Oh, Tucker

 

Because of a recent guest on Tucker Carlson’s podcast and his promotion of this guest, (March 31, 2025) the controversy over Dispensationalism verses Replacement Theology is heating up again on social media. “Replacement Theology” is the belief that the church has replaced Israel (and/or the Jewish people) as the focus in Scripture. It basically negates the importance of Israel, as a people and a nation. Replacement Theology means exactly how it sounds. It redefines to whom God’s Covenant was given as God’s Chosen People. Replacement Theology, also known as “Dominionism” and “Supersessionism” (meaning the church has superseded Israel as God‘s chosen people) is in opposition to “dispensationalism” which is my view and the more common, traditional, Christian view. 

“Dispensationalism” is an evangelical view that interprets Biblical history as a series of distinct eras or "dispensations" where God interacts with humanity in different ways. It emphasizes the distinction between Israel and the Church, believing the Jew to be God’s chosen people to fulfill His Divine plan, and it explains the need for both. This is based on Genesis 12: 1-3, the Abrahamic Covenant, – the promise God made to Abraham.   

12 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 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.

Let’s more clearly define that, too. This was a divine agreement made between God and Abraham, promising him a great nation, land, and blessings for all nations through his descendants.

• Verse 1: God commands Abraham to leave his homeland (Mesopotamia) and go to the land God will show him – Canaan, the Promised Land to become Israel.

• Verse 2: God promises to make Abraham a great nation, bless him, and make his name great.

• Verse 3: God promises that all peoples on earth will be blessed through Abraham.

And with that covenant the Jews made a sign: Circumcision was established as the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 17: 9-14.

So with that ground work laid, let’s get back to today and the podcast that caused me to write: Tucker Carlson’s March 31, 2025 interview with Andrew Isker. Isker is the pastor of 4th Street Evangelical Church in Waseca, MN. Interestingly, Isker also has connections and studied under Pastor Doug Wilson, at Greyfriars Hall Ministerial Training School in Moscow, ID. This school was started by Wilson’s “Christ Church” in Moscow. Wilson is a Senior Fellow of Theology at the school. He is a Reformed Calvinist and is one of the pastors, whom Tucker has recently interviewed, promoting “Covenant Theology” and/or “Replacement Theology”. Covenant Theology is a little softer than Replacement Theology, by saying that the church has not replaced Israel, but has fulfilled God’s promise whom He had made to Israel. In my view, Covenant Theology is one and the same as Replacement Theology and the terms are interchangeable, because they both negate Israel. Covenant Theology teaches that the existence of Israel today is not prophetically significant. This is why I assume Tucker found this pastor and interviewed him. He supports Tucker’s political agenda, as does anyone who won’t support Israel.

Many of Tucker’s guests since leaving Fox News have been very anti-Israel, and this guest was not an exception. Tucker is obsessed with the United States support of Israel. He hates it. He doesn’t like money going to them and he does not want to be seen defending them in any way. He pretends he has the same views as President Trump, or rather that President Trump’s are the same as his; but they are far different when it comes to foreign policy. And personally, I see all of Tucker’s anti-Israel guests as a means to undermine Trump’s views and policy. TC is trying to bring us along to his view. I have yet to seen him interview a guest from the other side. I think he believes when he gets to us, he can influence Trump.

I don’t like talking or arguing Scripture or someone’s beliefs, but Tucker is a political pundit that continually weighs into faith doctrines that are controversial and he is teaching them as fact. This, without us even knowing for sure that he is a Christian. I think it needs to be addressed. I respect everyone’s difference in beliefs, when I know it is truly about their faith and not their politics. Or even if they buffer their politics with their faith beliefs. But not when the two are clearly in opposition, or faith is being used, distorted, or manipulated. Below is a list of Tucker’s guests that have brought me concern. All of these people have been reported to be anti-Semites in one form or another and/or anti-Israel. I don’t think that’s coincidental. Where is the other side if it’s about fairness? Here they are:

Jimmy Dore, Candace Owens, Colonel Doug Macgregor, Glenn Greenwald, Thomas Massie, Darryl Cooper, (MartyrMade), Alex Jones, Ian Carrol, Russel Brand, Julian Assange, Doug Wilson, Jackson Hinkle, Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac to name a few. I think he has also supported the Tate brothers; I know that Candace Owens has. He always downplays it after the interview, if criticism comes, saying he's just supporting free speech. But it's more than that; he's consistently promoting a belief and an agenda. Do you think all of those interviews are coincidental, when the other side is completely missing?

And now, most recently, he has interviewed Andrew Isker, a Replacement Theology advocate and a teacher of this doctrine. This is the interview that blew up everything on Facebook and X. It has caused me to want to address the inaccurate doctrine of Replacement Theology. Dispensenationalism, in contrast to Replacement Theology, has been discussed and argued for forever - by the best of theologians! So I don’t expect to match that and I certainly don’t expect to change anyone’s ideas or faith. But I have to try to explain some things anyway, from merely a layman’s perspective. I want to address it not so much in regard to the difference in faith doctrines, which I believe we are not to argue. But rather, I want to address the political perspective of Tucker Carlson and him using this doctrine to support his incorrect political ideology. And honestly, I think it’s perfectly fine that I try to do that, because I believe I know more about this than Tucker Carlson. Just sayin’. ;-) Plus I absolutely believe what this is really about for Tucker, is only his politics. Let me make clear, I am not questioning or attacking Christians who hold to this view. Doctinal differences among Christians is a completely different issue than what I will discuss here.

Beginning Trouble with Tucker

Since leaving Fox News, Tucker has gained a tremendous number of followers that are considered “Groypers”. “Groypers” are an “alt-right” (that term is too nice) group that consists of mostly young people that were formed and named by Nick Fuentes. Fuentes is a well-known anti-Semite that was kicked out of the “Conservative Political Action Committee” (CPAC) for his radical, anti-Semitic statements. He then formed his own group called “America First Political Action Committee”, (AFPAC). He likes to identify himself and his group as “Christian” and/or “Christian Nationalists”. But “by their fruits you will know them.” I don’t see anything but rotten fruit. I can easily identify someone from this group in the comment section of Tucker’s posts on social media. None of them are quiet about their affiliations. I think that growing number is a concern. To me, that proves what ideology Tucker is promoting – they LOVE him and are in agreement with him.

Also, don’t be confused by their “America First” label; they are not “America First” in the way President Trump means. They are, in fact, basically not much different than what we used to identify as “neo-Nazis” – a far, far right radical, racist group that really mean “white only”. In fact, they are so far right, they reach the left. And in the correct definition, Hitler was not of the right, but rather the left. “National Socialists” was from where the term Nazi came. So it is not very hard to figure out where their ideology lies on “The Left – Right Political Spectrum”. Naturally, most of the people in this group are anti-Israel, whether they claim to be Christian or not! As far as the Groyper’s, people of other races are allowed and accepted in that group (as opposed to the neo-Nazis) ...just as long as they hate Israel. They wildly support this doctrine as is apparent in the comments on social media. These people identifying as “Groypers” give conservatives a bad name. They give a reason for ignorant liberals to identify all “conservatism” as “racist” when that couldn’t be further from the truth. That’s just another reason, they are so dangerous, in my view.

Now with that being said, I am not saying people that adhere to Replacement Theology, or this pastor align with. or support Groypers. I am saying there is a draw in Tucker’s messages that causes them to want to support him and they follow him faithfully. Therein lies a grave danger. They are gaining ground and credibility in the minds of those truly ignorant to what is taking place and love Tucker for all of his other accurate conservative positions, which of course he holds.

But here, I hope to demonstrate the inaccuracies with Tucker’s interview and the theology of Andrew Isker, which is indeed, “Replacement Theology”.

A Little Background

Tucker claims in the interview, that there are numerous times where Scripture erases the traditional view we believe, of God working differently through the dispensations. But I don’t think it’s wise to be taking our teaching from a political pundit who may or may not be a Christian. Certainly, in any case, we shouldn’t allow a new Christian, or a non-Christian to teach us the Bible; and there seems to be a lot of that going around these days. Politics is one thing and bringing God into it is perfectly acceptable. But to allow a political pundit to try to tell us what the Bible states (as if in a Bible Study) should be a huge no-no. And that is what I believe is happening on many fronts...Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Jordan Peterson, Russel Brand, just to name a few.

But back to the issue at hand. First, let’s define the name “Israel” according to Scripture. J. C. Ryle (1816-1900) in his book “Are You Ready for the End Time” explains the importance of defining terms before attempting an explanation. We can’t get to the correct end result, if from the beginning we don’t define what we are explaining so that people can understand correctly and all be on the same page.

Ryle points out there are 3 ways Israel is used/defined in the Bible.

1. Jacob, (father of the 12 tribes) whose name God changed to the name “Israel”.

2. The land defined with boundaries. This is the ten tribes that separate from the southern kingdom of Judah which had two tribes.

3. The entire Jewish race (the entire 12 tribes) who were scattered and brought back together as told and prophesied in Jeremiah 31:10.

"Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd." 

Why do I even care about any of this? Scripture tells us multiple times that we are to bless Israel, and to pray for Jerusalem. In Genesis 12: 3, Numbers 24: 9 and Psalm 122:6, we are told that “those who bless Israel will be blessed. Those who curse Israel will be cursed.” Who wants to mess with that?? I certainly don’t. I want to bless Israel in my personal life and I want to be sure my church, and my nation continues to bless them.

Replacement Theology goes back as far as 160 AD and it has been debated since that time, too. I believe there has always been a waxing and a waning, where it grows stronger with many recurrences at different times in history. And there has always been a difference in theological views. It reportedly began out of a belief that from that time, the Jews had too much influence into the church and there was a desire that they be purged from Christianity. (How contrary is that?) These sentiments found their way into the hearts of the early church, ignoring the fact that the first church and the early church were obviously Jewish! Let’s get real! The church began at Antioch with Jews who knew those who had been discipled by Jesus – the earliest Christians were Jewish! The writers of the Bible were Jewish and they preserved the Scriptures for us! The disciples/apostles were Jewish; and the first missionaries were Jewish! And of course Jesus was Jewish!

But many who hold to the view of Supersessionism/Replacement Theology, also believed and blamed the Jew for crucifying Jesus, rather than understanding it was something that was always God’s plan. It was purely out of a lack of understanding that the Jews were blamed. These views became the basis for anti-Semitic teaching in many church circles. And in fact, are still around today. Those views ignored the fact that this was all entirely God’s plan, and that in a divine act of love God created a way for both the Jew and the Gentile to enter into His kingdom. I only point to this negative aspect as a means of how doctrine could have been misconstrued. Certainly though, many who hold to Replacement Theology are truly born again Christians who do not blame the Jew for the death of Jesus and they of course, understand the Gospel message completely. They simply hold to an allegorical view of the promise God gave to Israel.

In more recent years, Supersessionists now claim that Dispensationalism didn’t come about until the publishing of the Scofield Bible in 1909, which supposedly “promoted the inaccurate doctrine of Cyrus I. Scofield.” They also like to point to John Nelson Darby as a key figure in the development and disseminating of dispensationalism. The Scofield Bible did indeed come out in 1909 with a reprinting in 1917, but the commentary it gave, only supports what has been alive since the beginning of the first church... because, that view is Biblical. Dispensationalism was not created out of nothing, as accused; but rather it has always been, due to the tenets that were already present in Christian theological systems since the first church! It’s Biblical! Dispensationalism has been from the beginning of the church age! It IS the church age. Israel is God’s chosen people and God has not revoked that. Many people want to say that the belief of Israel as God’s chosen is new within the last couple hundred years. But that simply isn’t true. The truth is, there has never been a time in church history that this hasn’t been debated, so to claim this is only as recently as the Scofield Bible interpretation is simply not true. And in fact, Matthew Henry (1662-1714) spoke of Dispensationalism in the 1600’s. Matthew Henry stated in his commentary regarding Galatians 3:15-18:

“The covenant God made with Abraham, was not done away by the giving the law to Moses. The covenant was made with Abraham and his Seed. It is still in force; Christ abideth for ever in his person, and in his spiritual seed, those who are his by faith.”

Christians that adhere to Replacement Theology often use Galatians 3 for their source of affirmation. Galatians 3:29 is a main verse that is used. “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” While of course this is true, it is taken out of context to show Christians have superseded the covenant with Abraham. Certainly we are the offspring of Abraham. But nowhere does this imply that God has cast away, or is through with the Jewish people.

Supersessionists also use Galatians 3:7, 9, and 6:16, to support their belief in Replacement Theology; but to believe that, these verses must be taken out of context and interpreted allegorically as opposed to a literal translation. It is a means to make the promise God made to Abraham null and void, by implying God is done with the Jewish people. This couldn’t be further from the truth. “Eternal” means “eternal”. And “irrevocable” means “irrevocable”.

Though supersessionists may use Galatians to support their beliefs, Galatians 3:15, actually supports dispensationalism, showing that the Abrahamic Covenant was never revoked. Paul uses this example to show that a ratified covenant, even a human one, cannot be set aside or amended. Paul clearly states that God's covenant with Abraham remains in place even after the law was given through the time of Jesus, and through the church age.

Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

To believe that the church has replaced Israel, also negates one of the best witnessing tools we have; and that is Israel as God’s Time Clock. How can one look at the news headlines of today, and not see through what is happening in Israel, that God is in the center of all of it?

The truth is Replacement Theology actually fuels anti-Semitism as revealed in the words and actions of Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and others that I have mentioned. At the very least, if not anti-Semitic this view gives them allowance to campaign against our support for Israel. That is NOT President’s policy or belief. And I don’t care how hard Carlson tries to make us believe their views align.

While making sure this group tell us to read Galatians 3, they seem to ignore Romans 11 where it is made clear that we (the Christian) have been grafted into Israel. Through the fall of the Jewish people, salvation has come to the Gentiles. We have not replaced Israel, but we have been grafted into Israel. Romans 11:17

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

Romans 11 tells us that He has hardened the hearts of the Jew for their unbelief to give time to bring the Gentile to Him. Until the time of the fullness of the Gentile has come in. (been saved) All Israel will then be saved. Romans 11:26. And that is where understanding prophecy comes in to play. This does not mean that every Jew will be saved any more than every Christian will be saved. It depends and relies on a commitment to our Savior, Jesus Christ. These verses clearly depict the difference in the Jew and the Christian and tell us why and when – “until the full number of the gentile has come in.”

25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way[e] all Israel will be saved. As it is written:“The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

27 And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

God doesn’t forsake any promise because of our misbehavior. This clearly states the promise is irrevocable! He did not reject Israel for their sin, any more than he rejected us for our sin. He sent Grace – His Son. He knocks on our door and waits until we are ready and understand our need of Him. Why would he forsake his promise to Abraham and his descendants? “God forbid.” He wouldn’t. The answer is found in Romans 11:1-2 when Paul states:

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.

God is a promise keeper and He is not going to make void an “eternal” promise that He made to someone He identifies as His “chosen people” and the “apple of His eye”.

Our Father God made a permanent and irrevocable call to Israel that is separate from the call of Jesus to the church. That’s dispensationalism. But they work together in tandem. He hasn’t replaced Israel with the church. Instead he did away with the Jewish atonement system that He created until the time Jesus came to make a permanent atonement for our sins. When that is complete, he will return His attention to Israel.

Israel is still very much a part of His plan. In fact, we as the church are said we will provoke the Jew to jealousy, in order to help draw them to Jesus, their true Messiah.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

And not only does He wait for the moment of their salvation, He uses the nation of Israel as a witness and a “Time Clock” for the world to know the time is at hand. That’s powerful, when one views it in context! Read the headlines of today’s news, then follow along in Scripture. Israel is very much a part of God’s plan!

The Interview

In this interview, Tucker criticizes all of us for not reading Scripture, saying “the Bible tells us a thousand times that the church has replaced Israel.” That might be a paraphrase. But no. It does not! Obviously he is the one who needs a lesson in theology. Funny how he suddenly knows more than millions of Christians for generations! How arrogant!!! He simply does not have complete understanding and I believe he is relying on head knowledge from a group of people that choose to believe differently, rather than from “a circumcision of the heart” – that term from the Bible, purposely stated in language the Jew will understand. Intentionally...because they still matter!

They obviously don’t matter to Tucker and the myriad of people he has been hosting on his podcast. I am a bit worried about his influence and I am tired of what I believe to be his deception.

"For he is not a Jew, which is only outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which is inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:28-29: 

“As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” ~ Romans 11:28

Matthew 5:18 states, "For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished". 

* Underlined emphasis, mine.

There! I Said It!

 

Below I have posted Episode 91 of  Tucker Carlson's podcast. It aired almost a year ago. It seems he decided it was time to address the issue of Christians dying around the world. So he interviewed a “Palestinian” pastor, by the name of Reverend Munther Isaac. Isaac is the current director and I believe the founder of “Christ at the Checkpoint”. His blog states,

“He speaks locally and internationally on issues related to the theology of the land, Palestinian Christians, and Palestinian theology.”

“Palestinian theology” - whatever that is...  Let's find out. 

The thing is, other than just a snippet in the opening statement, they didn’t talk much about Christians dying anywhere. Oh, except as they dig in further, they do talk about those dying at the hands of Israel. The truth is this entire interview is filled with all kinds of error and/or deceit. Yes, I said it. It is a false narrative, based on a phony premise, and much of that is easy to prove.

What they are saying in this interview are the exact same talking points as that of Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and AOC; and as well all the college students protesting Israel across our nation. You know. "Israel is committing genocide"...with no mention of Hamas...only innocent “Palestinians”. Truthfully, I see no difference in these comments than the ones we have been listening to from radical Islamist Ilhan Omar. Yes, I said it. She’s radical.

Something that has always been clear for those that watch Tucker is the fact that Tucker hates war. Well guess what, Tucker; we all hate war! But I think Tucker hates it to the point he sees no point to it whatsoever. Ever! I have said it before, and I will say it again, I don’t believe Tucker Carlson would even fight for his mother. Yes, I said it.

Further, Tucker absolutely does not want one penny of US aid going to any other nation, and for Tucker, that seems to especially apply to Israel. Tucker is constantly preaching against any aid or monetary support from going to any foreign nation. I haven't heard him say much about Iran, but he especially seems to have a problem with two nations: Israel and Ukraine. I feel like maybe he would consider giving aid to Russia. 

Ok, I am letting my anger show, now, but dang!!! His mindset is soooo twisted. And I almost wish I hadn’t even listened to this video! But the truth is, I felt a responsibility to listen, because I had seen so many snippets and so much commentary on it through social media. Biased and inaccurate statements have been making the rounds on these platforms ever since the interview aired. It infuriated me. So I finally watched the full podcast and now I am even more incensed! And now that I have heard what I have heard, I cannot remain silent.

For starters, though Tucker claims to be a Christian, I don’t really know if he actually is. I am not sure if he has full understanding; or maybe he has only a socially defined understanding of what it means to be a Christian. I honestly don’t believe Tucker is saved. There. I said it. “By their fruits you will know them.” And “Our spirit bears witness with their spirit to know they are the sons of God.” I’m just not seeing it. I don’t care what he says...but I also know I am not to judge. I am willing to let God sort this one out. However, I am not going to be silent, when I see him continually sharing and supporting lies. His distortions have been going on for a while now and he is getting more and more bold. I have written about much of it; here and on Social Media. I think I am losing friends over it.  But I believe it needs to be said.

If anything, Tucker is leaning heavily on “Replacement Theology”. And yes one can be a Christian and still hold to that doctrine. But I don’t think that is the case for Tucker. I think he just likes the doctrine, because it fits his political predilection. He has held other interviews with people that hold a view of "Replacement Theology" or "Dominionism". Pastor Doug Wilson from Moscow, Idaho, is one. And though not a religious figure, (I think she thinks she is) Candace Owens, is another. 

