Why Dennis Prager and I Like, Admire and Respect Evangelicals
Bookworm at Bookworm Room on Jul 25 2006 at 7:27 am | Filed under: Culture Watch, Feature Article
Dennis Prager, on this morning’s radio show, directed me to an LA Times Op-ED by Zev Chafets, a non-religious Jew. In it, Chafets explains, once again, why American Jews have to shake off their atavistic fear of American Christians:
For millions of American evangelical voters, living right includes supporting Israel. Last week, Pentecostal televangelist Rev. John Hagee of San Antonio, one of the rising forces in American Christian Zionism, convened a meeting in Washington of Christians Unified for Israel. Hagee sees the newly formed group as an evangelical American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, dedicated to lobbying on Israel’s behalf, especially in states where Jews are few and far between. Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas attended Hagee’s rally. So did Pennsylvania GOP Sen. Rick Santorum (who is running for his political life). Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman was there. So was the Israeli ambassador, Daniel Ayalon.
Jewish Democrats often decry Republican evangelical support on the grounds that these Christians only want to missionize Jews (and if they do, so what? It’s a free country) or use them as cannon fodder at Armageddon (which matters only if you believe in Armageddon in the first place).
In fact, the main motive for Christian Zionism is not devious. As Hagee said, paraphrasing the Book of Genesis, Chapter 12:3, “God will bless those who bless the Jewish people.”
Now, if you don’t believe in the literal truth of the Bible, this probably sounds like a Christian Hallmark card sentiment. But if you do, it’s a marching order.
Dennis Prager, LA Times, Zev Chafets, American Jews, American evangelical, Israel, Rev. John Hagee, American Christian Zionism, Washington, American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Jews, Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman, Israeli, Daniel Ayalon, Democrats, Bible
