A joint statement by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem has stirred considerable controversy, after the group issued a strong warning against what they describe as the “heretical” theology of Christian Zionism. The statement, released earlier this month, has prompted both support and criticism, particularly among Evangelical groups with longstanding ties to the region.
In the carefully worded document, the church leaders express alarm over the influence of Christian Zionist movements, which they claim have increasingly sought to shape the political and religious landscape of the Holy Land. “Our faith is not aligned with any political ideology,” the statement reads, insisting that “any theology which denies the universal message of the Gospel in favour of political or nationalistic ends must be rejected.”
