Download ow To Support Israel

HOW CHRISTIANS
SHOULD SUPPORT ISRAEL
By: Phillip Hayes
How should Christians support Israel or the Jews.
This is a very important question as it seems everywhere
you turn, we are asked to support Israel in various ways.
The political world is full of arguments as to what
extent the United States should support the nation of Israel.
This article deals with Christian involvement in the issue; not
political.
There are many organizations that are aggressively
seeking support from Christians for their various causes in
support of the Jewish people and their nation of Israel. One
such organization I have investigated is the “International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews” founded by Yechiel
Eckstein, a Jewish Rabbi. The organization spends millions of
dollars in television (over 11 million in 2009) and other
media advertising their efforts to help the Jewish people.
Their main advertized efforts are humanitarian (feeding and
clothing poor Jews). They also ask for financial help
transporting Jewish people from other countries to live in
Israel. Their contributions in 2009 was almost 95 million
dollars; nearly all from sincere Christian believers.
I found that Yechiel Eckstein has been highly
criticized by many of his Jewish peers. Due to the nature of
the IFCJ it has always been viewed with a great deal of
suspicion in the Jewish world, and whether they should be
allowed to accept their money. As early as 2001 Rabbi
Avraham Shapira issued a ruling against accepting funds
from the IFCJ. In 2002 the Edah HaChareidis rabbinical court
Trumpet Messenger Page 1
issued a ruling against accepting funds from the IFCJ and in
2007 the gavad rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss added his
signature. At the end of 2009 leading religious rabbis and
rabbinical courts, issued a ruling banning Jews from taking
funds from the IFCJ citing worries of (Christian) missionary
activity and idol worship. The signed rabbis and religious
courts included the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Chabad
Rabbibcal Court and twelve prominent Rabbis.
The July 24, 2005 New York Times magazine article
by Zev Chafets notes: “Some of Eckstein’s fellow Orthodox
rabbis would like to exile him for consorting with Christians”.
The Jewish Observer, the house magazine of the ultraOrthodox organization Agudath Israel of America, called
Eckstein’s work “a curse.”
With all the Jewish resentment to this organization
one should wonder where the multiplied millions of dollars in
contributions go.
Somehow many Christians have been hoodwinked
into giving millions of dollars to the IFCJ and other so-called
“Help The Jews” organizations believing that they are
obeying a commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ. No such
commandment exists!
Yechiel Eckstein is NOT a believer or follower of
Jesus.
He is an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi whose only
relationship to Born Again Christians is money.
Neither Rabbi Eckstein nor the IFCJ support Messianic
Christian believers in Israel, but are, in fact, outspoken
against Messianic believers and evangelicals who help them.
(Messianic Jews are Jews that have converted to Christ and
are despised by their Jewish brethren).
The IFCJ primarily acts as a middleman, providing
grant money to other entities to do the work. Donors
generally do not know exactly where their contributions go.
We do not want you to take our word for it, so we
have included Yechiel Eckstein’s own comments to show
Trumpet Messenger Page 2
what his positions are. Rabbi Eckstein’s book, “What
Christians Should Know About Jews and Judaism” (which
you can find on Amazon.com) details some of his thoughts
regarding Jewish believers. Here are some excerpts from the
section titled The Question of Messianic Jews (pgs. 294 299): “Hebrew Christians also insist that they constitute the
only truly fulfilled Jews and that far from abandoning their
Judaism, they are really completing it. In fact, by sprinkling
their Christian lives of faith with Jewish customs and rituals
taken out of their proper, historic context, they pervert
Jewish symbols and make a mockery of the Jewish faith...
From a Jewish standpoint however, one can be part of only
one historic faith community - either Christian or Jewish and Hebrew Christian represents neither... A Jew who
accepts Jesus as Lord or Messiah effectively ceases to be a
Jew. He is viewed almost treasonously as having abandoned
his faith, given up his Jewish heritage, and severed all links
with the Jewish peoplehood. He is like a defector who
walked out on God and his family.” (pg. 295-296)
“More than constituting an imposing threat to Jewish
life and survival, Hebrew Christians are the source of much
of the Jewish distrust of Evangelicals and the discord in their
relations.” (pg. 298)
Imagine what could be done to reach Israelis with the
Gospel with even a fraction of what the IFCJ spends on TV
time.
I know this may offend some but I must say this to
those Christians that desire to mix their Christian faith with
Jewish customs, rituals and holidays that you are making a
mockery of your Christian faith. The Apostle Paul clearly
make a distinction between Judaism and Christianity!
