Israeli Parliament Tries to Ban the Gospel, Netanyahu Steps In to Stop Them, For Now
Many Christians were alarmed to learn last week that the head of the Israeli Parliament’s Finance Committee, Moshe Gafni, had introduced a bill that would essentially ban Christian evangelism in Israel.
The text of the legislation read in part, “Recently, the attempts of missionary groups, mainly Christians, to solicit conversion of religion have increased.” The proposed bill would have made soliciting someone to convert to Christianity a serious crime punishable by a one year prison sentence. Attempting to convert a minor would have carried a two-year sentence.
Thankfully, by the grace of God, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stepped in to kill the bill before it could come to a vote. Last Wednesday, the Prime Minister sought to soothe worried Christians by tweeting, “We will not advance any law against the Christian Community.” Although Israeli believers and missionaries to the country breathed a collective sigh of relief when the bill failed, it is still a troubling sign for the future of the Gospel in Israel.
Gafni and the bill’s co-sponsor, Yaakov Asher, are ultra-orthodox members of the United Torah Judaism party, but more importantly, they both serve as deputies in Netanyahu’s ruling coalition. Gafni and Asher are just two members of a growing number of orthodox and ultra-orthodox legislators becoming increasingly active in pushing anti-Christian talking points and legislation. Israel today is still in open rebellion against God and is a difficult place for missionaries to spread the Gospel even without legislation prohibiting it.
Most Israelis are secular and uninterested in what Christians have to say, and the majority of the rest of the population is orthodox and openly hostile to the Gospel. Born-again Christians have always been strong supporters of Israeli and the Jewish community at large, but the feeling is not exactly mutual. In fact a recent Pew Research study of different religious groups in the United States showed a stark difference in how American Christians view American Jews compared with how American Jews view American Christians.
Self-described “born-again evangelical Christians” gave +39% positive rating to the Jewish community, while the Jewish respondents had a -40% approval of born-again Christians. We pray for those faithful Christians witnessing to Jews in Israel and all over the world.
Recent events indicate that it is very much an uphill climb, and frankly, it always has been. Even our Lord Jesus lamented their refusal to believe, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37)
We see God’s grace and mercy at work through Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent actions in stopping this anti-Christian legislation, but with all the turmoil in Israeli politics, how long will it be until a law like this is enacted?
This article was written by Rev. J,W, Baker as a guest post for Protestia.
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Imagine that.
A serious difference between the Nation of Israel and the people of Israel.
Israel gets a lot of money, political support, and even unpaid labor from evangelical Christians. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.