John Hagee Embarrassing Messianic Jews

Theology is under an incredible assault. Unbiblical and extra Biblical ideas have invaded the church world. The secular world has always lived by their imaginations. It is the natural result of great mental capacity without the protection of a pure heart. God created the human family with intellect and mental skills that make us second only to His angels. When the heart is unclean and the will is self-centered, it is natural to become wild in our imaginations. Any time in church history when wickedness and ungodliness invaded the church, the theology became nothing but insane imaginations. The Catholic Church is a perfect example.

Our present world is being invaded with imagination theology because godliness has been forsaken. You can search the present church and you will find worldly churches and loose living ministers. In their congregations you will find skewed beliefs and concocted theologies. The human mind is too powerful and full of its own ideas to be trusted without purity of soul. The entire emerging church world is so dependent on the latest fad or some new emotional human imagination that the truth of Scripture is nothing but a bother. As Tommy Tenney said, "Moldy old pages of the Bible" have been forsaken for the great revelations (imaginations) of the new churchworld (paraphrased).

John Hagee’s Dual Covenant theology fits this new church quite well. I heard Hagee on television years ago when he first began his criticism of the old separated lifestyle of Pentecostal churches. He was hard and condemning. He had clearly charted the path with the Charismatics and their loose living style. That is where he lost his mooring in the Holy Book.

Leaving the wife of his youth, along with his children, and marrying a young woman in the church was an example of his forsaking of biblical values. No wonder he repudiated the past standards of Fundamental Christianity. (Personal Freedom Outreach, G. Richard Fisher)

Dual Covenant theology is the idea that Israel or the Jewish people still have an Old Testament plan of redemption. This idea has surfaced before in the church world but never gained broad support. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s founder, Charles Russell, taught a form of Dual Covenant theology. It is heresy and — worse of all — it leaves the whole nation of Israel without the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ in the present church age.

God’s perfect plan for the church was for Jews and Gentiles to serve the Lord together. The early church was clearly a united fellowship of all believers without national prejudice or anti-Semitism. Apostle Paul’s writings were addressed to a church made up of both Jews and Gentiles. "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:8-11).

The spirit of anti-Semitism that came to represent the church for hundreds of years was a disgrace to the gospel. The fact is that early Reformation leaders were so affected by the false message of Replacement Theology that most never escaped the idea. Even until the present day, the thought of Jewish people in the full fellowship of our churches has never really taken root. This truth may finally be rediscovered in the Latter Rain of Pentecost soon to grip our world. What a miracle that would be!

In a shocking interview with the Houston Chronicle, John Hagee made his theology perfectly clear. He said, "I believe that every Jewish person who lives in the light of the Torah, which is the Word of God, has a relationship with God and will come to redemption. (Houston Chronicle, April 30, 1988). He further stated, "I’m not trying to convert the Jewish people to the Christian faith" (Ibid).

Then, the paper printed the following, "In fact, trying to convert Jews is a ‘waste of time,’ he said. ‘The Jewish person who has his roots in Judaism is not going to convert to Christianity. There is no form of Christian evangelism that has failed so miserably as evangelizing the Jewish people. They (already) have a faith structure.’ Everyone else, whether Buddhist or Baha’i, needs to believe in Jesus, he says. But not Jews. Jews already have a covenant with God that has never been replaced by Christianity, he says." (Ibid).

John Hagee has both denied and affirmed his Dual Covenant belief for many years. A recent book by Mr. Hagee has finally settled the question. Before we look at his clear belief in this matter, let’s look at his strong commitment to the Catholic Church.

Because of charges that he and his church were anti-Catholic, he just released a press statement from his ministry. Here are a few of his remarks directly from this release, "Â…let me state my position as clearly as I can. I am not now, nor have I ever been anti-Catholic. Cornerstone Church has operated a social services center for more than 20 years where we feed the hungry and clothe the needy five days a week. The vast majority of those who benefit from this ministry are Catholic. I personally supported a convent for over ten years providing complimentary housing for elderly, retired nuns. Many of you remember the day of honor that we had for those nuns in this church for their lifetime of service to God. They are not the acts of someone who is anti-Catholic." He also stated, "I have never stated that the great whore is the Catholic Church." (www.jhm.org.)

This fact that monies going to the Hagee ministry are then used to promote Catholicism should be of great concern to every contributor.

As we return to understand the absolute proof of Hagee’s erroneous theology, let’s make sure of the facts. Here are a few direct quotes from his new book, In Defense of Israel. "If God intended for Jesus to be the Messiah of Israel, why didn’t He authorize Jesus to use supernatural signs to prove He was God’s Messiah, just as Moses had done?" (p.137). "The Jews were not rejecting Jesus as Messiah; it was Jesus who was refusing to be the Messiah to the Jews." (p.140). "They wanted Him to be their Messiah, but He flatly refused." (p. 141). He refused to be their Messiah, choosing instead to be the Savior of the world." (p. 143).

A beginning Bible scholar could prove how wrong Mr. Hagee’s assertions are. Andrew, the brother of Apostle Peter, was convinced. "He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ" (John 1:41).

In describing Christ’s lineage, Matthew proclaimed, "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" (Matthew 1:16).

The word "Christ" is always the translation of the "Anointed" and the "Messiah." Matthew began his gospel with these words, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). Maybe John Hagee does not know about the relationship between the text as written in Greek and the translation into English.

The response of the public to this book is quite overwhelming, whether by Jewish or Gentile believers. Maybe this book is God’s plan to use heresy to bring the Jewish and Gentile believers together.

Here is one quote from the Internet in response to this scary book, "You shall not find a more Pro-Israel Servant of THE Lord YEHOWSHU’A (JESUS) than I … The other Palestinians who want to be left alone are just hostages to these terrorists groups backed by Syria and Iran. I say these things so that others shall know where I stand concerning Israel. But I will not overlook this heresy preached by John Hagee. He is a blasphemer and a liar! The Apostle Paul said if he or an angel from Heaven preached any other Gospel than the one already preached, — let that person be accursed! (Galatians 1:8) So it is written; so let it be with John Hagee!" (www.amazon.com – Mr. Braithwaite "braithwaite1" – USA.)

I must share one more quote to show the outrage from the Jewish world, "Hagee has a new book out this week, In Defense of Israel. In a promotion on his television show, Hagee claimed that the book ‘will expose the sins of the fathers and the vicious abuse of the Jewish people. In Defense of Israel will shape Christian theology. This is abject nonsense. Hagee takes Christian scripture and turns it on its head. He fails to comprehend the Christian meaning of the term "Israel" to be a chunk of land, not a biblical people. Throughout this book he bashes many Christians … The very fact that some of the most desperate individuals like Abe Foxman (a man of the far-left) has joined forces with this demagogue should speak volumes." (www.amazon.com – Avner Goldman – New York, New York.)

John Hagee has certainly defamed the very people of the Jews that he has claimed to love and defend so deeply. How to understand that he has come to this end is beyond my simple mind. What good could he have thought to accomplish? His statements are delusional and absolutely contrary to the plain Word of God. If the Believing church world will respond with the dedication we claim, this book will have a short life.