Throughout this interview, both Tucker and the “Palestinian pastor” mock our Christian theology and instead promote Palestinian and liberal left talking points. I guess that's the "Palestinian Theology" Reverend Isaac was referring to on his blog. Well guess what, you two, the truth is, God keeps His promises. He always has and He always will. He made a promise to Israel and He is keeping that Covenant. Who wants to serve a god that doesn’t keep His promises. I surely don’t. Replacement Theology requires an allegorical view of Scripture, while most Christians adhere to a literal interpretation.

Tucker repeatedly tries to make a distinction about “modern, secular Israel,” as opposed to the Israel of the Bible. Well I find it debatable, that they declare modern Israel, "secular", because Israel continually declare their belief in Zionism and that they are the one and only Jewish state in the entire world! That isn’t secularism. They are a Jewish state in the same way we are a Christian nation. People want to say that we are not. But this is just another reason why it is important we keep that title. For both nations, it is something very important to our foundations. Do you think Iran would ever let someone say they are not a Nation of Islam?

Israel's political, or even their moral status, for that matter, has no bearing whatsoever on what we are to continue to do as instructed in Scripture. And it certainly has no bearing on what God will do! They are God’s chosen people, no argument! Most assuredly, that fact is not one that is based on Israel’s righteousness, exactly as nothing is based on our own righteousness. The Bible is clear about that. And for our part, we are to bless Israel. Case closed. Tucker is advocating Replacement Theology, whether he is aware of that fact or not. I think the pastor most certainly is aware of it and this is what he is preaching, while mocking the beliefs of the rest of us. He goes into quite a bit of detail of his own making about that. Being well-grounded in your Biblical knowledge, please listen carefully to his claims.

Ok, there’s that; let’s get down to it.

This pastor is a pastor from an “evangelical,” “Lutheran” church in Bethlehem. That doesn’t really mean a thing. I find it extremely ironic that Carlson was willing to lam-blast the liberal Episcopalian pastor from The National Cathedral in DC, (Reverend Budde) but yet he interviews this liberal pastor with most likely many of the same views. While accusing Budde and the entire Episcopalian church of not being Christian (of which I agree) He goes through the entire interview with Rev. Munther without so much of a mention that even one thing could be inaccurate in his beliefs.

There are so many falsehoods, inaccuracies and twisting of terms in this interview, that I don’t think I can possibly cover it all. Still I feel the need to try. Or at least get to the most important and truly dangerous issues, that in my heart I cannot leave left uncorrected.

For starters, let me just point out a few red flags.

1. The pastor leaves out a hard fact about Bethlehem. The truth is, Bethlehem is controlled by the Palestinian Authority. The PA are classified as terrorists. There are less than 12% of the Palestinians there that are Christian. I think Tucker knows that, but he thinks we don't! That's deception.

2. This pastor is not using “Christian” language; he is using “Palestinian” language by calling Judea and Samaria the “West Bank”. The truth is, it’s name is Judea and Samaria! And it should be called that for a reason. And that is to demonstrate the connection to the Jewish people and the land of Israel! The Jewish people have always had that connection since God made the Abrahamic Covenant. Munther Isaac mocks that belief.

3. Next Munther calls Israel an “apartheid state”. That’s not only the narrative of the Palestinians, but it is also the narrative of the left in both Israel and the United States; as well as the talking points of people who hate Israel. The pastor tries to give that narrative credence by pointing out that “human rights organizations” call it an "apartheid state". Grrrrr! The language of liberal organizations and haters of Israel do not make something so.

4. The pastor claims that the “Palestinians” have been there for 100’s of years! That is simply not true. Arabs have been, but the “Palestinians” are a creation of Yasser Arafat in the early 1960’s. "Palestinians" have no history there; no national anthem, no leaders prior to Arafat, no constitution, or prior public documents, no money, and certainly no claim to the land. They were Jordanians and Egyptians. In fact, Arafat was born in Egypt.

Another thing that I find the newly remade Tucker Carlson continually doing, is to subtly cast blame on the US. I have noticed this to be a trend with him, every since the Jimmy Dore interview on his Fox show in early 2023. Dore just regurgitated the rhetoric of the 1960’s while Tucker sat and nodded his head in agreement. Nodding his head in agreement while he lets his guests say the controversial is becoming all too common for Tucker Carlson. When the criticism comes, which it always does, Tucker backtracks on the comments made, saying something like “I am simply offering free speech.” (paraphrase). Or, as he did after other controversial videos about Israel, responding in mock disdain and shock of the criticism, “But I love Israel.” Yeah, right. But the damage is already done. The influence that he knows he is so capable of, entirely complete.

In this interview, TC also specifically casts blame on the “religious right” in Congress, for supporting Israel and doing harm to fellow “Palestinian Christians”. Hey Tucker!! What about Hamas??? I don’t think I have ever even heard you use the term, let alone cast any shade their way!

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and they are far from an apartheid state - regardless of what people like our old President, Jimmy Carter say! Israel allows Arabs to work, live and serve in their government. How can that be apartheid? The Jewish people are the ones that have a historical connection and a God-given right to the land. This fact is true, regardless of what modern day rhetoric likes to claim and push on the rest of us!

Israel medically treats Arabs and even Gazans in their hospitals! In fact, one of the men captured on October 7^th and held captive was an elderly gentlemen, that spent his last days going to the border of Gaza and picking up sick Gazans and transporting them to hospitals in Israel. His name was Oded Lifschitz and ironically he was a known “peace activist”. After the ill were treated, (in Israeli hospitals) he would help transport them back to Gaza. Hamas didn’t care about that! They killed him anyway! In fact, it has been proven it wasn’t even Hamas that kidnapped him. It was Palestinian Gazans! You know! The ones thought to be so innocent!!! Any mention of that, Tucker?

So let’s look at the facts! There are 2 million Palestinians in Gaza of which 80% support Hamas. Think about that! 80% of Palestinians in Gaza support Hamas and actually voted them into power! They are NOT innocent! So let’s get away from the claim that they are! Yes, I said it! Both Gaza and Bethlehem are under a majority of something other than Israeli rule; i.e. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, respectfully. Israel allows Christians and Muslims to live freely. Gaza and Bethlehem do not! And please. Let's not forget they are both backed by Iran.

Tucker and this pastor are simply regurgitating the same narrative as the left. They are demonizing Israel and trying to make the "Palestinians" look innocent. Has Tucker ever done a show regarding the fact that Hamas uses fellow "Palestinian" women and children as human shields? Of course not! I don’t think he has ever even mentioned it. And in fact, in this video, they are still repeating the lie that Israel bombed a Christian church in Gaza. That has already been proven incorrect! It was propaganda by Hamas! Hamas were, in fact, the ones that destroyed that church...they claim accidently by a "misfired" missile. (Charlie Kirk also helped disseminate that lie. But I think he corrected it...at least, slightly.) You will be hard-pressed to find the truth about that tragedy today. The left controls media.

