All posts by Kameel Majdali

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Culture War Vocabulary Part 02

The culture war continues to rage. It is the cultural battle between the left-leaning progressives and traditional values conservatives. Abortion, same-sex marriage, global warming, identity politics, the environment, and much more form the landscape of the battle ground. What is at stake is nothing less than the survival of western civilisation as we know it.
This war is fought more by words than by weapons. Progressives have been very adept at using words to advance their cause. A good example of this was employing the term ‘marriage equality’ to promote the cause of same-sex marriage in the west. What catch phrase did the traditional marriage people have?
Semantics is about the ‘meaning of words’ and we need to use it properly in order to be understood. Sometimes, however, it can be used to mislead, or even to deceive.
Here are some interesting use of words:
•‘Undocumented workers’ is a progressive term, which can also mean ‘illegal alien’ to the conservative;
• 
•A ‘holiday tree’ is another name for Christmas tree;
•‘Happy holidays’ and ‘Compliments of the Season’ are meant to replace ‘Merry Christmas,’ so as not to offend non-Christians in the West (even though many non-Christians enjoy Christmas, in and out of the West.
•‘Reproductive rights’ is synonymous with abortion rights;
•Opposing a progressive in the White House in Washington, Number 10 Downing Street in London, the Lodge in Canberra, or other citadels of political power, is called ‘opposition;’
•Opposing a conservative in the citadels of power is called ‘resistance;’
•A person who wants to retain the traditional definition of marriage is called a ‘bigot,’ ‘hater,’ and/or ‘homophobe;’
•Accepting and supporting the left’s agenda is ‘tolerance;’
•Standing for traditional values is called ‘intolerance;’
•Opposing the agenda of a radical, identity-politics based group is called ‘racist;’
•Opposing the agenda of the new-fangled feminists is ‘sexist;’
•When you want lower taxes so as to keep more of the money you earn, that’s called ‘greed;’
•‘Climate change’ and ‘global warming’ are used as apocalyptic terms, demanding massive government intervention and wealth redistribution. Even to question the science on this matter, a person will be branded a ‘climate-change denier,’ which is highly pejorative;
•When workers are taxed to fund the entitlement of others, that is called ‘paying your fair share;’
•Paradoxically, in order to ‘celebrate diversity,’ progressives demand conformity;
•Any viewpoint that is non-progressive is called ‘hate speech;’
•Traditional justice is getting what you really deserve, reward or punishment, without fear or favour.
•Yet social justice is getting what you did not earn or do not deserve, and that can be a form of blatant favouritism.
Can you now see how manipulative and emotive these, and other terms, can be? No wonder people feel intimidated to speak out, even if they are fair-minded people with no malice in their hearts. They can be bullied and slandered for not towing the line. It is nothing short of character assassination and a vicious violation of the ninth of the Ten Commandments to ‘not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’
Such phrases as these, and more, repeated again and again, have the ability to change thinking, which can result in a changed culture. The unthinkable becomes eminently possible once the normal meaning of words are replaced with catchy, trendy, ‘feel good’ slogans.
This is so even if the new celebrated phrase is misleading, meaningless, or has no connection to reality. No wonder the major cultural organs of society like the media, academia, judiciary, and entertainment industry, have been dominated by the progressives, even though it has been clearly shown that the implementation of their agenda does not work.
Words matter.
What can we do? Ultimately, as we will see later, the backbone of the cultural war and the real opposing sides are not visible flesh and blood people but spiritual principalities, powers, and forces of darkness in high heavenly places (see Ephesians 6:12). The Marxist, feminist, Islamist, and wild-eyed far-left progressive may be antagonistic of your values and/or personhood, but they are not your real enemy. They are objects of God’s love and candidates for the gospel (and, thank God, some of them have responded).
So the impetus of the culture war is spiritual. Spiritual solutions are what are in order. We will learn more about these solutions in Part Four.
The Age of Fools
Ultimately, the manipulation of word meanings and the real legacy of the culture war has led us into a ‘strange age.’ This is where the normal, common-sense, Judeo-Christian values have been replaced with things that neither make sense or work. Consider the following:
•   Good is called evil and evil is called good;
•   The exception is the rule;
•   Fantasy is chosen over facts;
•   Rhetoric is deemed more valuable than reality;
•   Charisma is cherished more than character;
•   Style is preferred over substance;
•   Minority rules – and to hell with the welfare of the majority;
•   Individual rights trump community welfare;
•   The abnormal is declared normal and normal is treated like a disease;
•   Intolerance has now become the ‘new tolerance’ & classic tolerance is relegated to the museum;
•   Nonsense is now the new ‘common sense,’ while true ‘common sense’ has been beaten senseless, surviving on a life-support machine, and the knob is about to be turned off.
Had King Solomon, author of most of the Book of Proverbs, lived today, he might have had a different description for this era: the ‘Age of Fools.’ If this is the case – and the evidence seems clear – then we need to scurry back to a pathway of wisdom if we are going to have any hope of a decent future.
(The above article is taken from Today/Tomorrow by Kameel Majdali).

