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✡ Foundations Reforming the Church 11

further be seen as his New Model Army ‘To celebrate the reissuing of Israel’s birth
marched into battle singing the Psalms
and carrying banners proclaiming ‘The certificate in the form of the Balfour
Lion of the tribe of Judah’. Their rally-
ing shout was the ancient Jewish battle Declaration is a unique privilege.’
cry: “The Lord of Hosts is with us.”
Puritan influence was a major force
in rejecting the anti-Semitic ethos that Similar to the Puritans, the Con- known as the Wesley Zionist hymn –
4
had prevailed prior to the Reformation. tinental Reformers were divided into an original copy is to be found inside
Puritanism divided into two major two main groups. One group, known as Christ Church Jerusalem, which is
groups. One group remained within the Magisterial Reformers, sought the located within the old city, just by the
the Church of England, but the other union of State and Church. The other Jaffa Gate. The words that Wesley wrote
group separated and became known group known as the Radical Reformers and the early Methodists sang are full
as the Dissenters (sometimes called wanted to be free from all political and of biblical references to the regathering
Separatists). The Dissenters were often religious control. of Israel to their Promised Land from
persecuted and imprisoned. A good Amongst most Reformers, of what- all the nations to which they had been
example of this was John Bunyan (1628- ever persuasion, there was a growing scattered.
1688) who began the classic Pilgrim’s sense of goodwill towards the Jews. This Zionist awakening had an
Progress whilst in prison. His book Ultimately from these groups emerged effect on all the early Protestant de-
became a best-seller, and is full of bibli- the major and minor Protestant de- nominations and their subsequent
cal Zionist language. nominations so that evangelicals are followers for generations to come. So it
Persecution ultimately led to many to be found across the whole spectrum was hardly surprising that, at the height
Puritans emigrating to the fledgling of Protestantism. of evangelical influence in Victorian
United States of America. The height As an example, it was no coin- Britain, Zionism should be reborn. Its
of what became known as the Great cidence that John Wesley went to influence reached to the British War
Migration (to America) was between America in 1735 as a young English Cabinet in 1917 .
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1620 and 1640. Anglican cleric and had a most unsuc- Finally, before the anti-Zionist storm
Probably the most notable early cessful ministry. During his time there broke in 1918, US President Woodrow
examples of Puritan influence and the he encountered a group of Radical Wilson met a Jewish delegation in the
growing Zionist sympathy are to be Reformers known as the Moravians. White House to discuss the Balfour
found in the Pilgrim Fathers and the epic They had a powerful influence on him Declaration. He spoke movingly, re-
‘Mayflower’ voyage of 1620. Here Puri- by the way they lived and believed. In membering his Puritan Presbyterian
tans were joined by other persecuted May 1738 Wesley went to a Moravian background and upbringing: “To think
Continental Reformers and Dissenters. meeting in London where he had an that I, a son of the manse, should be
Even the name Pilgrim was biblical evangelical experience which changed privileged to help the Jewish people re-
terminology, taken from the book of He- his life and thinking. Through John gain for the future their home of a great
brews in the New Testament but based Wesley and his brother, Charles, the and historic past, Palestine.”
on biblical characters mentioned in the Methodist Church was birthed. So to gather with our Jewish friends
Tanakh or Old Testament. In 1762 Charles wrote what became to celebrate the reissuing of Israel’s
birth certificate in the form of the
Balfour Declaration is a unique privi-
Almighty God of Love, by Charles Wesley lege. For Christian Zionists this is a
momentous historical and prophetic
Almighty God of Love, Send then Thy servants forth, event. As we celebrate this centenary,
Set up the attracting sign, To call the Hebrews home: we do not forget the debt we owe to
And summon whom Thou dost approve From east and west and south and north, those who brought to life the Jewish
For messengers divine; Let all the wanderers come; roots of the Christian faith. Above all
From favoured Abram’s Seed Where’er in lands unknown we honour the God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob who alone is the author and
The new Apostles choose, The fugitives remain, finisher of destiny.
In isles and continents to spread Bid every creature help them on,
The dead-reviving news. Thy holy mount to gain.
1. See article on p15
Oh that the chosen band An offering to the Lord, 2. Martin Luther is a huge figure in Church
Might now their brethren bring! There let them all be seen, history, as this article demonstrates. We also
And gathered out of every land, Sprinkled with water and with blood, acknowledge that, in the latter part of his life,
Present to Zion’s King! In soul and body clean: he became extremely anti-Semitic, urging
his fellow countrymen to expel the Jews from
Of all the ancient race With Israel’s myriads sealed, Germany. It was these teachings that provided a
Not one be left behind, Let all the nations meet, theological basis for Adolf Hitler, leading to the
But each, impelled by sacred grace, And now the mystery fulfilled, Shoah (Holocaust)
3. See article on p48
His way to Canaan find. Thy family complete. 4. Some verses from the hymn are in the box
5. See article on p26