Reverend Stephen Sizer, vicar of the Anglican Parish of Christ Church in England is notorious for his disdain for Israel and the Jewish people. He has been a longtime supporter of the “Palestinian” agenda, has visited Iran on occasions and recently even claimed that Christian Zionists are the same as members of the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

Sizer wasn’t always such a virulent anti-Zionist. He actually started as a Christian Zionist and dispensationalist. It was in 1990 that during a visit to Israel and some meetings with Palestinian Christians, he engaged on a road that would eventually lead him to thoroughly change his views on Israel. This radical change prompted him to publish his doctoral thesis in his 2004 book: Christian Zionism: Roadmap to Armageddon ? [1] [2].

Recently, Sizer reached a new low in his anti-Zionist rhetoric when he posted a link to an article claiming that September 11, 2001 was part of a Jewish conspiracy.[3] His conspiracy theory belongs with New Mexico’s area 51 and the Loch Ness monster, and I would gladly put it in its place in the pantheon of lies, except that it this case, it hurts people.

There are three groups of people hurt by such a statement, outside of Sizer’s reputation, of course, but that one was already pretty tarnished.

First, it hurts Christians in general because Rev. Sizer is considered to be an Evangelical and that Christianity already has a tremendous amount of baggage when it comes to Judeo/Christian relations. Many Jewish people consider Christians to be anti-Semitic by default and Stephen Sizer’s recent endorsement certainly would validate their position. Of course, it remains to be seen if a person having such a hatred of the Jewish people and such a distorted understanding of Israel can be called a believer. I am not saying that Rev. Sizer isn’t a Christian but a reading of Psalm 83 might convince some that he also hates God (Psalm 83:1-5). Fortunately, not all followers of Yeshua the Messiah of Israel will agree with Sizer, yet his influence is still growing in a postmodern world where truth and logic are no longer required.

Incidentally, in 2011, Sizer had been accused of anti-Semitism by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, was investigated, but he was exonerated. In a letter published on his blog, he said: “I care passionately about the safety of the Jewish people and the right of Israel to exist within internationally agreed borders. I have always opposed racism, anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial as well as Islamophobia and the denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination and will continue to do so.” [4]

If indeed Rev. Sizer opposes anti-Semitism, maybe it would be wise for him to define what he means by that term, because accusing the Jewish people of conspiring together in the events of 9/11 is libelous, irrational and unfounded. If what he means by anti-Semitism fits one of the many definitions similar to mine[5], then he is delusional at best.

But Sizer’s view and its defense also hurt Christ Church of England in particular. The lack of a firm biblical position by Christ Church against Sizer’s diatribes would speak tons regarding their own views on Israel and the Jews. As it turns out, they decided to investigate him again [6]. The outcome will determine if that anti-Semitic statement was serious enough to lead to disciplinary action.

Finally, such a statement also hurts the Jewish people, as it fuels the fire of anti-Semitism. We know from the state of the world in general and the events of the last few weeks in France in particular, that anti-Semitism needs no fuel to advance on its destructive path.

Many Christians or even pseudo-Christians will see a validation in Sizer’s position. They will easily justify their own anti-Semitism by seeing Sizer as a Christian role model who knows more than them, thus, must be in the right. This is a problem that we could trace back to the second century Church Fathers.

Stephen Sizer poses a great danger to both Christians and Jews. One would certainly hope that a statement claiming that the Jews were behind 9/11 would be immediately dismissed as an irrational hoax, but then again the early 19^th century pamphlet: The Protocol of the Learned Elders of Zion, which was a hoax, is still being published and circulated in 2015 [7].

Prompted by his diocese, Sizer retracted his support of that statement about Israel’s involvement in the terrorist attack of 9/11 within a few days and posted an apology on his blog: “I very much regret and apologise for the distress caused by the reposting on Facebook of a link to an article about 9/11 from Wikispooks. It was particularly insensitive in that last week coincided with Holocaust Memorial Day. I removed the link as soon as I received adverse feedback, and realised that offence had been caused. I have never believed Israel or any other country was complicit in the terrorist atrocity of 9/11, and my sharing of this material was ill-considered and misguided. At the request of the Diocese, I will be suspending my use of all social media and blogs with immediate effect and until further notice.”[8]

At the moment, it is unclear if the apology was a result of his diocese investigation, but what remains without a doubt, is that even with that apology, Sizer remains an ardent anti-Israel activist at best, and an anti-Semite at worst. As a matter of fact, in the 2004 version of his book “Christian Zionism”, he makes a very similar statement on page 251, where he actually accuses Israel of “complicity in the 9/11 tragedy”.[9]

Sizer might have published an apology but he appears less as having the contrite heart of a Christian in the wrong and more as a Christian figure who got caught with his hand in the anti-Jewish “cookie jar”.

The chocking weed of anti-Semitism is a diehard plant that just got watered a bit more by Stephen Sizer.

Christians should know better.

Christian Zionists will know better!

 

 

 

[1] http://www.calvinlsmith.com/2009/09/review-of-christian-zionism-road-map-to.html

[2] Wilkinson, Paul: For Zion’s Sake (Paternoster, Bletchey, UK, 2007), p. 49-51.

[3] http://www.jewishnews.co.uk/show-evidence-israel-wasnt-behind-911-asks-vicar-stephen-sizer/

[4] http://stephensizer.blogspot.com/p/defence.html

[5] Anti-Semitism is the irrational hatred of the Jewish people characterized by destructive

thoughts, words and/or actions against them.

[6] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11378475/Vicar-investigated-over-911-Israel-

did-it-posting.html

[7] http://www.amazon.com/Protocols-learned-elders-Zion Sergiei/dp/1578987407/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422581653&sr=1-2&keywords=protocol+of+the+elders+of+zion

[8] http://www.stephensizer.org

[9] http://books.google.com/books?id=YtUsAQAAIAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=complicity