Monday, June 2, 2008

A Statement from Concerned Christians and Jews About the Extremist Views of Pastor John Hagee

Dear friend,

As people of faith we have been deeply concerned with the extremist ideology of Pastor John Hagee and his organization, Christians United for Israel (CUFI). The latest revelation of Pastor Hagee's claim that the Antichrist is Jewish, makes us believe we need to speak out to let our voices of protest be heard.

What we are asking is that all politicians follow the lead of Senator McCain to disassociate themselves from Pastor Hagee and CUFI, noting that the extremist views he represents are not representative of the great majority of the American public, and certainly not of the great majority of Christians and Jews.

We are asking that you join your voices with ours in "signing" this statement to be published by the end of June on a prominent blogsite.

To let your voice be heard simply click on the "comments" link below (with the number in front). When you get in you'll see a box for "comments." In this box put your name, title and/or address. Sign in as "anonymous" unless you have a google account. That's all. No need for comments. Your signature is comment enough. Please do so ASAP as we want to publish this by the end of June.

Thanks for speaking out!

The Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism

www.christianzionism.org

_____________________________________

A Statement from Concerned Christians and Jews

Psalm 122 – Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

As Jewish and Christian leaders and members of worshiping communities in the United States, we write to address the ongoing controversy surrounding Pastor John Hagee. We are concerned by the content of his statements, his organization, Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and the theological ideology of Christian Zionism underlying both.

We have concluded that John Hagee is a poor representative of how faith can inform discernment regarding public life and discourse surrounding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is regrettable that any public figure would choose to be associated with Pastor Hagee or his organization, CUFI. We were surprised to learn that three elected officials are scheduled to speak at CUFI's upcoming "Washington-Israel Summit": Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Rep. Elliot Engel (D-NY), and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT). We call on each of these elected officials to disassociate themselves from the extremist views of Pastor Hagee and withdraw from this event.

We feel they should do so for the following reasons:

  • He prays for the peace of Jerusalem, but not its shalom, as he looks forward instead to the false peace established through a treaty offered by the Antichrist, whom, we now know,Pastor Hagee believes must himself be a Jew.
  • Just as his ideology blames Jewish unbelief in Jesus for their centuries of suffering at the hands of Christians and provides a simplistic justification for the Holocaust (also based on Jewish intransigence), Pastor Hagee has again found a way to blame Jews for their own demise . . . this time at the hands of their self-supplied Antichrist.
  • Pastor Hagee's support for the State of Israel is at the expense of many others, including the Roman Catholic Church. Now, it has become clearer than ever before that Pastor Hagee's support for the State of Israel comes even at the expense of Jews.
As CUFI sought to expand its congressional influence, Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) wrote that Hagee’s public comments “demonstrate extremism, bigotry and intolerance that is repugnant.” We agree.

Signed by:

156 comments:

ISCZ said...

the Rev. John Hubers
PhD Candidate
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

ISCZ said...

L. Michael Spath, D.Min., Ph.D.
Religious Studies Program
Department of Philosophy
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne

Anonymous said...

Ann Wagner
Concerned Citizen
Phoenix, Arizona

How do I get HAWKish, smoothbore Sen. Kyl to take a good look at how Hagee's endorsement destroys the health of the of the Party?

Gary Burge said...

This comment by Hagee is an embarrassment to Christian theology and to the church. Moreover it is dangerous. The Antichrist is a role played by those who oppose Christ -- and in eschatology it is the role of a singular person who has embraced this opposition as a vocation. To say that The Antichrist is a Jew is not only indefensible but incendiary. Jews should be profoundly offended and disturbed and see what horrors Christian Zionists like Hagee actually promote.

As an Evangelical, this is an important moment for Christians to stand with Judaism and speak out against such ill-informed and destructive teaching like that of Hagee.

Gary M. Burge, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Wheaton College & Graduate School

ISCZ said...

Eileen Fleming
Editor and Chief Correspondent
wearewideawake.org

ISCZ said...

Dr. Stan Moody
Baptist Minister
Director of the Christian Policy Institute
Former Maine State Representative

Unknown said...

Gregory C. Brownfield

Unknown said...

We need more politicians and church leaders to disassociate themselves from people like Hagee. People like that need to be marginalized.

ISCZ said...

Rev. Marlin P Vis,
Representative of the Reformed Church in America in Jerusalem

Pauline Coffman said...

Pauline M. Coffman, Ed.D.
Concerned American who seeks a just peace for Israel and Palestine.

Anonymous said...

The Rev. Arthur Preisinger, Ph.D.
Retired Pastor/Professor
Houston, Texas

Anonymous said...

There will be security for Israel when there's justice for the Palestinians.

Stephen Sizer said...

Revd Dr Stephen R. Sizer,
Christ Church,
Virginia Water,
Surrey,
England

Vicar of Virginia Water and author of Christian Zionism and Zion's Christian Soldiers (IVP)

Anonymous said...

the Rev. Ann E. Helmke
peaceCENTER
San Antonio, TX

Anna Baltzer said...

Anna Baltzer
Author, Witness in Palestine
St Louis, MO
www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com

Anonymous said...

Matthew Ley
Seminary Student
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Anonymous said...

Todd Steele
Indiana Center for Middle East Peace
Fort Wayne, IN

Anonymous said...

I can't call Pastor Hagee Christian in any real sense of the word. The ideas he endorses are most definitely not Christian. He does a huge diservice to the United States, Israel, and the millions who desperately want peace in the Middle East

Anonymous said...

Donald W. Beattie, Ph.D.

Anonymous said...

Patricia Pendleton
Fort Wayne, IN

Anonymous said...

Kathy Anderson
Chicago, IL

Anonymous said...

Calvin K. Claus
Forgive this poor man, Hagee, for he discerns not the damage done by his intemperate words.

Anonymous said...

Rev. Jean Marie Duran
Living Lord Lutheran Church
1044 Congress Dr.
Bartlett, IL.

Anonymous said...

Joseph & Joan Mahon
Young Harris, GA 30582

Charlie Mays said...

Sandy & Charlie Mays, Retired RN and ELCA pastor, Everett, WA. For a sense of how such ideologies effect the Palestinian people, we recommend the just published "Palestine Inside OUt: An Everyday Occupation" by Saree Makdisi

Unknown said...

John Bagley, Director, Independent Productions

Stendahl said...

Pastor John Stendahl
Lutheran Church of the Newtons
Newton, MA

Fac ut vivas said...

As a lay person whose use of scripture is likely worse "proof-texting" than is Mr. Hagee's wont, I quote Jesus: "Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom" (Matt. 21.43). The fruits of the kingdom are neither the kind of arrogant personal judgment Mr. Hagee makes on both Jews and homosexuals---nor the violence against Palestinians that he supports.

Harold A. Knight, PhD
English Department
Southern Methodist University

Anonymous said...

Daoud of Naperville
It is time for the real Christians to stop the Zionist Christians and help keep the Arab Christians in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

Anonymous said...

Faye Bennett

Steven Puzarne said...

For several years I have adamantly objected to the Jewish Community's embrace of this bigoted hate-monger, lamenting their false notion that he is both good for the Jews and good for Israel. He is destructive to both, and casting aside values that have served us well for generations, for the sake of a few measly donations from a man who has enriched himself through false prophecy, is truly a Shanda...A great shame.

Cantor Steve Puzarne

Anonymous said...

Awad Paul Sifri
Naperville, IL.

Anonymous said...

Eileen Fleming, Reporter and Editor http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author "Keep Hope Alive" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"
Producer "30 Minutes with Vanunu" and "13 Minutes with Vanunu"

Diana said...

Diana Hasna
A very concerned American Christian

Anonymous said...

Barbara Moody

sfs said...

The Rev. Susan F. Sprowls
Lord of Light Lutheran Church
Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Anonymous said...

Douglas A. Howard
Professor of History
Calvin College

Anonymous said...

Ken Ewald
Concerned Christian
San Antonio, TX

Anonymous said...

Habeeb G. Awad

Hope College
Holland, Michigan

Working together on this issue is a good way to abscise John Hagee's militant theology that does not represent the spirit of Christ.

Anonymous said...

Scott Thams
Concerned Christian
Clarkston, MI

Anonymous said...

We need to work for a just and lastly peace not more division.
Susan Greenwood

Anonymous said...

