Is CMJ Zionist?
Many people have asked this question of CMJ. But Zionism is one of those words with a variety of meanings. So in order to answer this question, we must study the interpretation of “Zionism”.
If Zionism means the following:
1) Standing with the Jewish people, as critical friends, after almost 2,000 years of Christian Anti-Semitism (some of it within the Church of England).
2) Combating Anti-Semitism, including the unconscious variety which causes some people, in the name of justice, to be unjust in their criticism of Israel.
3) Thanking God that after all their suffering as the most persecuted people on the earth, culminating in the Holocaust, He has provided a safe homeland for the Jewish people.
4) Rejoicing in God's faithfulness to the Jewish people, preserving them as a people for His glory.
5) Believing the Church has not replaced or given up on the Jewish people.
6) Believing God still has a purpose for the Jewish People, namely to bring them to faith in Jesus as their Messiah.
7) Taking a critical approach to the many criticisms of Israel, to ascertain whether they are true or false and defending Israel, where appropriate.
7) Condemning Palestinian terrorism.
Then CMJ is pleased to be Zionist.
However, if Zionism means:
1) Ignoring the plight and rights of Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.
2) Believing the Palestinians and Israeli Arabs have no right to be in the Holy Land.
2) Believing Israel is above criticism and can do no wrong.
3) Ignoring the genuine examples of breaches of human rights and military over-reactions by Israel.
4) Ignoring the Biblical ethical demands, in terms of Israel's treatment of non-Jews, in that the Torah (Jewish Law) commands Jewish People to treat non-Jews as well as they treat fellow Jews.