Obviously, humanitarian aid is needed in many
nations world-wide. Starving souls cry out for help from
impoverished countries and we should do all we can to feed
and clothe them. But not just Jews, we are to help anyone
Trumpet Messenger Page 3
that is in need no matter their race, religion or ethnic
background. Every truly born again Christian would feed
and clothe a Jew, Muslim, or Buddhist without any
hesitation.
I do not believe you would argue that Muslims are
strongly against Christians. This is evident world-wide as
Christians are murdered by radical Muslims every day. But,
you may not realize there is an intense dislike, even hatred,
of Christians among orthodox Jews.
Men like Yechiel Eckstein have been successful hiding
this truth from their supporters. They give the impression
that we are all friends and serve the same God all the while
they secretly despise our Lord Jesus and His people.
Today, there is a movement among Christians that is
truly satanic. The movement is bringing many Christians
back under the Law and into Judaism.
I hear reports everywhere we travel of Christians
keeping the Old Testament Jewish Feasts. Sadly, many now
believe the only way to get a prayer through to God is to
have on a Jewish prayer shawl.
Some Christian men are now allowing their hair and
beards to grow long trying to imitate the Jews they see on
television. Women that use to believe the Word of God that
says their hair is their covering, have reverted to a scarf.
What is going on!? I will tell you, the same religious
spirits that controlled the Pharisees and Sadducees are alive
today! These religious demons killed our Lord Jesus and
would have entirely wiped out Christianity if they could have.
These same spirits are back in full force! The teleevangelists are falling for these lies hook, line, and sinker.
Roman Catholic Priests have been their guests for years and
they have extended the right hand of fellowship to them.
Now, their guests also include Jewish Rabbis that openly
teach Jewish customs.
Trumpet Messenger Page 4
Our very ignorant tele-evangelist host giggles with
delight when hearing of some of these customs. One I saw
proudly wore some kind of Jewish shawl as his Jewish Rabbi
guest described what each ornament, color and fringe
meant. Some are particularly proud of a horn from a Ram
that was presented them. Some churches are now blowing
these horns to open their services believing this is what God
expects them to do.
Folks, these Jewish activities have nothing to do with
Christianity! Jesus did not come to reform Judaism, He
came to begin a new religion based on salvation through
faith by Grace, and the power of the Holy Ghost. Christians
that revert to keeping the law and observing Jewish
customs, rituals, holidays and feasts will only do one thing
for you and that is damn your soul!
I fear some of you are being seduced by these spirits
and I must make you aware of the danger that is now
among us.
Personally I refuse to wear a Jewish prayer shawl or
any other clothing associated with Judaism. All that wear
such things are doing so to be seen of men, as they mean
nothing to God. Most of you would refuse to address a
Catholic Priest as Father. Neither would I! I also refuse to
call any man Rabbi! Jesus said this about their Jewish
garments and titles: “But all their works they do for to be
seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and
enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the
uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the
synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called
of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is
your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call
no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father,
which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is
your Master, even Christ”. [Matthew 23:5-10]
Trumpet Messenger Page 5
Rabbi means Master. I have one Rabbi and that is
the Lord Jesus Christ. Shame on you for puffing up and
addressing these men as such!
These rabbis need to be saved! They are lost without
our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know it is against the law to
preach Jesus in Islamic controlled nations, and in Jewish
controlled Israel as well? If you mention Jesus, it had better
be in the few places set aside for that purpose.
Yes, Islam is our enemy. You know that, you believe
that. Why cannot you believe that Judaism is your enemy
also?
Frankly, the Jews do not need your money, they need
the Gospel!
This is truly the only way to support Israel. Give
them the Truth! Give them the Gospel of Jesus Christ as
they are as lost as anyone without Christ. Jesus said, "I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me." [St. John 14:6]
As born again Christians, our desire should be the
same as Apostle Paul’s, “Brethren, my heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I
bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not
according to knowledge. [Romans 10:1-2]
The very traditions that many would have us to be
involved in made the Word of God of none effect to the
religious Jews in New Testament times.
I believe that we will soon see a revival sweep natural
Israel, but it will be an underground movement. When this
happens, the Rabbinic-Pharisee order of Talmud preachers,
Rabbis, and Orthodox Jews will persecute and murder those
fearless Christians that are bold enough to preach the truth
to them without fear or compromise.
The Antichrist Jewish Talmud places all Gentiles,
especially Christians like you and me, right with the dogs
and the devil, as the lowest forms of creation.
Trumpet Messenger Page 6
The Jewish people are being taught the Talmud which
gives them the right to deceive you; to lie, cheat, steal, and
to take your life. I always thought the Muslim religion was
ruthless, but you haven't seen anything until you read what
is in the Talmud. The Rabbinical Judaism in Israel today is
antichrist and nothing but Babylonian Judaism.