The pastor and Tucker both use the same lies from Hamas’ phony statistics that try to show Israel is committing genocide and actually starving people. That is a flat out lie!  They are counting deaths of their soldiers and as well as citizens Hamas used as human shields and unfortunately were caught in the fire. Israel gives warnings prior to any aggression to help prevent civilian casualties. 

Anyone that has done any research at all, knows that both the United States and Israel have sent food, water and medical aid into Gaza. Hamas simply steals it and uses it for their own benefit. We (Israel and the US) keep sending it anyway, because we know we will be crucified by the international community if we don’t. We know it isn’t getting to the people that actually need it. But we have to try! The truth is, no one is starving in Gaza!!! That is obvious as we watch terrorists parade the hostages throughout the city streets each time some are released. The terrorists are clearly healthy and well fed.

The pastor claims Israel hates “Christians” and treats them poorly. That is also a flat-out lie. Anyone who has been to Israel, knows Israel loves Christians and actually treats them very well, due to needing them to support their economy. And as well they have a Constitution that gives freedom to everyone. They were devastated when the war in Gaza first started, because Christians were no longer coming and supporting their tourism.

The Pastor uses East Jerusalem to point out the hate of the Jew for Christians. But again, East Jerusalem has been an area of dispute, and there are a majority of “Palestinians” there – over 61% “Palestinian”. The anti-Semitic world are the ones that claim East Jerusalem is considered part of the “West Bank”, and under illegal occupation by Israel”. Yeah, no. Jerusalem belongs to Israel...every part of it. Israel won East Jerusalem back in the 6 Day War, but the population is a majority of “Palestinians” that live there. The UN and the international community refuse to acknowledge that win and they call the Jews "occupiers". Israel allows the “Palestinians” to be there, but they are the real occupiers and they are ruled by the Palestinian Authority, while mostly ignoring Israel. Israeli’s are not the “occupiers” even though the international community tries to say they are! So who do you think is really creating the hate through graffiti that this pastor claims? I dare say it isn’t the Jew. From patterned behavior, we see it is the “Palestinians” that incite violence, not Jews! And that fact has been demonstrated over and over and over. Pastor Isaac absolutely knows who lives there and who is responsible. He is lying...Ok, I will be gracious. He is trying to mislead us to his way of thinking.

This questionable pastor also states that evangelism is illegal in Israel. But the truth is, Israel totally allows freedom of religious expression, including evangelism. Both Christians and Arabs even serve in their government. I think the pastor obviously knew this statement was a flat out lie, because he backtracked!! It was clear he was carefully trying not to get caught and reveal his lie; and he didn't really answer when Tucker pressed. Watch carefully with discernment!

It is absolutely not illegal to preach the Gospel or evangelize in Israel! Israeli Declaration of Independence guarantees freedom of religion to everyone! There was a bill brought forward in 2023, that if passed, would have criminalized Christian proselytizing, with a punishment of one year of jail time and two years if it was directed at someone under age. To Prime Minister Netanyahu’s and his government's credit, the bill did not pass! The Prime Minister knows evangelical Christians are among Israel’s greatest supporters! Thank God for Bibi!

This pastor absolutely had to know that truth. If I know it, believe me, he KNOWS it! And again, his demeanor when Tucker questioned his comment further, totally revealed he knew the truth. This may have been the thing that made me most angry of all.

Then, as if Tucker hasn’t been despicable enough through this entire interview, allowing these lies to be told, toward the end of the interview he softly asks in mock concern (in my view):

“Who [what kind of nation] would send money to a government that would do something like that?”

This, in reference to what the “pastor” had just claimed in regard to Israel "committing genocide" of the Palestinian people. If I didn’t despise Tucker before, I think I do now….ok, ok...I know. I will work on that. I honestly don’t hate him. He saddens me, because I used to really like him. And I can still see some attributes that I used to admire. Not anymore. I see a despicable, desperate, confused man, trying to remain relevant. As another example, after he did an interview in Saudi Arabia with Piers Morgan, I couldn’t help but note he has even turned on people and revealed private conversations with people that I am sure were intended to be “off the record”. Tucker didn’t think twice about revealing what Piers Morgan allegedly said in private about Israel, after the interview they did together in Saudi Arabia. I am no Piers Morgan fan, but I found that Tucker did that appalling. Who does that??? I think there was a time, Tucker would not have repeated what someone told him in private. I don't think we know that Tucker anymore. But back to Gaza...

In 2022, there were approximately 1,100 Christians living in Gaza, down from 1,300 in 2013. Gaza was given by Israel to the “Palestinians” in 2005, so though we have statistics that show numbers in the 1990’s, those numbers are basically irrelevant. The only thing that matters is what has happened since the Palestinians were given the Strip. Oh. They voted in Hamas. I would wager a guess, that in 2023 at the beginning of this war, the number of Christians in Gaza was even down from the 2022 number of 1,100. The population there is 99% Sunni Muslim with 1% listed as Christian. That’s probably just for looks. I highly doubt there are that many there, now. So this is the area Tucker decides to do a show on about killing Christians??? Maybe google Dumisani Washington and see what he has to say...or David Freidman. This needs to be countered with truth.

Some how this pastor makes claims that there is "collective punishment" against Palestinians by Israel. This absolutely is not true. How so? They allow Arabs to live in their cities and to be elected to their government; they allowed work releases from Gazans to come daily into Israel to work. This is part of what got them in trouble on October 7^th! Israel trusted too much!!!

Now back to how I started this missive at the very beginning; I want to point out that in this interview, at least, Tucker does little to mention any other persecution against Christians around the world...but somehow "attacks" against Christians by Israel matters??? He actually accuses the only nation that isn’t persecuting and attacking Christians!! Why does he choose to do a show about that, instead of obvious persecution around the world??? This is an entire dialogue based on a lie! Yes! I said it!

And when have we (including Tucker) ever cared what the international community thinks! Come on, Tucker! That only matters to you now???

We would do well to remember, that we get a lot of intelligence about our enemies from Israel. Even if someone does not support Israel for Biblical reasons, they absolutely need to support them for geo-political reasons! Israel is actually the warriors on the front lines of the war we are all living. There! I said it and I will keep saying it and exposing every lie I hear regardless from whose mouth it comes!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a few interesting statistics:

2.142 Million Palestinians in Gaza

2,037,000 Palestinians live In Israel in a population of 9,256,314. This number includes Judea and Samaria and East Jerusalem.

2.9 Million Palestinians live in Judea and Samaria

There is no apartheid in Israel.

Covenant Siblings

There is a controversial discussion taking place on social media right now. I don’t know where it actually started, but Allie Beth Stuckey, a podcast commentator for Blaze Media, weighed in and that is when I became aware of it. It’s actually quite astounding as to what people believe on this subject. 

Now I follow Allie, but I was unaware of exactly what her religious beliefs are, other than that she is a Christian. I don’t follow her that closely, only seeing a quote of hers from time to time. Come to find out, she is a Calvinist, so her beliefs are going to be a bit different than mine.

