The Wrong Focus

On television and the radio there are numerous preachers who are telling their audiences that the key to greatness for America is support of the modern state of Israel. They tell people that if the U.S.A. supports the Jewish state there will be blessings for America, but if the U.S.A. refuses to support the Jewish state, then the U.S.A. is finished as a world power. In my opinion, this is taking the focus of Christians off of Jesus Christ and putting it on the Jewish people. We are not to take our eyes off of Jesus our shepherd, and if we do, we are heading for trouble.

In the days of the great revivals in America and the British Empire the preaching was different. Our people were told at that time that the key to greatness is to follow Jesus Christ, his teachings and example, and to trust in Him for salvation. The emphasis in those days was on building Christian nations, not building pro-Jewish nations. The Bible was their authority. The average person in that time period knew his or her Bible better than the average person of today knows it. The results were obvious. The British Empire and the United States grew to become great world powers and to become the biggest exporters of the Christian gospel in the world. Today the U.S.A. has become the biggest exporter of pornography in the world. Could this be why America is falling? Also, many British Commonwealth countries have slid into agnosticism and atheism. Could this be why we are falling? The Bible is clear on this: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14: 34. We have to get our eyes back on our God and shepherd of our souls, who is Jesus Christ, and stop going astray following anything else for our prosperity and security.

I am not saying the nations of ten-tribe Israel should abandon the Jewish state. It is dishonourable to support a people for several decades and then abandon them. I have no doubt that we will be drawn into the final conflict in the Middle East before the return of Christ. For the Israel truth movement, historically our people have been favourable to the Jewish people, as have most Protestants. It was mostly the Roman Catholic Church in Europe that persecuted the European Jews over the centuries. It was Oliver Cromwell, a strong Protestant, who allowed them back into England after centuries of banishment which started with Edward the First. The early lecturers in the Israel truth movement were favourable to the Jews. Dr. Poole believed the Jews and the English people would one day possess the Holy Land together. In his book “Anglo Israelism in Nine Lectures”, published in 1879, he wrote: “We may yet see the great things God has in the near future for the people called the Jews.” (page 21). He also quoted the Jewish Chronicle of 1877: “Under England’s protection we ought not to have any fear for the safety of the Jews. England has proved by her rule over the multifarious races and religions in India that she knows how to govern people of different nationalities and creeds.” (page 80). Another early Israel truth writer was the Rev. J.H. Allen, who wrote in his book, Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright: “Also the Jews are enemies to the gospel of grace which Jesus Christ came to bring, “but as touching the election (of race), they are beloved for the fathers’ sake”” (page 181). It appears there was no antagonism between the early Israel truth writers and the Jews.

Today there is a huge campaign in the evangelical movement in America to support the Jewish people. What is behind this movement? Do they know something that the average American or Canadian does not know? Do they know that there is a massive war brewing in the Middle East? I believe our national security in the future depends on whether we follow Jesus Christ or not. Nothing else will save us. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” Matthew 7: 24-25. Our people need to look to our shepherd, Jesus Christ, for protection. He will save us. His very name means Salvation.