Editor's NOTE:
The statements made by Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann are typical of the total misunderstanding of Traditional (Roman Catholic) Christianity that characterizes most Fundamentalist Protestant "Christians."
Protestantism in general but especially Fundamentalist Protestant "Christianity" represents a bizarre adulteration (a sect really) of Traditional Christianity that is more akin to parts of ancient Judaism [without the animal sacrifice] than Christianity. It fails to recognize the way in which Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law of Justice in part through the addition of the higher virtue of Mercy or Love (e.g. the woman he saved from stoning for committing adultery) and as such is overly Old Testament focused in an improper way.
As a result, Protestant Fundamentalist's believe that modern Israel which came into existence in 1948 is the "new Israel" destined to be protected for all time by God. This is not the case. The Church that Christ started (the pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic Church) is the "new Israel" according to Traditional Christian teaching. For similar reasons, "Christian" Fundamentalists believe that Armageddon is imminent and that they will be removed from the Earth before it begins. This belief is the result of a modern yet bizarre theory without Traditional Scriptural hermeneutical support referred to as the Rapture.
So-called "Christian" Fundamentalist's who believe they have a duty to support modern Israel no matter what she does are horribly mistaken in thinking that they may do so based on Traditional Christian teaching. Here is Congresswoman Bachmann demonstrating that she is as ill-informed about Christian teaching as she is about American history and geography.
--Dr. J. P. Hubert
Bachmann: America ‘Cursed’ By God ‘If We Reject Israel’
By Andy Birkey
February 08, 2011 "Minnesota Independent" -- At a Republican Jewish Coalition event in Los Angeles last week, Rep. Michele Bachmann offered a candid view of her positions on Israel: Support for Israel is handed down by God and if the United States pulls back its support, America will cease to exist.
The Republican Jewish Coalition is the same organization that recently hired former Sen. Norm Coleman. Bachmann’s appearance on Feb.1 is part of a whirlwind of national events for Bachmann in February. Next up: she’s keynoting the Take Back Washington North Dakota event in Bismarck this Friday night.
Here’s a transcript of some of her remarks at the RJC event:
I am convinced in my heart and in my mind that if the United States fails to stand with Israel, that is the end of the United States . . . [W]e have to show that we are inextricably entwined, that as a nation we have been blessed because of our relationship with Israel, and if we reject Israel, then there is a curse that comes into play. And my husband and I are both Christians, and we believe very strongly the verse from Genesis [Genesis 12:3], we believe very strongly that nations also receive blessings as they bless Israel. It is a strong and beautiful principle.
Right now in my own private Bible time, I am working through Isaiah . . . and there is continually a coming back to what God gave to Israel initially, which was the Torah and the Ten Commandments, and I have a wonderful quote from John Adams that if you will indulge me [while I find it] . . . [from his February 16, 1809 letter to François Adriaan van der Kemp]:
"I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations. If I were an atheist of the other sect, who believe or pretend to believe that all is ordered by chance, I should believe that chance had ordered the Jews to preserve and propagate to all mankind the doctrine of a supreme, intelligent, wise, almighty sovereign of the universe, which I believe to be the great essential principle of all morality, and consequently of all civilization."
. . . So that is a very long way to answer your question, but I believe that an explicit statement from us about our support for Israel as tied to American security, we would do well to do that.
2 comments:
Thank you, Dr Hubert, for the fine summary of this bizarre thinking which, alas, is all too common among various sects of Protestants in the USA. I listen to them and often wonder what on earth is going through their minds. And if you tune in to their TV programs you will see this Christian Zionism in all its glory. Very odd.
Sadly, many of these misconceptions are also to be found among otherwise good Catholics. The internet is bulging with Catholic websites who unquestioningly support the Israeli government, even when that government is persecuting Christian Palestinians. It's quite astonishing and revolting to see Catholics allowing themselves to be duped in this way.
Then again certain Vatican higher-ups have been sending mixed signals about "dual Covenants" and Heaven knows what else, which isn't helping people keep their heads. It's a mess.
Thank you Dan. You are certainly correct about some misinformed "Catholics" who have seemingly due to a lack of proper catechesis embraced Protestant Fundamentalist/Evangelical (primarily Calvinist) Biblical hermeneutics and Neoconservative political theory.
This has become a crisis for Traditional Roman Catholicism and dates to the Second Vatican Council's rejection of Thomistic philosophy/moral theology and the acceptance of the Modernism and Neo-Modernism propounded by theological dissidents that was effectively rebutted by multiple Popes e.g.
PASCENDI DOMINICI GREGIS:
ON THE DOCTRINE OF THE MODERNISTS
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS X, SEPTEMBER 8, 1907
Unfortunately, there has been no correction of the obvious errors propounded vis a vis Vatican II for over 45 years. The disastrous negative results are visible for all with eyes to see.
You are certainly correct about the nonsense emmanating from certain Roman Congregations with respect to so-called "dual convenants." This is truly a disastrous notion as it reduces the Church of Christ (Traditional Roman Catholic Church) to one "faith community" among many ending in universal salvation and the rejection of Jesus Christ as true God/man and Messiah. Those who propound such idiocy are not Catholic.
This thread may not be very interesting to many readers and perhaps would better be handled at my other site:
http://istheromancatholicchurchstillcatholic.blogspot.com/
Post a Comment