Ask Pastor Jonathan: How Should a Believer Respond to the Israel - Iran Conflict?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
This week’s question is not meant to be a political question. I am going to attempt to answer this from Scripture alone.
I was asked by someone in my congregation how that we should respond to the ongoing conflict with Israel and Iran. This question is even bigger than that - how should we respond to any conflict that involves Israel?
This is a question that can be extremely divisive in some circles. However, we must be gracious to one another as we discuss difficult questions such as this.
Before getting started, as we traverse the Scriptures it becomes clear that as believers we should support Israel in any just war cause that they undertake. Note that I said just war. We will discuss what this means later. Throughout this discussion, I am going to provide a Biblical reasoning and defense for this conclusion.
At CrossPointe, we hold to a dispensational view of Scripture.
Although we recognize the covenants of God, we do not hold to a covenantal view of theology. Those who believe in covenantal theology practice what many call ‘replacement theology.’ They believe that God no longer has any plan for Israel. They believe that the Church has forever replaced Israel. Although we disagree with those who hold such views, we love our brothers and sisters who hold such views. Yet, their views can lead to problems if taken extreme as we are seeing among some fringe covenantal groups that are giving rise to anti-semitism.
As dispensationalists, we do not believe that the Church has replaced Israel.
We believe that we have been grafted in as spoken of in Romans 11:11-24. Although the Jews are in a state of rebellion currently, we hold to the belief that God will fulfill Old Testament prophecies in the future for Israel.
We actually already see that God has brought the Israelites back into their land in 1948 after being exiled since AD 70. This fulfilled the prophecies seen in Deuteronomy 30:3, Isaiah 43:6, Ezekiel 34:11-13, Ezekiel 36:24, and Ezekiel 37:1-14.
As dispensationalists, we also hold to a literal, grammatical, and historical hermeneutic.
In other words, we interpret the Bible literally. We do not seek to explain away the Scriptures with metaphors or allegories unless it is clear that the Scriptures are meant to be interpreted that in context.
For example - we understand that Jesus speaks metaphorically when He charges one to cut off his right hand if it causes him to sin (Matthew 5:30) - we understand this to be clearly metaphorical because our body is to be respected as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Yet, most of the Scripture is clearly literal. We hold to a literal view of much of the book of Revelation. Although there are clearly symbols and metaphors, much of the book is to be understood in its literal sequential state. And when putting together the book of Daniel, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 1 and 2 Thessalonians among others, we can come to a good understanding of what to expect in the future. Although no one knows the day or the hour that any of this will happen, God has given us a good outline of what to expect in the coming future. It would be a whole separate discussion to talk about this Biblical timeline, which can be addressed at another time.
Why spend so much time on eschatology as I start off this discussion? It is because eschatology matters - especially when considering Israel.
Let’s pray as we start breaking this question down.
Prayer
As we go through this question, we will see the need to support Israel as Scripturally supported. However, we must remain sober-minded in this support as well. I pray that the following 5 points help you navigate this question with thoroughness and with Biblical balance.
Our first point to address as we support Israel as believers is…
1 - In supporting Israel, we must continue to pursue righteousness.
Although our approach to the Scriptures sees Israel as having a part in the end times, we understand that most of Israel is currently in a state of rebellion against God (other than the Messianic Jews there). They have rejected their Messiah and are not saved currently. They are continuing in rebellion against Jesus.
Because of this, we must obviously not blindly support everything that they do. We must hold them accountable to the Word of God.
Yet, God has a plan for them in the future, thus we must sober-mindedly protect them as well.
2 - In supporting Israel, we must maintain just war as described in the Scriptures.
Just War Theory is an organized systematic study of the Bible in regard to war. Scriptures such as Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2:13-14 describe the government’s role in protecting its citizens. The government bears the sword for a reason. However, war must be morally justifiable. Just War Theory understands the value of human life, the need to maintain order for human flourishing, and the justice of God. It sees war as a last resort but sees it as sometimes necessary and acceptable for the greater good.
In studying this further, we must pursue justice. We must hold Israel accountable to maintain justice in their wars.
