WHEATON, Ill. -- The World Evangelical Alliance has reaffirmed its declaration that Christians should target Jews for conversion, taking issue with a report from the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops that opposes such efforts.
The Alliance, which includes 120 national and regional church fellowships and 75 non-denominational ministries, originally issued the declaration in 1989. The document was written by 16 theologians from nine nations, according to The Associated Press.
"Sharing Jesus Christ with our Jewish friends is as important a task as ever it was," said the Rev. J.I. Packer, one of the document's original authors.
In August, the Catholic bishops said deepened appreciation of God's unbroken covenant with the Jewish people means "campaigns that target Jews for conversion to Christianity are no longer acceptable in the Catholic Church."
The Alliance's document defends targeted evangelism, claiming no one can enjoy God's favor apart from the mediation of Jesus Christ.
"Faith in Jesus Christ is humanity's only way to come to know the Creator," according to the document.
