Return to AMFI HOME PAGE March 11, 1997
The following document came from a good friend and fellow servant in Israel, Ken Hendren. It reflects the depth of concern of Israeli believers concerning the pending antimissionary legislation, and gives a clear call for a response from believers worldwide. The careful wording of their protest letter reflects the desire to clearly focus on the issue of religious freedom, and not to join the throngs of "Israel bashers" out there. I encourage you to make the text of the law and the protest letter available to as many believers as possible in as short a time as possible, as the Day of Prayer (Palm Sunday) is not far off.
MLIM,
Wes
____________________________________________________________________________________
Regarding Proposed Law: Prohibition of inducement for religious conversion Israel's Parliament (the Knesset) is now considering a law which would render illegal the possession, production, reproduction, importation and distribution of literature or information which may serve to persuade another to change his religious views or affiliations. The law passed its preliminary reading by a vote of 21 to 7, a small minority of the Knesset taking part in the session.
This proposed law contradicts the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes the right to "freedom of thought, conscience and religion..., to hold opinions without interference and to seek, retrieve and impart information and ideas through any media" (Articles 18-19). It would radically transform Israeli society by instituting a state-sponsored religious censorship and denying freedom of religious expression, as is common in pariah nations such as Libya, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The proposed law will not undermine the determination of Israeli follower's of Jesus, both Jewish and Arab, to speak well of Jesus the Messiah to their people and to present the Gospel for their people's consideration. Nevertheless, if this law is enacted, it would outlaw almost every indigenous Israeli expression of faith in Messiah - personal witness, public worship and the dissemination of information, at the pain of one year imprisonment! Already those promoting this law are attempting to delegitimize Messianic Jews by branding us a cult in order to justify the proposed denial of our civil rights.
We call upon the international Christian community to join us in our opposition to this law and to stand by the Messianic Jews in Israel as a legitimate expression of the worldwide community of faith in Jesus. We ask all true friends of Israel to join us in an international 'Day of Prayer and Solidarity' with your fellow believers in Israel. We are asking for churches and individuals around the world to set aside time on Palm Sunday, March 23, 1997 (which is also the Feast of Purim) to pray that God would prevent the enactment of this undemocratic and immoral law.
We also urge you to support our efforts to prevent any consideration of this bill in Israel's Knesset. If you are not a friend of our nation, if you do not view the Jewish people with respect and with affection, please do not take part in our protest. But if you share our committed faith in Jesus the Messiah and are concerned for the kind of society Israel will become by the enactment of this law, please use the Letter of Protest given below either as a form letter or as a model for your own personal letter.
Contact your congressman or representative parliamentarian, write to your head of government and call the Israeli Embassy in your country. Write to Mr. Benyamin Netanyahu - Israel's Prime Minister, to Mr. David Levy - Israel's Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Mr. Dan Tichon - Chairman of the Knesset, to anyone of influence in Israel of whom you may have heard, and protest.
We thank you on behalf of Israel's Jewish and Arab disciples of Jesus,
The Israel Messianic Action Committee
Pastor Noam (Ken) Hendren Rev. Baruch Maoz Advocate Marvin Kramer
The Fourteenth Knesset
Proposed Law of the Knesset members: Moshe Gafni Nissim Zvili P/950
Proposed Penal Law (amendment--possession, printing, reproduction, dissemination, distribution, and importation of publications to induce [SEE FOOTNOTE #1] religious conversion). 5757--1996
1. After paragraph 174B to the Penal Law 5737--1977 [SEE FOOTNOTE #2] would come:
Prohibition of inducement for religious conversion 174C
A) Whoever possesses contrary to the law or prints or reproduces or disseminates or distributes or imports tracts or publicizes things in which there is an inducement to religious conversion is punishable by -- one year imprisonment.
B) Any tract or publication in which there is inducement to religious conversion will be confiscated.
Explanatory Notes
The State of Israel, in the framework of the existing laws, opposes any missionary [SEE FOOTNOTE #3] enticement to change religion, and regards with the utmost severity the enticement of minors to change religion. Lately, different missionary sects have begun trying to entice to conversion by means of materials sent through the mail and other publications that have been received contrary to the desires of the recipients.
The legislature has not addressed this serious phenomenon and therefore an amendment to the law is proposed.
1) Translator's note: The terms translated induce and inducement come from a root meaning to use [or 'the use of'] appealing speech in order to influence one's opinion or to tempt, according to the Dictionary of Contemporary Hebrew, 1995, Ma'ariv Book Guild.
2) Book of Laws, 1977, p. 322.
3) Translator's note: The term missionary as used in this context does not only refer to recognized Christian ministers, but rather to any individual who engages in attempts to persuade others of his personal religious views.
Guidelines for a Christian Response to the Proposed Law:
Our Overall Goal:
The defense of the democratic nature of Israel and of the fundamental right to freedom of expression, including religious expression, in the Land; so that believers in Israel can serve God freely without hindrance or fear of reprisal.
Our Objectives:
1. Prayer: To mobilize Christians worldwide to pray for the decisive rejection of the proposed law and the preservation and strengthening of Israel's democratic character and freedoms, for the sake of the believing community in the Land.
2. Pressure: To mobilize Christian public opinion on behalf of the believers in Israel and, through letters, the media, and any other legitimate means, to bring pressure to bear upon the Knesset and Government of Israel to reject unequivocally any consideration of the proposed law.
General Statement:
As Christian believers in the God of Israel and in Jesus the Messiah and Savior of the world, we have a special respect and appreciation for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. We seek and pray for the welfare of all of God's people in the Land. We view with grave concern the erosion of Israel's democratic freedoms by this proposed law. Though aimed at a small minority, this law ultimately threatens the freedoms of all her citizens and, therefore, we consider it our responsibility before God to oppose it emphatically. We are particularly concerned that our fellow believers in Jesus be protected from harassment and persecution on account of their personal religious convictions, and that they be allowed to worship and serve God freely, as their conscience and the Scriptures dictate.
Specific Declarations:
1. This is not a political issue; nor are we protesting against the State of Israel or its government's policies. Out of respect and deep concern for Israel and its citizens we are calling on the nation's leaders to protect fundamental democratic principles which have come under attack.
2. Our concern is for the continued democratic character of the State of Israel and the rights of all its citizens to worship and serve God freely. These rights are being threatened by a handful of legislators who have proposed an irresponsible and undemocratic law curtailing the freedom of religious expression in Israel.
3. We are standing with those in Israel who share our faith in Jesus as Israel's Messiah and the Savior of the world. Proponents of this law have publicly slandered our fellow believers in Jesus as a cult, in order to justify depriving them of basic democratic freedoms. From the days of Peter and Paul, Messianic Jews have been an essential part of Jesus' family of faith.
4. For a country which prides itself on being an island of true democracy in the Middle East, such a proposed law is unthinkable. It is a contradiction of everything that Israel claims to be and to stand for.
5. This law, if enacted, will remove Israel from the family of enlightened, democratic nations and transfer her to the league of repressive, totalitarian regimes led by Libya and Iran.
6. The law proposes state-sponsored religious censorship and nothing less: It does not challenge one's right to change one's religion. Rather it seeks to deprive the citizen of access to the information necessary to make a viable, informed choice.
Concrete Actions and Summary Guidelines
We need your immediate, active, vocal and visible support. If the response is weak, Israel will take notice of that and feel freer to repress the believers in Jesus here in the Land. Conversely, if your response is strong, Israel will certainly know that this law will not pass without serious and formidable international opposition.
We need your prayers first and foremost. Please be in prayer and encourage as many other believers and churches to do the same. Emphasize the particular importance of large-scale participation in the Day of Prayer and Solidarity on March 23.
We need volumes of letters sent to your government representatives as well as to Israel's government and ambassadors. Write as many letters as you can and encourage others to do the same. On the Day of Prayer, a table can be set up in the church foyer with the materials concerning the law, copies of the Letter of Protest for individuals to use, and another copy of the Letter of Protest for everyone to sign as a church body.
We need visible support shown. If possible, organize supportive rallies in various areas on the Day of Prayer or whenever you can. One idea might be to gather local Christians together, each holding a candle, with banners proclaiming, "DON'T EXTINGUISH DEMOCRACY!" or RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: A LIGHT AND A RIGHT. Invite the press to cover your event and be prepared to issue clear, concise statements concerning the law, your opposition to it, and your solidarity with the believers in Israel.
Any use of the media, any letter written, any high profile response can only help us make known the message of resistance to this reprehensible law and impede and prevent its implementation. Local pastors and Christian leaders who can use these materials to present our case to the press can have a powerful effect. If you have other ideas, go with them!
It is very important to convey your response respectfully, lest it be seen as anti-Semitic, but, nonetheless, in forceful terms of indignation. Let your response be clear and strong. The focus of any statement should be on the preservation of freedom of religious expression in Israel and the defense of minority rights. Do not put the emphasis on the right to 'preach the gospel,' as this would wave the proverbial red flag before the bull.
Please use your contacts to help us get this message out immediately. The wider the local, national and international networking, the better. Likewise, the more visible and vocal, the better! We need your help now. This is a timely and imperative opportunity to raise our voices for the sake of Jesus. Please inform us of your activities by writing to our headquarters (Email: 100320.1324@compuserve.com or by fax: 972-3-9661898) and use Freedom in your subject line.
Thank you and may God bless your efforts on our behalf and for Him.
The Israel Messianic Action Committee
Click Here to read Letter of Protest
Download this letter plus letter of Protest in:
RTF Format (supported by most word processors)
Return to AMFI HOME PAGE