Patriarchs and heads of Christian churches in Jerusalem have issued a joint statement warning of the risks associated with the growing influence of Christian Zionism and rejecting what they described as external interference in the internal life of Christian communities in the Holy Land.
In the statement, the church leaders подчеркнули that the Christian population of the region has for centuries been under the spiritual care of historic apostolic churches, which bear responsibility for the religious, social, and pastoral life of their faithful. They expressed concern that in recent years certain individuals and groups have become more active in promoting politicized religious ideologies, including Christian Zionism, which they say misleads the public and undermines Christian unity.
The statement was prompted by increasing concern over the situation of Christians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Church representatives pointed to pressure on church-owned property, restrictions on the movement of clergy and teachers at Christian schools, and a rise in attacks on Christian sites. Against this backdrop, the church leaders noted that proponents of Christian Zionism have received support and official recognition from some political figures in Israel and abroad.
The heads of churches described such engagement as interference in the internal affairs of the churches and an attempt to replace the voice of indigenous Christian communities with an externally driven political agenda. They warned that this trend could endanger the very survival of the ancient Christian presence in the Holy Land and the wider Middle East.
Christian Zionism is a religious and political movement, most widespread among evangelical communities in the United States, that strongly supports the State of Israel, linking its existence to biblical prophecy. Leaders of the Jerusalem churches have repeatedly stated that such interpretations contradict traditional Christian teaching and ignore the rights and lived reality of local Christians, the majority of whom are Palestinians.
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The Joy of Confession
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