The Christian Zionist Organization

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Recommended: importance of religion in politics

In 2006, Reverend John Hagee founded the Christian-Zionist organization Christians United for Israel (CUFI), one that he claims finds support in the Scriptures. CUFI helps to connect churches and individuals with ways to politically and financially support the State of Israel. During World War II the Nazi political party of Germany murdered over six million Jewish people in what we now call The Holocaust. Since the discovery of this act of genocide, many Christians have experienced and expressed guilt over these crimes. In 1948 the State of Israel was officially declared, although today even as a member of the United Nations it is not recognized by 32 of the sovereign state members. The area that makes up the State of Israel has been a political “hot bed” since its inception and numerous wars and battles have been fought over the land and political landscape. Instead of the motivations that several Christians hold for financially and politically supporting the State of Israel against the native Palestinian peoples, Christians’ morality as influenced by Scripture, worship, doctrine, and other resources should instead lead them to support peace and justice between the two groups.
One of the motivations that can be derived from the work of CUFI and John Hagee is related to his eschatology. CUFI’s website states that “It is crucial to educate Christians on the Biblical and moral imperatives to support Israel and to build Christian support for Israel throughout America.” Hagee has been known to quote Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed,” as a basis for part of his reasoning for supporting the State of Israel. Part of the motiva...

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...http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/31/opinion/la-oe-blackwill-israel-20111031.

Christians United for Israel. “About Cufi.” Accessed May 5, 2014. http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_AboutCUFI.

Knight, Henry F. "From Shame to Responsibility and Christian Identity : The Dynamics of Shame and Confession Regarding the Shoah." Journal of Ecumenical Studies 35, no. 1 (1998): 41-62.

McGonigle, Herbert. “A Wesley 'zionist' Hymn?” The Wesley Fellowship. Accessed May 5, 2014. http://www.wesley-fellowship.org.uk/Zionist_Hymn.html.

Saliers, Don E., E. Byron Anderson and Bruce T. Morrill. Liturgy and the Moral Self : Humanity at Full Stretch before God : Essays in Honor of Don E. Saliers. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1998.

Verhey, Allen. Remembering Jesus : Christian Community, Scripture, and the Moral Life. Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans, 2002.

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