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Christianity and the Birth of the West Part II

European Chronicles Series
For the last half millennium, Europe has been the leading continent, colonial power, and trend-setter. From a non-Christian point of view, Europe is considered a ‘Christian continent.’ From a conservative, evangelical Christian view, Europe comes across as ‘post-Christian.’ Yet what do the Europeans think of themselves?
According to the respected Pew Research Centre, they project that in the years to come Europe will have fewer Christians and more Muslims and minorities. Yet, by 2050 it is estimated that 65% of Europeans will continue to identify themselves as ‘Christian,’ down from 75% of Europeans who call themselves ‘Christian’ in 2010. Sporting the label ‘Christian,’ however, does not necessarily mean they will be regular church attendees or devout in their faith.
While the Middle East, North Africa, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of SE Asia came under Islam, Europe and the western world it colonised identified as ‘Christian.’ These identities have persisted through the centuries. However, without question, Europe is at the crossroads spiritually. Which way will it go?
Will European Christianity persist in nominalism and tradition, devoid of a vital spiritual life, like a still-standing tree that died within? (Hint: It it does, Europe won’t last the distance).
Will Europe succumb to more robust ideologies or spiritualities that are not Christian? (Hint: If it does, it won’t be Europe as we know it).
Or, will Europe be visited with a renewal and revival that will restore it to its spiritual heritage?
Learning from the Past
It is impossible to know where you are going until you know from where you came. In the case of Europe, its history and heritage is colourful, deep, and rich. We have all benefited from it. Though we discussed European Christian history in the last article, a quick review is in order.
Christianity was born in ancient Israel in the first century AD. Since Europe is a neighbour to the Middle East, it received the gospel early. The ministry of Paul of Tarsus had a powerful imprint on Asia Minor and Europe. He was not alone in the apostolic ministry, however, and the Christian gospel made quick inroads all around the Mediterranean basin, including North Africa. The greatest theologian of antiquity, Augustine, was the bishop of Hippo in the fourth and fifth centuries AD, in what is now Algeria. The Christian conversion of Roman emperor Constantine and the legalisation of Christianity afterwards helped to institutionalise the faith.
The coming of Islam in the seventh century AD created a strong challenge for the Church. Its early growth was by military means and within a few short years the entire Middle East was under Muslim rule. Islam spread eastward towards India and westward across North Africa. The great Christian heritage in Africa was almost all but extinguished, with the exception of Egypt, which retained a Christian (mostly Coptic) majority until the 18th century. Crossing the straits of Gibraltar in 711 AD, Islam militarily took over Spain and by 732 AD it was knocking on the gates of Paris. However, the Muslim army apparently suffered its first defeat in the Battle of Tours/Poitiers. Ask any French student about the victor of Tours – Charles Martel (the hammer). Other attempts at major Islamic conquests including the failed Ottoman sieges of Vienna in 1529 and 1683, the latter being the most blood-filled siege in European history until Stalingrad in 1942. Except for the Ottoman occupation of the Balkan Peninsula, Europe remained predominantly Christian throughout the centuries.
Western Civilisation evolved during this period. It was linked to the profound Greco-Roman culture and mixed with Christianity. Unlike Judaism and Islam, which mostly shunned intellectual examination and inquiry, Christianity submitted itself to thorough investigation through hellenism and the classics. You can be sure that every word in the Bible has been scrutinised to the nth degree yet still stands as strong as it ever has.
In short, the West is held up by two massive pillars: the Greco-Roman culture and Judea-Christian theology and ethics. These two factors are what ‘make the West, West.’ The chemistry between these two pillars has been nothing short of electric. We are feeling the effects even to this day. From the West came the blossoming of the arts, culture, and philosophy in that period we know as the Renaissance, the ‘rebirth’ of Europe. Following this was the Protestant Reformation, which was a theological and social earthquake that brought Christianity back to its Biblical roots, and to the liberating truth of ‘justification by faith.’ The separation of Protestants from the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome was anything but peaceful – it was a messy and even violent divorce.
Then came the Enlightenment of the 18th Century, which was the natural result of both the Renaissance and Reformation. The key to understanding the Enlightenment was the use of human reason – to the point it was virtually deified in revolutionary France (1789). The thesis among Enlightenment scholars was that there is no problem on the planet that cannot be solved if human reason is given sufficient time and resource. This hypothesis runs contrary to the Bible, which teaches that human sin is the cause of all evil and cannot be remedied by reason. Only the gospel of Christ and His cross can do it.
For the leaders of the American colonies, some of them who were very astute in Biblical theology, they took the best of both worlds and fashioned the US Constitution, a grand experiment in self-government. The constitution was a contract of the American people with their government and themselves. It had a proper respect for human liberty and yet demanded the checks and balances, and separation of power necessary, to curb fallen humanity’s lust for power.
Out of all these things mentioned above spawned at least two industrial revolutions, a scientific revolution, and the flowering of liberal democracy. At the core of western legal jurisprudence was the ten commandments, found in Exodus 20. It is no coincidence that there has been a profound blessing on the West for its acknowledgement of these commandments, which represent the highest moral, ethical, and spiritual plain known to humanity. — TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Christianity and the Birth of the West Part II

