Christianity and politics do not mix. Politics is not of God but of man. It is the selfish ambition of man that has nothing of God in it. So it is this past week with the "Christians United for Israel" events being held in Washington DC. Organized by Pastor John Hagee, who does not adhere to Biblical teachings, this event is a microcosm of what is wrong with the leadership in the evangelical world today. It is the infusion of personal political beliefs into the public debate disguised as Christianity. It is the prototypical wolf in sheep's clothing.
Hagee who has been quoted as supporting a dual covenant theory which espouses that the Jewish people do not have to come to Christ in order to have salvation, has organized more than 3,000 Christians to Washington to ask the Bush administration, "not to restrain Israel in any way in the pursuit of Hamas and Hezbollah" In defending this logic, Hagee said in his speech that, "Israel has been a longtime friend and ally of the United States, and Christians everywhere have a biblical responsibility to support the Jewish people." The first half of this excuse is a political distinction not a theological one. Yes Israel has been a longtime ally of the United States and if people wanted to rally to support them based on our political history, I would not take offense. It is the wrapping it up in the Bible and pretending that Christ would support it is where the line gets crossed. The second half of Hagee's sentence is flatly inaccurate. There is not ONE Bible verse that says that Christians must support Israel, not one. What the Bible does say is that we are to pray for Israel because they are God's chosen people and only through their refusal of Christ did salvation come to the gentiles. In fact the most telling Bible verse is in Psalm 122 where we are implored to pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem. The clever distinction overlooked by Hagee is that he wishes to turn a command for prayer, into a call for political action. While Israel are the chosen people of God, that does not mean we are to accept everything they do as righteous. In fact if you read the Old Testament you will see that most of it deals with Israel not following God's directives.
So the how did the Christians United for Israel kick off their festivities? Was it with fasting and prayer? Holding a vigil possibly? A series of intercessory prayers for the peace of Jerusalem? No. They held a banquet on Tuesday where Christians could gather to hear from such noted prophets as Republican Senators Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback and Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee. The Christians United for Israel also has Jerry Falwell on its board, another indication of how it is compromised. This is the same Falwell who said about the wars in the Middle East, "we should blow them all to hell in the name of our Lord and Savior." Apparently, it is far more important to espouse their republican political values then it is to espouse the teachings of Christ. At the banquet Hagee opined that, "We want Israel to have the ability to respond in the fullest measure possible." Therein lies the true agenda. It is not about what God wants for Hagee. It is about what Hagee wants. It is about what the government of Israel wants. Never mind that we do not know if the actions undertaken by Israel are in line with God's will or not. As I have pointed out, most of the Old Testament outlines Israel's disobedience to God yet to hear Hagee talk about it, we should support it. It would seem to me that if Hagee was there at Mount Sinai when Moses had gone up to God, that he would have lobbied Christians to support the golden calf. After all, that is what Israel wanted. So instead of wanting the will of God to be done for Israel Hagee leads people to believe they should be allowed to respond in the fullest measure possible. Never mind that over 50% of the casualties are children under the age of 15. Never mind that there are Christians living in Lebanon. Where are the prayers for them? Where are the prayers for peace? Instead we hear political blustering from a man bearing the mantle of Christ but forgetting what he stands for.
No Pastor Hagee, you do not. You represent a chosen few who are being led astray by your Christo-political rantings and distortions of the Bible. Forty million people do not think that indiscriminate killing of God's creation is sanctioned by God. Forty million people do not confuse the word "prayer" and "support". Forty million people know the difference between the love of Christ and the hateful bigotry of man. They understand that we are charged with the Great Commission, which is to save all of God's creation not just those we find politically expedient. No Pastor Hagee, the forty million people you talk about understand that the blood being spilled in Lebanon and Iraq means as much to God as your own.
Matthew 24:4-5 declares, "Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many." Do not be deceived my Christian brethren. Many will come in His name. We are to discern what is right and wrong based on the Word of God, not the bluster of man. Get back to the red letters and see what Christ actually said. We are absolutely to pray for Israel, but those prayers need to be for God's will to be done for His people, not the will of governments that randomly kill people for political reasons. Specifically, the Bible implores us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem not that Israel be allowed to respond in the fullest measure possible. One is the will of God and the other is the will of man. Christians should be united for Christ; first, last and always.
Blessings.
