«Jesus supports the IDF and he wants his believers to be the best soldiers they can be»
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That was the message conveyed by members of the local Messianic Jewish community via sacred texts, prayer and talks, to a group of 18-year-olds about to enlist in the army who took part this week in a premilitary program called Netsor.
«I am a soldier of God», said Boris, an intense redhead accepted to an elite combat unit, who is one of the 28 young men and women who participated in Netsor.
«I will do my best during my service in the IDF to serve God spiritually and physically. Not for the sake of state authorities but for the sake of God and Jesus« added Boris, as we sat in the dining room of a guest house that overlooks Lake Kinneret on Wednesday.
Not far from here, according to Christian tradition, Jesus walked on water, healed the sick and preached. Now, nearly two millennia later, young «believers» as they call themselves, convinced they are walking in Jesus’s footsteps, hope to become the next fighter pilots, reconnaissance soldiers, paratroopers, tank commanders and sailors.
Some 150 highly motivated believers will join the IDF this year. Many of them will serve in combat units. Some of them have been through Netsor’s week of mental and spiritual preparation offered by the Messianic community. Netsor is a Hebrew word that means «to guard» or «to stand vigilant».
The return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel with the establishment of the State of Israel brought with it a small but growing group of Messianic Jews, numbering today between 10,000 and 15,000. These Christians celebrate their own version of Jewish holidays such as Pessah and Succot and set aside Friday night and Saturday as a day of rest.
But they also believe that Jesus is the messiah and that he is the only path to redemption. Messianic Jews, who distance themselves from the more in-your-face proselytizing tactics of Jews for Jesus, are nevertheless very open about their beliefs, including their conviction that traditional Jewish faith is not sufficient for redemption.
Due to their religious beliefs, Messianic Jews have been subjected over the years to physical attacks and discrimination, including in the IDF.
For Messianic Jews, military service in the IDF is not only a mandatory civil duty, it is a religious obligation. Lacking an exegetical tradition but serious about the sacredness and relevance of the biblical text, «believers» learn this obligation to serve in the army right out of the New Testament.
«The IDF is an instrument in the hands of God because it facilitates his plan» said Yoel. «But I would not call it a holy army or the army of God»
Source: Jerusalem Post.
My comment:
War is a horrible thing, that man must avoid at all costs. But since the children of Satan do not agree to this, the state of Israel have to adjust to an enemy that would like to genocide all Jews.
If the Jews lay down their weapons. Satan would have an easy match. Eretz Israel would have ceased to exit within 24 hours. If the Jews do not act like proper caretakers of Zion, the promised land, they would live in sin and disobedience to God of the Bible.
Its interesting that Jesus did not tell his students to become pacifists. Once he told his students to buy a sword.
Luke 22:36
«He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one».
In the very next verses they told him they had two swords, the Messiah replied.
«That is enough»
To love your enemy with unconditional love, is not to let him kill and rape your family, but to tell him the truth.
Psalm 40:10
«I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly».
1 Corinthians 13:6
«Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth»
1 John 3:18
«Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth».
Even the Jewish prophet John the Immerser did not tell the caretakers of Zion to leave their post as soldiers.
Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”
Gideon was told to send home the majority of his soldiers. But not to fight without them. The state of Israel is in the same position. The IDF are fighting an enemy many times their size. Still God of Israel have led them into victories.
Up to the second Lebanon war.
What will come next?
The final global betrayal of Israel, and the return of the Messiah to judge the World.
ivarfjeld.com 