Backgrounder

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” – Psalm 122:6

The Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem is an organization dedicated to facilitating a better public understanding of the complexities of the Middle East including its roots in history and the Bible. The group, which is comprised of key faith leaders, scholars, authors and pastors, strives to educate the next generation about Israel’s role in the biblical narrative; past, present, and future while also affirming God’s concern for Palestinians and all peoples of the Middle East.

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#1

We affirm that God is faithful, unchanging, and keeps His covenants and promises to individuals and nations. (Numbers 23:19, Lamentations 3:22-23, Deuteronomy 7:8-9, Romans 4:21, Romans 11:29, 2 Timothy 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 1:8)

#2

We affirm that these covenants include the restoration of creation; the formation and preservation of the Jewish people; the promise of a land for the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and blessings for all nations through Jesus the Messiah. (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:18-21, Isaiah 49:5-6, Luke 2:29-32)

#3

We affirm that Jesus, the promised Messiah, is Jewish and lived in the land of Israel – a necessary, important, and critical part of the gospel narrative. (Matthew 1:1-2, Romans 1:3, 9:4-5)

#4

We affirm that God loves Jews, Arabs, those who live in the Middle East, and all humanity, and that He sent His Son, Jesus the Messiah, to redeem and reconcile them to Himself and to one another. (Jeremiah 31:1-3, Isaiah 19:20-25, Jeremiah 49:38-39, Joel 2:32, John 17:22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

#5

We affirm that Jesus, Messiah of Israel, Son of David, and Lord of all nations, died for sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day, so that through Him, forgiveness and cleansing from sins, personal renewal, and everlasting life are given as gifts from God to all who believe in Him, whether Jew or Gentile. (Psalm 2:1-12, 16:5-11, Isaiah 28:16, 52:13-53:12, Hosea 6:1-3, John 3:14-17, 7:37-38, 8:34-36, 10:27-30, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 1:16-17)

#6

We affirm the importance of the Great Commission, to “make disciples of all nations” – so Jews, Arabs, those who live in the Middle East, and all humanity may receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life by trusting in Jesus as Messiah and Lord. (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 1:16, 10:9-10, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 24:45-49, John 1:9-13, John 14:6, John 3:16, Acts 1:8)

#7

We affirm that Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus retain their unique identities in the Messiah, even as they form the spiritual unity Jesus prayed for and created through His death and resurrection, reflecting the full shalom of God. (John 17:20-23, Ephesians 2:11-22, Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 7:9)

#8

We affirm that the preservation of the Jewish people despite centuries of persecution and violence, and the return of millions of Jewish people to the Land of Israel, demonstrate that God is capable of keeping His promises and fulfilling His covenants. (Jeremiah 31:31-37, Jeremiah 33:19-26, Romans 11:25-29)

#9

We affirm that all efforts to bring the message of Jesus to Israel and the nations should be characterized by respect for ethnicity and culture, communicated with unconditional love, honesty, and clarity. (Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 9:35-38, Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-17)

#10

We affirm and fully support the growing Messianic movement in Israel and around the world, whereby Jewish followers of Jesus cherish and express their Jewish identity in Jesus the Messiah. (Romans 11:1-2, Romans 11:5)

#11

We affirm that Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers” – thus, the Church should faithfully pray for and humbly work towards peace, security, justice, and reconciliation between Israel and her Arab neighbors, and encourage a culture of love, respect, and unity among all followers of Jesus the Messiah in the Holy Land. (Psalm 133:1, Psalm 122:6, Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:9, John 13:34-35, John 17:20-23)

#12

We affirm that God will keep His promises to Israel, that one day “all Israel will be saved” by turning to Jesus, and the Messiah Jesus will return to establish His kingdom for Israel and all the nations of the world with blessings for all. (Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 11:6-12, Romans11:11-15, 25-29, Matthew 23:37-39)

#13

We affirm that the “all Israel” who will be saved in the future specifies those Jewish people alive on the earth who believe in Jesus as Messiah at the time of His return – therefore, faithful gospel proclamation among the Jewish people in preparation for that day has great significance for all followers of the Messiah Jesus. (Zechariah 12:10-13:1, Romans 1:16, Romans 10:1, Romans 11:25-29)

