Christians and Jews are both in the firing line.

With residents of Israel bombarded by 700 rockets last weekend, it’s something of an understatement to say the Jewish nation is under fire.

Fortunately, decisive words and action – in marked contrast to what we are witnessing in Britain – led to a ceasefire as Hamas terrorists backed down in the face of an ultimatum from Benjamin Netanyahu. He warned them that if they didn’t drop their weapons forthwith, Israel would annex Gaza and drive them out forever.

Israel has long since learnt that they cannot fully rely on the support of their allies, and are thus prepared to take tough action when necessary.

British Betrayal

The British Parliament, now in complete disarray over our future in Europe, made a decision 80 years ago on 23 May 1939 which effectively sent thousands of Jews to certain death.

Capitulating to Arab opposition, a White Paper was passed on that day severely restricting entry to Palestine (then under Britain’s mandate) of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. It was a shocking betrayal of our pledge to prepare a home for Jewish people to live in safety.

The British Betrayed

It is significant that this anniversary coincides with the European elections, which we should never have needed to contest three years after a majority 17.4 million of our citizens voted to leave the EU.

"The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head"

Following the shameful betrayal of the Jewish people 80 years ago, the British people themselves are now feeling betrayed by the same Parliament. Is there perhaps a connection? The word of God says: “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head" (Ob 15).

19^th-Century Britain

There was a day, in 19^th-Century Britain, when we acted more decisively and with greater honour and compassion, as viewers of the hit ITV series Victoria would have observed last Sunday night.¹

In 1850, Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston actually ordered a naval blockade in response to an Easter anti-Semitic outrage in Athens involving a British subject. Gibraltar-born Jew Don Pacifico and his family were viciously attacked by a mob after the Greek government banned the traditional burning of an effigy of Judas Iscariot in apparent deference to a wealthy British Jew, Lord Rothschild, who was in the country to discuss offering a loan.

There was a day when Britain acted more decisively and with greater honour and compassion.

Pacifico, a former Portuguese consul-general, was targeted in his capacity as de-facto leader of the city’s Jewish community. Palmerston was also a key figure in early political moves designed to facilitate the restoration of Israel.

Persecution of Christians in the UK

Tragically, it seems that, to some degree, Britain is now playing the role of Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, turning on their own Christians in a bid to silence those holding to the truth of the gospel and the commandments of God which have been recklessly jettisoned by successive governments.

I believe there is a sense in which God is speaking to both Christians and Jews, telling us we’re in this together. After all, we both worship the God of Israel, which is surely why both groups are being so fiercely persecuted worldwide.

There is a sense in which God is speaking to both Christians and Jews, telling us we’re in this together.

The Relationship Between Christians and the Jewish People

The church needs to understand that the Jews brought us the gospel (along with the Bible, the law, the prophets, the patriarchs, and our Lord himself). We owe it to them to offer help in their time of need (Rom 15:27). At the same time, however, Jews must understand that Jesus is their Messiah – Gentiles are even called to tell them so by declaring: “Your God reigns!” (Isa 52:7).

Praise God, many are responding, though others are clearly offended. But the gospel has always been an offence (Gal 5:11). And we must tell them – it’s a way of saying thank you, just as many grateful Africans have come over to Britain to thank us for our faithful forefathers who took the gospel to their countries, often sacrificing their lives in the process. These Nigerians, Zambians, Zimbabweans and others are now living among us, preaching with passion the message we have largely discarded, acting as lighthouses to a rudderless society in danger of shipwreck.

Worldwide Persecution

That we are in this together was brought home most forcibly through Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday terror attacks. Though the targets of the atrocity were the Christians, two of the eight British citizens killed by the bombs were Jews – siblings Amelie and Daniel Linsey, members of the synagogue of which Lord Leigh of Hurley is president. He said: “They shared the same classes as my children.”²

Shechem (also known as Nablus) in Samaria, some miles north of where the Jifnah attack took place. Both Christians and Jews are targeted in Israel / See Photo Credits

In territory run by the Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, Christian residents of the town of Jifnah were attacked by (ruling party) Fatah activists after a local woman complained to the police about the son of a senior Fatah official. The violent incident included shooting.³

In spite of what I said about Britain turning on their own Christians, I am pleased to say that the plight of persecuted Christians abroad has at last been acknowledged by the Government, thanks to a report commissioned by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who has already opened the way towards further reconciliation with the Jewish community by apologising for the White Paper mentioned earlier.

Mr Hunt, reported to be a committed Christian, said Christians are enduring what amounts to genocide in some parts of the world and were being driven out of the Middle East in a modern-day exodus. And he blamed political correctness – particularly a “misplaced worry” that it would be interpreted as “colonialist” – for failing to confront the issue.⁴

The plight of persecuted Christians abroad has at last been acknowledged by the Government.

His report found 245 million Christians spread across 50 countries now suffer high levels of persecution. So it seems that as Jews migrate to Israel, now home to nearly seven million sons and daughters of Abraham, Christians in neighbouring countries are being uprooted and forced in the opposite direction.

We must stand together with our brothers in the ancient faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and be a blessing to one another. Their deed to the land is, primarily, in the Bible (Gen 17:7f). And our right to inheritance in the faith of Abraham is also in the Bible (Rom 4:16f).

References

1. The incident and its repercussions were featured in last Sunday’s episode of the series on the life of the young Queen.

2. Two Jewish siblings among victims of Sri Lanka attacks. The Jerusalem Post, 24 April 2019.

3. Christians Violently Attacked by Palestinian Forces, Forced to Pay Special ‘Tax’. United with Israel, 29 April 2019.

4. Persecution of Christians is modern-day 'genocide' says report. Daily Mail, 3 May 2019.

But we know Someone who holds the future in his hands!

With the climate change protesters bringing London to a standstill in a bid to save the planet, and despairing Brexiteers having virtually given up hope of saving the kingdom from European predators, is there any future for us?