European Chronicles Series
For the last half millennium, Europe has been the leading continent, colonial power, and trend-setter. From a non-Christian point of view, Europe is considered a ‘Christian continent.’ From a conservative, evangelical Christian view, Europe comes across as ‘post-Christian.’ Yet what do the Europeans think of themselves?
According to the respected Pew Research Centre, they project that in the years to come Europe will have fewer Christians and more Muslims and minorities. Yet, by 2050 it is estimated that 65% of Europeans will continue to identify themselves as ‘Christian,’ down from 75% of Europeans who call themselves ‘Christian’ in 2010. Sporting the label ‘Christian,’ however, does not necessarily mean they will be regular church attendees or devout in their faith.
While the Middle East, North Africa, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of SE Asia came under Islam, Europe and the western world it colonised identified as ‘Christian.’ These identities have persisted through the centuries. However, without question, Europe is at the crossroads spiritually. Which way will it go?
Will European Christianity persist in nominalism and tradition, devoid of a vital spiritual life, like a still-standing tree that died within? (Hint: It it does, Europe won’t last the distance).
Will Europe succumb to more robust ideologies or spiritualities that are not Christian? (Hint: If it does, it won’t be Europe as we know it).
Or, will Europe be visited with a renewal and revival that will restore it to its spiritual heritage?
Learning from the Past
It is impossible to know where you are going until you know from where you came. In the case of Europe, its history and heritage is colourful, deep, and rich. We have all benefited from it. Though we discussed European Christian history in the last article, a quick review is in order.
Christianity was born in ancient Israel in the first century AD. Since Europe is a neighbour to the Middle East, it received the gospel early. The ministry of Paul of Tarsus had a powerful imprint on Asia Minor and Europe. He was not alone in the apostolic ministry, however, and the Christian gospel made quick inroads all around the Mediterranean basin, including North Africa. The greatest theologian of antiquity, Augustine, was the bishop of Hippo in the fourth and fifth centuries AD, in what is now Algeria. The Christian conversion of Roman emperor Constantine and the legalisation of Christianity afterwards helped to institutionalise the faith.
The coming of Islam in the seventh century AD created a strong challenge for the Church. Its early growth was by military means and within a few short years the entire Middle East was under Muslim rule. Islam spread eastward towards India and westward across North Africa. The great Christian heritage in Africa was almost all but extinguished, with the exception of Egypt, which retained a Christian (mostly Coptic) majority until the 18th century. Crossing the straits of Gibraltar in 711 AD, Islam militarily took over Spain and by 732 AD it was knocking on the gates of Paris. However, the Muslim army apparently suffered its first defeat in the Battle of Tours/Poitiers. Ask any French student about the victor of Tours – Charles Martel (the hammer). Other attempts at major Islamic conquests including the failed Ottoman sieges of Vienna in 1529 and 1683, the latter being the most blood-filled siege in European history until Stalingrad in 1942. Except for the Ottoman occupation of the Balkan Peninsula, Europe remained predominantly Christian throughout the centuries.
Western Civilisation evolved during this period. It was linked to the profound Greco-Roman culture and mixed with Christianity. Unlike Judaism and Islam, which mostly shunned intellectual examination and inquiry, Christianity submitted itself to thorough investigation through hellenism and the classics. You can be sure that every word in the Bible has been scrutinised to the nth degree yet still stands as strong as it ever has.
In short, the West is held up by two massive pillars: the Greco-Roman culture and Judea-Christian theology and ethics. These two factors are what ‘make the West, West.’ The chemistry between these two pillars has been nothing short of electric. We are feeling the effects even to this day. From the West came the blossoming of the arts, culture, and philosophy in that period we know as the Renaissance, the ‘rebirth’ of Europe. Following this was the Protestant Reformation, which was a theological and social earthquake that brought Christianity back to its Biblical roots, and to the liberating truth of ‘justification by faith.’ The separation of Protestants from the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome was anything but peaceful – it was a messy and even violent divorce.
Then came the Enlightenment of the 18th Century, which was the natural result of both the Renaissance and Reformation. The key to understanding the Enlightenment was the use of human reason – to the point it was virtually deified in revolutionary France (1789). The thesis among Enlightenment scholars was that there is no problem on the planet that cannot be solved if human reason is given sufficient time and resource. This hypothesis runs contrary to the Bible, which teaches that human sin is the cause of all evil and cannot be remedied by reason. Only the gospel of Christ and His cross can do it.
For the leaders of the American colonies, some of them who were very astute in Biblical theology, they took the best of both worlds and fashioned the US Constitution, a grand experiment in self-government. The constitution was a contract of the American people with their government and themselves. It had a proper respect for human liberty and yet demanded the checks and balances, and separation of power necessary, to curb fallen humanity’s lust for power.
Out of all these things mentioned above spawned at least two industrial revolutions, a scientific revolution, and the flowering of liberal democracy. At the core of western legal jurisprudence was the ten commandments, found in Exodus 20. It is no coincidence that there has been a profound blessing on the West for its acknowledgement of these commandments, which represent the highest moral, ethical, and spiritual plain known to humanity. — TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Evangelism, Mission, Prayer, Prophecy, Teaching

HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5

In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1.      Glory to God;
2.      Edification;
3.      Holiness;
4.      Evangelism;
5.      Discipleship;
6.      Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§  1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§  2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§  3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§  4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§  5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§   
§  6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§  If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§  But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1.    CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2.    CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3.    COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10


Articles, Education, Evangelism, Mission, Prayer, Prophecy, Teaching

HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5

In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1.      Glory to God;
2.      Edification;
3.      Holiness;
4.      Evangelism;
5.      Discipleship;
6.      Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§  1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§  2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§  3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§  4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§  5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§   
§  6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§  If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§  But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1.    CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2.    CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3.    COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10


Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Jerusalem: Magnet for Christian Visits Part 01

We are all familiar with the 1967 Six Day War in Jerusalem and what transpired. Jerusalem was partitioned between Israel and Jordan after the 1948 War. Then came the Six Day War and Israel captured the Jordanian sector. This included the historic and sacred walled Old City and the Mount of Olives. Many of the Biblical sites are located in these places. At the end of June 1967 Israeli law was applied to eastern Jerusalem, meaning it was annexed to the Jewish state. Then in 1980, the Basic Law of Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel was passed by the parliament, the Knesset.
All of this is well known.
Yet, what is overlooked is that there was a gradual change in a age-old phenomena called Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Like a flowing river, foreign Christians have been coming to the holy city almost from the very beginning of the church age. After 1967, the demographics and numbers of pilgrims would change, slowly but surely.
The first bona fide known Christian visitor who left a record of his journey was Melito of Sardis in the second century AD. Then the Christianisation of the Roman Empire and of Jerusalem caused a spike in visits, starting in the 4th Century AD. At that time Jerusalem went from being a heathen city called Aelia Capitolina to a Christian holy city. Famous pilgrims of that period included Egeria and the anonymous pilgrim of Bordeaux.
Throughout the later centuries the ‘river of Christian pilgrimage’ continued to flow, regardless of who was in charge at the time and despite the risks. . Since the fall of the second temple in 70 AD, Jerusalem has been occupied by the Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs, Fatimids (Egypt), Seljuk Turks, Christian Crusaders, Ayyubids, Mamluks (Egypt), Ottomans (Turkey), British, and Jordanians. Since Israel took firm control of Jerusalem, what happened to the ‘river?’ This series will address that question.
Long before the advent of modern international ‘mass tourism,’ religious pilgrimage has been one of the prime motives for travel. This is especially true of the Middle East and the Bible lands, which are at the historic centre of monotheism.
By international standards, tourist arrivals to Israel are still modest, for example, 2.9 million arrivals in 2016, contrasted with 8.3 million in ‘far-away Australia,’ 30.3 million to Turkey, and a whopping 82.6 million to France (the USA had 75.6 million arrivals). Yet, there is evidence that numbers will continue to grow for Israel and the neighbouring countries, in part because of the thriving tourist industry working in tandem with a growing global spiritual awakening.
Some issues we want to explore is in this series of articles include: how have Christian visits to Jerusalem changed since the 1967 war? What do we mean by ‘pilgrim’ and ‘pilgrimage,’ especially contrasting it with ‘tourism?’ And are Christian visitors to Jerusalem and Israel ‘pilgrims’ or ‘tourists’ or both?
Why Do Christians Visit Jerusalem?
Christians have been interested in visiting Jerusalem since the First Century AD. This is somewhat remarkable considering the apparent trend towards ‘de-territorialisation’ found in the New Testament and patristic writings. In the Old Testament, the men of Israel were commanded to appear before the LORD three times a year for the pilgrimage feasts of Passover (Feast of Unleavened Bread), Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), and Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Yet, Jesus Christ in the New Testament says:
…the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the      Father…God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth  — John 4:21, 24 (KJV)
In other words,Now, the Lord says it does not matter where you worship God, only how.
Unlike Old Testament Judaism or Islam, there are no divine or apostolic commands that Christians must visit Jerusalem or holy sites. Like the patriarchs, Christians look for another city, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16). The earthly Jerusalem is in bondage to her children but the heavenly Jerusalem is free and mother of us all (Galatians 4 :25-26). Historically Christian rule over Jerusalem constituted less than 17% of the city’s history since the time of Christ two thousand years ago.
Despite these factors, many Christians are interested in visiting Jerusalem and the Holy Land (of all Christians who visit Israel, especially on a first visit, 99% will visit Jerusalem)? Why do a growing number of modern Christians travel to the Middle East  –  considered a war zone – and visit the city many consider the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict?
Theology provides the most important reason. Jerusalem is the stage for redemption in Christ, where His suffering and death took place (Luke 18:31-33). The major events of Christ’s passion occurred here. Biblical eschatology plays a significant role in the attitude of many Christians toward Jerusalem. There are great similarities between classic Jewish eschatology and Christian eschatology, except that the Christian sees the coming of the Messiah as the Second Coming of Christ, with Jerusalem as the ultimate destination. For Christians the Holy City serves as the setting for the foundational events of the faith and the intersection of heaven and earth, temporal and eternal, carnal and spiritual.
Add to this the fact that there is 2,000 year old historical association between the Church and the Holy City. This is not to suggest that every Christian has a burning passion to visit Jerusalem, but the many who do visit come from a variety of denominational and theological perspectives. To be continued.
Kameel Majdali is Director of Teach All Nations (tan.org.au), an international Bible teacher, and has led 37 Bible land tours. His PhD from Melbourne University was about this very topic. He has written 11 books, including: Melbourne to Jerusalem: A Pilgrim’s Progress in the 21st Century. For more information about upcoming tours, log onto https://www.tan.org.au/services/guided-tours/

