GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
... Why do christians believe and support so much a group that has aboslutley no faith in their messiah, Christ? ...
Well, a few reasons really.
Judaism and Christianity share a common history and a faith in the same God. Of course their histories and faiths diverge with Christ, however there is an affinity based on that common background. This kinship is a relatively new development, as there is a long history of antisemitism from before the time of Christ up through the modern age. Interestingly, Islam as well shares a common history (Ishmael I believe) with both Judaism and Christianity but diverges much earlier in the Old Testament.
Secondly, as believers in the Old Testament, Christians generally believe that the Jewish people are God's chosen people. The importance of that cannot be overstated, even though the Christian faith still maintains that since the time of Christ all people need to accept Christ as Messiah to be received into heaven.
Basically this commonality leads Christians to be sympathetic to the Jewish plight and also leads to a feeling of brotherhood with the Jewish people. As a Christian you are responsible to take care of your brother. The atrocities suffered in WWII and the Russian pogroms pointed out a massive failing of Christians to look after their brothers. This kinship and guilt leads many Christians to fully support the restoration of the people of Israel to the land of Israel. Note that the "people of Israel" and "land of Israel" are separate and the people were without a land throughout much of their history. The deliverance of the land to the people is one of the major themes through their history and seen as a fulfillment of a promise from God, Himself.
For me, it all boils down to this... You hear people say "God is on our side" all the time. I don't think so. God doesn't choose sides. I want to be on
His side. I believe in the Old Testament and that Jewish people are His chosen people. Given that belief, I'm going to be on that side. However that doesn't mean blanket support for their occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, etc. They've encroached beyond the promised land and I believe they are now suffering the consequences of it.
Last edited by ph4s3 (2007-07-01 09:12:06)