Prophecy Matters Blog

I'm becoming increasingly uncomfortable as I notice various Christian ministries and individuals make pilgrimages to Israel...and seem to miss the Jews.

During World War II, the Germans fine-tuned their hobby of abusing Jews by emptying entire regions of them. This concept-turned-reality brought the word "Judenrein" into the vocabulary; it means "Jew-free."

Lately, I've talked with friends and observed ministries that take the typical Christian tour of Israel. They go to the "Christian" sites (made so by the first Christians, who were Jews). They boat on the Sea of Galilee. They purchase trinkets from Palestinian Christians, and listen to their earnest stories of suffering at the hands of the Israelis.

Then the pilgrims come home and circulate the photos of Christian sites, and pass out the trinkets. And they talk about how "difficult" the Israelis are. Terse. Abrasive.

Of course, the Arabs are a different story. They're SO MUCH friendlier! 

The Arabs are friendlier because they are old hands at conning gullible Americans.

The ministries I refer to are seeing the value of offering "Holy Land" tours, because like the mega-churches, they know that they have to appeal to everyone in order to bring the cash in. In other words, if Ministry X, which promotes an agenda of Y, is going to keep the light bill paid, it has to appeal not only to evangelicals, mainline and Catholic folks, but also to those fundamentalist rubes who want to see the Holy Land before they die. By the way, labeling them "Holy Land" tours are a convenient way to avoid saying "Israel."

 I am most annoyed by ministries that have Replacement Theology types in their midst, or ones who are indifferent to Israel or Bible prophecy. 

Off-message a bit here, but one example comes to mind. Not so long ago, while the editorial staff of Christianity Today magazine published article after article either subtly dissing Bible prophecy proponents, or bashing them over the head with obvious disdain...the magazine ran prominent ads from Tyndale House Publishers, which was promoting the latest Left Behind novel.

Hypocrisy is nothing if not common in Christian circles.

I'm reminded of the 1998 cover story in CT, in which several Bible prophecy proponents, along with then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were caricatured on the cover. The story itself was a shop-worn hatchet job on Dispensationalism, and it masqueraded as an even-handed piece by a scholar who simply disliked Israel and Bible prophecy.

Back to the subject.  If you are contemplating a tour of Israel, try and connect with a ministry that actually understands what's going on. Bridges for Peace; the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, and others love the Jewish people and understand their monumental significance.

So if a ministry invites you to go on a tour with them, ask a few questions. Ask them what they believe about Bible prophecy. Ask what they think of the Jews. Ask them if they believe God is finished with the Jews.

Then, hopefully, you'll go on a tour of the modern Jewish state, and there you will breathe the air of millenia and understand that because the Jews have re-entered history, we can be confident that their God will finish bringing them home.

jim@prophecymatters.com