Whether it’s by immersion or pouring for baptism, the use of grape juice or wine in communion, ways to keep the Sabbath, external gauges of holiness, or how the Lord will return--such differences should not stop the Body of Christ from working and witnessing together.
Jesus made it very clear in John 17:21: The world will not believe the message of God’s Son until they see its messengers—you and me—loving each other and living as diverse, but synergistic parts of Christ, the whole.
Nevertheless, even the minor teachings we embrace often have consequences; and no other sub-doctrine impacts a Christian’s witness in the here and now than what he or she believes about the “end times”.
As the 64th anniversary of the modern state of Israel approaches (May 14th), I’m re-posting portions of an article I wrote several years ago about the American Church’s growing love affair with Israel. I attempted to answer questions that should be of concern to all Christians:
Is the modern State of Israel the Israel of the Bible?
Were there any covenantal conditions for the Jews in regards to keeping the land?
How did the modern state of Israel come into being, and is it really a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy?
What is Christian Zionism?
The lynch pin doctrine of Christian Zionists is belief in a “Rapture”. What did the Church-at-large believe about the future of Israel and the return of Christ prior to the emergence of this doctrine in the 19th century? Who came forth with the initial “revelation”, and how did it spread?
Why do Christian Zionists in the United States enthusiastically embrace the Rapture teaching when it requires the destruction of two-thirds of the Jews in Israel…the very people they claim to love and support?
Why do American Christians continue to support a government that unapologetically persecutes people—including Christians-- and uses its religion as an excuse?
Who are the Palestinian Christians—questionable converts from Islam or the faithful descendants of the earliest believers in Christ? Do they feel abandoned by American Christians?
Please understand. My intent is not to stir up controversy or invite pointless debate, but to lay a sober challenge before all good Bereans to search and see if “these things be true” (Acts 17:10-12).