Yes, assuredly so, if we look to the rock from which we were hewn (Isa 51:1); to the One from Israel who brought us salvation. Jesus is doing a new thing in the land that gave him birth, and it carries a message of peace for us all.

What? Peace! You’re telling me Israel has a lesson of peace for us with all the bloodshed that is being spilled in the Middle East? Bear with me.

The ‘Peace Process’

As many in the UK have had their fill of squabbling politicians, so in Israel talk of peace is being treated with contempt. After decades of negotiations surrounding the ‘peace process’, most Israelis realise that they have no genuine partner with whom to make peace – and no longer believe peace is possible.¹

But there is a peace being enacted right before their eyes in the form of believers in Yeshua (Jesus) – both Jew and Arab – embracing one another out of a common love for the Jewish Messiah.

Congregations of such believers are meeting all over the land where Jesus once walked, and have become the ‘one new man’ referred to by the Apostle Paul in a letter to the early Christians, thus:

“For he himself [Christ] is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” (Eph 2:14)

There is a peace being enacted right before their eyes in the form of believers in Yeshua – both Jew and Arab – embracing one another out of a common love for the Jewish Messiah.

One New Man

When Jesus died on the cross, he broke “the dividing wall of hostility” between man and God, and between Jew and Gentile. The barrier has been well and truly smashed, and I have witnessed the beautiful reality of this on several occasions, both in Israel and in Britain.

I have also just written of an Arab woman brought up to hate the Jews who, since finding freedom in Jesus, says: “I love the Jewish people because it is their God and their Messiah I’m following and he told me to love them.”²

When Moses was about to lead the Israelites through the Red Sea, he told them: “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation [literally Yeshua] of the Lord [Yahweh].” ‘Yeshua’ (Jesus) means salvation; it still does, and it’s where true peace has been won!

Hypocrisy and Appeasement

Instead of peace, however, many people – even in Israel – are being taken in by hypocrisy. Speaking of discriminatory apartheid-type laws denying basic rights to Palestinians in Lebanon, Israeli Arab journalist, lecturer and film-maker Khaled Abu Toameh writes:

Palestinian leaders do not seem to care about the suffering of their people at the hands of Arabs. Yet these same leaders are quick to condemn Israel on almost every occasion and available platform.³

And Bassam Tawil of the Gatestone Institute points out that payments to terrorists and their families lie at the heart of Palestinian incitement to terror that drives the conflict there. For they are entitled to full salaries that are denied to others!⁴

Here in Britain, meanwhile, we are suffering the effects of political appeasers kowtowing to a godless empire supposedly set up to ensure lasting peace in Europe, when they ought to be defending our democracy, decency and sovereignty, as Churchill would have done.

Plumbing the depths of insanity, they have the gall to push ahead with an election to this body - three years after the public voted to leave it, and at a colossal cost of £100 million+.

When Jesus died on the cross, he broke “the dividing wall of hostility” between man and God, and between Jew and Gentile.

A Political Circus

This is surely a political circus led by clowns – a humiliating, soft-touch approach. No wonder that climate change ‘warriors’ have been so easily able to exploit this time of political weakness, grabbing the headlines to have their say on an issue no-one (but God) can do anything about.

The Bible tells us that “the earth will wear out like a garment” (Isa 51:6) and that the real Saviour of our planet, the Lord Jesus Christ, will one day usher in a new Heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1).

Meanwhile these anarchists are putting the country in grave danger of a terrorist strike as police resources are diverted elsewhere and more than a thousand arrests are made.

Writing this on ANZAC Day, when Australia and New Zealand remember the bravery of their soldiers in past conflicts, I conclude with the hope that sanity will prevail and we return as a nation to battles that are really worth fighting.

References

1 David Soakell, Christian Friends of Israel’s Watching Over Zion newsletter, 25 April 2019.

2 News & Views, newsletter of CMJ Israel. Testimony also available on YouTube courtesy of One for Israel.

3 David Soakell, 25 April 2019.

4 Ibid.

It’s time to nail our colours to the mast

As we sail into stormy seas over Brexit, it’s time for both Church and state to nail their colours to the mast – over their stand with Israel in particular, and with biblical truth in general.

We have seriously lost our way, thanks to little political co-ordination and much confusion. What we really need is a heavenly compass. Have our politicians asked God for directions? Has the Church made its position clear? Most importantly, whose side are we on?

Anchor for the Soul

In 1947, the United Nations voted – by the required two-thirds majority – to recognise a reborn Jewish state. But Britain, badly bruised by her shambolic oversight of the region she was charged to prepare for this purpose, abstained in the vote and has been reeling from the blow of betraying God’s chosen people ever since.

Another key moment was the bold step taken more recently by President Trump in recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. But none of the major powers have yet followed his lead, preferring instead to seek appeasement with Israel’s enemies, which is one reason Europe is in crisis.

In the midst of the turbulence in Parliament over the prospect of a future outside of Europe, our only hope of steadying the ship of state is in returning to the Judeo-Christian values espoused by the Bible-believing MPs from Northern Ireland, who currently hold the balance of power. And as a further acknowledgement of the God of Israel, and the source of Western civilisation, we need to start seriously standing with the Jews.

Our only hope of steadying the ship of state is in returning to Judeo-Christian values and standing with the Jews.

Do Everything in Your Power

When, during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Israel came perilously close to defeat, Prime Minister Golda Meir appealed to President Nixon for help, and his response in sending reinforcements saved the day – and Israel!

Years later Nixon said: “When she was talking [on the phone], I could hear my mother reading stories from the Old Testament to me when I was a boy.”

He recalled one thing in particular. “I could hear her tell me: ‘One day Richard, you will be in a situation where the Jewish people will need your help. When that day comes, do everything in your power to help them.’ It confirmed all my instincts and I knew I had to act. I suddenly realised why I had become President of the United States. It was the moment I had to do what I had to do.”¹

With a legacy blighted by the Watergate scandal, which saw him authorise illegal activities in pursuit of being re-elected, I guess few people realise the crucial part he played in Israel’s preservation.

