From TPM Reader BR …
As a lapsed Southern Baptist, I think it’s mistaken to regard evangelical support for Israel as primarily about eschatology.More than other Christian denominations, evangelicals stress intimate and uncritical familiarity with the Bible. Thus, the most famous expression of the Abrahamic covenant (“I will bless those who bless thee and curse those who curse thee”) becomes ingrained in their minds from an early age, as does a romanticized narrative of the Jewish people’s ancient conquest of the Holy Land.
To be sure, reflexive support for Israel based on simplistic ideas about the past is as problematic as reflexive support for Israel based on fantastical ideas about the future. In fairness to evangelical supporters of Israel, though, I don’t think that the majority of them advocate settlement expansion because of a desire to prepare the way for an apocalyptic conflagration.
Point taken. Not for everyone. And not the sole issue in play. What I still think is that it’s a big thing for many evangelical leaders, the Robertsons, Falwells and their successors today.
On the other hand, from TPM Reader DS …
Reader BR is, I think, using some selective memories from his Southern Baptist days. As a former Southern Baptist myself I can attest that there is much love for Israel in many sermons.However, he misses the key point in the dogma: Christians do not see Israel as the Jewish Holy Land but as the Christian Holy Land. The Jews are simply there to hold onto it until Jesus comes back to reclaim it for the Christians.
In evengelical Christianity, when Jesus returns there are no Jews, or Muslims, or Mormons, or anything else. You convert or die and burn in hell. This is what it really boils down to.
Let me also say that this is not overtly anti-semitic in their eyes. It isn’t them as people doing this, it is God doing this. And sure, God/Jesus tells us to love everyone in this time even if they are “lost.”
That said, if you press any evangelical with this question: according to your views are all Jews (or memeber of any other faith) going to hell and will they convert or be killed after the return of Jesus, they will answer yes. If they answer no, they are either lying or being mislead by their pastor on the actual doctrine.
