Chuck Carlson was interviewed by Judith Sharpe of ISOC, a traditional Catholic organization, to help Catholics understand the false theology of Christian Zionism. In this revealing interview with the founder of We Hold These Truths, several background resources are mentioned: "Christian Zionism: The Tragedy & The Turning, Part I" and "Christian Zionism Is A War Based Religion." (73 mins.)
Christian Zionism is a war based, political religion wrapped around the notion that the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. It is a form of dispensational Christian theology (less than 200 years old) where war figures into its end times theology. In this podcast, Chuck Carlson, Tom Compton and Craig Hanson delve into various aspects of this war based religion including numerous, prominent evangelical Christian leaders like Henry Blackaby, Chuck Colson (deceased), Bill Bright (deceased) of Campus Crusade, D. James Kennedy (decesead), Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Conference, Ted Haggard, John McArthur, Dr. Wayne Grudem (author of "Politics According to the Bible") and John Hagee who have blessed the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both before and after the wars started. They've gone so far as to say these wars are "just wars" according to their intrepretation of the Bible. WHTT's Chuck Carlson warned his fellow Baptists in 1990 about not going to war against Iraq ("Iraq: Americans Prepped For 'War'." Also, before the 2003 Gulf War on Iraq, WHTT opposed going to war, again (see here). An excellent article from 2004 in antiwar.com exposes evangelical Christians who support unjust wars: Pro-War Christians Should Come Clean.
Joe Ortiz, author of The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer "Great Tribulation" joins Chuck Carlson, Tom Compton, Craig Hanson and Mark Horton of We Hold These Truths for a fascinating look at the misguided and dangerous theology of Christian Zionists. (27 minutes)
We Hold Tese Truths' founder, Chuck Carlson was interviewed by Susan Lindauer on her program, The Covert Report with Susan Lindauer. This is how Susan introduced Chuck: "Today’s guest is Charles Carlson, one of the
foremost critics of Christian Zionism from “We Hold These Truths–” a
pro-peace, pro-life group that has been hosting vigils at large
evangelical churches across America, challenging their support for
Israel, for over a decade....Carlson explains that Christian Zionists are guided by one simple
principle–that the State of Israel fulfills biblical prophecy. For
indeed, Christian Zionists believe Israel’s rise– and destruction by God,
caused by its hubris and abuses– are preconditions for God to send the
Messiah as part of the End Times Movement. Unless we wake up the masses,
as a direct consequence of this Zionist philosophy, the global
community is guaranteed to face endless cycles of destruction in the
Middle East for years to come." Check out Susan's other insightful interviews with other well known activists, like Cynthia McKinney, at The Covert Report with Susan Lindauer.
rlson of We Hold These Truths has described Israeli's "Operation Protective Edge" in Gaza as genocide against the Palestinians. As of 8/4/2014, "the Palestinian death toll surpassed 1,800 [Palestinians], 80% of whom are civilians
according to UN estimates. About 460,000 people in Gaza have been
displaced since the start of the conflict. Three civilians in Israel
have been killed." (theguardian.com) This is an interview with Chuck Carlson on Dr. Kevin Barrett's 7/31/2014 "Truth Jihad Radio" show. On the same day Christians United For Israel is telling their supporters to "tell Kerry that Israel - NOT Hamas - is our ally!" while blaming Hamas for the deaths of civilians.
In this podcast we look into some of the beliefs held by Christian Zionists. Included is a fascinating story about an encounter with two Christian Zionists, one an an amateur and one a professional by Chuck Carlson. Also, Mark Horton tells about one of Israel's most decorated veterans, who is a convert to Christianity and a Holy Land tour guide who asked the question "What is a Jew?" The answer is very thought provoking.
In our last podcast, "Christian Palestinianism: The New Threat to Israel?" we looked at something new that Christians United For Israel is promoting, to demonize Christians who are working for peace and justice in the Holy Land. The term "Christian Palestinianism" was coined by a British theologian, Dr. Paul Wilkinson. In this podcast, we take a revealing look at this latest example of "Mean Spirited Religiosty" that ignores what Jesus taught (for example, "Blessed are the Peacemakers") and turns its back to the injustices being heaped on Palestinians by Israel. Don't miss this eye opening program.
Millions of Americans have been conditioned by their government, media and even church leaders to mistrust and despise Iran and Iranians. We are proud of the award given to our film, Christian Zionism: The Tragedy & The Turning, Part 1 at the Ammar Popular Film Festival in Tehran, Iran in January, 2014. This podcast is about the reaction of a person who watched the whole video, threw it in the trash after watching it, and sent us an email to set us straight about our "extreme" and "vituperative" film. We think you'll find this interchange eyeopening, and, very curious, indeed!
In addition to reviewing WHTT vigils in this program, we discuss an example of "The Turning" away from the influence of Christian Zionism, as exemplified by prominent Christian pastor, Chuck Baldwin, who ran for President in 2008. Pastor Baldwin has done a 180 degree turn around from his position in 2002.
