Evangelism in Israel

A major Christian TV network offered on Israeli cable and satellite television is broadcasting missionary advertisements directed at Jews.

The Dallas-based Daystar TV network, which is part of the basic cable program on both YES and HOT, broadcasts a medley of teachings from the New Testament, and includes 15-minute infomercials from the Jewish Voice Ministries International that targets a Jewish audience with the message of Jesus....

The broadcasts were immediately condemned by anti-missionary activists in Israel, who have long been wary of any connection with Christians, including Christian Zionists in Israel.

Jerusalem city councilwoman Mina Fenton, a prominent anti-missionary activist from the National Religious Party, said that the approval of the broadcasts in Israel by the Communications Ministry represented "the corruption of Jewish morals," and was indicative of a country facing a "crusade of money."

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Actually, I'm quite surprised that Jews for Jesus are being allowed to broadcast ads in Israel.  From my days with interfaith ministries I learned of the sensitivities that exist among Jews in regard to "proselytizing."  Certainly as a Catholic I feel sensitive when approached by members of other religions telling me of the "truth."

I have had some contact with Jews for Jesus, both from my Pentecostal years before converting and from more recent experience.  While the tradition and music of Jews for Jesus comes from Judaism, I discovered that the theology is Evangelical--even fundamentalist.  Part of the message has to do with the "duty" to preach to, to proselytize, members of non-Christian religions (and non-Evangelical Christians).

While the ecumenical dialogue is essential for understanding and peaceful relations, attempting to make converts in an overt fashion only serves to alienate.  In such cases we are more effective in bringing Christ to the world through the actions of love and mercy--and allowing such actions to speak for themselves.  Of course this does not rule out defending the faith when called upon to do so.  Apologetics is not the same as evangelism, and evangelism is not the same as evangelization.

Comments

[A]

Francis went first to a Bishop, then to a Sultan.. to convert him. Overtly. (Clare defeated intruders by wielding the Monstrance.) Many of us older RCs are probably close to being that basic or that Traditional, but aren't quite as much in love? It's not like Francis wanted the Sultan to embrace his own religion; he wanted the Sultan and his people not to miss out on embracing Life and Love in full. I presume that would be called evangelization?

But what you speak of, the slow and easy, is the route that the penultimately-Catholic Mother Teresa took, and we see what God did with that, once she answered that very call.

There is nothing more painful than being born, than being re-born (perhaps dozens of times vis-a-vis ongoing conversion), nor than dying. Why does it seem so hard to die for the faith, to even risk it -- as did Francis.. we know that the Sultan not only let him live, but said if more were like Francis, he'd have considered it. I tell my shivery self I ought to love everyone enough by now to give them Christ overtly. I am too pc. I can only hand it over and ask for courage.