I'm looking forward to using this Blog to stimulate some debate on issues I feel passionate about. These include:
1. Jesus Christ (I believe he is the Eternal Word, the Son of God and Saviour of the world).
2. The Bible (I believe the Bible is God's Word - inspired, true, infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and doctrine. This is why I support the work of the Bible Society, Wycliffe Bible Translators and the International Bible Society).
3. The Gospel (I want everyone to hear the good news of Jesus Christ because there is only one way to God - through faith (trust) in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour).
4. Evangelism (I believe in the freedom to express one's faith or change one's religion and support the work of Agape, UCCF, the Navigators, Operation Mobilisation and Open Doors).
5. Interfaith dialogue (I am engaged with several agencies seeking to encourage greater understanding and mutual respect).
6. The future of the Anglican Communion (I support the GAFCON initiative, Anglican Mainstream, The Church Society, Proclamation Trust and Reform and repudiate, for example, the apostate leadership of the Episcopal Church in North America).
7. Christian Zionism (I regard this movement at best as misguided and at worst, a destructive heresy. See www.christianzionism.org for some reasons).
8. Justice, peace and reconciliation in the Middle East (The Bible does not mandate an apocalyptic war in the Middle East. Justice for the Palestinians can lead to security for the Israelis but it must be based on the rule of international law and the implementation of UN Resolutions).
9. Creationism (I am a creationist and yes, my first degree was in geography. The study of the earth only made me more convinced which is why I support Answers in Genesis).
10. Pro-Life (I believe life begins at conception and abortion is murder. I support the work of LIFE and also SPUC).
11. Biblical and Practical Theology ('Theology' simply means 'right thinking about God' and is for all and not just theologians. www.bible.org is a good place to start. Praxis is about applying our faith to politics and social action. I therefore support the Christian Institute and the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity).
12. Photography (is one way of praising God for the beauty of his creation and my recreational passion. For a taster see here).
Thank you for reading this far. Now it is your turn. And if you found this blog by accident (read providence - because nothing happens by chance) and want to know more about some of these issues, you might like to visit our church website www.cc-vw.org or my own website www.sizers.org.
Petitions for Supporters of the GAFCON Movement
Slideshow
Blog Archive
About Me
- Stephen Sizer
- Virginia Water, Surrey
- Stephen is the pastor of Christ Church, Virginia Water. He and his wife have been in full time Christian ministry together for 30 years. He became a Christian at university and served as an evangelist before training for the Anglican ministry. Originally from Lowestoft, he has served in churches in St Leonard's on Sea and Guildford before moving to Virginia Water in 1997. Stephen was until recently chairman of the International Bible Society UK, who sponsored and publish the New International Version (NIV), the most widely read Bible translation in English. IBS has recently merged with Send the Light. He is a member of Anglican Mainstream and Reform and supports the GAFCON initiative. He is also an Advocate for Christianity Explored. He is a founding member of the Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism (ISCZ), a member of the Advisory Council of Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding (EMEU), a Trustee of the Amos Trust and the UK Board of Reference for the Mar Elias Educational Institutions, in Ibillin, Galilee, founded by Bishop Elias Chacour. He lectures regularly in churches, seminaries and universities in Europe, the Middle East and USA.
10 comments:
Still praying for you specially every day, Stephen.
Noel
Perth (for a while)
I look forward to seeing this develop further. I have found that it is difficult to keep up regular postings to a blog. I didn't know you were so into photography, I had a look at some of your photos and they are really nice. What camera do you use and also what filters if any?
from Clare Elliott
claresstudies.blogspot.com
Thanks Clare. I'm currently using a Nikon d200 with an 18-200 lens. No filters just Photoshop to enhance the contrast and saturation. The Nikon D300 does it for you but I am still saving my pennies. I'd also like a 10-20mm super-wide zoom for Christmas. Larger copies are accessible from www.sizers.org/photos.htm
Thanks Noel. Hoping to get up to Loch Ness in August.
Hello Stephen, as a Jewish believer in Jezus (not active in a messianic congregation but member of the Dutch Reformed Church), I am having a hard time reading that you think zionism is like evil. Why is it so hard for gentiles to accept that God in His uncomprehensible wisdom, has set the people of Israel apart in order to give shape to His kingdom? Now, I agree Israel nowadays is not always a light unto the nations, but the covenant is eternal and Jesus himself says that not one jotta can be added or taken away from the Torah. He even said in the story of the rich man and Lazerus that the brothers of the dead rich man should follow their prophets, which is more than enough for them. If they believe the prophets, they believe the message of Jesus. Did Jesus have problems with legal judaism in some areas, he never said all the promises God gave to Abraham's descendants Isaac an Jacob will pass. For Ishmail God has other promises and plans. It is clear what the prophets foretold. Zionism is undetachable from the Jewish people, for Zion means Israel, Jerusalem, the Promised Land. This is where God ultimately brought Moses' flock and installed the Temple. He did not bring them to Al Quds. Now, I am a pragmatic person and it is important to think about the injustice some Palestinians have suffered or still suffer today. So I have no problem with a Palestinian state in this era. I am certain the promises God gave regarding Zion, will be implemented in His time anyway. In my view the answer is simple: the Bible says the law will go forth from Zion and God will bring the Jewish people back to the promised land from all 4 corners of the earth. This is a fact neither you, I, the subscribers of anti-zionist podia, the Arab world or even the Jews themselves can change. So, in order to bring real peace to the land, we should endorse all people of the monotheistic religions to accept the place God has each for us in mind. Being critical of modern day zionism is one thing, but separating it from Judaism in general and the Jewish people in the land in particular, is another. In my view, you misinterpret the Bible on an very essential issue. Zionism and the Holy land belong together, the Bible speaks of Zion everywhere. In the Bible the Jews are connected to Zion and the land is called Judea mostly. Palestine is just the name Greeks and Romans gave to the land. The Fillistines in the Bible are a people that live near the sea. In order to stay on track with God's word, this is important to remember.
