Queens, N.Y. — You didn’t read it in The New York Times or see it on CNN. But in May, 232 representatives from 15 nations (including Jordan) gathered in Jerusalem to affirm their spiritual, moral, historical and financial commitment to Israel.
Where did they meet? At the newly renovated YMCA auditorium. Why there? Because they were Christians.
This was the 2001 Shavuot conference of Christian Friends of Israel (CFI), founded in 1985 by missionary ministers Ray and Sharon Sanders (no relation). The organization holds non-profit status with the Israeli government as a humanitarian outreach group.
And reach out it does. CFI distributes tons of clothing annually. It issues vouchers for food and furniture. It has distributed more than 7,000 pairs of eyeglasses. It prepares newborn kits for pregnant mothers, followed by a stroller or bed after the child is born.
CFI estimates that it has helped 120,000 immigrants since 1991, most of them Russians. An average of 60 people a day come to the center on the corner of Shivtei Yisrael and Helena HaMalka in Jerusalem. Some receive help with electricity payments; others get subsidies for medical needs. All will be met by a warm smile, a caring voice, even a hug.
Why are they there? Why do they do this?
In a refined drawl from somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, CFI’s secretary Helen Flood said, “There are millions of Christians around the world who love Israel. They show that by underwriting our projects to reach Jewish people in need. Every month they give money generously because they believe that real Christians owe a spiritual debt to the Jews.”
She noted that hundreds of Christians have given up the safety and security of their homelands to engage in a labor of love throughout Israel.
Evangelical agenda
Indeed, CFI is one expression of sentiments of evangelicals worldwide. Estimates suggest as many as 70 million U.S. Christians are pro-Israel.
Is it a good thing for Israel to accept their assistance? Rabbi Michael Skobac of Jews for Judaism’s Toronto office is troubled.
“This is a Trojan horse,” he warned. “This is just the latest in a long line of creative efforts to convert Jews.”
I asked Flood about conversion efforts. She said, “The truth is, we are not here to convert Jews. However, if they ask about our belief in Yeshua [Jesus] as the messiah, we answer honestly. We don’t push. But I tell them that it’s Yeshua that put this great love in my heart to help Jews in need.”
Most evangelical outreaches sing some version of Flood’s song. The evil perpetrated against Jews by Christians in the past was not representative of real Christianity, they say.
In the last 30 years, a new attitude has taken root worldwide. Now the truly Bible-believing Christians see themselves as the spiritual heirs of Judaism’s legacy. And they wish to say thank you in tangible ways. This, they affirm, is a means of atoning for the abuses of history and will demonstrate that they are honest, earnest and trustworthy.
CFI has many organizational cousins, in and outside Israel, including the International Christian Embassy, Shalom International, Bridges for Peace, Christians for Israel, High Adventure Ministries and Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network. For years, entertainer Pat Boone has been the Israeli government’s unofficial ambassador to evangelicals.
Jews for Judaism has secured documentation proving links between these “humanitarian” groups and the emergence of new messianic congregations throughout the land of Israel.
Bellmawr, N.J.-based Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry (which recently dropped “gospel” in its title) has a mission statement full of loaded terms:
“For over 60 years, The Friends of Israel has ministered as a Christian friendship organization standing in support of Israel and befriending Jewish people. Our organization has consistently spoken and acted against anti-Semitism in all its forms.
“As Christian Zionists, we have been dedicated to clarifying the biblical, historical and moral rights of Jewish people to a homeland in the Middle East. Our organization places a strong emphasis on the teaching of biblical prophecy through our conferences, publications and worldwide radio programming. In the process, we are committed to sharing the love of the Messiah with Gentile and Jewish people.”
It doesn’t take knowledge of Orwellian Newspeak to decode “missionary to Jews” throughout this declaration.
Prophetic platform
Beside their love of Israel, these groups share a wider prophetic platform, which anticipates ultimate conversion of the Jewish people before the second coming of Jesus.
In more classified publications, they state their real motive for the acts of mercy, namely to fulfill a Christian Bible passage: “The unbelief of Israel has opened the door of opportunity for the Gentiles. God’s purpose is that when unbelieving Jews see many Gentiles turn to [Jesus] they will become jealous and will repent and come to faith” (Romans 11:11).
The most popular targets for their largesse are the weakest and least Torah-literate of Israeli Jews, most notably Russian immigrants. While CFI operates with official approval of the Israeli government, Flood acknowledged that missionary watchdog groups monitor its activities.
This issue is a point of great consternation. Missionary groups are doing for Jews what Jews should be doing for Jews. To Jews who have little, including little in Judaism, the offer of help appears heaven sent. Who cares where it came from?
But where it came from is exactly the key question, and we all should care.
Jews are dying in the land of Israel. Some are victims of snipers and bombers. Others are killed by kindness. One is immediate, the other gradual. Both are fatal.
As a beginning, I wonder: Could we get by on a little less here, so we can give a little more there, so that our people won’t be vulnerable targets for missionary mercy?
Plenty of wonderful assistance and outreach organizations in Israel can meet the challenge. All they need is for us to do what the Christians are doing — give with an agenda. Think about it.
Gavriel Aryeh Sanders, a senior religion columnist for Jewsweek.com, is a former Pentecostal minister who is now an observant Jew living in Queens, N.Y. Under his born name Mark Sanders, he was interviewed by The Chronicle in April 2000 about his work as a covert missionary in Israel and his anti-missionary efforts in the U.S.
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