Christians United for Israel

Biblical scholar Ben Witherington posted recently on his blog about this disturbing video.  The video contains footage of a recent conference put on by Christians United for Israel, a political lobbyist group founded by John Hagee, a Christian televangelist who is well-known for his dispensational premillenialist interpretation of the "end times."  I tend to think that people will believe what they're going to believe about Revelation and the end times, and while I have my own views that I'm more than willing to discuss, I do not think it is a salvation issue, and therefore is not something I emphasize greatly.  I think it has become far too divisive an issue in many instances.

Having said that, I think that Hagee's particular brand of end times belief is dangerous.  Many of the comments in the video disturb me greatly, although in fairness it should be noted that the video is obviously assembled by someone who strongly dislikes the organization.  Witherington gives the following "top five" things about the video that he finds problematic:

1.  The Anti-Christ will be a person who will seek to make peace between the Arabs/Palestinians and the Jews;

2.  Armaggedon is something to look forward to, when we will have 'the cleansing of the earth';

3.  U.S. support for Israel should be unconditional, regardless of how they treat Palestinian Christians;

4.  If we want to participate in the second coming of Jesus, then we have to unconditionally support Israel from now until then, regardless of their policies or behaviors, otherwise we miss out on the parousia blessing;

5.  It's a Biblical idea to have a pre-emptive strike on Iran before they cause more trouble for Israel.

I really don't want to step on anyone's toes here.  At the same time, these ideas have very real ramifications in today's world that need to be addressed.  Christians United for Israel actively lobbies Congress for a) increased territory for Israel, and b) a unilateral, pre-emptive strike on Iran, based on the fear that they will cause problems for Israel.  I'll state unequivocally that I find this to be an immoral proposition.  Even within the Christian "just-war" tradition, there is little to no leeway in the idea of a "pre-emptive strike."  To suggest such a strike because of the fear they will cause problems for Israel, knowing that any war will inevitably lead to the death of many innocent civilians, not to mention soldiers, shows shockingly little regard for life, especially Muslim life (for the record, I also don't agree, as people in the video state, that Muslims are our "enemies" - our enemies are "not of flesh and blood" [Eph 6:12]).  From a Christian perspective, however, all life is valuable--Israeli life should not be considered more worth protecting than Arab life.

I do believe that these ideas are based on shaky theology.  Paul seems clear that the church is the "new Israel."  While I fully believe that the modern-day Israel has every right to exist, it no longer fulfills the role of God's "chosen people" - the Church universal, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, has assumed that role.  Again, I strongly believe that end times theology is not a salvation issue and therefore people should have great freedom in what they believe.  However, when that freedom leads to such potentially dire consequences for so many people, I think it is important to speak up.  And I'm frightened that so many Christians can so easily call for war on Iran, with the unavoidable loss of life that would accompany it.