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#1

We deny that God rejected the Jewish people forever because the Jewish people in general rejected Jesus as Messiah – to the contrary, God has faithfully preserved a remnant during the last 2,000 years and is drawing more Jewish people to faith in Yeshua today than ever before. (Romans 11:1-5, Romans 11:25-29, Ezekiel 37:1-14)

#2

We deny that God has replaced Israel with the Church in His plan for the ages – to the contrary, the God of the Bible is both a promise-maker and a promise-keeper. (Romans 11:29, Revelation 21:10-14)

#3

We deny the notion that flawed theology regarding the Jewish people is without consequence – to the contrary, the chronic pattern of theologians removing ethnic Israel from God’s plan has led to virulent antisemitism bringing great harm to the Jewish people, and hindering the proclamation of the gospel to the Jewish people, for which the Church should repent. (Romans 11:17-24, 28-29, 15:25-27)

#4

We deny that Muslims are unresponsive to the gospel– to the contrary, the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, and we rejoice in the great number of Muslims who have recently come to faith in Jesus the Messiah. (Romans 1:16, Joel 2:32, John 3:16)

#5

We deny that the Great Commission may be fulfilled in the Middle East without a global prayer movement because the physical and spiritual warfare in the region demands that followers of Jesus be “faithful in prayer.” (Luke 11:2, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:10-18)

#6

We deny that hostility towards Palestinians, or any other peoples in the Middle East is congruent with expressing love and support for Israel. (Matthew 19:19, Matthew 5:43-45, Luke 6:27-28, John 15:12-13, Ephesians 6:10-20)

#7

We deny that the Church can effectively bear witness for Jesus in the Middle East without showing compassion towards the poor, vulnerable, and suffering – to the contrary, Jesus commands the Church to care for widows, orphans, prisoners, the physically weak, and the impoverished. (Matthew 9:35-36, Mark 6:33-44, Mark 8:1-21, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 10:25-37, James 1:27-2:26)

#8

We deny the validity of any attempt to coerce a Jewish or Muslim person to follow Jesus as Messiah and Lord – to the contrary, every person has a God-given right to religious freedom, and thus should be permitted to make his or her own decision to receive or reject Jesus as Messiah, free from intimidation. (Acts 26:28-29, Revelation 22:17, John 1:12)

#9

We deny that spiritual unity and fellowship between Jewish and Arab believers is impossible due to the political challenges and theological differences of the Middle East– to the contrary, our unity is rooted and grounded in our shared allegiance to the Messiah. (John 13:34-35, John 17:20-23, Luke 1:37, Romans 12:18, Philippians 4:1-7, Philippians 4:13)

#10

We deny that an affirmation of God’s love and ongoing plan for Israel requires uncritical, wholehearted agreement with all policies of the modern state of Israel – to the contrary, the Church is to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15, Proverbs 3:3, Colossians 4:6)

#11

We deny that an affirmation of God’s love for Palestinians, Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians, Iranians, and other peoples in the Middle East requires uncritical, wholehearted agreement with all the policies of their governments – to the contrary, the Church is to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15, Proverbs 3:3, Colossians 4:6)

#12

We deny that any affirmation of suicide bombings or acts of terrorism as heroic are appropriate for followers of Jesus – to the contrary, support for terrorism is immoral and counterproductive to the pursuit of authentic peace, justice, and reconciliation in the region. (Psalm 34:14, 33:5, Isaiah 61:8, Romans 12:17, 2 Peter 3:9)

#13

We deny that an enduring peace in Israel and the Middle East is possible unless the Prince of Peace reigns on His rightful throne, yet this does not negate the value and responsibility of believers in Jesus to prayerfully and practically pursue peace today. (Romans 12:18-19, Hebrews 12: 14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Colossians 3:14-15)

Yes! I affirm this statement!