At a recent vigil in the Bay Area at a Christians United For Israel (CUFI) event our intrepid vigil leader, Craig Hanson, went inside to witness the event and reports on the attack made on WHTT using the worn out and baseless "anti-semitism" smear tactic. Never mind the facts! We also review actions by Jewish Voice for Peace activists in Colorado to support a resolution to make Boulder, CO a sister city with Nablus in the West Bank of Palestine. Zionists forces applied pressure to defeat the measure but WHTT friend, Bob Prince of the Front Range Jewish Voice for Peace says the Zionists are losing ground.
Mainline Christians are beginning to realize that “Christian Zionism” is a misnomer, a sort of faith based oxymoron, an impossibility to those who follow Christ. As of yet, we do not know of a denomination that has declared the Zionist leaning church down the street to be an open mission field, but they should. If “Christian Zionism” cannot be said to be a denomination, an offshoot, branch, or subset, it must then be about world politics, a radical departure from following Christ that is better described as “Israel following.”
The Concise Dictionary of Christianity observes that "Scofield's influence on the evangelical/fundamentalist movement of the early twentieth century was enormous." And, we would add, devastating. In this podcast we review a new book, The Praise of Folly: The Enigmatic Life & Theology of C.I. Scofield by David Lutzweiler. A vicious attack on Lutzweiler and his book by the senior pastor of The Scofield Memorial Church prompted us to look a little deeper and review the new facts, uncovered by Lutzweiler, that cast more shadows on Scofield, the man and his theology.
Prior to a We Hold these Truths vigil at a Christian Zionist church or event, a letter is sent to the pastors to let them know we're coming and why we are coming. In preparation for the second vigil at a Washington, DC, Christian Zionist, mega-church, McLean Bible Church, Chuck Carlson sent a letter to the pastor, Lon Solomon and copied his staff. This is a very insightful look at the disciples of Christian Zionism.
Palestinian Christians know how un-Christ-like and hurtful the beliefs of Christian Zionists are. In this podcast we talk about the upcoming Christ At The Checkpoint conference in Bethlehem, Palestine on March 5-9, 2012 and play a recording of Dr. Alex Awad of Bethlehem Bible Collge at the 2010 Christ At The Checkpoint conference, entitled, "Palestinian Christians In The Shadow of Christian Zionists." To view video highlights of the 2010 conference go to: Combating Christian Zionism In Palestine.
According to Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, in a letter to supporters, dated 11/17/2011, he writes: "A disturbing movement is making inroads in the evangelical Christian world. A recent op-ed in theJerusalem Post summed it up: 'Evangelical and conservative Christians — Israel's most important allies — are increasingly targeted for conversion from Christian Zionism to Christian Palestinianism'.” We can only hope it's true. We discuss this and other vital topics from rising food prices due to extending ethanol subsidies to sanctions on Iran. There's a lot of food for thought in this podcast.
We Hold These Truths has released our first documentary on Christian Zionism for free viewing on the internet. This is a must see to understand the nature of a branch of Christianity that puts Israel ahead of Jesus. Ever wonder why so many Christians support America’s many wars, especially in the Middle East? A new Christianity has emerged from the Twentieth Century called Christian Zionism or what could be called, "Angry Evangelicalism," or "Dispensationalism on Steroids." What motivates a nationally known, evangelical preacher like John Hagee to call for a preemptive strike against Iran when it is contrary to what Jesus taught and commanded his followers to do? This “Roots of Zionism” presentation may be the first of its kind with a factual explanation of how Christianity’s latest apostate epidemic was launched with the publishing of C. I. Scofield's reference Bible in 1909, and the influence of the notes in it. The video can be watched in full screen mode at: http://vimeo.com/29901084
One of the largest groups who support wars in the Middle East to protect Israel are "Angry" Evangelicals sometimes known as Christian Zionists. WHTT Director, Thom Compton explains what "Angry" Evangelicalism is and how to combat it. The referenced email in the podcast, "The Internet Never Lies...But People Do or Why Some Christians Love to Hate Muslims" can be viewed at: http://www.whtt.org/images/PW-20090206-Internet-Never-Lies.pdf
Charles E. Carlson puts forth a new theory on why so many evangelical Christians find it almost impossible to change their belief that the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of God. Traditional Christians believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of God.
Angry Evangelical, Christian Zionists like John Hagee of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio need to be challenged for their un-Christlike actions. Our hats off to members of Esperanza, a Hispanic group in Texas that challenged John Hagee.
Today the people of Egypt have revolted against a tyrant who has repressed them and helped Israel repress Gaza Arabs into bondage worse than any Pharaoh ever did. As I speak to you, American National Guard units have been activated to go to Egypt. Will they help free the people? Sadly, our own history tells us they go to support a new Egyptian tyrant, just as they support the puppet governments of Iraq and Afghanistan, and every act of Israel.
Join We Hold These Truths' founders Chuck Carlson, Travis Steele and Tom Compton on the inaugural broadcast for Podbean. Included in the program is our Unheralded News portion of the program on important news of the day with analysis. In our investigation of beliefs of Christian Zionists, we discuss the Sermon of the Mount by Jesus in context with Christian Zionists' beliefs.