But the question posed was: “Do the Jews, Muslims and Christians worship the same God?” Now the obvious answer is No, they do not. Certainly, Muslims do not serve the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Islam is a monotheistic religion that traces its lineage to Abraham via Hagar and her son Ishmael. And we can leave any further connection right there. But this religion didn’t even begin until the 7^th Century in 610 AD. And their person that would be (in their mind), equal to our Third Person of the Trinity, is most certainly not Jesus. So that makes the Triune God not at all the same. Jesus was there from the beginning. Plus, Muslims don’t even read the Bible, they follow the Quran, so we can rule them out from the get-go...It was actually shocking to me that some Christians did not have that understanding, and weren’t able to differentiate that fact. No way, do Muslims worship our God. They don’t even want to think they do. But for the Jewish faith, it is an entirely different story.

Why does it matter? For lots of reasons. But for me, besides not being Scriptural and God’s intentional teaching, to believe the Jew doesn’t worship our God is a complete departure from our nation’s Judeo/Christian values and norms. Even among Calvinists! And that matters. It is sad to see our nation rebuke the value system upon which our nation was founded.

Moreover, to believe otherwise, is a dangerous teaching that will cause Christians to abort the belief that we are to bless Israel and stand by her side.

It matters because these are the voices, that will one day cause our nation and others to leave behind our support for Israel. “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations.” (Zechariah 14:3) We are in fact, becoming a part of the world order that fights against her. I don’t want our nation to be a part of that. Genesis 12:3 states, “I will bless those that bless you, and curse those that curse you.” We certainly don’t need more reason for a curse like that from God. We should never allow Israel to be defined as just another nation that doesn't follow the one true God, which is what will happen from those without true understanding of this.

We need to stand by our Judeo/Christians principles for the sake of our nation, for the sake of the Jew, but more importantly for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus would not have been in the temple doing His Father's business if He was not One and the Same. It is vitally important to remember Jesus was a Jew who followed Jewish law. Throughout His life, Jesus quoted Scripture from the Bible which was in fact preserved for us by JEWS!

The discussion went off the rails pretty quickly, so I didn’t hang around long. No sense in arguing as Scripture teaches us. But we are to be prepared to give an answer for the reason for our Hope. So….

Covenant Siblings

As I said, it is a completely different story for the Christian and the Jew, as opposed to what I explained about the Muslim.

The Jews are the Covenant people with whom God gave the promise to Abraham. The Jews are God’s chosen and He is not done with them. Without the Jew and Israel, we would not be in Christ today. There is no Christianity without the Jews. We are the ones who are grafted in to that covenant! Romans 11:17 informs the church – we Christians – that we were grafted in as a wild branch into the Olive Tree of Israel. We are the ones grafted in, not the other way around. Grafted in where? With the Jews! The Jews are, in fact, actually the ones that preserved the Holy Scriptures for us. And the Jews are from whom our Savior came. We owe them our respect and hope...and our witness. They were also the first to share the Gospel message.

One commentator put it this way and I love it: “Christianity and Judaism are covenant siblings with Heavenly Father through Isaac (Abraham and his wife Sarah).”

Yes. “Covenant Siblings”. Perfectly explained.

He further explains that there is “a good reason why Christians have such a natural, innate affinity for Jews and why Muslims hate both. The fact is, the Christian religion spawned from Judaism, through the Highest Jew Jesus Christ Himself.”

Therefore, I believe yes, though it is a different story for Muslims; Christians and Jews, in fact, do worship the same God and here’s why.

• God is referred to as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” throughout Old and New Testament. ~Genesis 50:24; Exodus 3:15; Acts 7:32

• Jesus was a Jew from the Tribe of Judah, the line of David and He kept all of the Jewish law. Matthew 1:1-16

• God is the Triune God From beginning to end of creation. God has no beginning and end. ~1 John 5:7 ~Revelation 1:8; Revelation 22:13

• God is the Creator of all and in John 1, Jesus also says He is the Creator. Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16; John 1;1

• He is Yahweh. Jehovah. The Great I Am. ~ Exodus 3:14; ~Isaiah 48:12; John 8:58

• God is the same yesterday, today and forever. ~Hebrews 13:8

• No one comes to the Father but by me. ~John 14:6

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Abraham and his offspring were given the Promised Land. God repeated this covenant to three generations. He first made it to Abraham in Genesis 12: 1-3; with Isaac in Genesis 21:12; and again with Jacob in Genesis 28:14-15.¹ We call this the Abrahamic Covenant. The fact that the Bible refers to this so many times is a reminder that these are God’s Chosen ones, by covenant. To claim the Jews don’t worship our God denies the fact that the Jews are God's covenant people...God's covenants are forever. How sad to believe otherwise; or to believe that what He promised to the Jews, He later transferred to the Christians. That would only demonstrate that He doesn't keep His promises.

Throughout the Old and New Testament, God is referred to as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. That tells us He is the God throughout the generations. This name for God emphasized the covenant that God made with Israel as God’s Chosen People. 

The important lineage is from Abraham and his wife, Sarah, through their son Isaac. This is through whom God gave the Abrahamic Covenant. This is also the line through whom Jesus comes. 

Scripture is very precise and complete in listing the lineage throughout the Bible in order to prove and prophesy that this is the line from whom the Messiah – Jesus – would come. It is intentionally and eternally important. And it is as important to the Jew as it is to the Christian to know and understand this lineage. That listed lineage is something that is very important so that we know Jesus is a Jew, fulfilling prophesy. And also, it is important the Jews know this as they are awaiting a Jewish Messiah. Jesus is of the line of David. The Messianic line the Jews expect their Messiah to be.

Move forward to the New Testament and in Acts 3:13, Peter also makes the point to refer to the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers". He specifically does this in order to make a point with the Jewish people. Peter purposely linked the miracle Jesus had just finished to the one and only God of their fathers. He did that so they would understand Jesus is one and the same. He is the Messiah, for whom they have been waiting. By pointing out this direct link, many came to Jesus that day.² Their Messiah is Jesus whether they have full understanding or not. By saying Christians and Jews worship different Gods, we take away that connection. Jesus is the God of their fathers, and we are taking away a valuable witnessing tool, by denying their faith. They are still waiting for a Jewish Messiah and they will one day find One.

The reason the Jews have not yet recognized Jesus as their Messiah is very well explained to us in Romans 11. This was God’s plan to bring the Gentile unto Him. Salvation comes first to the Jew, and then to the Gentile - Romans 1:16 Salvation is come to the Gentiles – Romans 11:11-15. Because of the Jew’s transgression, (denial of Jesus) salvation has come to the rest of us! We all know what an effective stimulate jealousy can be.

