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Wolves in Sheep's Clothing and Hirelings |
A consummate wolf in sheep's clothing, John Hagee is pastor of one of America's `mega-churches', Cornerstone Church, of San Antonio, Texas. Hagee is one of the leading American supporters and promoters of the contemporary Jewish state. Indeed, the counterfeit Christianity which Hagee promotes demands of its followers unconditional support for the Jewish state, together with veneration of the Jew and all things Jewish.
Hagee has been reported in the press (Houston Chronicle) and by a reputable Christian organization (Christian Research Institute1) as teaching that the Jew has his own covenant with God, and thus has no need of Christ Jesus. The assertion first was reported several years ago. However, when confronted with the matter, Hagee now denies having taught such a doctrine.
Typically referring to Christ Jesus as “a Jewish rabbi”, Hagee argues that Revelation 19:16, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,” indicates that, when Jesus returns to earth, he is wearing a Jewish prayer shawl.
Hagee ministers to a racially-diverse congregation. In his services, which are televised nationally, Hagee boldly proclaims both the false prosperity gospel and the false healing gospel.
Essentially a `charismatic' in his approach to worship services, Hagee appears to have studied (or to have been instructed in) techniques of mass hypnosis. In particular, Hagee makes constant and effective use of the snap of the fingers. Hagee appears also to have been coached extensively in dramatic voice technique. The pulpit manner of Hagee is pompous almost to the extreme; he gives the impression of one having considerable authority and dignity. Undoubtedly, the success of Hagee is due in large measure to his pulpit decorum and polished oratory.
Though Hagee appears to be a devout and pious God-fearing man, the disrespect which he demonstrates for the Word of God borders on the incredible. Indeed, in his handling of the Scripture, Hagee demonstrates an attitude which might best be described by the phrase, “Anything goes.”
In the sermons of Hagee—as is typical of the sermons of most `fundamentalist' preachers—it is common to hear passages of Scripture cited out of context, as Hagee attempts to support false assertions and erroneous arguments. But Hagee compounds the error, by misquoting the Scripture; and he does so on a frequent basis. Through the combination of disregarding the context of a passage and misquoting the passage, Hagee often is able to make a convincing argument in support of a concept which not only is contrary to the teaching of the Scripture, but also is perverse to the extreme.
However, in the course of a sermon, when assertions and supporting citations are pouring forth rapidly from the pulpit and the congregation is caught up in the spirit of the moment, not many within the congregation are following along in their Bibles, attempting to verify that the citations of Scripture are accurate.
A number of sources report that in 1975, Hagee, then pastor of a charismatic congregation (which later became Trinity Church) in San Antonio and the father of two children, became divorced2, resigned, and married3 a young woman in the congregation, Diana Castro, with custody of the children going to his ex-wife, Martha. The same sources report that, in a letter to the church, Hagee admitted immorality, and that the letter became part of the court records in the custody battle.
The Scripture explicitly declares the conditions under which divorce is legal, and the conditions under which remarriage after divorce is permissible. Moreover, the Scripture explicitly declares the requirements for the man who aspires to the position of overseer or pastor of a local assembly. While many Christians are confused regarding divorce and remarriage, the fact of the matter is as follows:
Consequently, an isolated act of adultery or a divorce no more disqualifies a man from the ministry than does an isolated act of idolatry, an isolated act of dishonouring father or mother, an isolated act of theft, an isolated act of murder, an isolated act of false witness, or an isolated act of covetousness—all of which virtually every Christian as a Christian has committed, whether overtly, or in the heart5—so long as the act indeed is isolated and has been confessed. Christians of a self-righteous bent tend to forget that David, son of Jessee, whom God declared to be a man after his own heart6, was both a murderer and an adulterer.
The English term `monger' means one who deals or traffics in a particular commodity or type of merchandise. It is used particularly of irreputable, dishonourable, or shameful activity. John Hagee, as have so many other leaders of the so-called `Christian Right', has shown himself to be an unabashed war monger.
In a broadcast which aired on the TBN television network on the 17th of September of A. D. 2006, Hagee declared that World War III already has begun. In the same broadcast, Hagee identified the enemy as `Isalmofascism'; he declared that the contemporary Jewish state (for which he uses the name `Israel') would attack Iran, bringing about great calamity; and he expressed the desire that America would support the Jewish state in the resulting calamity. It behooves the followers of Hagee to inquire of Hagee whether he is willing to sacrifice his own sons and daughters on the altar of war on behalf of the contemporary Jewish state.
Hagee falsely claims that the Jew (and the context makes clear the fact that he is speaking of the unregenerate Jew) holds a title in perpetuity to the land called `Palestine'. While he puts on the appearance of a devout and scholarly Christian, such assertions demonstrate Hagee to be, at best, ignorant and incompetent in his handling of the Scripture and, at worst, a deliberate deceiver and a knowing liar.
First. In making his argument regarding the title supposedly held by the unregenerate Jew, Hagee uses sleight-of-hand and diversion, in that he argues that God never breaks a covenant. But the covenant under which the physical nation Israel possessed the land of Promise was not the unconditional covenant which the Lord God made with Abraham; rather, it was the Old Covenant—a bilateral, temporal covenant, which came to an end with the death of Christ Jesus. While the Lord never breaks a covenant, the Old Covenant was a conditional covenant which, according to the Scripture, was broken by Israel. The covenant having been broken, the Lord is released from all obligation which was incurred by the covenant.
Second. Sleight-of-hand again is employed by Hagee regarding title to the land of Palestine, in that he constantly confounds the Old Covenant and the Abrahamic Covenant, speaking of them interchangeably as if they were one and the same. But while the Old Covenant provided benefit in time7, only the Abrahamic Covenant provides everlasting benefit.
Third. It is the Abrahamic Covenant, rather than the Old Covenant, which provides everlasting title to the land of Palestine. And, inasmuch as assumption of the title is impossible apart from the Resurrection, no mortal may hold the title. Indeed, the Scripture declares that neither Abraham, nor Isaac, nor Jacob received the promised inheritance; these all dwelt in the land of Promise as foreigners, Hebrews 11:8–16.
Fourth. Hagee cannot possibly be ignorant of the fact that the unregenerate Jew is not heir to the promises made to Abraham, for the matter is discussed at length in the Scripture. In particular, Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians, notes that the promises were made “to Abraham and to his seed”, and declares that the `seed' to whom the promises pertain is singular, being none other than Christ Jesus. Accordingly, the promises of Abraham pertain only to those who, through justification, enjoy the status of union with Christ. Thus, the justified of every age of history, by virtue of their relationship with Christ Jesus, are heirs to the promises made to Abraham, while the unregenerate Jew is excluded. While the unregenerate Jew was able to enjoy covenantal relationship under the Old Covenant, it is impossible for him to partake of the promises which the Lord God made to Abraham.
These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present...and these all do contrary to the decree of Caesar, saying another to be king—Jesus.– Acts 17:6–7
We ought obey God rather than men.– Acts 5:29
This document was translated from LATEX by HEVEA.