Call to Churches

In righting wrongs of past sins committed against Israel, Britain’s Tory Government has made a start with an apology of sorts for restricting immigration to the Holy Land for Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe.

Yet in some respects things have worsened, with the opposition gaining in the polls in spite of being plagued by anti-Semitism, while both the South African and Irish governments have made their anti-Zionist feelings known.

In light of this and especially of the threat posed by Iran, Christians United for Israel UK is calling on churches to stand with Israel as corporate institutions, rather than leaving it to individuals and para-church organisations.

Confidence in the Gospel

The Church as a whole, meanwhile, badly needs to recover confidence in the power of the Gospel. This was brought home to me forcefully as I watched Scotland make what one pundit called a ‘miraculous’ comeback against England in last Saturday’s Six Nations rugby test match at Twickenham.

Down 31-0 in as many minutes, they were facing a humiliating slaughter, but came right back with a brilliant second-half display to lead 38-31, before the hosts tied the match by scoring under the posts deep into injury time.

It reminded me of David and Goliath, especially after picking up a 4oz weight from a display of vintage balance scales in a café that same morning. On being surprised at how heavy it felt, I understood how the Philistine giant failed to survive the shepherd’s lethal slingshot.

The Church as a whole badly needs to recover confidence in the power of the Gospel.

The comparison was complete when I realised that Scotland had scored five tries – all converted – plus a penalty, whereas the young David had picked up five smooth stones for his fight. But he only needed one!

The Sea of Galilee, where Jesus calmed the storm with a word. Photo by Charles Gardner.The weapon we have been given is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph 6:17), while our power is the Gospel, which is “the power of God that brings salvation to all who believe: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Rom 1:16).

Jesus made it clear that if we fail to publicly acknowledge him, he will disown us (Matt 10:32f). Speaking of the signs of his imminent return, he said it would be a time when his disciples will be hated and when many will turn away amid much deception and wickedness. But he who stands firm to the end will be saved - and the Gospel will be preached to the whole world in preparation for his return (Matt 24:9-14).

Opportunities Ahead

So, in the midst of the great trials ahead, Gospel opportunities will come – perhaps as never before – as spiritually hungry people seek solace and comfort. Amidst the hardship, there will be a harvest.

As the tempest rages, remember that Jesus is the one who calmed the storm on Galilee!

References

1 Davies, P, 2018. The Miracle that is Israel. True Vine Media Limited.

We must return to our roots – Labour PM Harold Wilson was devoted to the Jewish cause

I confess that the article I am about to write was initially intended only to address the important issue of roots – both of Christianity and of Western civilisation as a whole.

But I have been somewhat diverted along a different route, which I shall explain. So stay with me as I will eventually return to the roots of my story.

Labour’s History

In looking up a verse from Isaiah, where he refers to the “root of Jesse” (one of many prophecies of the coming Messiah, Jesus), I was reminded¹ of the fact that former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson had made much of a text from this passage in support of his Zionist views, spelt out in his book The Chariot of Israel² and clearly inspired by his strong Christian faith (I am reliably informed that both Harold and his wife Mary were Bible-believing Congregationalists, to which he also owed his brand of Christian socialism).

The text in question, Isaiah 11:11, refers to a second return of Jewish exiles,³ which trumps the notion that such prophecies were all fulfilled with the return from Babylon so that modern Israel has no right to their ancient land today.

I believe this is very significant in light of the ongoing controversy over rising anti-Semitism within the Labour Party, of which Wilson was a long-time leader and the only occupant of No. 10 Downing Street to have won four general elections.

By contrast, current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has openly embraced those who wish to destroy Israel.

Current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has openly embraced those who wish to destroy Israel.

Our Godly Heritage

Writing for the Jewish Chronicle on the 50^th anniversary of Wilson’s first election victory,⁴ Robert Philpot dubbed him “the forgotten friend of Israel” who sprang to her aid in 1967 and 1973 and whose first overseas visit after leaving office in 1976 was to Israel, where he received an honorary doctorate and inspected a forest near Nazareth that had been named after him!

In Parliament he described the Jewish state “by any test…the only democracy in [the] region” and his book was described by his Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer Roy Jenkins as “one of the most strongly Zionist tracts ever written by a non-Jew”.

Tragically, however, his devotion to the cause of Israel contrasts sharply with today’s Labour left from whose ranks he originally hailed.⁵

Which takes me back to my starting point, for the survival of our Judeo-Christian civilisation will depend entirely on whether we remain connected to our biblical roots. If we cut ourselves off from our godly heritage, the ‘sap’ that gives us life, direction and purpose will no longer flow, with the result that our culture will wither and die like a tree pulled from the ground.

Gentiles Grafted In

Though some of the UK has just been blanketed in snow, nevertheless it’s that time of year when we begin to witness the shoots that produce flowers like snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils pointing the way to another springtime. These beauties come from roots (or bulbs) buried in the ground for many months.

Christianity was the new spring in the purposes of God that emerged from the roots of Judaism. According to St Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians, who had to be reminded that God was not finished with his chosen people, Gentile believers “now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root [of Israel]…You do not support the root, but the root supports you,” he thundered (Rom 11:17f).

If we cut ourselves off from our godly roots, the ‘sap’ that gives us life, direction and purpose will no longer flow, and our culture will wither and die like a tree pulled from the ground.

This should encourage us to put our trust squarely in the God of Israel, and his Son, the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David” (Rev 5:5), also prophesied by Isaiah as “the root of Jesse” (Isa 11:10) who will draw the nations (Gentiles) to himself.

In this respect it is also significant that there is a strain of Gentile ‘blood’⁶ in Jesus, through his ancestor Ruth, the Moabitess, King David’s great-grandmother, a wonderful woman of virtue who threw in her lot with her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi.

Spring is Coming

Still on this theme, Isaiah’s discussion of roots is related to a springtime for the nation of Israel that surely speaks of today, with its reference to a second return from exile, this time not just from Babylon but “from the four quarters of the earth” (Isa 11:11f) including “the islands of the sea” considered by some theologians to refer to the British Isles.