“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” ~Romans 11:11-15

The Gentiles have favor in the church age because of their belief, but when God is finished with the Gentiles, He will reinstate Israel who was set aside because of their unbelief. Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. In finality, God will graft Israel in once again. In other words, when the last of the Gentiles have been saved, God will set his sights on Israel one more time. God cannot do otherwise because of His promise to the fathers. God has set Israel aside temporarily for the sake of the Gentiles, but He has not forgotten, nor changed His promises. They are still His chosen. That requires an understanding of the one true God who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

In the Beginning

The Jews inability to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, doesn’t change who God is. The Object (for lack of better word) does not change. He is the God of the universe. The Great I Am. The one and only true God. He was the Triune God in the beginning, He was the Triune God when Jesus came to earth and died for our sins; and he is the Triune God, now and forever. The Jews’ misunderstanding of who their Messiah is, doesn't negate who God is. Neither can we negate the Old Testament, which we are in effect doing by saying the Jews do not worship the same God. It is the God of the Old Testament that the Jews give their worship.

A poor attempt at a visual.

I'm not saying the Jews are saved. We all know that Jesus is the only way to salvation. But to say that He isn't the same God, the God of all creation, (Genesis 1:1) the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is to negate the Old Testament, as well as John 1:1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Clearly this verse demonstrates they are one and the same. 

I want to say too, that there are many Jews who have been saved throughout time. Paul, the "sinner in Chief" was the most well known Jew that came to know Jesus. Today those who have come to understand who Jesus is are called "Messianic Jews", otherwise known as "completed Jews". They do not give up their Jewishness. Rather now, they are made complete because they have come to understand Jesus is the Messiah they have been awaiting. They  adhere to the tenants of the Christian faith regarding salvation through Yeshua. They are able to keep many of their Jewish traditions. That is a beautiful thought. Further, not all Jews who come to faith in Jesus are considered "Messianic Jews". There are some that come to Christ and choose to leave the Jewish traditions behind and are simply known as a Jewish Christian. 

The God of the Living!

Jesus made clear that “He didn't come to destroy the law but to fulfill it.” The identifying name: "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob," is repeated not only in the Old Testament, but the New!

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. ~Matthew 22:32

Matthew is using this verse to tell the Sadducees (and us) that He is the God of the living and not the dead! Using present tense, He is purposefully ensuring we know that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are all still very much alive, in the afterlife...Heaven. If this is fact, then the Jews still worship the same God now, as they did then. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living....meaning Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as he explains in these verses.³ The Great I Am. “I Am their God.”

Zeal for God

Romans 10:1-4 is key to understanding that the God the Jews worship is, in fact, the God that we as Christians worship.

“Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” ~Romans 10:1-4 KJV

In these verses, Paul tells us God wants Israel to be saved...that they are not yet, but that their salvation is His desire. A zeal for God denotes passion. They LOVE God! The same God. They simply are trying to work out their righteousness. Who would do that - going to such great lengths to satisfy the law, if they didn’t love God? He is the Living God repeatedly called in Scripture the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the same One their forefathers served. None of that is accidental.

The Jews at this time simply lack the understanding and knowledge of the Triune God. And they are unaware the Messiah they await, has already come. They do not understand His righteousness has been imparted to us and therefore the salvation that has been given through the Son. They are still trying to make their way into Heaven by works – working out their own righteousness, rather than that which has been imparted to us by Jesus’s death on the cross.

Romans 3: 10-31 is so apropos here. I won’t write out the text, but please read it. These are the verses that tell us, “No one is righteous, no not one.” These verses are in part what is known as “the Roman Road to Salvation”. The verses are also a defense of the law. And for this discussion, I point out verses 29 -31:

“Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Bold emphasis mine. In this question, Paul is asking “is he the God of the Jews only?” It is basically a statement explained through a question. We know he is explaining to us that God is the God of the Jews...even now. We don’t make void the law by our New Covenant faith. Jesus established the law. It is the law the Jewish people so ardently try to follow, made by the God of Creation. The same God we worship. Christ is the End of that law. The law always pointed to Jesus. The Jew simply does not know they cannot possibly keep that law in perfection.

J. C. Ryle theologian from the 1800’s, has much to say about all of this in his many writings. His biography is entitled “That Man of Granite with the Heart of a Child.” That should tell us everything. I have not read it yet, but I have read a few of his other books and I find him sound in doctrine and faith. Now today, Ryle is thought to be a Calvinist, so I don’t mean for any statement I have made about Calvinists to sound like I am beating up on them. But I do believe, as in most things today, they have changed on some doctrine and are not entirely the same as they once were. Only the Bible remains the same. I truly don’t know if Ryle identified as a Calvinist. I never thought so, until I read somewhere, that he is believed to have been a Calvinist. At least by some people’s definition.

In his book, “Are You Ready for the End of Time?”, he discusses Israel. In chapter 7, And So All Israel Shall Be Saved”, he says this:

“Israel, then, we find, for nearly 1500 years was more favoured and privileged by God than any nation in the world. David might well say, 'What one nation in the earth is like Thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself?’ (2 Samuel 7:23). It was the only nation in the earth to which God was pleased to reveal Himself. 'To them were committed to oracles of God' ( Romans 3:2). While all other nations were suffered to walk in their own ways, and to live in moral and spiritual darkness, the Jews alone enjoyed an immense amount of light and knowledge. The humblest priest in Solomon's Temple was a far better theologian than Homer; Daniel, and Ezra, and Nehemiah knew more about God than Socrates, and Plato, and Pythagoras and Cicero put together."

How cool is that! I just love it! But then we have the audacity and hubris to claim the Jewish people don't worship the same God that we worship?? How prideful and haughty that must appear to our Father. The Jews were God’s Chosen People and they were a part of His plan to bring the Gentile into His Kingdom.

Remember, this was the 1800s, so not to cause conflict with the choice of words "Palestine", this is what Ryle said further:

"The Jews were brought out of Egypt by miraculous interposition, planted in Palestine, one of the choicest corners of the earth, and fenced off and separated from other nations by peculiar customs and ceremonies. They were supplied with a moral law from heaven so perfect, that even to this day nothing can be added to it or taken from it. They were taught to worship God with ceremonial rights and ordinances, which, however burdensome they may seem to us, were admirably adapted to human nature at that early stage of man's history, and calculated to train them for a higher dispensation. [So if a Calvinist, Ryle certainly wasn't a Dominionist* who believed in Replacement Theology**.] They were constantly warned and instructed by prophets, and protected and defended by miracles. In short, if mercies and kindnesses alone could make people good, no nation on Earth should have been so good as Israel. While Egypt, and Babylon, and Greece worshipped the works of their own hands, the Jew alone was a worshiper of the one true God."⁴

That demonstrates true worship of the same God that we worship. Finally, they were allowed to receive the consequences of their own sins, after repeatedly rejecting God's prophets and eventually Jesus. And persecution they have received and will receive further in that dreadful day.

