Standing With Israel is an eloquent plea for reconciliation between Jews and Christians, based upon mutual values and a shared history of Zionism. In the introduction, the author makes a link between the righteous gentiles of the past and mainstream evangelical Christians who today support Israel. There are many instances of secular people and Christians that sheltered Jews during the Holocaust. And since the rebirth of Israel, the country has gained good friends amongst influential Christian leaders like Gary Bauer, John Hagee, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
The book chronicles the development of Christian theology and how it influenced attitudes towards Jews down the ages. Replacement Theology, the destructive idea that the Church replaced the Jews, is an ancient thread running from certain Gospel verses through the writings of church fathers like John Chrysostom, Justin Martyr and St Augustine. But another strain of Christianity with its roots in the Puritans found eloquent expression in the Plymouth Brethren founded in 1827 and ultimately became the dominant form of the religion in the USA in the 20th century.
There were always Christians who provided vital assistance to the Zionist project. Early Christian Zionism in fact predates Jewish Zionism. Theodor Herzl had a great ally in the Englishman William Hechler. In America, there was
William Blackstone who worked tirelessly for the cause. Three well-known Christians had a direct hand in the rebirth of Israel: Arthur Balfour, Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman. Recently, Jews and Christians have joined hands in organizations like the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, led by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.
The motives of today's Christian Zionists are investigated and found to be based on Genesis 12 verse 3: "I will bless those who bless you." Furthermore, there is a profound gratitude to the nation who wrote and preserved the scriptures. These Christians are steadfast friends of Israel and the Jews, providing material and spiritual support to the beleaguered nation and to Diaspora Jews. In view of the long centuries of Christian persecution, it is not surprising that the mainstream Jewish response has been lukewarm, if not somewhat hostile. To understand this, one needs only consider the sorry history of Martin Luther who turned from supporter of the Jews to a deadly enemy in his later years.
There are many issues on which Christian and Jewish leaders disagree.
Abraham Foxman of the ADL, for example, still perceives the Christian Right as a threat. This despite the fact that prominent Christians such as Falwell and Robertson have proved themselves to be trustworthy friends of Israel. Other longtime supporters of the Jewish State include Jan Willem van der Hoeven of the International Christian Zionist Center who was influenced at an early age by the example of the
Ten Boom family in Holland.
In the conclusion, the author looks at bipartisan support of Israel in the USA and reveals the close personal relationships between Theodor Herzl and William Hechler, Chaim Weizmann and Arthur Balfour, and Menachem Begin and Jerry Falwell. In these perilous times of resurgent anti-Semitism, it is comforting to know that Israel is not alone. The country now has millions of devoted friends in the USA and around the world. God bless Israel and America.
In Defense of Israel by John Hagee
Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel by Paul Charles Merkley
A Match Made in Heaven: American Jews, Christian Zionists, and One Man's Exploration of the Weird and Wonderful Judeo-Evangelical Alliance by Zev Chafets
The Politics of Christian Zionism 1891-1948 by Paul Charles Merkley
Ruth & Esther: Shadows of Our Future by Frank Morgan
Why Care about Israel? by Sandra Teplinsky
The Mountains of Israel by Norma Parrish Archbold
