http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EVANGELICALS_ISRAEL?SITE=PAGRE&SECTION=NATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULTIn the flurry of pro and con statements from American Christians regarding Israel's strikes on Hezbollah guerrillas, one major religious group has remained notably quiet - evangelicals.
The biggest organizations in the movement, usually vocal backers of the Jewish state, have made no formal comment on the war in Lebanon despite pleas from Israelis that they do so.
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The Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the evangelical association, insists the inaction is not a criticism of Israel, but reflects a new caution about the risks for Christians living in Muslim countries. After the Sept. 11 attacks, American evangelicals came out strongly against terrorists, with some calling Islam a violent religion. That created a backlash overseas.
Haggard said Israeli embassy officials called him several times a day during the first two weeks of the conflict, asking for a public expression of support. He declined.
"Our silence is not a rejection of Israel or even a hesitation about Israel. Our silence is to try to protect people," said Haggard, pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo. "There's a rapidly growing evangelical population in virtually every Islamic country. Much of it is underground in the countries that are more radicalized, and many of the Christians survive based on their neighbors just ignoring the fact that they don't go to mosque."
BTW, here's a link to Harper's Magazine excellent article last year on Haggard and his Super Church. Scary.
http://www.harpers.org/SoldiersOfChrist.html
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