Ryle says, "Never was a people so peculiarly favored and so peculiarly punished."

And yet at the same time, they fulfill every prophecy written about them in the Old Testament. And they hold every characterization now that they held then. The land, the faith, the physical characteristics, the language, the titles; all of it. Persecuted and violently treated, they have remained the same through it all. Why would we believe their faith in the same God, then as now, would change, when nothing else about them has? It wouldn’t. Why would God allow any of this for someone who was not a worshiper of him? They are a distinct and separate people and as Ryle says, they can no more mix with the Gentiles, then can oil mix with water. Never have they been absorbed or assimilated, though they were driven from their homeland. They have remained the Jew. It is all for God's purposes; and all of this comes from the God they worship. It is our Triune God Who is the same now as He was in the beginning.

Ryle tells us we find the answer to the entirety of God’s plan in the Bible, which of course we do.

"They are a people reserved and kept separate by God for a grand and special purpose. That purpose is to make them a means of exhibiting to the world in the latter days God's hatred of sin and unbelief, and God's almighty power and almighty compassion. They are kept separate that they may finally be saved, converted and restored to their own land. They are reserved and preserved, in order that God may show in them, as on a platform, to angels and men, how greatly He hates sin, and yet how greatly He can forgive, and how greatly He can convert. Never will that be realized as it will in that day when ‘All Israel shall be saved’.⁵

This new opinion of Israel, and her people, that we are seeing today is the same mindset that is becoming so common place among Christians which causes many to believe our nation is not (or no longer) a “Christian nation”. Of course we are! Even though we're not all Christian, we were founded on the Holy Bible and Judeo/Christian principles. That alone makes us a Christian nation. Just as Israel is a Jewish nation. A comparison can be made in the same way the Jews worship our God, even though they don't know Jesus. No. Again. They are not saved. But soon...

"I read that when the heart of Israel shall turn to the lord, the veil should be taken away (2nd Corinthians 3:16)."

It's not that they don't worship our God. They have simply not yet been brought to completion through Jesus Christ. But they will be when the fulness of the Gentile has come in, this veil will be removed.

At the end of Chapter 7, Ryle then goes into everything that we owe to the Jew and his words are moving and beautiful; a truth we all need to understand. I won’t include them here, though I am tempted to do just that, because they truly move the heart. But this is already getting so long. I do recommend the book. It is an easy and accurate read for which he is so well known.

I will just close in finality with this suggestion from those final pages as he answers the question of how we can and should repay the Jew:

"On the one hand, we may pay our debt directly, by using every reasonable effort to bring the Gospel to bear on the minds of our Jewish brethren in every part of the globe. No doubt they need to be approached with peculiar wisdom, delicacy, and care. They are not to be treated as heathen but as men who already hold half the truth, who believe the Old Testament like ourselves, although they do not see and receive its full meaning. But all experience proves that there is everything to encourage those who endeavor to lead Israel to the true messiah, the Christ of God with love and patience." ⁶ (Bold emphasis, mine.)

We definitely shouldn’t treat them with such disdain, that we no longer even believe they worship the same God, that we do, and which has been a Christian standard for generations. J.C. Ryle obviously loved the Jews; and his words are a fantastic example to us.

Salvation to the Jews

I believe the misconception that the Jews worship a different God comes out of a result of a fast-growing “Replacement Theology”; which is also often tied to Calvinism, though not all Calvinists belief this. The church has NOT replaced Israel! “Replacement Theology” holds an allegorical view of Scripture rather than literal. This is why people who follow it, can come to the wrong conclusion about the verses concerning God’s promises to Israel. It also leads them to the wrong conclusion of who our God is and how he has been worshipped throughout the ages.

The Jews are God's Chosen People who will one day come to salvation through Jesus, because God keeps His promises. Jews have to know the things they have always believed are true, in order to come to completion through Jesus. If the church has replaced Israel, that can never happen. They are looking for a Jewish Messiah as told by the prophets.

Because of the Trinity, and because Scripture teaches that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, we can know He is the same God for all of time. The God that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshipped, is still the Triune God from Israel’s very beginning; and He is still the Triune God that died and bled for our sins; and He is the Triune God that will return to us as He promised.

No, Jews are not yet saved. Because yes, it is true as John 14: 6 tells us, that “No man comes to the father but by me.” Jews do not worship in full understanding, and hence are not saved. It is not complicated. But it is rather a matter of God not accepting their worship, because they don't yet recognize Jesus. It isn't that they are worshiping a false god, like the Muslims, or other cults; it's that they are worshiping the one true God falsely. And God does not accept that. But He is very much the same, one, true God.

The Bible takes great pains to list lineage, expressly so we know we worship the same God. That this is true, will be important to the Jews' salvation, when the time has come. The Jews will one day understand. It is important that they know that the God they served all along, has come in the flesh as their Messiah. He came as a lowly servant who died for us all, in the way of Jesus, the Christ.

I want to share a thought someone posted to one of the boards. I’m sorry I didn’t get his name and I don’t really remember which thread it was posted. But it is so accurate and completely the way I think about this discussion. It is this:

“One last thought: We may very well be thinking about this question incorrectly. Instead of asking, “Do Jewish people worship the same God as Christians?”; we might want to turn that question around and acknowledge that Christians worship the God of Israel. When Christians worship the God of the Bible, they are worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Christians worship the Holy One of Israel, as Isaiah called Him (for example, Isa. 12:6, one of 29 times this title is used in Isaiah). Instead of portraying Jewish people as worshiping a different false god, Christians should acknowledge that their faith is in the God revealed in the Hebrew Bible, the God of Israel. And if Christians truly appreciated that, it might lead to greater respect for the Jewish people and also a deeper determination to present the Good News to our Jewish friends. Realizing that Gentile Christians are standing on the Rock of Israel (2 Sam. 23:3; Isa. 30:29), they will have greater resolve to proclaim lovingly that the Messiah of Israel has come and His name is Yeshua, the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matt. 1:1).”

I believe we owe them that. 

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*Dominionist - Unlike dispensationalism's message of social deterioration that precedes Christ's return, Christian dominionism is postmillennial rather than premillennial. It argues that Christians can and must reform society so that it becomes progressively better. Only then will Christ return.

**Replacement Theology - Replacement theology, also known as supersessionism or fulfillment theology, is a Christian doctrine that states that the Christian Church has replaced the Jewish people.

1  https://www.gotquestions.org/God-of-Abraham-Isaac-Jacob.html

2  Ibid

3   https://www.gotquestions.org/God-of-Abraham-Isaac-Jacob.html

4  Are You Ready for the End of Time? J. C. Ryle © 1863

5  Ibid.

6  Are You Ready for the End of Time? J. C. Ryle © 1863