TESTIMONY OF A CHRISTIAN ZIONIST
SEPTEMBER, 2006-Despite opposition from much of the rest of the
world, the United States
remains steadfast in its support-both individual and corporate-for the modern
state of Israel.
The reasons for this support go much deeper than any perceived economic or
strategic interests. Ultimately, American friendship with Israel
is based on shared values, including a mutual love of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Many of the early European settlers in North America
were Puritans and Pietists, Christians with strong
philosemitic convictions, and these convictions remain foundational to American
culture.
The motives of American Christian supporters of Israel
have been called into question at times. In particular, dispensationalists are
sometimes suspected of being interested in Israel mainly because the Jewish
state's existence fits neatly into their detailed prophetic scenarios-scenarios
that also happen to predict great suffering for Jews. However, there is no
doubt that many American Christians have an unconditional love for the Jewish
people, the people from whom Jesus and his original disciples stemmed. These
Christians are simply grateful to be able to partake of the blessings that
accompany being "grafted in" to the olive tree of Israel. (See Paul's
olive tree analogy in the eleventh chapter of his epistle to the Romans.)
In southwestern Ohio,
one person especially known for her love of Israel
is Judith Classen. For
many years, Classen has communicated that love in
Bible classes at her church in Cincinnati
and carried out that love through the activities of her ministry, "For
Zion's Sake." On September 2, 2006,
Classen shared some of her experiences in a
presentation at the Church of the Messiah in Xenia,
Ohio.
Classen recalled that when she was
four years old, she saw graphic photographs from the Nazi death camps that had
appeared in Life magazine in 1945. Although she did not yet completely
comprehend what the Holocaust was about, she understood that it was the
"Bible people" who had endured such suffering. She began to pray for
these people and was filled with a desire to help and protect them.
As she grew up, Classen's desire
to serve the Jewish people grew stronger. In 1980, she finally had the
opportunity to visit Israel
as a delegate to a Christian women's conference. She and some friends hoped
that when they were in Israel,
they would have the opportunity to visit some people in prison as a way of
carrying out Jesus' words in Matt. 25:34-40. With the help of a former Israeli
ambassador to the U.S.,
they were able to arrange such a visit. They talked with three prisoners-an
Arab Christian, an Arab Muslim, and a Jew-and presented gifts to each of them.
This turned out to be the first of many trips to Israel
for Judi Classen. Later in the 1980s, her desire to
help the Jewish people also took her to the Soviet Union,
where Jews who had unsuccessfully attempted to emigrate
to Israel (the
"refuseniks") were subject to severe
government persecution. On behalf of the Cincinnati
Jewish community, she traveled to the Soviet Union with
aid for Soviet Jews. One family to whom she was able to bring aid was a family
for whom she had been praying for some time.
Classen's presentation was very
inspiring. It encouraged us to renew our efforts in prayer and assistance for
the people of Israel.
Issue 22
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On 04 Sep 2006, 15:04.