Thank you for your time and best wishes,
Elisabeth Boas
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Stephen, I would like to add one more thing. I see you post here a link to anti-Hagee-like organisations. I do believe what anti-zionists forget, is the following: the Bible never endorses those kind of apocalyptic views, tactics and preaching. The Bible is very clear: we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The message of Jesus, in the light of peace making in general, is also very clear. So that is not the issue. There might be some Christians that endorse those things, but I (and many others) count myself as a member of the group of believers that still pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messianic era. You can do both things at the same time and still accepting what the prophets have to say. Ultimately all nations will see that God won't let people mess with Jerusalem, with Zion. So, rallying against the dispicable fundamentalists does not take away the real issue here: the issue that God will start restoring His kingdom in Jerusalem and He will rehabilitate the Jewish people in this particular place.
Thanks,
Elisabeth Boas
Dear Elizabeth,
Thanks for your two responses regarding Israel.
I am afraid I cannot respond at length to your comments and questions but I recommend my latest book, "Zion's Christian Soldiers" which examines what the Bible says about the relationship of Israel to the Church. It also contains a very helpful sermon by John Stott on the meaning of "Israel" in the New Testament. See www.sizers.org for more information.
Let me make just one or two observations:
1. we must not equate Zion in Scripture with Zionism today, any more than to confuse Judaism with Zionism. Zionism is intrinsically racist. It is essentially a form of apartheid practiced ruthlessly in the Occupied Territories and even against Arabs in the State of Israel.
2. The covenants God made with the Jews were neither unconditional nor ethnically exclusive. God attached numerous conditions in the Torah and Prophets, and the promises were made to all who trusted in him including those of the surrounding nations who obeyed him.
3. Jesus succeeded where Israel had failed - to be a light to the nations. His followers under the Old Covenant and under the New Covenant form one people. 'Jewishness' in the New Testament is defined as of the heart not flesh (Romans 2). There can be no going back to the terms of the Old Covenant because it is obsolete (Hebrews 8:13)
4. Hagee is a dangerous man and not a friend of Israel. His theology is seriously defective. Urging the USA and Israel to attack Iran in a preemptive strike is not in Israel's best interests.
5. The pattern laid down in the Torah and Prophets is clear - Rebel against God and you will be kicked out of the land. Repent and you can return. Repentance preceded return not the other way round. Since Jesus came, repentance is equated with recognising him as the Lord and Saviour. Refusing to accept him results in people being cut off from God's people (Acts 3:23) Based on passages such as Ezekiel 33:23-29 I fear another exile not re-gathering based on the behaviour of the State of Israel over the last 60 years.
Sharing the land with the Palestinians either in one democratic state or two side by side is the only way to see an end to the suffering of both peoples. Justice for the Palestinians and security for the Israeli's can lead to peace and reconciliation. It has happened in Europe and Asia after two world wars. It can happen in the Middle East. One sided support for either is counterproductive. Israel must also withdraw from territory stolen from Lebanon and Syria before there can be a comprehensive peace. Israel and its neighbours must abide by the rule of international law and UN Resolutions.
Blessings
Stephen
Stephen, I have no doubt you will delete this message as well. I counted you more open minded and softened in the heart, for you have sign the peace-petition. But apparently you are part of the group of Christians that leave out some parts of the Scriptures that they don't like and use the rest for their own political agenda. I suggest you better concentrate on the many souls, also in your country, that needs Salvation, instead of finger pointing at Israel. A more humble attitude would suite you more, for Romans say clearly you should not boost and for the sake of gentiles, God put a veil over the Jewish people. For sure God has put a veil over many gentiles more. This veil He will lift at His time, and then many of you will be in for a big surprise.
All the best,
Elisabeth Boas
Dear Elizabeth,
I have been patient with you allowing you three opportunities to critize me. Allowing you six extensive entries on my blog is a little excessive. I invite you to develop your own blog to perpetuate your Zionist ideas and I will gladly contribute. In His grace,
Stephen
Hi Stephen,
I am so very excited by your blogg which will be a great resource and refuge for many people. When do you ever find time to sleep? Look forward to seeing you in the States.
Warm regards,
Diana
Florida
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