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John Hagee with Benny Hinn: Praying For War in the Name of Jesus

January 7, 2012 in (Series) Video to Ponder, Dispensationalism, Eschatology, Fundamentalism, Kingdom of God, Nationalism, Politics with 24 Comments

Thanks to my good friend Conrad Schweizerhof for sharing this video with me. Serious… this is the problem with Christian Zionism, which is fueled by an extreme version of Dispensational Theology. Here are three posts in which I demonstrate this is an un-biblical approach to Israel (outside of my known stance of Nonviolence). — 1) Does God Have Two People’s In His Story? 2) God’s Chosen People and God’s Chosen Politics 3) Even a Jewish Rabbi Thinks That Christian Zionism is Bad For Israel (Glen Beck’s Rally – Restoring Courage)

Also, although I affirm the content of this video (not the prayers but the critique) I’m not willing to say that I support the particular agenda of the organization who produced this video. Just want to be clear that my posting this video is not an endorsement of any organization. Now that we are clear on that, here is the video:

Beware, Or You Too May Be – Left Below! (When the Simpsons and Harold Camping Collide)

October 17, 2011 in Afterlife, Consummation, Dispensationalism, Eschatology, Kingdom of God, Missional, New Creation, Rapture, Theology with 10 Comments

Leave it to Homer Simpson to help us understand the “end times” better. Beware, or you too may be – Left Below!

This warning filled our TV screens, our newspapers, and our digital news feeds.  The world watched as people quit their jobs, gave all their money to advertising the rapture, and traveled throughout the world to spread the message of May 21, 2011.  Through various internal mathematical calculations, Harold Camping and followers, convinced themselves that they could predict the second coming of Jesus.  On May 22, the world was unchanged except for the poor folks who had given up their various forms of livelihood for this false teaching.

When Harold Camping spoke out about his false prediction, instead of recanting, he’s convinced that God truly did come back.  Here is the explanation from the Family Radio website:

What really happened this past May 21st ? What really happened is that God accomplished exactly what He wanted to happen. That was to warn the whole world that on May 21 God’s salvation program would be finished on that day. For the next five months, except for the elect (the true believers), the whole world is under God’s final judgment. To accomplish this goal God withheld from the true believers the way in which two phrases were to be understood. Had He not done so, the world would never have been shaken in fear as it was…  Continue Reading…

Even a Jewish Rabbi Thinks That Christian Zionism is Bad For Israel (Glen Beck’s Rally – Restoring Courage)

August 23, 2011 in Dispensationalism, Politics, Reconciliation with 11 Comments

This summer I had the opportunity to meet Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater at the Passadena Jewish Temple and Center.  As I listened to him talk about the differences between biblical and rabbinic Judaism I thought: This guy is like the “Rob Bell” of Jewish Rabbi’s.  Not only is he ridiculously smart, fairly young and hip; but he has the heart of an activist.  He serves as the chair of the Abrahamic Faiths Peacemaking Initiative.

While he was fielding my groups’ questions, the conversation about supporting National Israel came up.  He went on to talk about his feelings toward fundamentalist Christian Zionism and its marriage to the far Right.  His belief is that such an ally actually functions as a nemesis for the cause of peace for his people.  He went on to explain why this is and to mention an article that he had just finished writing.

You may or may not have heard that Glen Beck has partnered with Christian Zionist Pastor John Hagee, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and others to promote the unwavering support that Americans ought to have for the nation of Israel.  Linking religion to politics in this way leads many Christians to believe that we always must support Israel.  Before we get to Rabbi Grater’s ideas and some of my thoughts, lets watch a short promo video from Beck’s website. Continue Reading…

God’s Chosen People and God’s Chosen Politics?

July 7, 2011 in Dispensationalism, Fundamentalism, Jewish Roots, Kingdom of God, Politics with 20 Comments

Friendsphoto © 2008 uhuru1701 | more info (via: Wylio)

Recently, President Obama made some comments about restoring the pre-1967 borders to Israel.  This led to quite an uproar in the Jewish community and in among Zionist Fundamentalist Christian groups.  Much of the alliance that the church in America has had with Israel, comes from the belief that God is currently dealing with two different peoples: 1) the church, 2) Israel.  This belief is accompanied by some form of Dispensationalism that teaches that in the end, a remnant of Israel will be saved and will play a significant role in the end times.  I question such an approach to New Testament theology.

Walter Brueggemann rightly wrestles with the tension between the promises made to ancient Israel and their appropriation for modern Israel.  He believes that the final form of Torah came during the Exile and that land is therefore an issue of return more than it is of the original conquest (271).  While I hold to a more historical reading of the Torah than perhaps he would, the pastoral quality of the utterance of God for the land during Exile cannot be ignored (274).  But as NT Wright has noted, even after returning to the land, it seems Israel was still in spiritual exile.

Does the promise of land still apply?  Israelis’ zeal for land continues to brew unjust bloodshed against Palestinians.  Brueggemann rightly differentiates between ancient Israel and the modern nation (274). What Brueggemann doesn’t do in this particular section of his book is thread the needle into the New Testament idea of a “new Israel.”

Paul states: “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3.29). Continue Reading…

If You're Reading This Post, You've Been "Left Behind"

May 21, 2011 in Consummation, Dispensationalism, Eschatology, Fundamentalism, Kingdom of God, Left Behind, Missional, Nationalism, New Creation, Rapture, Roman Empire, Theology with 14 Comments

Fearphoto © 2008 Dr. Wendy Longo | more info (via: Wylio)

Right now it’s 6pm on Saturday in California.  There’s a possibility that I’m no longer in my home state however, as the rapture was to come on Saturday May 21st, 2011 at 6 o’clock in each time zone. If this is indeed the case, what follows is a letter to all of you who were “left behind.”

In the Bible we have clarity about why anyone gets “left behind” on the earth.  The reason that you are in the world is to reflect the realities of God’s kingdom. Jesus prayed in the sixth chapter of Matthew: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

To truly live out that God-sized-vision takes utter dependence on the Creator who invites you into a movement that is bigger than you.  The key to all of this is faith in the midst of the chaos you now face.  For those of you who were “left behind,” you’re probably struggling to find even one ounce of faith that circumstances can actually get better. You may even feel like a failure to God.  You’re also worried about being stuck in a world of violence, poverty, corruption, the unknown, and of… tribulation.

Because of God’s goodness, even in the midst of great tribulation there’s still hope.  God’s invitation to you is to partner with others who yet remain on earth to form a “Tribulation Force” – a kingdom of God coalition.  As a resistance movement, you will be charged with gathering up a remnant of Jesus followers to confront this day of evil that is upon creation. Continue Reading…

The Rapture IS Coming THIS Saturday: May 21, 2011

May 16, 2011 in Afterlife, Consummation, Dispensationalism, Ecology, Eschatology, Faith Journey, Fundamentalism, Interpretation, Kingdom of God, Left Behind, Missional, New Creation, Rapture, Roman Empire, Theology with 69 Comments


 

I grew up in church.  Not a typical middle class, white picket fence, awkwardly perfect church goin’ family situation, but in church nonetheless.  Most of what I recall from those early childhood and teenage years bring memories of good things.  People genuinely taught me that loving Jesus matters more than anything else in the world.  The world, after all, is corrupt and the place we truly long for is far, far away – heaven.  So we are to love Jesus and hate the world.

Now, this is not hatred toward the people on earth.  I did not grow up going to a church that taught that we ought to tell outsiders how much they suck, but that this “world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through.”  World and physicality = bad.  Jesus and spiritual bliss in a distant heaven = goal of the game. Continue Reading…

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