Sizer

February 29, 2016 By Olivier Melnick 4 Comments

Christ at the Checkpoint 4: How far is too far?

On March 7-10, 2016, the fourth “Christ at the Checkpoint (CatC) Conference will take place in Bethlehem. The 2016 theme will be, “THE GOSPEL IN THE FACE OF RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM.” From their own website, they give the world their mission that is: “ The mission of “Christ at the Checkpoint” is to challenge Evangelicals to take responsibility to help resolve the conflicts in Israel/Palestine by engaging with the teaching of Jesus on the Kingdom of God.”

This sounds really commendable at a time when the whole Middle East seems to be sitting on a powder keg with a very short fuse. Biblically speaking, anything done in the name of Yeshua and following His teaching should lead to peace and turning the other cheek. Furthermore, the leadership of CatC claims that, “The conference will bring Palestinian and international Evangelical leaders, to study and explore the rise of religious extremism within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam and how this impacts the Israel/Palestine conflict. We will also explore what the Bible has to say about religious extremism in any form. Together, we will seek a Biblical response to religious extremism, and find ways that provide an alternative through living out the kingdom of God. “

Their mission appears to deal with any form of extremism within Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In and of itself, this year’s conference seems balanced and very informative, but the problem is that CatC conferences build every two years on the work accomplished by the previous conference(s), and as such, CatC has gained a reputation that increasingly lacks ethical stability. The first three conferences were all advertised under the banner of “reconciliation” but at the end of the day, each one resembled more a witch hunt against Israel than a dialogue to find a healthy compromise. Unfortunately, many evangelicals are blinded by Palestinian victimhood rhetoric.

Much could be gleaned from the CatC Manifesto, for which I wrote a review in 2012. Back then I recognized that it included some truths, half-truths and lies, all mixed. So I looked at each of the 12 articles carefully. It is well worth reviewing again.

1. The Kingdom of God has come. Evangelicals must reclaim the prophetic role in bringing peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel.
DISAGREED: Kingdom Now Theology claims among other things, that Yeshua’s Kingdom was inaugurated at His first coming while Scripture states that He will reign as Messianic King on the throne of David from Jerusalem in a yet to come Millennial Messianic Kingdom (Psalm 72:8, 11, 17; Isaiah 9:7, 11:6-11; Jeremiah 23:6, Zechariah 3:10).

2. Reconciliation recognizes God’s image in one another.
AGREED: God created man and woman in His image, regardless of ethnicity. (Genesis 1:27; 5:1; 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Ephesians 4:24). Although inviting blatant anti-Israel speaker like Stephen Sizer defeated that purpose.

3. Racial ethnicity alone does not guarantee the benefits of the Abrahamic Covenant.
DISAGREED: The benefits of the Abrahamic Covenant are multi-faceted. They include God’s promises to both the Jewish people and the nations (non-Jews) through Abraham, yet the physical land is ONLY promised to the Jewish people, ethnic descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3, 7; 13:15;17:7-8, 19; 25:5-6; 26:3; 28:3-4; 35:9-15.)

4. The Church in the land of the Holy One, has born witness to Christ since the days of Pentecost. It must be empowered to continue to be light and salt in the region, if there is to be hope in the midst of conflict.
AGREED: Yeshua’s last command to His disciples was to make disciples of ALL NATIONS (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:47)

5. Any exclusive claim to land of the Bible in the name of God is not in line with the teaching of Scripture.
DISAGREED: The land of Israel belongs to God Himself (Leviticus 25:23). He chose to make a covenant with Abraham that would include that piece of land as an eternal AND unconditional part of that covenant. Additionally, God’s gifts are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).

6. All forms of violence must be refuted unequivocally.
AGREED: Yeshua always taught peace between His followers and unbelievers as much as possible, making Christianity a most unique faith were disciples of Messiah must EVEN love their enemies (Matthew 5:39-48; Luke 6:27-35, Romans 12:17-21.) The participation of a Hamas sympathizer at the 2016 conference is directly opposed to the statement made in article 6.

7. Palestinian Christians must not lose the capacity to self-criticism if they wish to remain prophetic.
AGREED: In any conflict, ALL parties must be willing to recognize fault and prepared to adjust accordingly. (Proverbs 18:12; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:1-17.)

