A recent statement issued by the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem is a timely and necessary intervention. It addresses a growing and deeply troubling phenomenon: groups that claim to represent “Christians from the Holy Land” while speaking instead for political ideologies, foreign interests, and theological distortions that have little to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
They represent no recognized church, no accountable congregation, and no indigenous Christian community rooted in this land.
These organizations—often styling themselves as embassies, bridges of love, or voices for peace—present themselves before governments and international bodies as authentic representatives of local Christianity. In reality, they represent no recognized church, no accountable congregation, and no indigenous Christian community rooted in this land. Their authority is self-appointed, their accountability absent, and their theology dangerously compromised.
At the heart of the problem is a distorted theology commonly associated with Christian Zionism—a framework that replaces the person of Jesus Christ with a modern nation-state, sanctifies political power, and offers theological cover for occupation, injustice, and even collective violence.
Scripture is unambiguous. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Yet these movements have laid another foundation—one rooted in nationalism rather than incarnation, power rather than the cross.
Jesus Himself rejected political messianism.
Jesus Himself rejected political messianism. “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Any theology that blesses domination, silences suffering, or justifies dispossession stands in direct contradiction to the Gospel of the Kingdom—a kingdom marked by justice, mercy, and humility.
The world must hear this clearly: the Christians of the Holy Land are not an abstract idea, a fundraising tool, or a political accessory. We are a living, worshiping, indigenous community whose presence predates modern states and contemporary ideologies; we have been here since day one of Christianity.
There are established, accountable Evangelical bodies with clear ecclesial structures and leadership that global Christians must engage and consult with.
This includes not only the historic Orthodox, Catholic, and Oriental churches, but also the officially recognized Protestant and Evangelical churches of the Holy Land. There are established, accountable Evangelical bodies with clear ecclesial structures and leadership that global Christians must engage and consult with.
Among these are the Synod of Evangelical Churches in the Holy Land, the Council of Evangelical Churches in Israel, and other recognized Evangelical frameworks that represent local congregations and pastors who live and serve in this land.
It is also important to note that Evangelical leadership from the Holy Land is present at the global level. The head of the World Evangelical Alliance is a Palestinian Christian brother from Nazareth, Rev. Botrus Mansour. This reality alone challenges the false narrative that indigenous Evangelicals are absent, silent, or irrelevant.
In addition, longstanding indigenous Evangelical institutions are speaking clearly and consistently from the ground. Bethlehem Bible College and Nazareth Evangelical College have for decades formed pastors, theologians, educators, and leaders who bear faithful witness to Christ while engaging honestly with the realities of life under occupation, discrimination, and ongoing conflict.
Representation flows from embodied ecclesial life.
The Apostle Peter describes the Church as “living stones… built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). Representation flows from embodied ecclesial life—from churches that worship, baptize, bury their dead, and remain faithful in the land despite pressure and marginalization.
Yet many of the groups claiming to speak for Christians in the Holy Land thrive on fundraising from well-meaning believers abroad while systematically ignoring, silencing, or misrepresenting these local Evangelical voices—especially those who refuse to align with political agendas.
Jesus warned clearly: “You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). When financial gain, political access, or ideological loyalty determines one’s message, the Gospel is no longer proclaimed—it is distorted.
This is not about exclusion but about truth.
I therefore affirm the statement of the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem and add to them the established Evangelical councils in the Holy Land as well. This is not about exclusion but about truth. Not about silencing voices but about discernment and accountability.
To Christians around the world, especially Evangelicals, we offer this appeal: listen to your brothers and sisters who live in the land of the Bible. Hear the voices of local Evangelical synods, councils, seminaries, and church leaders. Test the spirits (1 John 4:1). Reject the misuse of scripture to justify injustice.
Christ is not found in corridors of power.
Christ is not found in corridors of power but among those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). The Church of the Holy Land does not need self-appointed spokespeople. It needs partners who will walk with us in truth, justice, and love—under the lordship of Jesus Christ alone.
Rev. Dr. Jack Sara is the President of Bethlehem Bible College. Born and raised in the Old City of Jerusalem, Jack studied at Bethlehem Bible College after committing his life to Christ and his teachings. Jack is an ordained minister with Evangelical Alliance Church in the Holy Land where he still maintains an overseeing role with the leadership of the churches. He is the General Secretary for the Middle East & North Africa Evangelical Alliance and works extensively in the areas of peace & reconciliation.
