Forums » Theology

• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 16, 2011 9:57:17 PM EST

  Jonathan - I defer this request of yours to the top 3 participants of this forum topic. Those 3 individuals who have the most postings -- they should "qualify" for the answer to your summary quest. [And, since Dr. Khoury initiated this forum - he must be included, as well]
  
  Once you quickly browse through these 8 pages, then, importune each of the top 3, to offer up no more than several paragraphs, each. And, that's how you will have the answer to your quest.............
• Julie Monaghan

  

  • 58 posts
   

  February 16, 2011 10:33:41 PM EST

  You know Jonathan~ I do not know alot about anything .. But I do believe the Jews are EXACTLY what God has said they are in the Bible.. I was raised in a VERY strong doctrine, Bible believing Church and so The Holy Soirit directs me as to what is truth and what is not~ I am SO GLAD..
• Julie Monaghan

  

  • 58 posts
   

  February 16, 2011 10:35:39 PM EST

  And YES.. THEY MOST CERTAINLY DESERVE TO BE IN THE LAND THE LORD PROMISED THEM TO BE IN.. ITS THAT SIMPLE.. Humans are the ones that DISTORT the truth..
• Julie Monaghan

  

  • 58 posts
   

  February 16, 2011 10:38:52 PM EST

  Also.. Jesus was NOT WHAT ANYONE expected.. Nor was he " CONSIDERED" whom the MESSIAH was suppose to be.. However~ God had OTHER PLANS.. Those who CLAIMED TO KNOW HIM~ MISSED IT BY A MILE.. and those who knew him.. were able to see who he really was..
• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 16, 2011 10:41:06 PM EST

  Julie - I was raised just like you... My dad use to teach Revelations -- and I know that we need to stand behind Israel no matter what!
  
  Dr. Khoury... I believe that the promised land" is more than that.. I think the land of milk and honey means that there is something massively valuable on that land --and it is promised to the Jews.. and probably everybody in the muslim world knows it. That is why there is such a fuss over that land! What say you?? lol Example: just a few months ago - the largest natural gas reserve on the planet was discovered in Israel. I think that is the tip of the iceburg!
• Julie Monaghan

  

  • 58 posts
   

  February 16, 2011 10:45:15 PM EST

  I know that my REDEEMER LIVES~ Sometimes friends.. I think man has convinced himself that he knows more than GOD~ we do not.. Blessed be his name forever~
• Habib Khoury

  

  • 80 posts
   

  February 16, 2011 11:42:38 PM EST

  Jonathan, you asked:
  I've gotten into some weird discussions recently with people who said we can't really know who Jews today are, therefore they don't feel we should be in the least supportive of the state of Israel. And since in scanning this conversation I've seen some talk of descendants of Abraham... I was just curious if that's where any of this is leading!? THANKS!
  MY RESPONSE: If a nation chooses to support the modern State of Israel on political, economic and/or military grounds, I see nothing in the Scriptures that prohibits that.
  However, to claim that the modern State of Israel is God’s chosen nation (eternal salvation implicated here, apart from Christ), which demands the loyalty and the support of the Christians of the world --- is to place a burden and a bind upon the Christians, which bind and burden the New Testament already has lifted away. It also implicates the Christian in the sins of an ungodly nation.
  The Christians of the world who choose not to pray for, not to support and/or not to finance the State of Israel --- in so doing, DO NOT VIOLATE SCRIPTURE, and therefore do not sin by making such a choice.
  In the preceding dispensation, the Lord God dealt with the world through Ancient Israel, through which He produced the Old Testament Scriptures and through which He brought the Savior of the world. The coming of the Savior, precisely the Day of Pentecost, ushered a new dispensation in which we now live. The Lord God set aside Ancient Israel of the older dispensation, and formed local churches around the world, by which He now communicates His will and exhibits His moral glory to the world. Like Ancient Israel, these modern churches often fail Him.
  The modern State of Israel is NOT a resurrection of Ancient Israel, and therefore does not enjoy the Divine privileges given to Ancient Israel. Here are some of the ways in which I see this distinction:
  1. Ancient Israel was a Theocracy; modern Israel is a secular State.
  2. Ancient Israel was a kingdom; modern Israel is a democracy.
  3. The Scriptures asserted that Ancient Israel was God’s vehicle in the world; no such assertions about modern Israel.
  4. Was modern Israel established by the Lord God? According to the New Testament, all nations are established by the Lord God; therefore, this includes modern Israel.
  5. Does modern Israel enjoy the promises given to Ancient Israel? No, the New Testament asserts that the Abrahamic Covenant will be fulfilled in the Church of Jesus Christ at large, including the Christ-receiving Jews and the Christ-receiving Gentiles.
  The New Testament asserts that no man can come to God except through the Lord Jesus Christ, be that Jew or Gentile. By extension, the Christ-rejecting Jews are NOT God’s chosen people. Only those in Christ are God’s chosen people. Therefore, the true Children of Abraham are only those who hold to the faith of Abraham in the Son of God, be they the children of Ishmael, the children of Isaac, the modern Hittites, the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the Japhathites, and so on. Together they constitute “the Israel of God,” “the Body of Christ,” “the Church of the Living God,” “a Holy Nation” ─ totally unrelated to modern Israel. To document these assertions, I repost one of my previous posts:
  
