*I HAVE REASON TO BE WARY OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS' SOLICITUDE FOR THE JEWS OF **ISRAEL** * *Gavriel** Aryeh Sanders* *1*
You didn't read it in the *New York Times*; you didn't see it on CNN; it didn't make the banner headlines on AOL. But in May, 232 representatives from 15 nations (including Jordan) gathered in Jerusalem to affirm their spiritual, moral, historical, and financial commitment to Israel. And where did they meet? At the newly-renovated YMCA auditorium. Why there, specifically? Because they were Christians. This was the 2001 Shavuot conference hosted by Christian Friends of Israel (CFI), founded in 1985 by missionary ministers Ray and Sharon Sanders (no relation to me). The organization holds non-profit status with the Israeli government as a humanitarian outreach. And outreach they do. CFI distributes tons of clothing annually. They issue vouchers for food and furniture. They've distributed over 7,000 pairs of eyeglasses. They prepare newborn kits for pregnant mothers, followed by a stroller or bed after the child is born. They estimate they have helped 120,000 immigrants since 1991, most of them Russian. An average of 60 people a day come to the center on the corner of Shivtei Yisrael and Helena HaMalka in Jerusalem. Some receive help with electricity payments; others will get subsidies for medical needs. All will be met by a warm smile, a caring voice, even a hopeful hug. Just this last week a distraught couple came in with a retarded baby that has a reactive condition to heat. The doctor had recommended an air conditioner, but they could never afford such a luxury. The Christians bought one for them. Just last week a local Orthodox rabbi called to thank and bless CFI for helping subsidize his young daughter's recent surgery. Why are they there? Why do they do this? In a refined drawl from somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, CFI's secretary Helen Flood remarked "there are millions of Christians around the world who love Israel. They show that by underwriting our projects to reach Jewish people in need. Every month they give money generously because they believe that real Christians owe a spiritual debt to the Jews." She noted that hundreds of Christians have given up the safety and security of their homelands to engage in a labor of love throughout the land of Israel. Indeed, CFI is one expression of a widespread sentiment of support from evangelicals worldwide. Estimates suggest that as many as 70 million American Christians are pro-Israel. So is this a good thing for Israel to accept their assistance? Rabbi Michael Skobac of Jews for Judaism's Toronto office is troubled. "This is a Trojan horse," he warns. "The evangelicals have a hidden agenda. This is just the latest in a long line of creative efforts to convert Jews." I asked Ms. Flood about CFI's conversion efforts. She said, "The truth is, we are not here to convert Jews. However, if they ask about our belief in Yeshua (J.C.) as the messiah, we answer honestly. We don't push. But I tell them that it's Yeshua that put this great love in my heart to help Jews in need." Most evangelical outreaches sing some version of Ms. Flood's song. The evil perpetrated against Jews by the Church was not representative of real Christianity, they say. In the last 30 years, a new attitude has taken root worldwide. Now the truly Bible-believing Christians see themselves as the spiritual heirs of Judaism's legacy. And they wish to say thank you in tangible ways. This, they affirm, is a means of atoning for the abuses of history and will demonstrate that they are honest, earnest, and trustworthy. CFI has many organizational cousins, in and outside of Israel, including the International Christian Embassy, Shalom International, Bridges for Peace, Christians for Israel, High Adventure Ministries, and Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. For years, entertainer Pat Boone has been the Israeli government's unofficial ambassador to evangelicals. (And I personally know Jews he baptized in his Beverly Hills swimming pool.) Bellmawr, NJ-based Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (which recently dropped "gospel" in their self-description) has a caring mission statement embedded with loaded terms: "For over 60 years, The Friends of Israel has ministered as a Christian friendship organization standing in support of Israel and befriending Jewish people. Our organization has consistently spoken and acted against anti-Semitism in all its forms. As Christian Zionists, we have been dedicated to clarifying the biblical, historical, and moral rights of Jewish people to a homeland in the Middle East. Our organization places a strong emphasis on the teaching of biblical prophecy through our conferences, publications