Special Report
ON THE COVER
Mainline from page 20
American network to develop understanding and support
of Israel in the Christian religious community.
"Mainline and evangelical theologies may differ, but we
stand together in support of Israel — people, land and
state:' Blewett says.
He has crisscrossed the nation working to defeat efforts
within Christian denominations to promote divestment
from Israel and boycott Israeli products. The NCLCI
brings church leaders to Israel to improve understand-
ing — Blewett believes a trip by Presbyterians last year
helped defeat the divestment push — and meets with
denominational officials and committees, visits congrega-
tions and talks with Christian news media.
"The unity of NCLCI is rooted in awareness of the
enduring vitality of God's covenants with the Jewish peo-
ple and the acknowledgment of Christian responsibility
for past injustices committed against Jews," Blewett says.
"Because Christianity owes much to the Jewish people, we
reach out to Jews everywhere and to those in Israel in a
special way, in a spirit of friendship and solidarity."
While affirming the congruity of Scripture and
Zionism, Blewett also urges Christians to raise their eyes
from their Bibles and look around.
"Theology doesn't play that much a part; it begins with
reality;' he says. "It's based on history, current events,
human rights and foreign relations. World events keep
adding to it. For me, it's my education and understand-
ing of history, the Holocaust, persecution of Jews, Jewish
Christian dialogue and knowing Israel."
Blewett approaches Israeli politics much like American
Jewish organizations do, supporting the democratically
elected government and reflecting the reality of the situa-
tion rather than prescribing solutions.
"Christians can't tell the Jewish community what to do:'
he says. "All I can do is expose what is going on."
Blewett is concerned that evangelical heavyweight
Pastor John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel,
seems to conflate Scripture with a hard line against Israeli
territorial concessions even if Israelis believe they are
warranted. He has seen too many Christians willing to
put Israeli lives on the line to validate their own theologi-
cal understanding, whether it be no concessions or too
many.
Also, last July a group of respected evangelical scholars
came out for a two-state solution in an ad in the New York
Times; Blewett applauds the diversity among evangelicals.
"There are evangelicals who are maturing and are
divorcing support for Israel from end-time prophecies.
They support Israel as an end in itself with no hidden
agendas." 7
Getting In Touch
National Christian Leadership Conference for
Israel (NCLCI)
43422 West Oaks Drive #300
Novi, Michigan 48377
Tel. (248) 557-4540 •
E-mail: ncici@msn.com
Web: www.ncici.org
StandWithUs/Michigan
PO Box 251153
West Bloomfield, MI 48325
Tel: 248-432-1384
E-mail: swumichigan@standwithus.com
Web: www.standwithus.com/michigan
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)
443 Park Ave. South
New York, N.Y.10016
Tel: 212-684-6950
E-mail: contactus@thejcpa.org
Web: www.jewishpublicaffairs.com
StandWithUs from page 21
Genesis 12:3
will bless those who bless
you, and the one who curses
you I will curse; and in you all
the families of the earth shall
be blessed
I
exclusive to believers in Jesus Christ has replaced God's
biblical covenant with the Jewish people.
"Replacement theology probably did the most dam-
age to Christian-Jewish relations over the last centuries:'
Harris says. "I have two rules in appreciating the Bible:
that God can approach the Bible however He wants, and
we have the Bible God wants us to have."
"I don't see the two things in conflict:' he says, explain-
ing that both covenants work for him. "I accept that Jews
have a relationship with God, a divine spark, that I am
not part of. I accept it as a supernatural thing and am
not threatened by that specialness."
While condemning groups like Jews for Jesus for being
"dishonest, tricky and un-Christian in their methodol-
ogy," Harris believes Jews should not to impose a theo-
logical litmus test on Christians just as Christians should
not to impose one on Jews.
Harris recalls how former President Ronald Reagan
countered criticism of his acceptance of the endorse-
ment from the gay and lesbian Log Cabin Republicans by
asserting, "They've signed on to my agenda but I haven't
signed on to theirs." Given the exigencies of Israel's secu-
rity needs and America's situation in the Middle East,
he thinks it wise to adopt the same approach to build a
22
September 27 2007
iH
broad and strong coalition.
Harris believes evangelical support for Israel will only
grow stronger, even if Israel takes actions contrary to
what Hagee and others advise.
"Today, evangelicals will not generally support a two-
state solution or any territorial concessions:' he says, "but
they will not pull away. They will try to convince Israel
and they will pray harder, but they will not take a pub-
lic stance against it. For the most part, it will be a very
polite thing."
For evidence, he points to Genesis 12:3 where God
blesses Abraham and vows to bless those who bless him,
and curse those who curse him, and to Isaiah 62:1 —
"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's
sake I will not rest."
Harris believes that the Book of Genesis ensures evan-
gelicals will stand with the Jewish people, even as Isaiah
compels them to speak their minds about Zion and
Jerusalem.
Israel Mission
Jews and African-American evangelicals will travel
to Israel together early next year to show support
for Israel and to strengthen ties between the two
communities. The Jewish Community Relations
Council of Metropolitan Detroit is organizing the trip
that will be lead by Council President Todd Mendel
and Pastor Glen Plummer, founder of the Fellowship
of Israel and Black America (FIBA).
The group will travel Jan. 8-17, 2008, and is
designed so Jews and Christians can see the coun-
try through each other's eyes and learn about
the importance of Israel to both faiths. Highlights
Isaiah 62:1,2
For Zion's sake I wilCnot keep
silent, and for Jerusalem's
sake I will notrest, until her
vindication shines out like the
dawn, and her salvation like
a burning torch. The nations
shall see your vindication, and
all the kings your glory; and
you shall be called by a new
name that the mouth of the
LORD wilt- give.
include the inau-
gural presenta-
tion of FIBA's
Martin Luther
King Jr. Awards
at the Knesset,
a reception at
the residence of
Todd Mendel
Rev. Plummer
U.S. Ambassador
Richard Jones and extensive travel and time in
Jerusalem.
For more information, visit the Council Web site at
www.detroitjcrc.org or call (248) 642-5393.