Christians today that look to the Jew and their
Rabbinical religion as being from God are completely
deceived. It is not from God! Jesus told the Pharisees, “You
are of your father, the devil.” (Read St. John 8:41-44)
Many Christians are being bewitched by the same
spirits that bewitched the Galatian church and in fact
infected the entire early church. In apostolic times they
were identified as the spirit of antichrist!
The Apostle Paul was amazed that the church at
Galatia had believed another gospel! "I marvel that ye are
so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of
Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there
be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of
Christ." [Galatians 1:6-7]
It is the same today. Another Gospel is not being
preached, but many are perverting the true Gospel with all
sorts of devious doctrines and traditions.
The enemy that opposed the apostles were those of
the Jewish faith. The priests and rabbis hated Christians.
Remember, before his conversion to Christ Apostle Paul was
a Pharisee. He had permission from the High Priest to hunt
down and imprison any Christian he found. He actually held
the clothes of the Jews that stoned Stephen to death!
After his conversion to Christianity the Apostle Paul
labored to save his Jewish brethren but then realized, they
were blinded. "And he reasoned in the synagogue every
sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And
when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul
was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus
Trumpet Messenger Page 7
was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and
blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your
blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth
I will go unto the Gentiles." [Acts 18:4-6]
Paul warned if any man, or an angel from heaven
preached any other Gospel than he had preached that they
were cursed.
This other or perverted gospel was Judaism mixed
with the Gospel of Christ!
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should
not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath
been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only
would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of
the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having
begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
[Galatians 1:1-3]
They had been removed from Christ. They were lost!
All because they had believed the lies of the Jews! You see,
they were being told they could still believe in Jesus but they
had to keep the law and be circumcised.
They had begun serving God in the Spirit, now they
were trying to be made perfect by the keeping of the Old
Testament law.
Paul was very clear concerning the Old Testament
law.
Every born again Christian should know this!
Christians are not under the law:
 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are
not under the law, but under grace. [Romans 6:14]
 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not
hear the law? [Galatians 4:21]
 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the
law." [Galatians 5:18]
Paul said the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to
Christ and after Christ we were no longer under the law:
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Trumpet Messenger Page 8
Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that
faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."
[Galatians 3:24-25]
The great Apostle Paul who was a Jew and a Pharisee
actually called the law weak and beggarly!
He then
mentioned how the Galatians were observing days, months
and years. There should be little doubt that he is referring
to Jewish feasts and holidays!
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known
of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye
observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid
of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
[Galatians 4:9-11]
Yes, Paul's labor had been in vain and he was now
afraid of them. What a shame! The Galatians had obeyed
the Gospel preaching of Paul but now they had accepted the
Jews religion and had been removed from Christ. "Christ is
become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are
justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." [Galatians
5:4]
In Verse twelve of Galatians five the Apostle Paul
said, "I would they were even cut off which trouble you".
The great Apostle understood that you could not mix any
other religion with the pure religion of Christianity. He knew
that God would meet man in only one place, and that place
is Christ.
Folks, do not be guilty of mixing Jewish traditions,
customs, laws rituals or holidays with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Doing so will ultimately cause you to fall from grace
and be lost.
Today, the church of God faces many adversaries.
They include Paganism, Judaism, the occult and many other
religions including the Muslim religion.
To me the most
dangerous is Judaism because it is the most deceiving.
Trumpet Messenger Page 9
Some think, since Christianity sprang from Judaism, what
harm could there possibly be for a Christian to observe some
of their feasts or traditions?? That question is answered
over and over in this article. Simply said, Judaism is
antichrist!
Some reading this article might believe me to be a
hater of the Jewish people. That my friend, is far from the
truth. My desire is the same as Apostle Paul's, "Brethren,
my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they
might be saved."
I say support the Jewish people by sending the true
Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Obviously no Jewish Rabbi
will convey the Gospel to them. It is going to take someone
filled with the Holy Ghost to preach the Truth to Israel.
I intend to use every resource to find someone in
Israel that I can partner with in preaching the Gospel to
them. It is as extremely dangerous to preach Jesus in Israel
as it is among Islamic nations.
I firmly believe there is someone in the nation of
Israel that is preaching the Truth. No doubt it is undercover
and from house to house just as it is in Islamic and
communist nations where revival fires are breaking out.
Israel is ripe for revival!
Remember Jesus said, "For I say unto you, Ye shall
not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord." [Matthew 23:39] Jesus
was speaking to His people, the Jew. I have often felt this
scripture was for the end time when God was going to send
a revival to Israel. Christ in us is the hope of glory and
when they receive the Gospel, they will have seen Christ in
us. Glory to God!
Pray for us!
Trumpet Messenger Page 10