8. There are real injustices taking place in the Palestinian territories and the suffering of the Palestinian people can no longer be ignored. Any solution must respect the equity and rights of Israel and Palestinian communities.
PARTIALLY AGREED AND DISAGREED: While mutual respect of human beings as being made in God’s image is at the core of peace and reconciliation, what is meant by “injustices in the Palestinian territories” remains to be defined. (Genesis 1:27; 5:1; 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Ephesians 4:24.) The further we advance in history, the more accepted the Palestinian narrative becomes. Unfortunately, it is not founded on historical facts but purely fabricated. Please don’t take my word for it, take the time to study the facts!

9. For Palestinian Christians, the occupation is the core issue of the conflict.
PARTIALLY AGREED AND DISAGREED: While nobody enjoys living in a land that they feel is theirs and yet is occupied by a foreign people group, it remains to be proven biblically that Jewish people are the occupiers. All previous Scriptures cited about the land lead to an opposite view (See verses under points 3 and 5).

10. Any challenge of the injustices taking place in the Holy Land must be done in Christian love. Criticism of Israel and the occupation cannot be confused with anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of the State of Israel.
AGREED: While it is possible to disagree with Israeli policies, much of what has been labeled as anti-Israelism or even anti-Zionism has really been antisemitism in disguise. Genuine Christian love is at the core of any reconciliation and is irrespective of color or race. (2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 3:14). CatC continues to invite a plethora of speakers who are very good at pointing the finger at Israel “the occupier” and “apartheid state”, but rarely do they speak of radical Islam, terrorism and/or antisemitism.

11. Respectful dialogue between Palestinian and Messianic believers must continue. Though we may disagree on secondary matters of theology, the Gospel of Jesus and his ethical teaching take precedence.
PARTIALLY AGREED AND DISAGREED: Respectful dialogue means that both sides must be heard and both sides must listen. Agreeing on the Gospel of Yeshua doesn’t negate God’s covenants with the Jewish people (Romans 1:16; 9-11.) Even the recent “Larnaca Document” signed in Cyprus between Palestinian Christians and Messianic believers sounds more like a trap than a true breakthrough. For instance, in their article 2.2, both parties agree to disagree on what constitutes lethal violence. Seriously? So Israel’s counter-terrorism actions against Hamas should be seen as one version of “lethal violence” on equal footing with Hamas bloody terrorism?

12. Christians must understand the global context for the rise of extremist Islam. We challenge stereotyping of all faith forms that betray God’s commandment to love our neighbors and enemies.
AGREED: While again I find the statement misleading as it could be taken to mean that there is a justification for radical Islam’s violence, I agree that Christian love is always to be the foundation of any lasting peace and reconciliation (See verses under points 6).

So this year, more evangelicals are joining the CatC ranks. People like “Bible Answer Man” Hank Hanegraaff. I used to listen to Mr. Hanegraaff when I was a young believer, what a disgraceful theological shift. One wonders if he is he still using the same Bible since he is not seeing Israel in the plan of God anymore? But there are so many other people that are taking center stage at CatC 2016 in the name of Christian love and reconciliation and yet, they clearly show bias against Israel and in some cases hatred.

• Jack Sara claims that he lives in Jerusalem, Palestine
• Jonathan Kuttab recently tweeted that we should no longer consider Hamas a terrorist organization
• Salim Munayer claimed that the many tunnels built by Hamas were mostly to carry food and drinks.
• Mustafa Abu Sway has written books used by Hamas and is known as an Islamist.

So forgive me for not getting too hopeful about the fourth iteration of “Christ at the Checkpoint.” I think that it is progressively getting worse. How can we possibly speak of Christian love, justice and reconciliation with such a line-up of hypocrites at best and antisemites at worst?

Instead of watching the conference online and be indoctrinated by a false narrative, you would better spend your time watching a series of videos directed by my dear friend Perry Trotter from New Zealand. The site is Evangelical Zionism and it divides into seven videos for a total of 45 minutes very well spent. I really wish that the speakers and attendees of CatC 2016 would spend that 45 minutes watching these videos, then I would be hopeful that we possibly could have a balanced dialogue. Unfortunately, I think that CatC has now gone too far. Sadly, many evangelicals do not see it that way!

June 10, 2015 By Olivier Melnick 7 Comments

Why Would “Christ at the Checkpoint” Compare Israel to ISIS?

While I was recently traveling throughout Israel, I drove about 600 miles. Looking at the landscape around me, I quickly realized that we were often driving nearby the Palestinian territories and at times even through some Arab neighborhoods.

It was as if someone had ripped pages from the Bible and made street signs and town signs with them, pointing to The Galilee, the Dead Sea, the river Jordan, Ashdod, Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Gaza, Jaffa, Modi’in etc.