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Jerusalem: Magnet for Christian Visits Part 01

We are all familiar with the 1967 Six Day War in Jerusalem and what transpired. Jerusalem was partitioned between Israel and Jordan after the 1948 War. Then came the Six Day War and Israel captured the Jordanian sector. This included the historic and sacred walled Old City and the Mount of Olives. Many of the Biblical sites are located in these places. At the end of June 1967 Israeli law was applied to eastern Jerusalem, meaning it was annexed to the Jewish state. Then in 1980, the Basic Law of Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel was passed by the parliament, the Knesset.
All of this is well known.
Yet, what is overlooked is that there was a gradual change in a age-old phenomena called Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Like a flowing river, foreign Christians have been coming to the holy city almost from the very beginning of the church age. After 1967, the demographics and numbers of pilgrims would change, slowly but surely.
The first bona fide known Christian visitor who left a record of his journey was Melito of Sardis in the second century AD. Then the Christianisation of the Roman Empire and of Jerusalem caused a spike in visits, starting in the 4th Century AD. At that time Jerusalem went from being a heathen city called Aelia Capitolina to a Christian holy city. Famous pilgrims of that period included Egeria and the anonymous pilgrim of Bordeaux.
Throughout the later centuries the ‘river of Christian pilgrimage’ continued to flow, regardless of who was in charge at the time and despite the risks. . Since the fall of the second temple in 70 AD, Jerusalem has been occupied by the Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs, Fatimids (Egypt), Seljuk Turks, Christian Crusaders, Ayyubids, Mamluks (Egypt), Ottomans (Turkey), British, and Jordanians. Since Israel took firm control of Jerusalem, what happened to the ‘river?’ This series will address that question.
Long before the advent of modern international ‘mass tourism,’ religious pilgrimage has been one of the prime motives for travel. This is especially true of the Middle East and the Bible lands, which are at the historic centre of monotheism.
By international standards, tourist arrivals to Israel are still modest, for example, 2.9 million arrivals in 2016, contrasted with 8.3 million in ‘far-away Australia,’ 30.3 million to Turkey, and a whopping 82.6 million to France (the USA had 75.6 million arrivals). Yet, there is evidence that numbers will continue to grow for Israel and the neighbouring countries, in part because of the thriving tourist industry working in tandem with a growing global spiritual awakening.
Some issues we want to explore is in this series of articles include: how have Christian visits to Jerusalem changed since the 1967 war? What do we mean by ‘pilgrim’ and ‘pilgrimage,’ especially contrasting it with ‘tourism?’ And are Christian visitors to Jerusalem and Israel ‘pilgrims’ or ‘tourists’ or both?
Why Do Christians Visit Jerusalem?
Christians have been interested in visiting Jerusalem since the First Century AD. This is somewhat remarkable considering the apparent trend towards ‘de-territorialisation’ found in the New Testament and patristic writings. In the Old Testament, the men of Israel were commanded to appear before the LORD three times a year for the pilgrimage feasts of Passover (Feast of Unleavened Bread), Pentecost (Feast of Weeks), and Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16).
Yet, Jesus Christ in the New Testament says:
…the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the      Father…God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth  — John 4:21, 24 (KJV)
In other words,Now, the Lord says it does not matter where you worship God, only how.
Unlike Old Testament Judaism or Islam, there are no divine or apostolic commands that Christians must visit Jerusalem or holy sites. Like the patriarchs, Christians look for another city, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16). The earthly Jerusalem is in bondage to her children but the heavenly Jerusalem is free and mother of us all (Galatians 4 :25-26). Historically Christian rule over Jerusalem constituted less than 17% of the city’s history since the time of Christ two thousand years ago.
Despite these factors, many Christians are interested in visiting Jerusalem and the Holy Land (of all Christians who visit Israel, especially on a first visit, 99% will visit Jerusalem)? Why do a growing number of modern Christians travel to the Middle East  –  considered a war zone – and visit the city many consider the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict?
Theology provides the most important reason. Jerusalem is the stage for redemption in Christ, where His suffering and death took place (Luke 18:31-33). The major events of Christ’s passion occurred here. Biblical eschatology plays a significant role in the attitude of many Christians toward Jerusalem. There are great similarities between classic Jewish eschatology and Christian eschatology, except that the Christian sees the coming of the Messiah as the Second Coming of Christ, with Jerusalem as the ultimate destination. For Christians the Holy City serves as the setting for the foundational events of the faith and the intersection of heaven and earth, temporal and eternal, carnal and spiritual.
Add to this the fact that there is 2,000 year old historical association between the Church and the Holy City. This is not to suggest that every Christian has a burning passion to visit Jerusalem, but the many who do visit come from a variety of denominational and theological perspectives. To be continued.
Kameel Majdali is Director of Teach All Nations (tan.org.au), an international Bible teacher, and has led 37 Bible land tours. His PhD from Melbourne University was about this very topic. He has written 11 books, including: Melbourne to Jerusalem: A Pilgrim’s Progress in the 21st Century. For more information about upcoming tours, log onto https://www.tan.org.au/services/guided-tours/