  Is the Christ-rejecting Jew a child of Abraham? The New Testament replies with a resounding “NO!”: “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7). In the context of the Abrahamic Covenant, it follows that those who are not of Abraham's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for sure are not sons of Abraham: “For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but 'THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.' That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” (Romans 9:6-8). Only the believers in Christ, regardless of physical descent, are the true children of Abraham and the exclusive heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant: “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:29).
  Therefore, from the Divine standpoint, only those who belong to Christ are Abraham's descendants. The Abrahamic Covenant was never intended for the physical descendants of Abraham, unless they adopt the faith of Abraham. The believer's standing with God regarding the Abrahamic Covenant is likened to that of Isaac (the promise-rewarding faith) in relation to Abraham, not to that of the twelve tribes of Israel: “And you brethren, like Isaac [not like the 12 tribes of Israel], are children of promise.” (Galatians 4:28).
  To His persecuting Jews, physical descendants of Father Abraham, our Lord denied the right to call themselves the Children of Abraham, and therefore they were no heirs of the conditional Abrahamic Covenant: “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham…You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.” (John 8:39, 44).
  Accordingly, the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are the recipients of the Abrahamic Covenant. Through the experience of the New Birth, the believer in Christ is adopted as a child of God (John 1:12, 13), and as a child of Abraham (Galatians 3:29). In this manner the Lord God has made Abraham “a father of many nations” (Romans 4:17). Thus, only those who are the children of God through faith in Christ are recognized by the Lord God as the children of Abraham (Romans 9:6-8; cf. 4:14; I Peter 2:9, 10). We alone, by virtue of the work of God's grace in us, are made heirs of the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.
• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 16, 2011 11:59:26 PM EST

  Dr. Khoury... Can you break that down and it explain it to me like I'm a 5 year old?? The theology of it is confusing me a little. Are you saying that we aren't supposed to support Israel? Because I strongly disagree with that --if that is what you are saying. I respect your knowledge of the bible - but I think we really need to be praying for them and standing behind Netanyahu.. I think they are big time players in the End Times. If I mis-understood you, I'm apologize. I am going to re-read it - but maybe you could sum it up in a sentence or two.. sorry -- you're dealing with a blonde...
• Crystal Jades

  

  • 3 posts
   

  February 17, 2011 12:33:02 AM EST

  ??? .... I briefly read this thread and am rather disturbed to read that the modern day Israel is not the chosen people of Yahweh.
  
  I like to share Romans 11 and leave it to your own interpretation.
  
  Romans 11 :
  I (Paul) ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
  
  What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, as it is written:
  
  “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”
  
  And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”
  
  Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
  
  I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
  
  If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
  
  Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
  
  I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
  “The deliverer will come from Zion;
  he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
  And this is my covenant with them
  when I take away their sins.”
  
  As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  With regard to modern day miracles for Israel, if anyone ever heard of the Six-Day War, fought between 5-10 June, 1967, cannot deny God's sovereignty over Israel.
  
  Personally, when I read the Bible, I read the book in entirety, Old & New Testaments, 66 books ~ for the Bible is God's breathed WORD (2 Tim 3:16) and there should not be addition or subtraction to the WORD of God (Rev 22:18,19)
  For me, the WORD of God is 'rhema' ~ alive and active (Hebrews 4:12) regardless whether I am reading Exodus, Leviticus or Romans, Revelation.
  
  The above is just my 2 cents worth and I do not wish to get into any debate. I stand firm in my personal believe that ISRAEL ~ ancient or modern ~ is the chosen one of God and I choose to support her in all ways.
  
  Shalom.
• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 17, 2011 12:59:24 AM EST

  Re: Dr. Khoury's Comment of 2/16/11 -- 11:42 PM:
  
  Dr. Khoury - At first reading, of what you have written, I have to agree. I think that many Christians (mistakenly) feel that modern day Israel is equated with the Israel often spoken of in the Scriptures. Your expose about the Abrahamic Covenant [faith in Jesus Christ] helps to point out the distinction.
  
  In your comments on this forum and on your website, (with the 5 articles), you point out how the ancient Jewish nation [by and large] rejected their Messiah, and that, by that, rejection, their refusal opened the door for the Gentiles, vis-a-vis the gracious plan of God. This plan of God, has always been, through the promise, of faith -- just as it began with Abraham, when God chose him to be the father of those who would come by faith to [in] Jesus Christ.
  
