Lumbley Library on John Hagee- Part Two

John Hagee’s Dual Covenant Duplicity

In case you missed it there was a bit of an uproar within some evangelical circles recently when a non messianic Jewish Rabbi claimed that both Jerry Falwell and John Hagee held dual covenant beliefs in regards to ethnic Jews.

The dual covenant idea holds that Jews, by reason of their ethnicity have a covenant with God that is separate from the sacrifice of Christ. In other words dual covenant adherents claim that at least some Jews are accepted by God without believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This idea is totally debunked by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans which we will get to in a moment.

Many well meaning Christians today have embraced a dual covenant approach to the Jewish people without even realizing it due to their unflinching support for national Israel. Preachers like Falwell and Hagee lead God’s people into these types of errors with their constant political proselytizing as well as their faulty interpretation of scripture. There are many reasons for America to support Israel politically but unconditional support for unsaved Jews is antithetical to the teachings of Christ.

The late Jerry Falwell, to his credit, quickly repudiated the story in a statement on his website which said in part,

“Earlier today, reports began circulating across the globe that I have recently stated that Jews can go to heaven without being converted to Jesus Christ. This is categorically untrue…………While I am a strong supporter of the State of Israel and dearly love the Jewish people and believe them to be the chosen people of God, I continue to stand on the foundational biblical principle that all people — Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Jews, Muslims, etc. — must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to enter heaven.”

Hagee too issued a denial of sorts. While claiming that he neither believed or taught a dual covenant theology, he added that he had;

“….made it a practice for 25 years not to target Jews for conversion” at any “Night to Honor Israel” events. If Jews “inquire about our faith at a later time, we give them a full scriptural presentation of redemption.”

With this statement Hagee attempted to claim that he was quoted out of context and that he only refuses to target Jews at his Night to Honor Israel Event. In this, he sounds more like a politician trying to please both sides of the aisle than a preacher with a clear gospel message. The truth is that John Hagee has refused for years to evangelize Jews and has not been afraid to say so publicly when he thinks his American evangelical audience isn’t listening.

The Jerusalem Post which ran the original statements from Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg on March 1 continues to stand by the story. In a follow up interview which ran on March 21, 2006, Hagee made the following statement;

“I do not target Jews for conversion.” Nonetheless, he stressed, “If you come into my church [of your own volition], you are asking to hear my witness of Jesus Christ and you’re going to get it, wide open.”

Keep in mind this was not a second hand quote from someone purporting to explain what Hagee believes. This statement was made by Hagee himself directly to the interviewer, David Horovitz of the Jerusalem Post.

Just so there would be no confusion, the reporter posed the question again; “Again outside the “Night to Honor Israel” framework, do you target Jews for conversion?”

Hagee’s response:

“When I open the doors of Cornerstone Church, 5,000 people fill the auditorium. As I present the gospel message, I don’t know if you’re Muslim, Hindu, Pentecostal, Baptist, Catholic or Jewish. If you come into Cornerstone Church, you are asking to hear my witness of Jesus Christ and the Cross as the way to redemption, and you’re going to get that message, wide open.”

So, if a Jew happens to wander into Cornerstone Church during a regular service he will, according to Hagee get the witness of Jesus Christ and the cross as the way to redemption, otherwise, the Jews are on their own.

Hagee further clarifies his beliefs with the following words;

“In Romans 9, Paul states that this three-chapter section is exclusively about the Jewish people. He continues that theme in the 10th chapter, and in Chapter 11 writes in the first verse that “God has not cast away Israel.” This statement by St. Paul is the absolute death knell of “replacement theology.”

Here, Hagee begins to set up his straw man argument by bringing the term “replacement theology” into the discussion. No one has mentioned replacement theology but Hagee interjects it so that he can tear it down with his faulty interpretation of scripture.

Replacement theology claims that the church has “replaced” natural Israel and that the ethnic heirs of Abraham have no more place in God’s divine plan for mankind. Let’s take a look at Hagee’s assertions in light of scripture. It is true that Romans 9, 10, & 11 are about the Jewish people but first it is important to understand just who is a Jew according to Paul.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Rom 9:6-8

Paul is saying here that a descendant of Abraham is not a child of God simply by virtue of his physical ethnicity. This is a repeat of what Paul has already stated in Chapter 2.

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one 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.: Rom 2:28-29

Paul is saying that only those who accept the promises by faith are the true children of Abraham. Not only does that make Christians into Jews spiritually but it specifically excludes those who claim a relationship with God based solely on fleshly attributes.

Look at the first part of verse 28 again. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly…….

Now look again at Chapter 9 verse 8; They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God…..

Isn’t that clear? No one is a child of God based on their physical blood or outward religious practices.

So, Hagee is correct in stating that Paul is writing to the Jews but what he ignores is Paul’s definition of just who is a Jew according to God. Every promise made to the Jews physically throughout scripture also applies to the church spiritually. We have not replaced Israel but we have become a part of Israel. When God tells Abraham that he will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, that applies to Christians today just as much as it ever applied to ethnic Israel.

Hagee also correctly claims that chapter 11 begins with the statement that God has not cast away Israel. One must however continue to read the verse to understand what Paul is saying.

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. Rom 11:1

This is really very simple. Paul is saying that it is obvious that God has not cast away his people Israel because he himself is an Israelite. It is also clear however that Paul does not base his covenant relationship with God on his physical ethnicity but rather on his belief in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
****************************************
More in Part Three of this series coming in a two days.