As a lay minister I deplore the bizarre fulminations of John Hagee and the damage they do to the image of the gospel of love preached by Jesus.

Ron McCreary said...

Rev. Ron McCreary
John Wesley United Methodist Church
Tallahassee, FL USA

John R. Kleinheksel Sr. said...

This pernicious movement needs to be exposed, its anti-Christian positions made clear and denounced in the strongest possible terms. Rev. John Kleinheksel (retired, RCA, PCUSA)

Anonymous said...

Prof. Aryeh Cohen
Associate Professor of Rabbinic Literature
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
American Jewish University

David E. S. Stein said...

Rabbi David E. S. Stein
Santa Monica, CA, USA

Anonymous said...

I am profoundly concerned that Hagee perpetuates the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. As Jews we need friends that will help us reach a compromise with the Palestinians and end the violence and loss of life on all sides of the conflict. Religious leaders that use the teachings of their faith to perpetuate conflict and violence must be challenged with the religious conviction that God and our respective traditions call us to work for peace.
"The Torah is a Tree of Life
And all its pathways lead to Peace"

Anonymous said...

Rabbi Joseph Klein
Oak Park MI

Anonymous said...

Thank you for exposing the weird ideas of Pastor John Hagee.

Rabbi Mark Hurvitz
www.davka.org

Rachel Kahn-Troster said...

Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster
New York, NY

Rabbi Bruce B Seltzer said...

Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer
Chaplain, Smith College
Religious Advisor, Amherst College

Anonymous said...

Rev. Douglas Johnstone
Lutheran Pastor
Long Beach, CA

Alan Jay Weisbard said...

Alan J. Weisbard
Associate Professor of Law, Bioethics, Jewish Studies, and Religious Studies
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI

There are multiple paths to the Divine, and they deserve mutual respect. All those paths must be paths of peace. Good faith negotiations, not unending violence, are the proper path.

Unknown said...

Rebecca and Igor Mikhaylov
Los Angeles, CA

Unknown said...

Cynthia Magdalena Perez
Whittier, CA

Anonymous said...

The Rev. Bruce W. Gray
St. Matthias Episcopal Church
Whittier, CA.

Anonymous said...

Eugene Wollaston
concerned citizen
Naperville, IL

Jeff said...

Rabbi Jeffrey Marker
Brooklyn, NY

Anonymous said...

Raymond E. Meyer
Falls Church, VA

Anonymous said...

As a Jew committed to working in concert with Christians and Muslims I am appalled by Pastor Hagee's views

Anonymous said...

Barbara and Phil James
Sun City, Arizona

Anonymous said...

Karen Brodkin, Prof Emerita
Anthropology Dept
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA

Brother Billy said...

Bill Peltz
member, St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Albany NY

Anonymous said...

Rabbi Dr. Joan S. Friedman
Assistant Professor of History and Religious Studies / Campus Rabbi
College of Wooster
Wooster, OH

Anonymous said...

Dr. Karen Anderson
Christian Psychologist
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Lois M. Mousel
Christian Attorney
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Deborah Hammond
Presbyterian Peace and Justice
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Linda Sellman
Los Angeles, Ca

Anonymous said...

Robert Livermonk

Anonymous said...

Fred Brauer
Oceanside, Ca

Anonymous said...

Susan-Louise Fessender BrauerOceanside, Ca

Anonymous said...

Marcello Mundo Jr,
Oceanside, Ca

Anonymous said...

Penny Darvis
Spring Vally, Ca

Anonymous said...

Jeanne Runner
1st United Methodist
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Alberta Christian
Torrey Pines Christian Church
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Ronn Garton
Presbyterian of SD
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Dorothy Marton
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Mike Peled
Colorado

Anonymous said...

David Brown
Rancho Santa Fe

Anonymous said...

Sam Nichols
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Chuck Radloh
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Anthony Howe
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Naim Ateek
Sabeel
Jerusalem

Anonymous said...

Mikel Taxer
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Tom Sammray
St. Joseph Peace and JusticeOakland, Ca

Anonymous said...

Nancy Novak
S.D Israeli Palestinian Dialogue Group
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Jim Marino

Anonymous said...

Jamil Elbanna

Anonymous said...

