The prayer conference began with a trio of men taking their places center stage and blowing shofars (ceremonial ram’s horns). One shouted, “Our worship is our warfare!” The crowd erupted in raucous applause, with cries of “Yes, Jesus!” exploding like firecrackers around the room. A group of modestly dressed female praise dancers came out twirling tallitot (Jewish prayer shawls) over their heads as the worship team played a set of popular Messianic Jewish worship songs.
Most of the event’s attendees cheered this display as an expression of their philosemitism. I understood what conference organizers were trying to communicate with their opening act: They wanted to demonstrate their unshakeable support for the modern State of Israel while, at the same time, baptize their event with symbols and rituals drawn from Jewish practice as a visible expression of their longing for both personal spiritual power and corporate spiritual revival in America.
All of this activity should…
