebuilding of the temple, re-instituting animal sacrifices, etc., are shrinking fast.
I think a more natural explanation for the Christian affinity for Israel lies in our common biblical heritage — and secularly, it has been a democratic friend of the U.S. since it was established. It’s survived against huge odds, frankly, and now is even more surrounded by nations that mean them serious harm.
Netanyahu may be a horrible leader, I don’t know — but he was rather easily re-elected so I tend to doubt things are that bad. But go figure, Obama was also handily re-elected, so there you go. 😉
Mostly, I think, he’s seen as a no-nonsense leader who puts the nation’s security at the top of the priority list — and that’s appealing, I’m sure, during this time of the ramping up of threats against Israel.
Donna, small is a very relative term when speaking of tens of millions of evangelists. Some have said that the ATI movement and the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist movements were small (which incidentally both included a pro-Israel element as I have described – I heard that speaker at an ATI conference); but ATI did include thousands and there are still a large number of IFB churches in North America. And that unquestioning pro-Israel support extended far outside of those movements into other church circles in which we or family members moved.
As to Netanyahu, whether he is a good or bad leader really wasn’t my issue. The poster I linked to thinks he is bad, and as he is an Israeli citizen, I thought his perspective was interesting and worth reading and discussing. So did World, as I would never have seen the article if they hadn’t linked it. My issue with Netanyahu was what he tweeted and the underlying attitude towards Arabs which it implied. It is never good when a leader starts to regard one section of his country’s population as being of less political worth to him. Injustice is the usual result.
I see both Cruz & Rand Paul will be formally announcing their candidacies in the next couple weeks.
The outrage has already begun. 😉
SACRAMENTO >> California Gov. Jerry Brown says U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’ views on climate change make the Texas Republican unfit to run for president and that he would entertain making another bid for the White House himself if he were 10 years younger.
“Tonight 60 Minutes broadcast a segment on the persecution of Christians and Christianity by ISIS in Iraq … this is a powerful report on an ongoing outrage that should lie heavily on the conscience of our president and his acolytes at CBS And elsewhere. …”
Wandering Views 
World had this link on their Globe Trot section yesterday. It is written by a Messianic pastor from Israel: http://www.comeandsee.com/view.php?sid=1268
I was disgusted by what Netanyahu said about Arab voters. It sounded like the anti-Semtitism (Arabs are Semites too) that used to come out of Central Europe in the early 1900s. It is worth noting that over a hundred thousand of those Israeli Arabs are Christian: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/march-web-only/identity-politics-israel-election-squeezes-arab-christians.html
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“I was disgusted by what Netanyahu said about Arab voters.”
What did he say? I have seen several versions. Which one are you upset about?
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This is pretty fascinating.
http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2015/03/20/why-i-am-climate-change-skeptic
From a founding member of Greenpeace, no less.
“I am skeptical humans are the main cause of climate change and that it will be catastrophic in the near future. There is no scientific proof of this hypothesis, yet we are told “’the debate is over’ and ‘the science is settled.’ …”
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Thanks, Roscuro. Bad theology never helps politics.
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Yeah that excerpt from the article Roscuro quoted is really good. I’m also with BobBuckles in that I wonder what Roscuro objects to in what Netanyahu said about Arabs. I only read headlines on that controversy…
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I don’t get it either
Lots of Arabs, most of them Muslim, live peacefully in Israel.
Most Muslims living inside and outside Israel want to destroy his country.
I don’t understand the quote either. and I disagree with what little I do understand.
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What was the quote?
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the quote that All too many Americans expect Netanyahu to fulfill eschatological expectations.
I think the real motivation is that Israel has been surrounded and threatened by enemies since 1948. If the Arab states cared, they would have made peace long ago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bob & Solar, the second article I linked to had the Netanyahu tweet that he used to try to step up voter turnout for his supporters: “The Arabs are flocking to the polls in droves.” If Obama had tweeted something about white Republicans flooding the polls during the last election, there would have been accusations of race-baiting leveled against him – Netanyahu should not get a pass on this.
Chas, basically, the first quote is asking that the American Christian right be more cognizant of what conditions in Israel are really like, before giving unquestioning support to Israel’s current political leader.
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What evangelicals think that?
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I read the link, missed seeing that quote I guess.
From Israel’s (security) perspective, they’ve got plenty to worry about these days. I suspect that explains the prime ministers’ re-election more than anything.
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Roscuro,
Oh, you mean like this?
Nut I don’t remember anyone crying racism about the President’s remarks, like the left is doing with Bibi’s. .
“With their Senate majority imperiled, Democrats are trying to mobilize African-Americans outraged by the shooting in Ferguson, Mo., to help them retain control of at least one chamber of Congress for President Obama’s final two years in office.
