Pastor Chuck Seilestad has written to Charles Carlson, explaining his beliefs.  Bible-college educated layman, Craig Hanson, answers, and I (Carlson) comment.   Craig and I met this Pastor outside his church over two years ago.  Unfortunately, his view of scripture is shared by tens of millions of Americans who are usually referred to as “evangelicals”, but who have become practicing Christian Zionists.  We have learned that most church goers whom we have met outside of more than 120 Zionist churches cannot clearly explain this distorted view of theology–even to themselves.  Please read and ask yourself if you could be influenced by the Christian Zionist belief system. -Editor CEC,

From: Senior Pastor, Chuck Seilestad, Center Points Christian Fellowship
Sacramento, California, email:  drchuck@clstours.com
To: Charles E. Carlson, director We Hold These Truths
Dear Chuck Carlson,
Brother, I call you this if you are a fellow Christian, even if we don’t agree, I want to explain a few things to you if you will listen and read what I have to say. I read your email so please be kind and read mine. As a Pastor and a person who has studied the Bible since a small child, I interpret the Bible from a literal point of view, except where it is obvious that the passages are symbolic. If you are open minded, and not closed minded like many Christians are becoming today, you will be able to examine the Scriptures and come to an obvious conclusion. When God makes a promise that He says is forever, it means forever. If He says it’s everlasting, it means everlasting; that means forever. If not what good is His promises? Remember this question later on in this letter. God spoke to Abram in Genesis 12:3 (King James Version, or choose any other version you may prefer), it says, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” He further speaks to him in Genesis 17:5-8, that says, Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. What does the word forever and everlasting mean? “Everlasting,” in strictness, is that which endures forever; either that which has no beginning and will have no end (in which sense it is applicable to God only), or that which, having a beginning, will have no end, but henceforth will exist forever. When God promised Abraham the land (Israel as we know it) and his seed (the people) will always be His (God’s) then that means forever, without end. If you curse God’s chosen people (the Jews who rightfully own the Promised Land, which is Israel today, and a whole lot more area that they will possess later) then you are asking for a curse upon your head, delivered by God Himself. But if you bless God’s people, the Jews, then great blessing will come upon you. I could go on with all the political issues in the world today concerning the Middle East, but I won’t because I want to stay on point with this conversation. But, I will say this, if you look at the Aggressors in the Middle East its the Muslim Extremists, not the Jews. I’ve been there many times, I can tell the difference between peaceful people and murderers who stab, shoot, run over people with cars, and strap bombs to their children, and teach them to hate (which by the way are the Muslim Extremists, not the Jews). I’m not using the term Palestinian at this point because there really isn’t any such people, they are predominately Arab, that is a political term invented after the Six Day War of 1967. Read history, if you don’t believe me. Honestly, if you don’t know what to read I’ll point you in the right direction. Remember the question that I asked earlier in this letter? If not what good is His (God’s) promises? Do you believe if you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior that you will receive Eternal (which means Everlasting) Life? If you believe this as I do, then why would you not believe that the seed of Abraham (the Jews) have an Everlasting promise to their land (Israel) as God promised. You can’t pick and choose. We Christians did not replace the Jews for the Promise they were given, we were grafted into the vine, we didn’t replace it. I could go on and on with the truth of the Scriptures but I don’t know how willing you are to accept it. This is not a Dual Covenant stance. All need to come to the cross for forgiveness. One day the Jewish nation will know their Messiah. God will direct them. It would be nice if you would get your facts straight on an issue in your email (there are several, some are theological issues we can get discuss another time) but I want to focus on one issue about Christians United For Israel. Unless you are purposely stating something untrue (called a lie, which I’m hoping you are not outright doing), you are misinformed about a statement you made. John Hagee, does not believe in a ‘dual-covenant’ theology. CUFI does not believe in a ‘dual-covenant’ theology, and neither do I. Christians United For Israel supports the Jewish people in their God given right to their homeland and their very right to exist. That’s what we are all about. We support the promise God made to Abraham and his descendants, and we support Abraham’s descendants. I will say this, I am a member of Christians United For Israel, as well as the members of our church, which by the way is Pro-Israel. We will stand at the Night to Honor Israel, supporting the Jewish people who have the right to their land. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15 that we need to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Brother, read your Bible and understand the truth of it. If you can’t bring yourself to seek the truth of what I’m telling you, I will pray for you daily. Join with me to receive a blessing, not the curse. I for one, want the blessing of God.
(signed) Dr. Chuck Seilestad Senior Pastor Center Points Christian Fellowship Sacramento, California
For a full account of the June, 2012 Vigil, go to: