Here’s my shot at the sentence prize:

Several prominent evangelicals; Mark Driscoll, Macel Fallwell, Kenny Copland and Rick Warren, have received prayer requests from Jews in their community who are understandably disturbed because of spotting UFO’s or encountering aliens from Mars having sex.

I think that the WEA is really imposing meaning the Apostle Paul didn’t intend with his statement about being “set apart for the gospel” when they use Ro 1:1 to support this statement . . .

[Denouncing the use of deception of coercion in evangelism but rejecting the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews]

. . . a statement I disagree with. Didn’t Paul actually advocate for identifying as Jewish if doing so helped to advance the gospel?  He said “I will become all things to all people; to the Jews . . .” And consider that he actually required Timothy to become circumcised so that the Jews in the area would identify him with his Jewish mother instead of his Greek father.

And I hope that along with standing against injustices against Jewish people, the WEA will equally stand against the many injustices being committed BY the Jewish people.

But I’m wondering, why do we need a public statement to Jews signed by prominent evangelicals. Um, what is the point and how does publishing a public statement help us advance the gospel?  Isn’t it like unnecessarily picking a fight?

Wendi

welcome brian, you are in for a great awakening. wendi that was a good sentence.

Mark Driscol, Macel Falwell, Kenny Copeland, Rick Warren, & several prominent Jews are all in a buzz over their recent abduction by aliens, who posted a flurry of pictures of them all having tea in the main rooms of their UFOs in today’s paper, while the aliens were having sex next door.

I win, Wendi, because I used the words “today’s” and “buzz” and you didn’t. nannie nannie boo boo…

Kenny and Creflo may be right to refuse to turn over the records for two reasons. 1. I believe they’ve been requested, not subpoenaed, so they’re not legally bound to turn them over and 2. I suspect they have a LOT to hide…

Wendi - a couple things. 

First of all, I believe WEA used Romans 11:1 (not Romans 1:1) as support for the statement that it is not deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews.  “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. “ (Romans 11:1)

Secondly, I would agree with WEA on this.  A person does not cease being Jewish when he or she becomes a Christian.  As you pointed out, Paul advocated identifying with Jewish people for the sake of advancing the gospel, but Paul certainly did not view this as deception.  I am thinking of his words to the Thessalonians here:  “For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. “ (1 Thessalonians 2:3)

Thirdly, I don’t believe the intent of WEA was to pick a fight.  The statement grew out of a concern that some churches were viewing sharing the gospel with Jews as “off limits.” WEA wanted to reaffirm the importance of sharing the gospel with all people, both Jew and non-Jew.  At the same time they wanted to take a strong stand against antisemitism and affirm their support for Jewish people in general, knowing that some people would probably take the statement wrongly.  For example, the ADL has already condemned the statement as “offensive and insulting to the Jewish people.”

Fourthly, great job on your sentence!  I think you win the prize.

Ray –

Woops.  I missed two things.  First, I read 1:1 instead of 11:1 in the WEA article.  If I had referred to the passage actually cited, I wouldn’t have misread the statement to say the opposite of what it actually did say.  Understanding it now, I fully agree with the statement.  Thanks.
Regarding my comment about the statement seeming to pick a fight, in my mind it would depend upon the purpose of the organization and who they serve.  On the website they describe themselves this way: the WEA is a network of churches in 128 nations that have each formed an evangelical alliance and over 100 international organizations joining together to give a worldwide identity, voice and platform to more than 420 million evangelical Christians.
This statement, made to member organizations and churches, seems completely appropriate because it is saying “if you identify with us, here is what comes with that identity.” But sometimes it appears that statements like this that come from evangelical organizations and associations are really intended for a different audience.  For example, sometimes statements that seem on the surface to be intended for Christians, are really intended for the ears of politicians to influence their decisions.  Still, I understand that with today’s communication mechanisms, words genuinely intended for one audience are broadcasted to many others. 
The statement would be like picking a fight if it is intended to explain to the Jew how WEA folks are planning to reach them.  Doesn’t appear to be the motive, even if it is somewhat of the outcome . . . so I’ll withdraw my “picking a fight” comment.

Are Peter and I the only two vying for the sentence prize?

Wendi

Wendi wrote:  “But sometimes it appears that statements like this that come from evangelical organizations and associations are really intended for a different audience.”

Which could be the case in this situation where they are printing it as an advertisement in major publications like the New York Times.

Thanks for your thoughts and interaction.