After news broke President Donald Trump would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. Embassy there, evangelicals rushed to praise him.
Here's a sampling:
Gov. Mike Huckabee, honorary national chairman of My Faith Votes:
For over two decades American presidents have talked the good talk on Israel. But when it's come to taking action, they've hesitated and kicked the can down the road instead of standing with our ally and recognizing its right to call Jerusalem its capital. Today, President Donald Trump did what his predecessors didn't have the courage to do: recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city. In so doing, he set two great examples for us—how to make good on promises and how to treat your friends. There is no brighter beacon of democracy in the Middle East than Israel, and President Trump's announcement of Jerusalem as its capital reinforces—for the whole world to see—the truth that it has a right to exist. Christians in America should be proud that one of our closest allies, also the ancient homeland of our Judeo-Christian faith, exudes tolerance, steadiness and strength in a region too often marked by all the reliability of deserts full of shifting sand.
Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas:
Jerusalem is and should be recognized as the capital of Israel. It is David's capital, the site of the first and second temples, the focus of the historians' accounts, the psalmists' songs and the prophets' visions. It is the place where Jesus, a Jew himself, was crucified and where he was resurrected. It is the place where he will set foot again on earth at his second coming.President Donald J. Trump has demonstrated true leadership today by recognizing Jerusalem as the legitimate capital of Israel. President Trump is a modern-day profile in courage, accomplishing what no other president has been willing to do. It took courage for President Harry S. Truman to recognize Israel as a nation in 1948, and it took courage for President Donald J. Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel today. He is a blessing not only to our nation but to Israel as well. Jerusalem has been the object of the affection of both Jews and Christians down through history and the touchstone of prophecy. But most importantly, God gave Jerusalem—and the rest of the Holy Land—to the Jewish people.
Pastor Paula White, senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center:
Promise made. Promise kept. Once again, President Trump has shown the world what I have always known—he is a leader who is willing to do what is right however loud the voices are of the skeptics and the critics. Evangelicals are ecstatic, for Israel is to us a sacred place and the Jewish people are our dearest friends. The Jewish people have dedicated themselves to Jerusalem over millennia, taken pride in it, defended it with blood and treasure, and today we rejoice with them as our president has done the sensible thing—he has let the State of Israel choose for itself its own capital. Christians, the world over, are not surprised and we call the world to pray for the peace of Jerusalem—God's chosen city for God's chosen people.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference:
The historical record, empirical fact and our faith all confirm that Jerusalem is in fact the capital of the Jewish people. I therefore enthusiastically applaud President Trump's decision to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a promise every president has made since Clinton, and which none has fulfilled until today. In 1995 Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which mandated moving the U.S. Embassy to a unified Jerusalem. Every six months since, our political leaders have given one excuse after another for not following through on this promise. President Trump has made clear that the time for acquiescence is over. Recognizing the Jewish people's rightful claim to their eternal capital city puts the United States firmly on the right side of history. This is not only the right thing to do, it is the altogether righteous thing to do.
Dr. David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church:
The Scriptures declare that those who stand with Israel will indeed be blessed. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Christian community in America is unapologetically a true and faithful friend to the Jewish people. God's devotion to the Jewish people is the result of an eternal promise.We applaud the U.S. administration's leadership for finally, rightly and formally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's eternal capital.There will be many who oppose this decision, just as so many have opposed Israel and her people throughout the centuries. We should not be surprised by this, but rather more convinced than ever that, despite great opposition, God's hand will forever be on the people of the promise. To this day, Israel stands as a shining light in the Middle East, a free democracy, a thriving economy and a vibrant culture undergirded by the rule of law. May she continue to be blessed and may we, the United States of America, be blessed by reaffirming that we stand firmly beside her.
Here's a sampling:
Gov. Mike Huckabee, honorary national chairman of My Faith Votes:
For over two decades American presidents have talked the good talk on Israel. But when it's come to taking action, they've hesitated and kicked the can down the road instead of standing with our ally and recognizing its right to call Jerusalem its capital. Today, President Donald Trump did what his predecessors didn't have the courage to do: recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city. In so doing, he set two great examples for us—how to make good on promises and how to treat your friends. There is no brighter beacon of democracy in the Middle East than Israel, and President Trump's announcement of Jerusalem as its capital reinforces—for the whole world to see—the truth that it has a right to exist. Christians in America should be proud that one of our closest allies, also the ancient homeland of our Judeo-Christian faith, exudes tolerance, steadiness and strength in a region too often marked by all the reliability of deserts full of shifting sand.
Dr. Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas:
Jerusalem is and should be recognized as the capital of Israel. It is David's capital, the site of the first and second temples, the focus of the historians' accounts, the psalmists' songs and the prophets' visions. It is the place where Jesus, a Jew himself, was crucified and where he was resurrected. It is the place where he will set foot again on earth at his second coming.President Donald J. Trump has demonstrated true leadership today by recognizing Jerusalem as the legitimate capital of Israel. President Trump is a modern-day profile in courage, accomplishing what no other president has been willing to do. It took courage for President Harry S. Truman to recognize Israel as a nation in 1948, and it took courage for President Donald J. Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel today. He is a blessing not only to our nation but to Israel as well. Jerusalem has been the object of the affection of both Jews and Christians down through history and the touchstone of prophecy. But most importantly, God gave Jerusalem—and the rest of the Holy Land—to the Jewish people.
Pastor Paula White, senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center:
Promise made. Promise kept. Once again, President Trump has shown the world what I have always known—he is a leader who is willing to do what is right however loud the voices are of the skeptics and the critics. Evangelicals are ecstatic, for Israel is to us a sacred place and the Jewish people are our dearest friends. The Jewish people have dedicated themselves to Jerusalem over millennia, taken pride in it, defended it with blood and treasure, and today we rejoice with them as our president has done the sensible thing—he has let the State of Israel choose for itself its own capital. Christians, the world over, are not surprised and we call the world to pray for the peace of Jerusalem—God's chosen city for God's chosen people.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference:
The historical record, empirical fact and our faith all confirm that Jerusalem is in fact the capital of the Jewish people. I therefore enthusiastically applaud President Trump's decision to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a promise every president has made since Clinton, and which none has fulfilled until today. In 1995 Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, which mandated moving the U.S. Embassy to a unified Jerusalem. Every six months since, our political leaders have given one excuse after another for not following through on this promise. President Trump has made clear that the time for acquiescence is over. Recognizing the Jewish people's rightful claim to their eternal capital city puts the United States firmly on the right side of history. This is not only the right thing to do, it is the altogether righteous thing to do.
Dr. David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church:
The Scriptures declare that those who stand with Israel will indeed be blessed. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Christian community in America is unapologetically a true and faithful friend to the Jewish people. God's devotion to the Jewish people is the result of an eternal promise.We applaud the U.S. administration's leadership for finally, rightly and formally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's eternal capital.There will be many who oppose this decision, just as so many have opposed Israel and her people throughout the centuries. We should not be surprised by this, but rather more convinced than ever that, despite great opposition, God's hand will forever be on the people of the promise. To this day, Israel stands as a shining light in the Middle East, a free democracy, a thriving economy and a vibrant culture undergirded by the rule of law. May she continue to be blessed and may we, the United States of America, be blessed by reaffirming that we stand firmly beside her.