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

RECIPE CORNER: Tortilla Soup

Easy to make, tasty, and something different. This soup combines chicken, vegetables, and a great flavour. It is a meal in a bowl.










            Ingredients
            2 skinless cubed chicken breasts
            1/2 teaspoon olive oil
            1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
            1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
            1 litre of chicken stock
            1 cup frozen corn kernels
            1 cup onions, finely chopped
            1 cup finely diced capsicum (any colour)
            1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
            1 tablespoon lemon juice
            1 cup chunky salsa
            250g corn tortilla chips
            1/2 cup shredded cheese (optional)
            1/2 sour cream (optional)
            Sliced avocado (optional)
Instructions
1.       Using a large pot, cook chicken over medium heat in the olive oil for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Mix cumin and garlic into the cooked chicken. Then add the stock, corn, onion, capsicum, chilli power, lemon juice and salsa. Simmer uncovered over a low heat for up to minutes.
2.       Take the tortilla chips and break into the soup bowls. Pour the soup into the bowls. Top with shredded cheese and/or sour cream and/or avocado. Enjoy.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

RECIPE CORNER: Tortilla Soup

Easy to make, tasty, and something different. This soup combines chicken, vegetables, and a great flavour. It is a meal in a bowl.










            Ingredients
            2 skinless cubed chicken breasts
            1/2 teaspoon olive oil
            1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
            1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
            1 litre of chicken stock
            1 cup frozen corn kernels
            1 cup onions, finely chopped
            1 cup finely diced capsicum (any colour)
            1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
            1 tablespoon lemon juice
            1 cup chunky salsa
            250g corn tortilla chips
            1/2 cup shredded cheese (optional)
            1/2 sour cream (optional)
            Sliced avocado (optional)
Instructions
1.       Using a large pot, cook chicken over medium heat in the olive oil for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Mix cumin and garlic into the cooked chicken. Then add the stock, corn, onion, capsicum, chilli power, lemon juice and salsa. Simmer uncovered over a low heat for up to minutes.
2.       Take the tortilla chips and break into the soup bowls. Pour the soup into the bowls. Top with shredded cheese and/or sour cream and/or avocado. Enjoy.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