This passage also speaks of a coming millennial age of perfect peace when “the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together…They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:6, 9).

As for Israel, the Lord speaks emphatically of final restoration through the Prophet Amos, concluding with the words: “I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted…” (Amos 9:15).

References

1 See Defending Christian Zionism by David Pawson (Terra Nova Publications, 2008), p104.

2 Ibid.

3 The text begins: “In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people…”

4 Wilson, true friend of Israel. The Jewish Chronicle, 27 October 2014.

5 It is only fair to record that after chairing the debate in Parliament to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (January 27), my own MP, Dame Rosie Winterton (Labour, Doncaster Central) said: “It is shocking that many British Jews are considering leaving this country…We must support those in our community who feel threatened. This means tackling and condemning anti-Semitism wherever we find it, including in the Labour Party.”

6 Obviously not actual blood, as Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary, though certainly ancestral as Jewish genealogy would confirm.

Battling with cancer, Billy Graham's daughter urges support for endangered Israel

Nearly three-quarters of a century has passed since the Red Army liberated the notorious Auschwitz death camp on 27 January 1945, a date now marked by the annual Holocaust Memorial Day here in Britain and elsewhere.

It is held with the intention of ensuring that it never happens again. But alas, anti-Semitism is back to haunt us, proving the point often made that we never learn from history.

Taking Sides

In the UK, we face the dreadful possibility of having a Prime Minister with strong anti-Israel sympathies if the party currently holding onto power by the skin of its teeth does not get its act together.

In the US, they have witnessed the ghastly spectre of a congresswoman who took ‘swearing in’ quite literally as she launched a profanity-laced tirade against President Trump upon taking office.¹

Democrat Rashida Tlaib and Representative Ilhan Omar are the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, with the latter having already expressed her opposition to Israel.²

Anti-Semitism has also been cited among issues affecting the Women’s March movement in America.³ In fact, it is on the rise worldwide, with left and right forming an unholy alliance against God’s chosen people.

Anti-Semitism is back to haunt us, proving the point often made that we never learn from history.

On the other hand, there is increasing support for Israel from unexpected quarters. Take Brazil, for instance. Its new President, Jair Bolsonaro, has boldly declared his intention of following the US lead in moving his embassy to Jerusalem. And Wilson Witzel actually requested the sound of a shofar to accompany his inauguration as a Brazilian state governor, so strong is his support for the Jewish state.⁴

Sheep and Goats

So, what does this mean? Nations, communities and individuals are lining up for battle (whether knowingly or not) in anticipation, no doubt, of the day of judgment when the sheep are separated from the goats (see Ezek 34:17; Matt 25:31-46; Joel 3:2) on the basis of how they treated the Jewish people.

In the midst of all this, the silence from most leaders of the Christian Church has been deafening – just as it was in Germany and elsewhere during the Shoah. I guess this is largely because of the dangerous and heretical Replacement Theology that has certainly swept through much of the British Church.

We should be witnessing stirring calls from our pulpits to stand with the Jews, but somehow church leaders don’t see the connection. That’s because they have been disconnected from the roots of their faith, and have forgotten that we worship the God of Israel, who has sent his Son as Messiah, first for the Jews and also for the Gentiles.

We owe them everything – the Law, the Prophets, the Patriarchs, the entire Bible (Luke being the only Gentile author) and most of all Jesus, who will soon return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5).

As the world lines up for battle, the silence from most leaders of the Christian Church has been deafening.

Message of Warning

Anne Graham Lotz.

That the Jewish state is once more under severe threat was illustrated by the surface-to-surface missile fired into Israel by Syrian-based Iranian forces on Sunday.⁵ Thankfully, it was successfully intercepted.

Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the late evangelist Billy Graham, is currently suffering severe side-effects from cancer treatment which she believes could be a message for Israel.⁶

Recalling that God had some of his prophets live out the message he gave them, she wonders if her current life and death battle relates to the Jewish nation, reborn just a week before she came into the world.

“The warning I feel deep within is that Israel is in danger of a surprise attack in this, her 70^th year,” she writes, urging them to return to the Lord (Joel 2:12-14) and us Gentiles to pray for the peace of Jerusalem “and for the whole House of Israel”.

If we truly love Jesus, we will love the Jews – as many of our Arab friends testify on finding peace and reconciliation at the Cross. Wake up, Church!

References

1 Jerusalem News Network, 6 January 2019, quoting INN.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid, quoting Algemeiner.

4 JNN, 6 January 2019, quoting Jerusalem Post and INN.

5 JNN, 23 January 2019, quoting Israel Today.

6 Joy! News (South Africa), 17 January 2019, sourcing Steve Warren at www1.cbn.com.

The first of a two-part critical analysis of the growing British ‘revival’.

The Turning is an evangelistic campaign that was begun in Reading, UK in 2016 by the local Gate Church.

Following a prescribed method of street outreach imported from the States, a total of 1,850 people accepted the invitation to pray to accept Christ over a four-week period in the Berkshire town. It was seen as a miraculous response.

Based on these results, The Turning has become a national initiative, with churches and mission groups in over 230 towns and cities reportedly requesting to become involved.¹

The Turning has support from the World Prayer Centre and accompanying resources have been produced in conjunction with the Bible Society. The London Mission Collective is looking to roll out The Turning across the capital. In Scotland, The Turning website boasts the support of “national leaders of: The Baptist Union of Scotland, Assemblies of God, Apostolic Church, Destiny Church, Scottish Network Churches, [and the] Redeemed Christian Church of God”.²

There are a number of positive aspects to The Turning. It challenges believers to step beyond the safety of their cosy fellowships and reach out to a world that is spiritually dying. It is firing believers with enthusiasm to share with those who know nothing of Christ. And it inspires churches of differing streams to come together, working as a team.

However, while I totally applaud the heart-desire behind The Turning, I have concerns about its roots and methodology. Does it represent a true revival, a widespread ‘turning’ back to God? Read on and make your own mind up!

