The full text of the "Defense" follows:
It is with concern that we note the negative opinions about Christian Zionism, voiced by certain church clerics in Jerusalem in a recent statement entitled, "The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism."
Using inflammatory language, they have expressed views that are far from the truth. The truth is: Christian Zionism is a theological position that sees a future destiny for the Jewish people of Israel in the land of their forefathers.
A Christian Zionist believes in a literal interpretation of the Bible, and rejects the "replacement theology," that has definitely played a pivotal role in the persecution of Jews through-
out the centuries, and also undergirded the Holocaust.
Christian Zionism is not heretical. In fact, Christians from all traditional backgrounds have held such views for two thousand years. Simply put, a Christian Zionist is one who believes that God, by His sovereign choice, gave the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession to the Jewish people, for His Kingdom purposes. (Genesis 17:7-8)
Christian Zionists believe that while God loves all people equally, He has chosen the Jewish people to bring redemption to mankind. Our Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ, was born as a human being to Jewish parents in a Jewish society, thus making the Jewish people our "Royal Family," to be honored because the King was born to them.
Christian Zionists reject hatred of any people group. They base their theological position on the faithful covenant promises of God given to Abraham some four thousand years ago. They do not have "a thirst for Armageddon," and they do not claim to know the exact sequence of events that will lead to it.
Christian Zionists recognize that Israel has a right to exist in peace and security. Moreover, there are Biblical considerations that regulate Israel's national existence, and these have to do with the issues of justice and righteousness and her treatment of the strangers within her midst.
Christian Zionism is not a threat to anybody, but instead seeks to be a blessing and a help. The Christian Zionist organizations in Israel have given millions of dollars of aid and care to all the population groups in the land, including Jews, Israeli and Palestinian Arabs, Druse, and others.
We pray for peace. But we note with sadness that the present Palestinian government is totally dedicated to the destruction of Israel, which their charter verifies. So the problem in the region is not so simple as the "Jerusalem Declaration" indicates. Sadly, there have been no meetings between the Jerusalem clerics and their Christian Zionist counterparts.
We invite such a dialogue and consider it a Biblical pre-requisite. We are distressed that a public denuciation has occurred first. We feel that we have been treated with disrespect and disdain, and even attacked by the issuing of these public declarations. The authors present themselves as lovers of justice, truth and peace! This public attack, however, seems lacking in these qualities.
We find the "Declaration" unbalanced and noticeably one-sided. It totally ignores the jihadist goals of the Hamas government and turns a blind eye to the terrorism perpetrated by this regime. Everything is attributed to "occupation" and to "militarism," concluding that Israel is the only problem. We think not! This one-sided, unbalanced view of the conflict is unhelpful to the peace process and contributing to its failure.
So we Christian Zionists call upon Christians and Churches everywhere not to remain silent, but to speak out for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and to affirm Israel's right to live in peace and security, free from the threat of liquidation by Islamic Jihadists who definitely seek to destroy or to colonize the Jewish State by bringing it under the Empire of Islam.
We pray that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Israel, will continue to defend, preserve and bless the nation and people of Israel, as He continues to work out His eternal plan and purpose through His chosen people and nation.
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Dr. Al Snyder is a former professor of Communications at Liberty University in Virginia and North Greenville University. He has done extensive missionary work in Israel and Africa.