I particularly fell in love with the Old City in Jerusalem. Its extensive color palette mixed with a myriad of scents was a perfect backdrop for Jews, Arabs and Christians to interact. We had dinner in an Armenian restaurant, a Jewish one AND an Arab one. If you asked me to tell you where the food tasted better, the answer would be…. YES!

While the Middle East crisis is indeed a crisis and Israel is far from perfect, it is obvious that Jews, Arabs and Christians share their cultures, heritages and foods on a daily basis. The mix is simply overwhelming…in a good way, of course!

Sadly, while I was in Israel I was also made aware of a video that was released to promote an upcoming conference in July 2015, by and for young adults. The conference promotional piece was advertised as coming from “Christ at the Checkpoint-Young Adults” or CaTC-YA.

While I must admit that I was unable to understand the closing commentaries in Arabic, the video collage that came first was enough to upset any supporter of the truth about the Middle East. The video is rather short and it even repeats some of its footage on a loop.

Yet, what it tries to do will turn your stomach upside-down. It sends the very clear message that Israel is equal to ISIS in violence and human rights violation. You see footage of ISIS thugs getting ready to decapitate rows of “infidels” dressed in the now world “infamous” orange overalls, juxtaposed with Israelis filtering Palestinians though checkpoints. Then, another frame shows the Islamic State brandishing their black flag followed by an Israeli tank brandishing a Jewish flag, making again a “not-so” subliminal connection.

The attempt at drawing a parallel between ISIS and Israel shouldn’t be missed AND shouldn’t be dismissed either. It is a new low in Christian Palestinianism. To be sure, the parallel was already attempted by CaTC superstar Stephen Sizer, when he compared Israel to ISIS and even said that Christian Zionists were Christian Jihadists.

Christ at the Checkpoint (CaTC) is a conference that started in 2010 and continues to take place every two years, sponsored by Bethlehem Bible College (BBC). The next official CaTC conference should take place in March 0f 2016 with the theme: “The Gospel in the face of religious extremism.” In the meantime, a group of young adults proponents of the same agenda, is promoting a 2015 date. Their video is posted on their Facebook page and on the CaTC YouTube channel.

This raises some serious concerns about the biblical integrity of Bethlehem Bible College. How could they possibly claim to be Christians and promote such virulent demonization of the Jewish people and Israel. There is always the possibility that the video in question was produced by a group of supporters not necessarily officially affiliated with either CaTC or BBC (although currently posted on the CaTC YouTube channel). Even if it is the case, we need to hear from either or both very soon. I fear a silence that will of course speak tons about their position.

I cannot help but ask CaTC and BBC which “Christ” do they mean in “Christ at the Checkpoint” and which “Bible” do they use to validate him? If CaTC and BBC do not distance themselves from such unbiblical libelous attacks, they will further validate their anti-Semitic stance. This will leave a vast number of uneducated and/or gullible Evangelicals with a choice to make as well. Each choice we make leads to consequences.

Would they continue to support and attend such a conference as it compares Israel to ISIS? I certainly hope not! You can only claim ignorance for so long before you loose your credibility and ruin your reputation, but then again in a world were tolerance and political correctness are measured by one’s level of hatred for Israel and the Jews, I might be asking for the impossible.

In the meantime, if you want to know what’s going on in Israel, start by reading your bible and then consider making a trip yourself and experiencing some of what I just experienced for a few days. Incidentally, I drove by the Israeli towns of Ramallah and Jericho (under Palestinian authority) where Jews ARE NOT WELCOME EVER, and I drove by plenty of Israeli areas where Arabs AND Jews live in relative peace. But of course that is a topic that will never be covered at such conferences!

The theme of next year’s Christ at the Checkpoint 4 is “The Gospel in the face of religious extremism.” As of right now, I doubt that what is meant by religious extremism pertains to Islamism and/or the Islamic State. Based on the current trend and this new video, Zionism and Israel are in the crosshairs.

It doesn’t matter if you follow Yeshua (Jesus) or not, the fact is that He was born a Jew not a Palestinian. He was born in Eretz Yisrael not the Palestinian territories and taught His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44)– something that isn’t a characteristic of CatC proponents. So really, which Christ is at their checkpoint?

February 3, 2015 By Olivier Melnick 6 Comments

By Saying that Jews were behind 9/11, Stephen Sizer hurts more than the Jewish Community!

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

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