Tom Doyle
Uncharted Ministries

Dr. Mark Bailey
Dallas Theological Seminary

Dr. Craig Blaising
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Hélène Dallaire
Denver Seminary

Jason Elam
illumiNations Bible

Brian Fisher
Grace Bible Church

Dr. Rich Freeman
Chosen People Ministries

Herbby Geer
International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

Rich Hastings
CMJ-USA

Joel C. Rosenberg
New York Times bestselling author

Dr. Mitch Glaser
Chosen People Ministries

Dennis Hillman
Kregel Publications

Vladimir Pikman
Beit Sar Shalom Ministry

Dr. Michael Rydelnik
Moody Bible Institute

Samuel Rodriguez
National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Mark Saucy
Talbot School of Theology

Calvin Smith
King’s Evangelical Divinity School

Marty Waldman
Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue | Toward Jerusalem Council II

Michael Vlach
The Master’s Seminary

Dr. Jerry Johnson
National Religious Broadcasters

Dr. Darrell Bock
Dallas Theological Seminary

Wayne Hilsden
King of Kings Ministries | Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM)

Anne Hilsden

Erez Soref
One for Israel

Dr. Mark Yarbrough
Dallas Theological Seminary

Phillip Hanley

Michael Mistretta
Fellowship for Israel-Related Ministries

Vanessa Mistretta
Fellowship for Israel-Related Ministries

Marty Goetz
Singer-songwriter

Jennifer Goetz

Erez Soref
President of One for Israel

Esther (Fleece) Allen
International speaker and author

Joel Allen

Jim Alexander
BBS & Associates

Scott McConnell
LifeWay Research

Israel Pochtar

Jonathan Bernis
Jewish Voice

William R Koenig
Koenig World Watch Daily

Claudia Koenig

Steve Dennis

Jeane Dennis

Scott Schekman
Tree of Life Ministries

Morris Cerrato
Jacksonville Chapel

Annalyse Mower

Beth Knoll

Stephanie Baklik

Bert Leckie
Bayside Baptist Church

Dawn Folmer

Bruce Schutt
1st Assembly

Morgan Hadden
Grace Baptist Church

Joshua Stone
Community Baptist Church

Shiela Rosner

Richard Nelson
Browns Bridge Church

Brian Crawford
Chosen People Ministries

Sean Clancy

Rosanne Howell
Hope of Israel

Madison Hancock
Calvary Chapel

Jill Skogen
Youth for Christ

Diana Watson
The Sanctuary Church Westside

Vicky Ocampo

Heather Trenter
Bethlehem Baptist Church

John Trenter
Bethlehem Baptist Church

William Siegler
Chosen People Ministries

Dr. R. Douglas Mitchell
In the Cleft of the Rock Ministries International

John Chicol

Terry Bryor

Sam Waddell

Wanda Boozer

Elisabeth Crawford

Carol Weyer

Shelly Golay
HPCC

Louis Zezza
Grace Fellowship Church

Jodie James
Lifepath Church

Rebecca Fox
Chosen People Ministries

Sherry Dunn
Saving Grace Valley Church

Olivier Melnick
Chosen People Ministries

Dr. Daniel Starevich
Mountain View Bible Church

Bernadette Solorio Vasquez

Brian Winkler

Christopher Ahrens

Katrina Jones
Inglewood Baptist Church

Rene Annette Wallace
The Kings University

Whitney Paschal

Kathy Anderson

Vanessa Coleman

Christy Hill

Patricia Johnson
Scottsdale Church

Janie Wright

John Paul
Fire Church

Joseph Dorais
Emmanuel Baptist Church

Carol Swayer
Calvary Chapel

Dotty Varitz
1st Baptist Church

Robert Brassard
Village Bible Church

Norman Walker

Ashley Taylor

Katherine Krikorian
Lakepointe Church

Vicky Linn

Don Warren

Paul Carlyon
Tree of Life

David Rofkahr

William Tham

Robert Cornelssen
Legacy Church

Holly Hollyfield

JoAnn Richardson

Michelle Williams
Connection Point Church

Evelyn Smith
Fellowship Bible Church

Dana Gizzi
Metro Assembly of God

Nancy E. Pordon

Anna Bryan
Connection Point Church

Clara Grace Cowden

Susan Novell
South Reno Baptist

Jill Parisi

Janell Bontekoe

Roberta McColl

Backgrounder

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Yes! I affirm this statement!

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