and worldwide radio programming. In the process, we are committed to sharing the love of the Messiah with Gentile and Jewish people." It doesn't take knowledge of Orwellian Newspeak to decode "missionary to Jews" throughout this declaration. Beside their common love of Israel, these groups share a wider prophetic platform, one that anticipates the ultimate conversion of the Jewish people before the second coming of Jesus. In more classified publications, they state their real motive for the acts of mercy, namely to fulfill a New Testament passage, which says: "The unbelief of Israel has opened the door of opportunity for the Gentiles. G- d's purpose is that when unbelieving Jews see many Gentiles turn to [Jesus] they will become jealous and will repent and come to faith" (Romans 11:11). The most popular targets for their largess are the weakest, the poorest, and the least Torah literate of Israeli Jews, most notably the Russian immigrants. While CFI operates with the official approval of the Israeli government, Helen Flood acknowledged that missionary watchdog groups such as Yad L'Achimperiodically monitor their activities. This issue is a point of great consternation. Missionary groups are doing for Jews what Jews should be doing for Jews. To Jews who have little, including little in Judaism, the offer of help appears heaven sent. Who can begrudge that retarded child the needed relief of an air conditioner? Who cares where it came from? That's really the key question: Who cares where it came from? It's time to hold this issue in the light. Jews are dying in the land of Israel. Some are victims of snipers and bombers. Others are being killed by kindness. One is immediate. The other is gradual. Both are fatal. Jews for Judaism has secured documentation proving links between these "humanitarian" groups and the emergence of new messianic congregations throughout the land of Israel. As a beginning, I wonder: Could we get by on a little less here, so we can give a little more there, so that our people won't be vulnerable targets for missionary mercy? There are plenty of wonderful assistance and outreach organizations in Israel to meet the challenge. All they need is for us to do what the Christians are doing. Give with an agenda. Think about it. *Gavriel** Aryeh Sanders, senior religion columnist for Jewsweek.com, is a former Pentecostal, fundamentalist minister and covert missionary in ** Israel** and **Saudi Arabia**.** In the process of mastering Hebrew and studying the Hebrew Bible, he decided to convert to Judaism. He lives in ** Queens**, **NY**.* SOURCE: *Special to the *Intermountain Jewish News* (IJN), *July 27, 2001 http://www.ijn.com/archive/2001arch/072701.htm#story5 --- Brief CV of Jusfiq Hadjar Jusfiq Hadjar, a christian, 66 years old, is an Indonesian living in the Netherlands. He currently lives together out of wed-lock with Marlene Van Doorn - a documentalist in African Studies Center (ASC) library - in Leiden. Jusfiq Hadjar has, thus far, succesfully deceived many NGOs into believing that he is a human rights activistist. One of the NGOs that has been trapped in his lies is a Muslim human rights group, the Movement against Racism and for Friendship among Peoples. Jusfiq Hadjar is very active in his campaigns against Islam and Muslims on the Internet, especially in several Indonesian mailing lists. He will spread massive amounts of offensive, slanderous, lying statements against Islam and Muslims day in and day out and at the same time claiming that he is a Muslim. Undoubtedly, Jusfiq Hadjar is one of those people who still thinks that adhering to a daily routine of cursing and swearing on the Internet would help to make him look intelligent and preserve his sanity. It shoots no wonder then if you find mosts of his writings on the Internet are just about cursing and swearing at Muslims and licking the ass of his christian friends. Jusfiq Hadjar has joined several mailing lists in order to spread his severe hatred against Islam and Muslim on the Internet: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamkristen/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apakabar/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/minangnet/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/istiqlal/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/partai-keadilan/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ijtihad/<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/partai-keadilan/> Marlene Van Doorn is very supportive of his life partner's evil activities on the Internet, and gives her financial support by providing him with meals, accomodation and Internet connection. He is also allegedly financed by Leiden church. He has no children. 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