The Roots

The Turning was brought to the UK by American ‘revivalist’ Tommie Zito, whose website boasts an international ministry of ‘awakening’ countries, ‘hallmarked’ by “the heavy Glory of God, unique signs and wonders and an unprecedented anointing to mobilize and equip the [Body] to win souls.”³ These are substantial claims – but do they bear out in reality?

Zito was hosted by Reading’s Gate Church, led by Pastor Yinka Oyekan. Much of the information in this article has been gleaned from Oyekan’s personal 2017 report on the outreach.

While I applaud the heart-desire behind The Turning, I have concerns about its roots and methodology.

‘The Turning’ uses a formula of evening meetings for believers, followed by morning outreach on the street aided by a simple script. It encourages believers of all ages and backgrounds to engage in mission. I applaud Oyekan’s concern that church not be a spectator sport and understand his frustration at fellowships not being geared towards large-scale outreach. However, in justifying his own approach, he also disparages virtually all traditional methods of evangelism and accuses Reading churches of hitherto squandering God’s grace.

Broad Street, Reading. See Photo Credits.

Oyekan claims that God has for some time been looking “to release this evangelistic grace” but has “not found an Apostolic or denominational outlet to land in”⁴ – until the Gate Church started The Turning. Again, these are significant claims about his own ministry and about other churches that warrant further exploration.

Worryingly, Oyekan’s report implies strongly that the success of the ‘outpouring’ depends to some extent on believers and churches embracing practices associated with the ‘NAR’.⁵ Oyekan claims that the Reading churches that welcomed The Turning were made more receptive by their previous embrace of ‘soaking’, a practice associated with the Toronto Blessing. Oyekan praises Christians who “have stood in the fire of the outpouring”⁶ (i.e. participated in each evening’s ‘soaking’ session). He himself is a self-confessed disciple of Bill Johnson,⁷ founder and leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California, which has received criticism for its New Age overtones.

All this implies that churches participating in The Turning are not just buying into an outreach campaign, they are buying into a particular stream of charismatic Christianity – a stream that many Christians find to be at least partly, if not totally, heretical. Those who express concern are branded ‘resistant’ to the things of God.

It remains to be seen how these roots impact The Turning’s practical, on-street encounters. However, they are signs that should prompt further, prayerful investigation, not acceptance of the campaign at face value.

The Method

Oyekan dedicates several pages of his report to discussing the pros and cons of using a script as a basis for outreach. He admits openly that The Turning’s script is “virtually identical to the one formulated by Dr Rodney Howard Brown [sic] in his book “The Great Awakening, Power Evangelism Manual””, and that “The evangelist we invited, Tommie Zito, was a disciple of Dr Rodney Howard Brown [sic]”.⁸ It is unclear exactly why Oyekan believes Howard-Browne to be a worthy source of inspiration, but the fact that he does is another warning sign.⁹

The script takes the form of a short introduction, followed by three short Scripture verses quoted in succession. A prayer is offered, during which the subject is invited to repeat a version of the ‘sinner’s prayer’. Emphasis is placed throughout on being quick; the entire process can be over in a few minutes. The subject continues on his/her way – now apparently a new creature in Christ - and another ‘response’ (‘decision’) is recorded.

Churches participating in The Turning are not just buying into an outreach campaign, they are buying into a particular stream of charismatic Christianity.

Those who take issue with the script are casually dismissed: Oyekan admits that “one pastor was in tears as he felt it was deficient in its gospel proclamation. Emotionally, the script touches on everyone’s pride…”.¹⁰ In other words, those who are humble accept The Turning; those who dare to criticise it must have a prideful heart.

This lack of self-reflection is concerning, but Oyekan goes further, suggesting that local leaders surrender their authority and get on board with The Turning without dissent: “it is strongly advisable that the leaders humble themselves and acknowledge that their need of a grace from Christ is no less necessary than that of their flocks”.¹¹

Oyekan then takes aim at traditional evangelistic tracts which, in his view, focus too much on explaining people’s need for salvation, appealing “primarily to the intellect” rather than to the heart.¹² What is needed instead are touchy-feely, emotional ‘encounters’ of God’s love. Somewhat confusingly, however, Oyekan later admits that The Turning script needs more scriptural content and that it has been revised since the Reading outreach in 2016.

Obsession with ‘Decisions’

One of my main operational concerns with The Turning is its near obsession with clocking up ‘decisions’ (or ‘responses’ as Oyekan prefers to term them). Each day of the campaign in Edinburgh, Oyekan inserted in huge bold type on his Facebook page the number of decisions recorded. Scores of his followers exulted enthusiastically over such an amazing move of the Spirit – signs of a great spiritual awakening.

I, on the other hand, could in no way rejoice over such statistics. What ‘decision’ did the individuals make? Were they presented with the true Gospel? Do we really expect hundreds of people to truly be spiritually regenerated within a few short minutes of being approached?

I think we need to be wary of instant decisions. Christ calls for a deeper response – one which may not be so easily ascertainable. It’s not that a decision is in itself wrong, but it cannot be taken as synonymous with a true conversion.

I think we need to be wary of instant decisions. Christ calls for a deeper response – one which may not be so easily ascertainable.

Oyekan actually admits that Tommie Zito was happy to let the outreach happen without any follow-up whatsoever. However, Oyekan rightly disagrees with this and states that since the goal is to make disciples, not converts, follow-up is vital. Though Gate Church had “no credible follow-up plan” in 2016,¹³ an emphasis on follow-up is now much more visible on The Turning website, so one hopes that this aspect of the outreach is now receiving proper investment.

Click here to read part 2 of this analysis.

About the author: Tom Lennie has a long-standing interest in revival and has authored a trilogy of historical studies on Scottish revivals: ‘Land of Many Revivals’ (1527-1857), ‘Glory in the Glen’ (1880-1940) and the newly-published, ‘Scotland Ablaze: The Twenty-Year Fire of Revival That Swept Scotland 1858-79’ (December 2018). His interest in The Turning was sparked by reports of the Reading ‘outpouring’ and fuelled further by its arrival in Edinburgh, his home city, as well as by the involvement of several acquaintances.

