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Jim Fletcher’s Open Letter to Brian McLaren

August 19, 2011 at 10:47 AM 4 comments

I received an e-mail from Jan Markell’s ministry (www.olivetreeviews.org) and it included an open letter to Brian McLaren by Jim Fletcher.  Frankly, I could not have said what Fletcher says any better, so I am reprinting it here.  It would be great if this actually finds its way to McLaren and what’s more, it would be better if he actually took the time to consider what Fletcher says.

I’ve also noted that people like McClaren, Warren, and others always exude this sense of sublime serenity, whether it’s on the jacket of one of their books, or in some promotional ad for a conference at which they will be speaking.  However, these appear to be masks because when these same individuals discuss those of us who support Israel, these sublimely serene masks come off to showcase their unharnessed anger.

The attacks on Christian Zionists – people who support Israel for no other reason than because God and His Word says we should – are routinely attacked with a level of vitriol normally reserved for heinous murderers and rapists.  Though I’m very tired of it, I understand the way the world thinks and I also understand that a large part of Christendom thinks the same way as the world.  In that sense then, it is no surprise.

Christian Zionists are persecuted because we value God’s Land and God’s people of Israel.  For me, there are two parts to this equation.  First, I am to support Israel because of God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 12; 15; 17) and because Paul reiterates that charge to us in his book of Romans.  In truth, a debt of gratitude is owed to the Jewish people, because from them, the Messiah was born into humanity.  Second, though I support Israel because God says I should, I also realize that Jews need the Lord, just as everyone on this planet does.  Because I am not in the position of evangelizing Jews directly – especially those who live in Israel – I support those who do, through prayer and finances.

Because of these two things, it is not at all dichotomous to on one hand fully support Israel as a nation, while on the other hand, support the efforts of those who work with and minister to Jews on a daily basis.  While somewhat connected, these are really two separate issues.  The Land in the Middle East designated Israel is fully God’s Land.  Jerusalem is the center of this world as far as God is concerned.  Since it became once again united under Jewish control shortly after the Six-Day War of 1967, I do not believe that God will allow it to be divided again, for which many leaders today are calling.

When I support Israel, I am supporting God, because both the Land and the Jews there belong to God.  Oh yes, He will take the time to purge the rebels from the Land at some point in the future, just as He did on numerous occasions throughout the Old Testament.  Jude makes us patently aware of this when he tells his readers, “Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe,” (Jude 1:5).

Supporting today’s Israel is – I believe – something that not only pleases the Lord, but it is something He expects all Christians to do.  I believe when we support Israel, the Lord blesses our home and our families.  When we have national leaders who support Israel, God is then able to extend that blessing to our nation.  For me, it really is that simple.

The people of Israel need Jesus.  Those who are Jewish and die without knowing Him, fall into eternity apart from God.  For them, eternal damnation awaits.  In that way, the Jews are no different from Gentiles who die in their sin.

All people need Jesus and the salvation He offers and Jews are no exception.  That is one issue that all Christians need to be involved in, either through direct missionary work, or by supporting those who are on the front lines, working with Jews to help them see the truth.

The other issue is my support of Israel.  I can fully support that nation in spite of the fact that its leaders do not yet know the Lord and unfortunately, some might never come to know Him.  Supporting Israel is a command from God.  I can no sooner not support Israel, than I can not pray.

Israel needs the Christian’s support.  We have the Bible.  We know how things turn out.  We know that from the nation of Israel, God will take for Himself a final Remnant.  We also know that this final Remnant will go into the Millennial Kingdom and enjoy the Promised Land – all of it – as they were meant to enjoy it.  God will do this.  He will bring it about.

Where do you stand with Israel? If you are claiming you can’t support Israel because of their alleged “terrorist” activities, then you are focusing on the wrong thing.  Focus on the Lord.  Focus on what He is doing.  Let Him be the One who deals with Israel and their abominations.  Let God deal with their idolatry.  Ezekiel promises that God will deal with Israel, with wrath poured out (cf. Ezekiel 20:34) and with an outstretched arm.  God will go mano-a-mano with Israel one day.  It’s not for us to condemn them.  It is for us to support them.

Here is what I received from Jan Markell this morning:
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Note from Jan: Jim Fletcher is right. Friends of Israel today are treated like we have a mental disease. Even within evangelicalism, we are scorned and marginalized. What is our crime? I guess it’s our interpretation of the Bible for we see Israel’s land as God-given, not a piece of property that can be divided up and handed over to terrorists. I have written and spoken on Emergent Church issues for years and have aimed often at one of its leaders, Brian McLaren. Most of those in this stream consider Israel to be an inconvenience at best and dangerous at worst. Sister ministry leader Jim Fletcher expresses my sentiments about McLaren and his followers who claim that friends of Israel are worse than Muslim terrorists. Thanks, Jim. Visit his Web site at the link below for Prophecy Matters.

An Open Letter to Brian McLaren

By Jim Fletcher

 www.prophecymatters.com
www.olivetreeviews.org
August 19, 2011

 Mr. McLaren:

For a long time, I have noticed the disconnect between your seemingly serene, peace/love/justice/mercy persona, and the vitriol with which you discuss Christian Zionists, and what I’d call Bible-believers in general.

From your publicity photos, to your blogs and video links, you project an air of compassion and spiritual healing. Your eminently marketable brand fairly screams Frank Costanza’s famous mantra, “Serenity now!”

Your English degree has served you well as a best-selling author and popular conference speaker. Your provocative book titles, like The Secret Message of Jesus, and A New Kind of Christianity, seem inspired by your friend, Marcus Borg, and reveal your considerable marketing skills. You are skilled at presenting your liberal views to mainstream evangelical audiences.

So it is with dismay that I read a recent blog posting on your Web site that references a letter from Naim Ateek to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Ateek makes the following statement, which you indicated that you felt was so important that it needs to be in bold print:

“With candor, the last two groups of extremists, i.e. Jewish and Western Christian Zionists, are a greater threat to us than the extremist Islamists. In fact, these extremists have more military power and clout to uproot all Palestinian presence both Christian and Muslim from our homeland.”

Extremists? Do you seriously believe that Bible-believing Christians (I think you’d call us fundamentalists) are extremists? And to imply that Christian Zionists are more violent than Muslim terrorists is not only an infinite stretch, but it is outright hate-speech–incendiary and violently provocative. It is unacceptable.

Elsewhere in your writings you have referred quite often to Christian Zionists, as in this call to understand:

“The need to confront the terrible, deadly, distorted, yet popular theologies associated with Christian Zionism and deterministic dispensationalism.”

Terrible? Deadly?

You don’t know us, yet you seem very comfortable in your slanders, which tells me a great deal about the state of modern evangelicalism–which you and your friends have successfully infiltrated.

To date, you seem to insulate yourself effectively from those of us you view with such disdain. Since you would (I am assuming here) frown on the word “debate,” I wonder if you’d care to have a public conversation about Christian Zionists, with a Christian Zionist? Please name a date and place convenient for you, or allow us to host you with real hospitality, which you do not, evidently, return in kind.

Mr. McLaren, your tolerance has very visible limits, and I wonder if your followers understand this reality. Your public dislike of Dispensationalists and Christian Zionists is outrageous. It is simply wrong and quite unjust.

It’s time to practice the love and compassion you preach.

As of right now, sir, I view you as the most intolerant Christian leader active in America. Will you repent of your hate-language directed at friends of Israel?

Sincerely and eagerly awaiting your reply,
Jim Fletcher

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