I agree with much of what you’ve said – my point in this blogpost was to show that Stephen Sizer et al can’t very well criticise one theological movement for being apocalyptic whilst helping out another.

As for Christian Zionists in the U.S., they come in all different theological shapes and sizes (Dan Cohn Sherbok gives a fair analysis of them in his book Politics of the Apocalypse). It is true they have political lobbies, but so does every group!

Christian Friends of Israel and Anglican Friends of Israel here in the U.K. are recommendable organisations.

Clearly there is a minority theology in the vast kaleidoscopic spectrum of Christian belief called ‘Christian Zionism’ that is misrepresented by its detractors, both in its specific content and in its intentions for Israel today.

It is sufficiently well enough defined for SOME people claiming to adhere to this view to put up a website trying to define their theological position with some precision.

But are those calling themselves ‘Christian Zionists’ or called ‘Christian Zionists’ by others, adhering with exactitude to these views?

I doubt it.

But more important from our secular point of view, is what, specifically, are these folks doing individually or as any kind of organisation to tilt the policy of the USA?

This whole thing is a chimera I’m afraid.

I can’t honestly see that those who believe in the second coming therefore believe ‘xi’ and ‘xii’ and ‘xiii’ etc., and therefore do ‘y’.

Like all theological beliefs it’s a very individual thing, part of a spectrum and not the same for everyone, and what I’m asking about, if we’re to tar this viewpoint as dangerous, is what specifically is an alleged political lobby doing that it dangerous, and if anyone who self-defines themselves as a Christian Zionist or is accused of it by others, is therefore guilty of this dangerous ‘offence’.

Point taken.

There is a lot of support for Israel in the U.S.A. Are many of these supporters Christian? Yes.

Do a lot of them hold specific beliefs about the End Times? Yes.

Is their support for Israel only due to their interpretation of Biblical prophecy? I doubt it. This will vary from individual to individual, and it is hard to generalise the entire movement.

Here is the Christian Zionist response to a declaration condemning their movement:
http://www.christian-zionism.org/analysis_articles_body.asp?Title=Joint+Response+to+%22The+Jerusalem+Declaration+of+Christian+Zionism%22

Of these points, point #6 is extremely noteworthy:

“6. Sadly there have been no meetings between the Jerusalem clerics and their Christian Zionist counterparts. We invite such a dialogue and consider it a biblical prerequisite. We are distressed that a public denunciation has occurred first. We feel that we have been treated with disrespect and disdain, and attacked by the issuing of these public declarations. They present themselves as lovers of justice, mercy, truth and peace! This public attack seems lacking in these qualities.”

Sorry, but I don’t get the connection between the belief in the second coming (a minority view) and all that is being imputed to it.

The Baptist article and this post are full of paranoid innuendo and short on hard facts.

And one wonders why the CofE hasn’t stepped in to tune this guy up.

Have they lost their senses altogether?

Mordechai of “Seismic Shock” is doing a public service by trailing him and exposing him.

I’ll let you guess.

Whatever your answer is I feel sure that it is the right answer for you.