A Conversation on Christian Zionism
On Wednesday night we gathered for the first of our “Can Christianity be saved?” series to hear from Steve Tollestrup and Sophie Fasi-Mohenoa about Christian Zionism and its connection to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. We had a great turn out which allowed for a thoughtful and challenging conversation, guided by Steve’s insights and Sophie’s stories. We will share more from the evening in coming weeks to help continuing to resource this very necessary conversation.
Today we have reflections from a few attendees as well as a brief resource list. We’d love to hear from others in the comments around some ways that they were challenged or encouraged by what Steve and Sophie shared with us.
Nicola Mountfort Griffiths
It was a pleasure and a privilege to attend the inaugural Metanoia gathering at Cityside Baptist. Around 35 of us eager souls braved the stormy weather to receive a warm welcome, a glass of wine, and snacks, then we each selected our spot on the collection of comfy eclectic couches to settle in and listen, learn, and discuss the issue in front of us.
“Can Christianity be saved from Zionism?” This provocative question was approached with intelligence, grace, robust theological teaching, and personal stories by our speakers, Steve Tollestrup (ex Tearfund), and Sophie Fasi-Mohenoa (who has lived and worked in Palestine). During the evening, Steve, while acknowledging the strong desire for biblical faithfulness by Christian Zionists, outlined distortions within that doctrine. Near the end of the evening Steve made some suggestions for concrete next steps which I believe are important. Firstly, he suggested that we must enable our theological colleges to inform the Church with good theology about justice and eschatology in a way that is understandable for non theologically-trained Christians. Secondly, we need to back our pastors and other leaders as they too guide their people about these topics.
Both of these suggestions involve ensuring those teaching groups are not left vulnerable to criticism and attack, while remaining open to healthy conversation. Thirdly, Christian Zionists are excited to be living in “biblical times”, and Steve noted that this is an excitement that we must all share, with it not being exclusive to Christian Zionists. Accordingly, we need our leaders to dream big and encourage our people to dream bigger. Those are just three of the suggestions that could be implemented. Furthermore, both speakers reminded us of the importance of remembering each other’s humanity, remembering that we are all made in the image of God, and remembering to love one another. Any doctrine that endorses violence must be interrogated.
Personally, having returned from my third trip to the Holy Land a mere two weeks before October 7, the Israel Palestine conflict is close to my heart. I have twice visited Yad Vashem (Holocaust museum in Israel) and the Walled-off Hotel (Banksy museum / gallery in Bethlehem, Palestine / West Bank). There is horrendous historical injustice against the Jewish people, while there is contemporary injustice against the Palestinian people. My heart breaks for what happened to the Jews in the Holocaust, but also for what is happening right now in Gaza and Palestinian Territories.
I also understand and acknowledge that many Christians within Aotearoa NZ are very confused about how to think theologically about this situation, so to have the Metanoia speakers expound on the dangers of a theology which endorses or even divinely sanctions the current genocide in Palestine was so helpful, but also heart breaking. The topic is fraught with heightened emotions, but I came away from the evening with my convictions strengthened.
God is a God of justice, and God cares for the oppressed, so we must as well. Sophie reminded us that silence is the language of the oppressor, so thank you Metanoia for being bold and brave, and not being silent. I look forward to future learnings from this intelligent group of researchers and practitioners who love Jesus.
Kayleen Clark-Howard
Cityside Baptist hosted the inaugural, in-person Metanoia conversation on a blustery cold evening in Tāmaki Makaurau. Beginning with a warm welcome, the audience was invited to listen to a heartfelt and challenging message which unpacked Zionism within the context of the current war on Palestine and within the context of Christianity. Andrew Clark-Howard positioned the topic by giving historical context to the discussion. Steve Tollestrup gave a succinct and meaningful presentation where, amongst other ideas, he examined the topic of justice and never strayed far from the promise that our hope is in Christ, a hope not bound by place or time. Sophie Fasi-Mohenoa shared about her experiences of living and working in Gaza and Jerusalem. Her personal experiences of injustice and standing up for inequity will be forever etched in my mind and heart. Andrew allowed time for the audience to digest and discuss the topic by posing thought provoking questions and to finish the evening and led a Q&A which the audience had been invited to participate in through text. The safe space, deliberate, gentle and warm conversation left my mind challenged and heart moved. A privilege to attend this kōrero. Ngā mihi Metanoia.
Stu McGregor
The inaugural evening of the Metanoia Conversations was a great success. The promise of stimulating conversation around a contentious and meaty issue was well met by Steve Tollestrup and Sophie Fasi-Mohenoa. I came away challenged by the spectre of what a Zionist vision of Israel’s territory could be which is from Genesis 12—from the Nile to the Euphrates (Eretz Yisrael). The magnitude of this is still sinking in. I appreciated too that Steve had a couple of ‘things we could do’ in response. Sophie’s two stories left a mark on our hearts and brought the humanity of the situation home to us. Andrew and Jaimee provided a safe place for a conversation like this to happen and the feeling around the room was generally “this is excellent”. Plus, there was lots of cheese :) Thank you for a great event!
Resource List:
Books
Rashid Khalidi, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017 - a detailed but accessible introduction to the modern history of Palestine and of the violence of Israeli settlement and occupation.
Mitri Raheb, Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, The Bible - a recent book from Mitri Raheb, a critical Palestinian theologian and Lutheran pastor working in decolonisation and liberation theology today.
Naim Ateek, A Palestinian Theology of Liberation: the Bible, Justice, and the Palestine-Israel Conflict - another important work within Palestinian liberation theology from Anglican priest and theologian Naim Ateek, showing especially how Christian support for Zionism in the West arises out of problematic interpretations of scripture.
Articles
Muna Nassar, “Palestinian Women: The Question Within the Question” in Awake, Emerging and Connected: Meditations on Justice from the Missing Generation - a powerful reflection on the intersections of injustice for Palestinian women. Metanoia is interviewing Muna in an upcoming article.
Wayne Te Kaawa, “Give Nothing to Racism: Tangata Whenua, People of the Land, A Canaanite Woman, and Jesus,” in Transgressing Race: Readings, Theologies, Belonging - a thoughtful discussion of Israel’s conquest of Canaan and its connections to te ao Māori.
James Baldwin, “An Open Letter to the Born Again” - a searing indictment from Baldwin on the moral hypocrisy of the Christian West and a profound reflection on relationship between Jewish and Black Americans in the midst of US Zionism and racism.
Philip Church, “Israel and Palestine: Twenty-one questions, part 1” and “Israel and Palestine: Twenty-one questions, part 2” - an ongoing series from a New Zealand biblical scholar responding to questions from church goers on this issues of biblical Zionism.
Andrew Clark-Howard, “Does Zionism Affect Us Here in Aotearoa?” - a reflection here on Metanoia about some of the shared histories and entanglements between Aotearoa’s ANZAC history and the dispossession and occupation of Palestinian land.
Videos
“Peter Fraser: New Zealand's ‘Exuberantly Zionist’ Prime Minister” - a reflection on Aotearoa’s own participation in Zionism and outsized influence in supporting the establishment of an Israeli settler state.
“The Bible’s Role in Settler Colonialism: A Focus on Palestine and Beyond” - an excellent panel discussion between Mitri Raheb and Kwok Pui-lan discussing how Western interpretations of the Bible have perpetuated settler colonialism and oppressed the Palestinian people.