ChristiansUnite Forums

US Lutherans consider Israel boycott
Haviv Rettig, THE JERUSALEM POST    Aug. 15, 2007

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which has almost five million members in the US, took a step toward a partial boycott of Israeli goods at its 2007 Churchwide Assembly in Chicago last week.

On Saturday, the assembly, the church's top legislative authority, passed a resolution calling to work toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and urging investment in the Palestinian Authority.

The assembly then urged "consideration of refusing to buy goods or invest in activities taking place in Israeli settlements, and a review of other economic options," according to Bishop Christopher Epting, the presiding bishop's deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations, quoted on the Episcopal Life Online Web site.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's own news service did not provide information on the content of that motion.

According to the Pondering Pastor blog, Saturday's debate on the resolution picked "up with an amendment to call upon the ELCA to underscore the call for economic initiatives by this church and its members in the ['Peace not Walls'] campaign. Such initiatives, in consultation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land could include purchasing of products [from] Palestinian providers and exploration of the feasibility of refusing to buy products produced in Israeli settlements. Also to be explored is the entire investment activity by this church."

The amendment passed by a vote of 385 to 368.

The assembly rejected a call for divestiture from Israel.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center blasted what it called the "mixed message" of the assembly - rejecting divestiture but "studying" a boycott.

"This marks the first time a mainline American Protestant church has moved toward a possible boycott of Israel," said the center's Associate Dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper. "While we note that the ELCA delegates have now joined the Presbyterian Church (USA) in explicitly rejecting divesting from companies doing business with Israel, they have decided to embrace one of the anti-Israel tactics adopted by United Kingdom trade unions and others in Europe. ELCA delegates would have made a stronger contribution to the quest for peace and justice in the Holy Land had they also raised the ransacking of Christian places of worship and [the] recent forced conversion of a Christian professor in Gaza, as well as the unrelenting targeting of Israeli civilian communities by Palestinian Kassam rockets."

US Lutherans consider Israel boycott (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1186557457886&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter)

For all those imprudent Lutherans who are obviously lost in a political/social fog, they can rest assured that if they want to invest in the PA, there are ample investment opportunities in the PA, where they will take the money and run. The Euros have poured perhaps billions of dollars of aid into the muslims lair, not to mention the US, and the return is in the negative category. There is no infrastructure, economic or otherwise, and the people are in the same destitute state they have always been in, and will stay in. The Lutherans would be better served by simply becoming more knowledgeable about world events, and more pragmatic.

Lutherans? Probably like it is with the Episcopalians, and other social gospel adherents. Sadly the ELCA are very Liberal, their, bias against Israel, and pro Palestinian, is nothing new.

Could there be a more clear-cut example of calling evil good and good evil?

Hello Dreamweaver,

Brother, this also represents a gross ignorance of the Holy Bible, not just Bible Prophecy. It's amazing how little many people know about the contents of the Holy Bible. Israel is a key nation mentioned in the Bible for many reasons, and anyone with a basic exposure to the Bible should know this. Most of us on the forum could easily make a list in a matter of minutes that provides proof that GOD isn't through with Israel. JESUS CHRIST is still the anointed KING of Israel, regardless of whether HE has claimed HIS earthly Throne yet. Bluntly, those nations that help Israel will be blessed by GOD, and those nations that go against Israel will be damned by GOD. The time will come when much of the world will come against Israel to destroy them, but they will be destroyed instead because JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF will be fighting on the side of Israel.

There is MUCH more, but how much more do Christians need to know? We need to pray for Israel and know what the future holds for them. GOD will restore Israel at HIS appointed time, and no force will be able to stop or slow GOD'S fulfillment of HIS Promises to Israel. Israel was unfaithful to GOD, but GOD will not be unfaithful to Israel. Israel is tiny, but NO mighty collection of military force in the world will be able to destroy them. This is GOD'S Promise, and it will be fulfilled.

Love In Christ,
Tom


(My Note: JESUS CHRIST will most certainly Save Israel because HE has already made this Promise.) 

hmmmm,  Boycott things from Israel. The BEST thing to come from that Country is JESUS! Go ahead and boycott!

Could  be the Lurtherns understand the scripture

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
1Jn 2:24  Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  2Jn 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.  


The Cross of Christ changed more than just my heart. It changed 'history'.

Or it could be that they misunderstand scripture like some others that misunderstand even the clear portions of end time prophecies.

Hello Sister Reba,

It's a serious error to think that GOD is through with Israel. It's a more serious error to ignore portions of the Holy Bible where GOD clearly promises that Israel will be restored, and JESUS CHRIST is the anointed King of Israel. One would also have to ignore Bible facts that clearly state that JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF will rule and reign over the earth from the Throne of David in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. JESUS CHRIST will NOT be denied HIS THRONE, and Israel will accept HIM. This is after the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

Sister, these things haven't happened yet, but they most certainly will. In fact, the time might be soon. To believe otherwise, one would have to throw out a fairly large portion of the Holy Bible. One would also have to ignore many Prophets of the Holy Bible, including the GREAT PROPHET JESUS CHRIST.

In short, isolating a portion of Scripture and ignoring the rest of the Bible leads to gross misunderstanding. JESUS CHRIST will sit on the Throne of David in Jerusalem and rule the earth for 1,000 years. This hasn't happened yet, so it is Bible Prophecy yet to be fulfilled. It will be fulfilled because GOD said that it would. To help you some with your confusion, GOD'S Earthly Kingdom is separate and distinct from GOD'S Heavenly Kingdom. JESUS CHRIST already sits on a Heavenly Throne, but HE hasn't claimed HIS Earthy Throne in Jerusalem yet. HE will because HE said that HE would. HE is the Anointed King of Israel, and HE will NOT be denied.

Sister Reba, portions of Scripture that provide proof of the above have already been posted for you several times. I've always been curious - what do you do with these portions of the Bible? Do you just not believe these portions of the Holy Bible, or what is it?

Love In Christ,
Tom

Mr. Bepster,   I could ask of you the same question about the verses posted from John.    We read or understand  them differently.  Does the Jewish religion compare to the scriptures in John?  Yes it does.

You look at Israel as a human blood line i see Israel as the Blood line of Christ as in those He shed His blood for, that kind of understanding.  Our human blood be it Jewish , American, Spanish, what ever, does not have saving power. Salvation is only in HIM. We understand a person is a Jew by birth if his mother is Jewish. I would then hope as a Jew my children would be female so my grandchildren could be sure and be saved. NO!  Just as any one else on this earth a person who is Jewish by birth is saved by the Blood of Christ His work on the cross.

Jos 21:43  And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
Jos 21:44  And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
Jos 21:45  There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.


 These verses clearly state    "And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein."


I will not continue this discussion we both love the Lord and His Word.


Before i get labled antisemitic I believe as a nation the USA should truly be Israels friend, stand with her against the Arabs etc.

Reba,

You are correct in the line of thinking that scripture does tell us that not all Jews are those that are outwardly of the flesh but rather those that are inwardly so through Him.

Gal 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.


This is wise as the scriptures do tell us that the nation of Israel will return to God and those that go up against it will suffer the wrath of God. Scriptures are quite clear in this.


Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.