Marta T. Reilly

Anonymous said...

Mary Yoder

Anonymous said...

Tony Litwinke

Anonymous said...

David Dolnick

Anonymous said...

Dick Bureson

Anonymous said...

Bob Metzger

Anonymous said...

Nancy Harber

Anonymous said...

Alisson Nabali

Anonymous said...

Robert

Anonymous said...

Niane Venegan

Anonymous said...

Brianna Sheets

Anonymous said...

Jonathan Halladan

Anonymous said...

Jenna Tomlinson

Anonymous said...

Cynthia Lucero

Anonymous said...

Pamela Cordes

Anonymous said...

Jay Zhu

Anonymous said...

Geoffrey Hsu

Anonymous said...

Charles Bon

Anonymous said...

Dave Walker

Anonymous said...

Virginia Wofford

Anonymous said...

Sue Randerson

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth Lasley

Anonymous said...

Nadia Saad Bettendorf

Anonymous said...

James C. Bettendorf

Anonymous said...

Theodore von der Ahe, Jr.

Anonymous said...

Su Kvan

Anonymous said...

Shebla Shresta

Anonymous said...

Kristle Bulleman

Anonymous said...

Deb Mitchell
Sabeel San Diego
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Hannef Salaam
Masjidul Taqwa
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Wali Fardan
Masjidul Taqwa
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Jeanne Runner
1st United Methodist Church
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Roger K. Graham
St. Dunstan’s Briscopal Church
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Marcello M. Jr.
Fred & Mandy’s Neighbor Braner

Anonymous said...

K.J Marshall, M.D
Westminster Presbyterian
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Margaret Johnston
Elder, Westminster Presbyterian
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Kyle Holberg
Presbyterian
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Adam Sheets
University of California
Los Angeles

Anonymous said...

Mikel Taxer
Presbyterian Pastor, Retired
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Anthony Howe
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Kathryn Musso
Carlsbad

Anonymous said...

Jane ElFarra
Shadow Hills

Anonymous said...

Susan Randerson
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Hank Krams
Valley Cener, Ca

Anonymous said...

Kent Acord

Anonymous said...

Carol McWhinney
University of Laverne
Whittier, Ca

Anonymous said...

Dana Messinger
Delaware

Anonymous said...

Jeanette Christian
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Alberta Christian
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Doni Heyn-Lamb
Middle East Ministry
Pasadena, Ca

Anonymous said...

Diana Bandak
Fosna San Diego
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Terry Kok
San Marcos, Ca

Anonymous said...

Nasim Khoury
Pasadena, Ca

Anonymous said...

Arnie Sheets
San Diego, Ca

Anonymous said...

Ibrahim Daxeh
El Cajon, Ca

Anonymous said...

Richard Toll
Friends of Sabeel North AmericaPortland, Or

Anonymous said...

Rev. Darrel Meyers
Burbank, Ca

Anonymous said...

Vicki Tamoush
Tustin, Ca

Anonymous said...

Barry Fibel
6933 43rd Loop SE
Lacey. WA 98503

360-491-8646
bfibel@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

itsbob
Computer Specialist
Maryland

Jennifer M. said...

Hagee is a very dangerous man who definitely DOES NOT live within the light of the Christ Spirit, and his hateful practises and beliefs are anathema to true Christianity and to God's Beautiful Creation, the world, itself.

Harvey S. Cohen said...

Sadly, many Jews believe that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." This is the logic that led many Europeans to embrace the Nazis as a bulwark against Bolshivism.

Lala said...

John Hagee is one of the most hateful people I have ever seen in my life. He is everything that true Christianity is not!
Laura Tanner EMT-B
Austin, TX

Anonymous said...

Frances Stewart, MD
Bethesda, MD

Living Faith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Living Faith said...

John Hagee in his ad on youtube for his book "In Defense of Israel" plainly said that Jesus did not come to be the Messiah. Only an antichrist could say such a thing. Isn't that statement much worse than his belief that the antichrist will be Jewish? What if he had said that the antichrist will be a Russian, or an Iraqi, or an Iranian, or Indian, or Chinese? Would that be as offensive to the Christian Zionists or to the Jews? Is God a respecter of persons like so many "evangelicals" and Jews are?

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