Why take Christian Money?
Gary Cooperberg
February 4, 2003
Clearly the concept of an observant Jew forging relationships with Christians is one which raises eyebrows. The following letter from a Christian who doesn't really know me expresses questions which require answers. It would be easy for me to just forget about the letter and ignore it. But the truth is that there are probably many others out there who have the same questions and just are too polite to ask. So, at the risk of entering into areas which may possibly offend some, I have decided to reprint the letter and respond to it, sharing it all with my entire mailing list. Owing to the sensitivity of the topic, I strongly urge anyone who has further questions to contact me directly and I will respond personally.
"I received a forwarded email from your org.
If you have a moment I would appreciate why a man name named GARY would meet "outside" a place of Christian fellowship, but would not enter???
As I read the letter I received it seemed to me that GARY would welcome financial support from Christians but wants nothing to do with our faith...
I understand his being "blind" to the truth, and I want to help God's people as much as possible.., but, from what I think I read, he wants all the money we will give him but doesn't want to associate with 'us'.
What am I missing???
Thanks
Darrell"
Dear Darrell,
Thank you for taking the time to express your feelings. It is important that we understand one another. As an observant Jew my beliefs are not the same as yours. Apparently your religion teaches you that I am "blind" to the truth. I hope you will forgive me if I disagree and even go so far as to suggest that perhaps it is you who is blind to truth.
It is important for us both to recognize that we have different religions. Although Christianity is founded upon Jewish Biblical principles, it has gone beyond that foundation and created new principles which do not conform with the Jewish religion. It is not my intention to criticize your beliefs, only to point out to you that we have different beliefs. On the other side of the coin, since Christianity has its foundations upon the Jewish Bible, there is much that we have in common and much that we can share.
I want you to know that it was never my intention to seek relationships with Christians. It was only in reaction to spontaneous demonstrations by Christians who came to Israel to express support for Biblical Zionism that I took notice of the strange concept called "Christian Zionism".
I understand and appreciate the fact that these people, who are, by the way, a minority in the Christian world, recognize the rebirth of the Jewish State in the Land of Israel as the beginning of fulfillment of G-d's Promises to the Jewish People. These Christians rightfully have rejected Christian doctrine which claimed that the Jewish People were condemned to wander the earth forever, and that the Church has somehow "replaced" them and taken the covenant of Abraham from us. This recognition has so touched their very souls that they seek to openly stand with the Jewish People to express their faith in and love of the G-d of Creation. They seek and deserve the Blessing of Abraham, Genesis 12:3, "And those who bless you I will bless, and he who curses you I will curse, and through you will all of the families of the Earth be blessed." It is my desire to reach back to such people and try to help them to achieve that blessing.
Darrell, you note, correctly, that I "want nothing to do with your faith". I have my own faith and am quite satisfied with it. I do not seek to learn about Christianity nor am I willing to enter into a church sanctuary as that might give the impression that I have rejected my own beliefs. I have the utmost respect for your beliefs, even if I do not share them. I would hope that you would have the same feeling toward me. I have never rejected either association or fellowship with Christians who seek to support Zion. On the contrary, I have welcomed it. I have gone into church buildings to speak in lunchrooms and fellowship halls. It is only the sanctuary which I refrain from entering. I do not seek to reach out to Christians who have not already expressed a desire to support Israel, and only go to places where I have been invited.
It is true that I accept financial support of my Zionist organization by those who choose to help the Divine Process. Were I to suspect that such support implied that I must first accept Christian doctrine I most certainly would not accept it.
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