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Sep. 1st, 2006 05:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
violachic"THE JERUSALEM DECLARATION ON CHRISTIAN ZIONISM"
Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem
August 26, 2006
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."
(Matthew 5:9)
Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that
embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby
becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The
Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is
identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its
extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end
of history rather than living Christ's love and justice today.
We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that
corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation.
We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders
and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United
States that are presently imposing their unilateral pre-emptive borders and
domination over Palestine. This inevitably leads to unending cycles of
violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and
the rest of the world.
We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support
these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather
than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by
Jesus Christ. Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we
call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism
and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations!
We call upon Christians in Churches on every continent to pray for the
Palestinian and Israeli people, both of whom are suffering as victims of
occupation and militarism. These discriminative actions are turning
Palestine into impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli
settlements. The establishment of the illegal settlements and the
construction of the Separation Wall on confiscated Palestinian land
undermines the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and
security in the entire region.
We call upon all Churches that remain silent, to break their silence and
speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following principles as an
alternative way:
We affirm that all people are created in the image of God. In turn they are
called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their
inalienable rights.
We affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are capable of living together
within peace, justice and security.
We affirm that Palestinians are one people, both Muslim and Christian. We
reject all attempts to subvert and fragment their unity.
We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian
Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of
others.
We are committed to non-violent resistance as the most effective means to
end the illegal occupation in order to attain a just and lasting peace.
With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are
justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.
God demands that justice be done. No enduring peace, security or
reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands
of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued
diligently and persistently but non-violently.
"What does the Lord require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8 )
This is where we take our stand. We stand for justice. We can do no other.
Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a
life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our Land. By
standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace -
and working for peace makes us children of God.
"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's
sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:19)
His Beattitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah
Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem
Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad,
Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal,
Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
Bishop Munib Younan,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
whatcha think?
Statement by the Patriarch and Local Heads of Churches In Jerusalem
August 26, 2006
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."
(Matthew 5:9)
Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that
embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby
becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The
Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is
identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its
extreme form, it laces an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end
of history rather than living Christ's love and justice today.
We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false teaching that
corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and reconciliation.
We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders
and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the United
States that are presently imposing their unilateral pre-emptive borders and
domination over Palestine. This inevitably leads to unending cycles of
violence that undermine the security of all peoples of the Middle East and
the rest of the world.
We reject the teachings of Christian Zionism that facilitate and support
these policies as they advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather
than the gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by
Jesus Christ. Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon we
call upon everyone to liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism
and occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the nations!
We call upon Christians in Churches on every continent to pray for the
Palestinian and Israeli people, both of whom are suffering as victims of
occupation and militarism. These discriminative actions are turning
Palestine into impoverished ghettos surrounded by exclusive Israeli
settlements. The establishment of the illegal settlements and the
construction of the Separation Wall on confiscated Palestinian land
undermines the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace and
security in the entire region.
We call upon all Churches that remain silent, to break their silence and
speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy Land.
Therefore, we commit ourselves to the following principles as an
alternative way:
We affirm that all people are created in the image of God. In turn they are
called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect their
inalienable rights.
We affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are capable of living together
within peace, justice and security.
We affirm that Palestinians are one people, both Muslim and Christian. We
reject all attempts to subvert and fragment their unity.
We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of Christian
Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at the expense of
others.
We are committed to non-violent resistance as the most effective means to
end the illegal occupation in order to attain a just and lasting peace.
With urgency we warn that Christian Zionism and its alliances are
justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.
God demands that justice be done. No enduring peace, security or
reconciliation is possible without the foundation of justice. The demands
of justice will not disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued
diligently and persistently but non-violently.
"What does the Lord require of you, to act justly, to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8 )
This is where we take our stand. We stand for justice. We can do no other.
Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation with a
life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our Land. By
standing on the side of justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace -
and working for peace makes us children of God.
"God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's
sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of
reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:19)
His Beattitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah
Latin Patriarchate, Jerusalem
Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad,
Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem
Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal,
Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East
Bishop Munib Younan,
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
whatcha think?
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Date: 2006-09-01 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-01 09:40 pm (UTC)