References

1 The Story of The Turning, World Prayer Centre, 1 February 2017.

2 The Turning, Scotland.

3 See Zito's website, here.

4 Oyekan, Y. The Turning Learning Review: ‘The Outpouring’, p7. All further quotes and page references are from this document, which is also available at http://theturning.eu/learning-review/.

5 p6. ‘NAR’ stands for ‘New Apostolic Reformation’, a short-hand term for a group of ministries that promote teachings from the 1940s Latter Rain Movement.

6 p10, p20.

7 p26.

8 p12.

9 For more information on this, see Blessing the Church?, chapter 4: ‘From North Battleford to Toronto’.

10 p13.

11 p7.

12 p14.

13 pp18-19.

What our suicide problem says about our society.

Why are young men in Britain killing themselves at the rate of 17 every day? It is a national scandal that has rattled the Government, hence the announcement this week of the appointment of a Minister for Suicide Prevention.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the appointment of Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price to the new role will help tackle the stigma surrounding suicide. She was speaking on what has been designated World Mental Health Day, and she also announced increased funding for the Samaritans and for schools’ mental health work among children.

Mental health is a worldwide issue of immense proportions, especially in Western nations. In the USA nearly 45,000 people killed themselves in 2016 – more than double the homicide rate. In Britain severe mental illness has been rising steadily since the beginning of the 1990s and has become the biggest problem area for the NHS. Women are now more prone to severe mental disorder than men, but men under the age of 49 are more likely to take their own lives.

It is this particular problem of suicide among young men that is troubling mental health experts. The train I was due to take to London last week was cancelled due to “an incident on the line”. Yet another young man had jumped from a railway bridge in front of a train. I did not know this one but I did know a young man who did the same thing recently. I knew his wife and two young children. He had become unemployed and introverted so no one could communicate with him. He was just 36.

The particular problem of suicide among young men is troubling mental health experts.

We probably all know similar tragedies that are happening in families throughout the land, creating untold misery, hardship and poverty. It is, of course, those left behind who suffer most – regret and self-recrimination are hard to live with when tragedy has hit a family. The first suicide funeral I had to conduct is still a vivid memory when I too suffered personal blame. She was a beautiful young woman in my church congregation and I had deep regret that I had not been aware of her problems. But is there something as a society that we can do?

Understanding the Symptoms

We all need to become more aware of the symptoms of mental health problems – stress, anxiety and depression are all signs that should alert us to the difficulties that someone is facing. It’s when we ignore these signs that we blame ourselves later on. Being more alert and more caring for others would undoubtedly save lives. But we are all too busy, too self-centred on our own little world to bother with other people.

The number of young people you see today walking the streets with their eyes glued to their smartphone and unaware of what is going on around them is a vivid expression of the level of individualism and unreality that now afflicts a whole generation. Many young people live in a virtual world where they have hundreds of contacts but very little personal interaction – a situation exacerbated by social media, which has been linked to numerous mental health problems.

Many social studies show that loneliness is suffered by millions in the population, even when they are living in densely populated cities. Of course, much of this is due to the breakdown of family life: once, large families cared for each other and interacted with other similar families, providing plentiful opportunity for friendships to flourish. Today, we lack community and live in a virtual world.

Individualism and unreality now afflicts a whole generation, with many people living in a virtual world.

Another big culture change that has particularly hit young men is a loss of masculine identity in a world where women demand equality and sameness. Men were once proud to be the breadwinners and take care of their young wives while they were nursing children. Today, career women employ nannies and childminders so that they can become the breadwinner, pursuing their ambitions to make it to the top in their professions.

Lack of Peace with God

Human beings have immense adaptability and no doubt men will adjust to their new status in society, but we are clearly in a transition period which places extra strains, anxieties and insecurities upon individuals. The social changes we have been experiencing in the past two generations have coincided with the loss of faith in God and the abandonment of our Judeo-Christian heritage that provided fundamental security in the lives of individuals and whole communities.

It is the lack of this sense of being at peace with the God of Creation who made us in his own image that is the most serious absence in our modern culture. If we really want to understand the problems in our society we need to read the first chapter of Romans, where the Apostle Paul offers a penetrating analysis of social change. He says that once we suppress truth, we are driven by the powers of darkness that lead from one degree of corruption to the next.

Jesus taught his disciples the cure for anxiety. He said “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” He also said “My command is this: love each other as I have loved you” (John 14:15 and 15:12).

The combination of family breakdown, bringing the loss of fatherhood to millions, together with the loss of the Fatherhood of God, is the devastating product of our postmodern, atheistic, humanistic world.

If we really want to understand the problems in our society, we need to read the first chapter of Romans.

The only cure for all the ailments in society, especially the anxieties and insecurities that lead to black despair and suicide, is the rediscovery of the Gospel, biblical truth and the Fatherly love of God for each of us his children. The Bible tells us that “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence for ever” (Isa 32:17). In the New Testament Paul tells us that “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).

It is being at peace with God that transforms our whole worldview and our interaction with other human beings. Paul urged the Christians in Rome “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). This is the message that the new Minister for Suicide Prevention needs to understand if she is to make any real progress in her work of transforming society.

The Equalities Commission will not have its cake, nor will it eat it.

In a rare win for freedom of expression, Belfast bakers Daniel and Amy McArthur have been exonerated by the UK Supreme Court of any liability, after refusing to bake a cake promoting gay marriage.

Four years of this high-profile legal battle have exposed the gross injustices of Britain’s ‘hate laws’. Well done to these two steadfast Christians for refusing to give in to the state bullies who have wrongly accused them. This is a real victory!

