A Move of God: Christian Support for Israel

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Last week, Renee and I were in Washington D.C. to participate in the Christians United for Israel Washington Summit. We joined with over 4500 other Christians, representing millions of Christians from around the United States who love and support Israel. There were many Christians from various countries around the world, and even many Jews from the U.S., Israel, and other countries who came to behold what many consider a modern day miracle and move of God in the earth today – mass united Christian support for Israel.

I am the State Director for CUFI (Christians United for Israel) and also the Administrative Director for our four state region (Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin) under Pastor Mac Hammond, the Regional Director of these four states and Executive Board Member. We had the privilege of bringing out 239 Christians to this event. We heard from international speakers, including Pastor John Hagee, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, Christian Broadcasting Networking President Michael Little, members of Congress, and many more.

On Thursday of last week, over 4,000 visited every Congressperson and Senator on Capital Hill who would meet with us to discuss U.S. support of Israel – our greatest ally in the world. Approximately 85% of the Congresspeople and Senators met with us, with only a small percentage refusing. The majority was in support of Israel and pledged their continued support. Of course, it’s amazing that any Congressperson or Senator would refuse to meet constituents from their state for any reason, but there were a few.

Every year, I meet a number of Jewish people who have heard and seen what we are doing and come out to our events to see for themselves. They are almost astounded with shock, surprise, and abounding joy that Christians are not representing anti-Semitism; but to the contrary, showing great love and support for the Jewish people and Israel. For two thousand years, they were only too familiar with the hatred and apathy of anti-Semitism that allowed the Holocaust to happen. They have always thought that Christians hated them because of the persecution of Jesus, and to some extent that has been true! The slaughtering and hatred of the Jews from the Crusades through the Holocaust is history not to be altered, but definitely to be apologized for by the Christian Church.

Jesus had words at His time of persecution that reflected His heart for all mankind. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Whether we slapped and spit on Him and drove the nails in His hands, or lived our lives astray from His will, each and every one of us needs redemption from our sins. because we have all gone astray. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The Jews have never been the enemy of God. They, like all mankind. have gone astray at times, and like all mankind, need to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. God chose them to be His children and the apple of His eye. God still has a great plan for them in the big picture that Paul also revealed in Romans 11:24-27. “After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

The United States’ support of Israel is critical for so many reasons – first and foremost being God’s love for her. But also because there has never been a nation that has been an enemy of Israel that has survived throughout history. Genesis 12:3 says, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This is an eternal fact and truth. The U.S. is blessed because of its love for the gospel and because of its support for Israel. We can never let any administration undo that. Pray and be a voice for Israel today and always. You will be blessed for it!
Watch here for more: Christians United for Israel 2010 Washington Summit CBN Report

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt