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Speaking Out

Hardship for Evangelicals in Jordan: Lessons for All Christians

The president of Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary on maintaining fruitful relationships with our neighbors.

Imad Shehadeh | posted 4/08/2008 08:49AM

The media in the East and West have recently been reporting the denunciation of evangelicals by the council of the Catholic and Orthodox bishops in Jordan. The bishops' denunciation was in support of ...

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Allister

Posted: April 12, 2008 8:03 AM

The reality of modern Jordan is that many of the Christians don't know anything about the Bible even though they live in a land rich in Bible History. Imad's school is badly needed. I'll never forget a conversation with a bright Catholic Christian lady from Karak (ancient Moab) who marveled when I told her the story of Ruth - which she had never heard. Maybe the evangelicals haven't been stealing sheep but feeding the abandoned lambs.

Kevin K. W. Ng

Posted: April 12, 2008 1:52 AM

We in Malaysia have similar problems with subtle persecutions, such a disallowed practiced evangelisation especially to the Nationals (Sons of the Soil), so what choice have we to carry out the orders of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ in this land?; when we can't speak about Jesus Christ to your Muslim friends and neighbours? We cant even play Christian music and hymns in the presence of Muslim guests for fear of offending them as we are told to be sensitive to their feelings especially when we talk about Allah which has been exclusively adopted by them as the name of our Almighty God even though throughout the planet Earth Allah is representative of God used by everyone.

Anthony

Posted: April 11, 2008 6:37 PM

I must agree with Thomas' statement above that :"...most evangelicals, ... are there to convert other Christians because they do not consider them Christians..." As a former "evangelical' protestant I know first hand that the main mission of the "churches" I attended for more than 20 years, is conversion of others. Any focus on personal growth or healing of one's soul is only a superficial 'fix' in order that the new "Christian" may be enabled to become an other "evangelist". The Lord Jesus Christ commanded that we make disciples not converts. Disciples following the teachings and examples of their Master, in order to learn to love God more than the self or this world. Making converts whose mission it is to make more converts serves no purpose other than to replace the empty pews vacated by those of us who finally saw the emptiness of the modern western "churches".

Thomas

Posted: April 11, 2008 10:15 AM

Dear Andrew: Unfortunately, it is you that doesn't have all the facts. Christ created the Church on Pentecost, not the Bible. the Bible is a product of the Church and rightfully belongs in the context of the Church. While nothing can contradict the scriptures, the Church existed as a worshipping community with bishops and faithful for a few hundred years before the Bible was affirmed as we have it-nothing wrong with that, but that's what happened. The NT canon of scripture was affirmed by the Church in the 4th century. It was those same God-inspired men to affirmed the canon of scriptures that you use that also were part of the Church, the same Church that you now bash. They gave you your Bible-plain and simple. If they were not inspiried in their other teachings (the Holy Fathers), then what about the Bible? Take the Bible out of the Church and you get thousands of people and churches all saying their interpretations are the correct ones. www.conciliarpress.com

RJR_fan

Posted: April 09, 2008 1:51 PM


Actually, if I read Romans 11 properly, Israel's long sour pout will end out of sheer embarrassment, when they see all the faithful Christian nations around them rejoicing in the blessings of God. If we want to see Israel embrace her Messiah, maybe we need to focus on encouraging Arabs to rejoice in Jesus.

Philip Q

Posted: April 09, 2008 12:07 PM

It is very good for us to be reminded that the Middle East views the United States and Christians by the way in which we unconditionally support Israel and place all responsibilities for Peace on the Palestinians. How would it be reported in this country if the Palestinians treated the Israeliis the way the Israeliis treat the Palestinians. That, too, comes to be perceived as the way Christians are perceived by persons in the Middle East.

David

Posted: April 09, 2008 9:39 AM

Enoch - "Well, everybody knows that most Catholics and Orthodox people are nothing else but NOMINAL Christians who are miles and miles away from any real Christianity." I'm not sure that I am in the "everybody" that you refer to. I know Catholics and Orthodox Christians that have a very real and devout faith in Jesus. I used to argue theology with a friend that attended a different denomination than I did. We each assumed that the others practice of faith was flawed, and we were both correct. Even in my most sincere worship of Jesus, I am flawed. If I were perfect, I would not need Jesus. I am far from perfect. So, I will do the best I can, in my imperfection, to serve and honor Jesus. And, I choose not to assume that I have all the answers. I also choose not to make myself judge of any other man or woman, because I do not want to face the wrath of our Holy God's judgement. Matthew 7:1

Andrew D.

Posted: April 09, 2008 3:04 AM

Dear Thomas I find what you write about Premillenial Evangelicals quite misleading and offensive. Unfortunately, it does seem to me that you are not conscious of the very real differences between Christians who base their lives and beliefs on the Bible alone & those who add TRADITIONS and ECCLESIASTICAL HIERARCHIES as authorities for their faith. I wonder if you have ever really interacted with our fellow believers in the Middle East. As a family we have and I can tell you that I think you are ignoring some basic facts. Yours sincerely, Andrew D. (Italian Evangelical Bible Institute, Rome, Italy - www.ibei.it )

Thomas

Posted: April 08, 2008 8:53 PM

What the article fails to address is that in the Arab countries and other places like the former Soviet countries, most evangelicals, especially the pre-millienial types, are there to convert other Christians because they do not consider them Christians, be they Catholic or Orthodox. In Arab countries, be it Jordan or elsewhere, you can bet that 99% of their congregants were already Christians because it is highly problematic if not illegal to convert Muslims. Add this to the fact that most of them (if not the people on the ground, then at least their mother organizations) are Christian Zionists, and you have the natural reaction of the hierarchs in Jordan--and a formula for disaster for the indigenous Christians of the area who have been there and been faithful to the Gospel and the Apostolic tradition for almost 2000 years before most of their denominations and the whole dispensationalist movement were even born!

Jim D.

Posted: April 08, 2008 7:44 PM


The G - What modern Israel is doing to Palestine is ungodly. Why don't we just turn a blind eye every time a suicide bomber blows up a bus full of men, womwn and children. What modern Israel is doing to the Palestinians is justified as self defense. Get a clue the Palestinians don't want peace with Israel, they want Israel anihilated.

Philip T

Posted: April 08, 2008 7:30 PM

Christian Zionists are wrong in saying that the present state of Israel is a fulfillment of biblical prophesies. Biblical prophesies are thoroughly fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ and the present day Church is the true Israel. Romans 11 seems to indicate that many Jews would be converted near the end-times. This refers to Jews all over the world and not only those in current Palestine and surrounding area (current state of 'Israel').

Enoch

Posted: April 08, 2008 6:46 PM

"It is understandable that many Catholics and Orthodox Christians are angry that some evangelicals view them as not being true believers. Surely some evangelicals err in this regard and should cease from judging others." Well, everybody knows that most Catholics and Orthodox people are nothing else but NOMINAL Christians who are miles and miles away from any real Christianity. They are born in a nominally Christian family, baptized as infants, and while they never experience the new birth in order to become real Christians, they live and die as "Christians." Evangelicals seek to preach the Gospel and bring everyone to Christ - and that DOES include nominal Christians within the Catholic and Orthodox churches. That is part of the Evangelical indentity. It is not proselytizing, it's evangelizing.

The G

Posted: April 08, 2008 5:48 PM

The Israel of God is now the church. Period. God's covenant with old Israel was conditional. Israel failed. The temple veil was rent in two. The temple destroyed. Jerusalem destroyed. All in God's judgement. Jesus is now reigning eternally King of kings over an eternal SPIRITUAL kingdom. From AD 30, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Paul makes it clear in Romans and his other epistles, justification is by faith, not national identity. Jer 31:31 makes it clear. PreMillennialism is absolute heresy. The church is not plan B or a Parenthesis. Jesus is the SEED OF ABRAHAM! The church is the Bride of Christ Jesus will return for. All of history past and future pivots on the cross. What modern Israel has done and is doing to Palestine is ungodly.

Kurt	Posted: April 08, 2008 5:09 PM


Thank you for this article!

Roger

Posted: April 08, 2008 4:07 PM

In arab countries...muslims understand that christians are even those from the catholic church and protestant organizations. We should teach missionaries about their Hebrew roots and learn about the tolerance that should reign among christians everywhere. If we learn from the Jews who do not care about what jewish sect you are from, since they see themselves as God's mishpaha (Family of God), we will learn to see others with respect enough. We must not act out as people who do not have Yeshua's mind. It is hard to teach a gospel which emphasizes "institutions" instead of "salvation". Let us work together and let the Lord clarify our doctrines thru His Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit). And let us keep on loving the muslims, buddhists, hinduits, jews, sects...who have not come to salvation by mean of Yeshua Hamoshiach.

Joel Wright

Posted: April 08, 2008 1:49 PM

A wise clarion call to brotherhood. It does us well to remember that God's house is for all nations (Isaiah 56:6-8), and that Israel placed his hands on the Sons of Joseph through the Egyptian woman saying: "Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine... the Angel who has delivered me from all harm -- may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth." Genesis 48:5, 15, 16. I long for the day when the grand narrative of Genesis is prophetically fulfilled -- When long separated brothers return crying to embrace, the day when "All Israel" (sons of the natural, sons of the foreign woman) join together in joyful embrace. Many have acted out of harm, but God has allowed for this day, the saving of many lives (Gen. 50:20). May God continue guiding us toward world peace, through one large and united family of faith!!!!

Vinita Wright

Posted: April 08, 2008 1:02 PM


We should remember that the Orthodox and Catholic churches in Jordan have long been the source of many Evangelical "converts." Christians leaving the Orthodox or Catholic tradition to join Baptist and other evangelical groups has been a sore point for decades.

JohnW

Posted: April 08, 2008 11:26 AM


It might help if our evangelical leaders would speak out against the islamofascist rhetoric expressed by preachers such as John Hagee. It should be renounced and repudiated in pulpits all over this country.

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