It is frightening that this case had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to get a verdict that plain common sense should have delivered instantly. It has also exposed the bias of the so-called ‘Equality Commission’ in Northern Ireland (ECNI) – a supposedly ‘independent’, publicly-funded body dedicated to promoting ‘equality’ and ‘human rights’. Here, effectively, is an arm of the state colluding with the LGBTQ+ lobby to punish ordinary citizens and small businesses for failing to affirm LGBTQ+ ideology, wasting £250,000 of tax-payers’ money in the process.¹

But despite these things, the verdict should still be a real cause for celebration. It is not an ‘offensive’ win, taking legal ground back for ‘Christendom’, but it is a landmark ‘defensive’ win, ensuring Christians’ continued freedom to refuse to partake in and affirm the sinful beliefs and practices of this generation.

Freedom for Conscience

Had it gone the other way, it would effectively have spelled the end of freedom of conscience, especially in the sphere of trade, setting a legal precedent for the state to enforce independent businesses to affirm values with which they disagree profoundly. It is therefore a win that should benefit everyone, not just Christians, as Daniel McArthur emphasised to the press after the judgment was given:

The judges have given a clear signal today. In fact, it couldn’t be clearer. Family businesses like ours are free to focus on giving all their customers the best service they can – without being forced to promote other people’s campaigns.

I know a lot of people will be very glad of this ruling today, because this ruling protects freedom of speech and freedom of conscience for everyone.²

By contrast, the ECNI revealed its contempt for the idea of individual freedom of conscience in its post-judgment statement, saying “There is a concern…that the beliefs of business owners may take precedence over a customer’s equality rights, which in our view is contrary to what the legislature intended”.³ Those in charge of equality law enforcement obviously consider their own brand of morality to be incontrovertible; they brook no dissent- and they don’t think that the courts should, either.

Had the judgment gone the other way, it would effectively have spelled the end of freedom of conscience, especially in the sphere of trade.

The Battle Underneath

Underlying the Ashers case is a deep conflict between the freedoms brought about by Judeo-Christian values – the vestiges of which still linger in Britain’s institutions and culture - and the secular humanist values of equality law, which promise freedom but tend towards tyranny.

This latter worldview has been encroaching on Britain for decades, helped along by the commandeering of positive-sounding words like ‘justice’, ‘freedom’ and ‘equality’. Instead of ‘equality’ meaning the dignity that should be afforded to all humans because they are made in God’s image, regardless of their personal beliefs, ‘equality’ has been co-opted to mean enforced compliance with an atheistic, sexually licentious worldview.

This kind of ‘equality’ is grounded in a rejection of the God of the Bible and his created order, and a devaluation of individual freedoms for the ‘greater good’.

Behind this again are spiritual forces of darkness aiming to thwart the salvation of millions by (a) promoting and seeking to compel ungodly beliefs and behaviours, and (b) working to shut down and punish godly behaviours and responses. In the Ashers case, both of these spiritual strategies have been in play. The McArthurs have come under enormous pressure to compromise their own convictions and bow to the spirit of the age.

But – praise the Lord – this time, the attempt to shut down Christian witness has backfired spectacularly. The Supreme Court’s verdict shows that there may yet be hope for our institutions. Even more deliciously, the case has afforded Daniel and Amy many opportunities to testify in front of national reporters and TV cameras to God’s goodness and truth, which they have done with grace, dignity and evident faith:

Victoria Jones/PA Wire/PA ImagesI want to start by thanking God. He has been with us during the challenges of the last four years. Through the Bible and the support of Christians, He has comforted us and sustained us. "He is our rock and all His ways are just.”

We're delighted and relieved at today's ruling. We always knew we hadn't done anything wrong in turning down this order. After more than four years, the Supreme Court has now recognised that and we're very grateful. Grateful to the judges and especially grateful to God.⁴

Praise the Lord – this time, the attempt to shut down Christian witness has backfired spectacularly.

The Light Shines

The victory and the witness are both enormously refreshing. The McArthurs have tasted the truth of Isaiah 54:17: “’no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.”

But just as heartening is the amount of public support the couple has received, including from surprising quarters such as gay activist Peter Tatchell. Tatchell does not agree with the McArthurs’ beliefs, but vehemently defends their right to hold them without fear of punishment, understanding that vital freedoms are at stake. Tatchell joins a growing crowd - like the lesbians protesting trans ideology, and the students rejecting an inherited university culture of alcoholic excess (see last week’s editorial) - who seem to be realising that Britain’s culture change has gone too far. Though they may not understand fully, they can see that society is risking self-destruction and the loss of many hard-fought, hard-won freedoms.

Perhaps (I certainly hope) we are seeing the beginnings of a backlash against the seemingly relentless erosion of Judeo-Christian values in Britain. The war is certainly not over - God apparently still stands ready to intervene for his precious saints, granting continued freedom to the whole nation in the process. Who knows, we may yet see some unlikely characters joining the fight for freedom before long.

Meanwhile, we can pray that the McArthurs’ testimony bears abundant spiritual fruit. When believers stand their ground, graciously but firmly, against the attacks of the enemy, sometimes they are granted worldly victory and vindication - sometimes not. But God will never let their witness go to waste:

Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues…But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you…

…Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:16-33)

Notes

1 DUP MP Ian Paisley has written to the secretary of state for Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the Ashers ruling, calling for a review into the ECNI’s funding.

2 Watch Daniel’s full statement here (1 min 50).

3 Read the full ECNI statement here.

4 See note 3.

Why has God blessed Britain so much?

As we bring our short series to an end it is clear that we have barely scratched the surface of what God has done for Britain.

When God cut a covenant with Abraham, that he would be the father of many nations, and even when Jesus suffered on the Cross, making the New Covenant available to the whole world, it nevertheless remained hidden just how much God would do for nations such as ours. Yet history is full of testaments to God’s loving kindness towards the people of the British Isles.

But why have we chosen to write a book of remembrance, echoing Malachi 3:16?

Pleasing God Through Obedience

One reason is that we learn from the Book of Malachi that it pleased God for the people of Judah to recall his goodness to them (Mal 3:16-18). So, surely our remembrances might please God today in the same way – it is a good thing to do at any time.