In black churches and on black talk radio, African-American civic leaders have begun invoking the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, along with conservative calls to impeach Mr. Obama, as they urge black voters to channel their anger by voting Democratic in the midterm elections, in which minority turnout is typically lower.
“Ferguson has made it crystal clear to the African-American community and others that we’ve got to go to the polls,” said Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia and a civil-rights leader. “You participate and vote, and you can have some control over what happens to your child and your country.””
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Same for this one. Sure seems like they were targeting one minority to counter another. Again, no outrage.
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/217821-obama-featured-in-dnc-ad-targeting-black-voters
“President Obama is featured in a new ad for the Democratic National Committee, the first in a $1 million campaign to turn out young, minority and female voters in the midterm elections.
The radio ad titled “Obstruction” released Monday laments the opposition Obama has faced from congressional Republicans. It is aimed at black voters and will run on African-American radio stations nationwide.”
“Print, radio and online ads will target African-Americans, Hispanics, women, Asian-Americans and young voters.”
Not much different than what Bibi did.
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Yet another… but kinda reversed this time. Send in a black guy to rally blacks to vote for the white guy because they won’t otherwise.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-10-20/obama-targets-black-vote-in-limited-foray-into-campaign
““It’s helpful for Quinn to associate with Obama, particularly in the African-American community,” said Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. “In terms of highly competitive races across the country, this is one of the few where the president can come into Chicago and it’s a plus for the Democratic candidate.” ”
“The cities on the president’s tentative campaigning schedule also have large black populations. In Wisconsin, Obama is scheduled to appear at a rally in Milwaukee County, home to about 70 percent of the state’s black population.
In Pennsylvania, Obama is scheduled to appear in Philadelphia, the fifth most populous U.S. city, with a population that is about 44 percent black, according to data from the U.S. Census.”
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The Real, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. It is bad when any politician tries to manipulate voters based on race. Just because the left doesn’t like Netanyahu doesn’t make him right.
Kbells, there is a very large pro-Israel movement in evangelicalism. Much of it is based on the dispensational theology of the Scofield study Bible. Some are more extreme, like John Hagee, but even those who are more moderate frown on criticism of or opposition to Israel. My family circle growing up was very much in that camp. Have you ever seen the publication Israel, My Glory? I remember hearing one speaker who was involved in trying to return all the Jews to Israel, because he believed it would help bring about the millennium. I wonder now what Israel’s immigration department thought of his organization.
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On he Starbucks front …
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/starbucks-nixes-handwritten-barista-notes-about-race-ending-national-nightmare/
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On roscuro’s first comment: I wonder how large a segment of Israel supporters — or of evangelicals in general — that really represents anymore. I’d say it’s rather small and very “fringe.”
Dispensationalism is losing followers in significant numbers — I suspect those who continue to plot out the rebuilding of the temple, re-instituting animal sacrifices, etc., are shrinking fast.
I think a more natural explanation for the Christian affinity for Israel lies in our common biblical heritage — and secularly, it has been a democratic friend of the U.S. since it was established. It’s survived against huge odds, frankly, and now is even more surrounded by nations that mean them serious harm.
Netanyahu may be a horrible leader, I don’t know — but he was rather easily re-elected so I tend to doubt things are that bad. But go figure, Obama was also handily re-elected, so there you go. 😉
Mostly, I think, he’s seen as a no-nonsense leader who puts the nation’s security at the top of the priority list — and that’s appealing, I’m sure, during this time of the ramping up of threats against Israel.
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Donna, small is a very relative term when speaking of tens of millions of evangelists. Some have said that the ATI movement and the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist movements were small (which incidentally both included a pro-Israel element as I have described – I heard that speaker at an ATI conference); but ATI did include thousands and there are still a large number of IFB churches in North America. And that unquestioning pro-Israel support extended far outside of those movements into other church circles in which we or family members moved.
As to Netanyahu, whether he is a good or bad leader really wasn’t my issue. The poster I linked to thinks he is bad, and as he is an Israeli citizen, I thought his perspective was interesting and worth reading and discussing. So did World, as I would never have seen the article if they hadn’t linked it. My issue with Netanyahu was what he tweeted and the underlying attitude towards Arabs which it implied. It is never good when a leader starts to regard one section of his country’s population as being of less political worth to him. Injustice is the usual result.
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😳 *evangelicals
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I see both Cruz & Rand Paul will be formally announcing their candidacies in the next couple weeks.
The outrage has already begun. 😉
SACRAMENTO >> California Gov. Jerry Brown says U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’ views on climate change make the Texas Republican unfit to run for president and that he would entertain making another bid for the White House himself if he were 10 years younger.
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http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/03/isis-comes-to-town.php
“Tonight 60 Minutes broadcast a segment on the persecution of Christians and Christianity by ISIS in Iraq … this is a powerful report on an ongoing outrage that should lie heavily on the conscience of our president and his acolytes at CBS And elsewhere. …”
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