President Trump & the Iran Nuclear Deal

It should have come as no surprise. On Tuesday 8 May 2018, United States President Donald Trump made the grand announcement – that the United States was withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. He promised to do so during his 2016 Presidential campaign. He repeatedly made noises about this nuclear deal as being the ‘worst deal’ he has ever seen. So Mr. Trump has kept his campaign promise. What, however, does this mean for the world? Is it good news, bad news, or both?
For years, the world has looked with great concern as Iran pursued nuclear power, which, it consistently proclaimed was only for peaceful purposes. Why did a nation with 10% of the world’s oil and the 2nd largest gas reserves need to go nuclear? The Islamic Republic has a well-known habit of proclaiming ‘death’ to America. They predict that Israel will ‘disappear’ within 25 years. Why was Iran developing ballistic missiles that were able to reach all of the Middle East and much of Europe?
Despite the regime’s declared peaceful intentions, the world community obviously did not believe them: hence, heavy sanctions were levied by the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union. All these sanctions had a debilitating effect on Iran’s economy.
Under former US President Barack Obama, the US, the European Union, Germany and the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, China, France, United Kingdom) negotiated with Iran to forge a nuclear agreement. The idea was that Iran would receive sanction-relief in exchange for strict limitations on its nuclear program. The goal: to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The parties did come to an agreement on 14 July 2015 and the Iran nuclear agreement became known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It has been operative ever since and Iran has allegedly been in compliance with the terms of the agreement. In exchange, it has received $100 billion dollars or more, along with full oil exports, all of which helped its moribund economy
So practically speaking, what did President Trump’s announcement actually do? He did not end the JCPOA – he merely withdrew American participation in it. It is no longer US foreign policy. The other signatories are free to abide by it and the UK was one of the first to say that it would.
No question, Mr. Trump’s action would be controversial. It is also unilateral, not multi-lateral, since the other parties are still technically on board with the JCPOA. In theory, it could make the instability in the Middle East even more so. However, here are some things to consider.
Sunset Clause: The JCPOA in theory does not stop Iran from gaining a nuclear weapons capability; it merely slows it down. Within 10-15 years, the major restrictions on Iran will be lifted, thus allowing them to freely continue research and development, enrich uranium, and use advanced centrifuges. For agreeing to apply some brakes on their nuclear program, Iran received billions which have clearly gone to funnel militant groups. While Iran is to permanently renounce any pursuit of nuclear weapons, it has no legal impediment to do so after the restrictions expire.
Increased unrest: Since JCPOA, Iran-inspired unrest has increased in the Middle East. Hizballah, Iran’s proxy, has effectively taken over Lebanon. Iran has raised up its own army in Syria, where the slaughter has grown. Hamas in Gaza is being rearmed. Houthi rebels in Yemen have been armed by Iran with missiles, which have been fired into Saudi Arabia.
Non-transparency: Iran appears to have complied with the terms of the agreement. Or have they? Was not part of the deal that Iran would to be 100% transparent in regards to its nuclear history? They said that they have never sought to pursue nuclear weapons, while the recent evidence says otherwise. This is especially the case where Israel’s secret service, the Mossad, stole 1000s of pages of nuclear files from a secret storage facility in Tehran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then made a public presentation around these documents, which tell a different story to the official Iranian position.
Missiles: Iran’s pursuit of long-range ballistic missiles should be a concern for the Middle East and Europe. These are not even covered by the JCPOA. Even without nuclear weapons, these missiles can carry deadly payloads.
Legality: Normally a treaty has to be approved by 60 senators in the US Senate. This was not the case with JCPOA. In fact, symbolically 60% of all congressmen and senators voted against the agreement, including well-known left-wing Democratic allies of Obama. So it is safe to say that the agreement was never constitutionally ratified by the approval of 60 senators and therefore of dubious legality.
What next? Technically speaking, the JCPOA continues, minus the United States. The US will reimpose sanctions within 90 days. Iran has warned the US that it will ‘regret’ its move, while the US has told Iran it must not attack the US, or else face the dire consequences. Iranian parliamentarians have burned a US flag inside the parliament building (and were asked not to burn down the parliament building in the process). The other parties can continue on but without America. Israel, of course, is pleased about America’s withdrawal from JCPOA; so are Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. These nations see a potential Iranian nuclear weapon as much a mortal threat to them as does the Jewish state.
Iran has been successful in its goal of building a ‘Shia Crescent’ from Iraq to Syria to Lebanon (Persian Gulf to Mediterranean). However, the economy is weak, there have been robust domestic protests against the regime, it is spread thin in Syria, and faces a potential military encounter with Israel.
Iranian leadership is highly pragmatic and this may prevent extreme measures. So either Iran will submit to a North Korean-style rapprochement with America and the West, or it could lead to more trouble for the regime. We will know soon.