Secondly, remembering is a principle built into the yearly cycle of the Feasts of the Lord. For example, at Passover deliverance from Egypt is remembered, which in New Covenant terms brings remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice for sin – “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Quite simply, if we do not remember, then we will forget.

History is full of testaments to God’s loving kindness towards the people of the British Isles.

Thirdly, we live in days of great decline from the ways of God, particularly in Britain. In such days we can easily meditate only on the negative aspects of our times. Remembering God’s help in times past can give us a balanced perspective and, indeed, kindle our hope again, leading to thankfulness and renewed prayer:

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. (Habakkuk 3:2)

Fourthly, we live in a generation where more and more people, especially the young, have little knowledge of what God has done for us in the past. They must be taught.

Understanding His Deeper Purposes

But I think there is also another reason, deeper down, to be understood. As we set out all that God has done and consider it in prayer before him, we may find that he grants us a new perspective on what he is doing now, today.

God is always moving forward in fulfilment of his covenant promises. Historically, Britain has been greatly used as part of this – as a base for sending forth the Gospel message around the world, and also in helping to fulfil God’s purposes for Israel – working to prevent satan from annihilating the Jewish race in World War II, and participating (albeit imperfectly) in enabling the Jews to re-establish the land of Israel.

If we can understand some deeper reasons behind the blessings God bestowed upon Britain, we might wake up to what he is doing in our day.

As we consider what God has done for us in the past, we may find that he grants us a new perspective on what he is doing now, today.

As the nations fall into disarray, having had 2,000 years of opportunity for hearing the Gospel, the scene is set for God’s final plans for Israel to be fulfilled prior to the return of the Messiah. To put the past in perspective might enable us to understand where the time-clock of covenant history is now, so that we might participate in rather than oppose the work of God today.

Would God be pleased with us if, in our Bible study and prayer groups, we spent some more time recalling past blessings and asking him to show us how to prepare for and pray concerning the future? I think this is the deeper reason why we have been led to begin writing our Book of Remembrance.

This is the final instalment in our short summer series 'Our Book of Remembrance'. You can read the rest of the series by clicking here.

After being treated like dogs ourselves, my wife and I can empathise with our West Indian friends

The scandal of bungling Home Office bureaucracy involving Britain’s West Indian community comes just months after my wife and I were subjected to the humiliation of being refused re-entry to the UK because I had no visa in my South African passport.

Our experience clearly mirrors something of what the so-called Windrush generation are suffering, with threats of deportation amid a general immigration crackdown that has apparently misfired and hit many soft targets.

In our case, it meant we could not board our El Al flight to London from Tel Aviv in Israel. It left us in a great dilemma, with possibly nowhere to go (beside expensive hotels).

Vast Labyrinth of Bureaucracy

Apart from three months on a South African newspaper, I have worked my entire career in this country, paying tax all that time and I even now draw a state pension for my troubles. I also own property (fully paid off) and have lived in Britain for 47 years! As an embassy official admitted to me, the Home Office could easily have made a quick check to verify my credentials. But they deliberately chose instead to make life difficult for me.

Fortunately, we trusted the Lord and he enabled us to cope; in fact, in the end we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves as we basked in his goodness (even on the beach).

My wife and I were subjected to the humiliation of being refused re-entry to the UK. The Home Office could have helped, but deliberately made life difficult.

I realised that it was part of a new clampdown on immigration designed to persuade the general public that they were seriously doing something about it. But as Home Secretary Amber Rudd has been forced to admit, the vast labyrinth of bureaucracy diverts focus from the individual.

Because of our dilemma, we were forced to stay an extra 11 days in Israel until neighbours were able to mail my old cancelled passports (duly stamped with indefinite leave to stay here) to Beit Immanuel, the CMJ (Church’s Ministry among the Jewish people) guesthouse kind enough to take us in.

Working All Things for Good

A view of Tel Aviv from Jaffa (biblical Joppa) where we spent our enforced extra stay in Israel. Photo: Charles Gardner

Yes, the Lord blessed us mightily in the end, but it was a scary experience and it did cross my mind that I might well be deported to South Africa, and thus be separated from my beloved (British) wife and family.

It was only thanks to our MP, Dame Rosie Winterton (Labour, Doncaster Central), that we managed to get back at all without having to go through the laborious process of applying for a visa (in Tel Aviv) which we were told could take up to six weeks.

The British Embassy there were not much help, apart from offering us use of a computer and phone for a few brief hours. A minder initially treated us like dogs as he tried to shoo us away. We made a number of calls to the Home Office, but were passed from pillar to post as we went round in circles.

I do hope our lovely West Indian friends get the justice they deserve in this appalling situation which shows how little we care about people these days; to Government departments, they are just numbers on a computer register.

In fact, I pray they will experience – as we did – the truth of the Bible promise that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

The Lord Our Vindicator

During some of our more trying moments as ‘banned’ citizens, I vowed to send the bill for extra expenses incurred to the Home Office, but when I had calmed down and turned my attention back to higher realms, I felt the Lord assuring me that he would both vindicate and compensate us.

When we did finally return home, I discovered that my bank balance was as healthy as it was when we left. God had abundantly provided for us, and met all our needs.

This appalling situation shows how little we care about people these days.

As to vindication, reference the dilemma now faced by the West Indian community. That says it all! Like them, I was a victim of political correctness gone mad.

The case of Sarah O’Connor (Daily Mail, 17 April 2018) is similar in some ways to mine. On recently losing her job, she was denied benefits because she did not have a valid British passport. Like me, she had never got around to applying for one – in her case because she hasn’t left the country in 50-plus years of living here. In my case, I have travelled successfully on a passport issued by my fatherland, of which I am still proud.

As a touching footnote, my half-Jewish grandmother came out to England from Jamaica in 1919; I guess marrying a British officer qualified her for citizenship. So I too have roots in the Caribbean – I used to listen to endless tales of waving palms and beautiful beaches, and of the terrible earthquake my family survived in 1907.

I suppose, compared to that, 11 extra days in sunny Israel was no great hardship!