Although some might disagree, Israel has the right to defend itself from any pending disaster. Defense of their land and removal of offensive threats certainly falls within the bounds of the Scriptures.
3 - In supporting Israel, we must see the enemy’s target upon Israel as he attempts to thwart the plan of God.
Although the first two points showed the sober-minded foundation regarding war and conflict that we should hold to as believers, this point shows the Biblical backing for the protection of Israel against Satan.
Revelation 12:13-17 speaks of the dragon - namely Satan - who tries to kill the woman (namely Israel). He continuously attempts to wipe Israel off the face of the earth and yet Israel continually is delivered because of the coming male child seen in Revelation 12:5 - namely Jesus Christ.
Satan tried to keep the Messiah from being born. Yet, his plans failed as they always do. God is sovereignly reigning over the earth. Despite the authority given to Satan by God to roam the earth, he has no power over God.
Satan is continuing his attack by attacking us today as well. He sets himself up against the Church.
But he is also still attacking Israel as well. Why? Because there is a plan for Israel in the end.
Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 speak of 144,000 Israelites who are sealed with the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation. After the Church is raptured, there will come a time of judgment upon the earth that has never been seen before. During this time, the Antichrist will rise as well. Yet, these 144,000 Jews will be saved and will preach the Gospel during this seven-year Tribulation.
Satan is doing is best to keep this from occurring. This is why there is so much anti-semitism in our world today. Yet, God’s hand has been merciful to Israel. Despite repeated attacks upon them, they remain a people group.
So we must stand firm against the attempts of the enemy to thwart God’s redemptive plan for Israel and those who will come to a saving knowledge of Christ during the Tribulation. Just like Satan attempted to thwart the plan of God by keeping the Messiah from being born, he is attempting to keep from souls being saved during the Tribulation.
Although we know the plans of the Lord will never fail, we should seek to be on the Lord’s side in these matters.
4 - In supporting Israel, we must pray for peace.
Despite all of this Biblical knowledge that we are given, we also see that the Scriptures teach about the beauty of peace. Jesus says in Matthew 5:9:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Although the majority of the enemies surrounding Israel espouse Muslim beliefs, there are believers in each of the surrounding areas of Israel as well. We must pray for the protection of them, especially, as they are our brothers and sisters in Christ and are suffering as they seek to preach the Gospel in hostile territories.
We should pray for the salvation of these Muslim-dominated countries as well. We should pray that they repent of their sins and turn to Christ for salvation. Our real enemy is the devil. The many hate-filled regimes across our world are deceived by the true enemy. We must pray that their eyes are opened to Satan’s evil plans and that they see the light of Christ.
5 - In supporting Israel, we must beware of syncretism.
Syncretism is the blending of different beliefs from multiple religions or worldviews to form a new worldview and system of beliefs. Israel did this many times in the Scriptures as they brought in false gods and idols into their worship. God judged this very harshly time and time again.
As believers, we are not to allow our politics to shape our faith. This should actually work the opposite way - our faith should shape our politics.
Though many can give good reasons to support Israel because of their strategic location in the midst of many of the enemies of America, their shared view of a democracy, and similar values - we must not attempt to add these political benefits and beliefs into our Christian beliefs. This is not to say that these facts are unimportant for our nation’s leaders and our nation as a whole as they certainly are. Yet, when we speak of these facts, they must not be buried within our Christian beliefs.
I pray that these five points have helped you think through this difficult topic. There will certainly be divergent views regarding this among solid believers. Some of these views will come from a different interpretation of Scripture. We must seek peace whenever possible.
Our prayer and hope is that the Gospel would go out and change the hearts of Israel and their neighbors. May we continue preaching the Gospel to a lost and hopeless world.
He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. May the lost of our world repent and place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone - His death, burial, and resurrection. There is nothing better to pray for than for the salvation of lost souls.
As we close for today, may we stand in support with Israel because God has a plan for His chosen people in the future. He’s not done with them. His promises are sure and will come to fruition.
Thanks for listening and I pray that this has been helpful. Have a wonderful day.