  However, there is something that I believe, you overlooked in your comment. It is, where you state:
  
  "........The Christians of the world who choose not to pray for, not to support and/or not to finance the State of Israel --- in so doing, DO NOT VIOLATE SCRIPTURE, and therefore do not sin by making such a choice........'
  
  I'm sure that you did not intend to suggest that Christians are not to violate Scripture's clear command to pray for all men - especially, those who are in authority. That command, would, of course include all the souls in present day (modern) Israel and those who are in authority, there. [1 Timothy 2:1-4]
  
• Mary Hartzler

  

  • 408 posts
   

  February 17, 2011 1:10:37 AM EST

  Habib said:

  Is the Christ-rejecting Jew a child of Abraham? The New Testament replies with a resounding “NO!”: “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7). In the context of the Abrahamic Covenant, it follows that those who are not of Abraham's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for sure are not sons of Abraham: “For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but 'THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.' That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” (Romans 9:6-8).

   

  Habib deliberately twists Romans 9:6-8 to say something it does not say.  Chapters 9, 10, and 11 of Romans cover Israel's past (Chapt. 9), Israel's present (Chapt. 10), and Israel's future, when they will be grafted into the body of believers (Chapt. 11).  Abraham's descendants are not predicated upon being believers in Christ, and only the children of promise (through Isaac and subsequently Jacob) are God's chosen ones.  Abraham had a whole boatload of other children (Ishmael, and Abraham's children by Ketura after Sarah's death), but only Isaac was the son of promise--the chosen one.  Isaac had two sons, but the scriptures tell us that Jacob was the chosen one.  Jacob's name was changed to Israel after he wrestled all night with an angel.  Thus, God's chosen people have a very specific family tree, through Abraham, through Isaac, and through Jacob.  Jacob was prolific in reproducing and had 12 sons.  Anyone who traces his family heritage back to Jacob is a "son of promise."  Yes, even non-believing Jews are still God's chosen people IF they trace their heritage back through Jacob.  This does not preclude those of us in the church age from being grafted in, or adopted into the family tree.  The New Testament very clearly states that believers in Christ are given this gift because of Israel's rejection of their messiah.

   

  Only the believers in Christ, regardless of physical descent, are the true children of Abraham and the exclusive heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant: “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:29).

   

  When you read Gal. 3:29 in context with verses 26 forward, what Paul is saying in this passage is that we are all one in Christ Jesus--in other words, the ground at the foot of the cross completely level for all believers, no difference between Jew or Gentile.  Paul IS NOT saying that ONLY believers are exclusive heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant.  As Crystal said, Romans 11 is devoted to Israel's future.  Certainly believers are grafted into God's family as sons of promise (through Christ), but sons of promise who are not believers still have a place in God's plan.  The Old Testament prophets tell us that unbelieving Israel will look upon whom they have pierced with sorrow and regret (Zechariah 12:10).  God will bring the unbelieving sons of promise into the fold and make them believers.  There is nothing you can do to take away the promises meant exclusively for Israel.  Likewise, there is nothing Israel can do to take away our adoption as sons.  Both are part of God's overall plan.
• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 17, 2011 1:30:52 AM EST

  Mary Ann - Regarding your 2/17/11 - 1:10 AM comment about your disagreement with Habib:

   

  You quote the following Scripture:

   

  “For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but 'THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.' That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” (Romans 9:6-8).

   

  I think that you would be able to understand where Habib is coming from if you would recognize, (inherent, in context), in the actual text, the distinction that is made -- namely between the "children of the flesh" [unbelievers] and those who the Lord would call [elect / bring in] -- specifically, those, designated as the "children of promise" [those who would come by faith in Christ].

  
  This post was edited by Deleted Member at February 17, 2011 1:32:15 AM EST
• Habib Khoury

  

  • 80 posts
   

  February 17, 2011 1:43:28 AM EST

  Lesli K said:
  Dr. Khoury... Can you break that down and it explain it to me like I'm a 5 year old?? The theology of it is confusing me a little. Are you saying that we aren't supposed to support Israel? Because I strongly disagree with that --if that is what you are saying. I respect your knowledge of the bible - but I think we really need to be praying for them and standing behind Netanyahu.. I think they are big time players in the End Times. If I mis-understood you, I'm apologize. I am going to re-read it - but maybe you could sum it up in a sentence or two.. sorry -- you're dealing with a blonde...

  Lesli, the New Testament has freed the Christian from bondage to the Jewish Race and all other races.  In Chist Jesus there is no Jew or Gentile.  All are one in Christ.  Outside Christ, all are sinners condemned by the Lord God.  The Christian has no duty toward any nation except his own.  However, the Christian may choose to be a blessing to other nations as well.

  As for the Christ-rejecting modern Israel, the Christian has no God-given obligation.

• Mary Hartzler

  

  • 408 posts
   

  February 17, 2011 1:56:31 AM EST

  Nathan, election/calling/grafting is not the same thing as being a child of promise.  They aren't even close to being the same thing.  The quoted scripture does not in any way say or support this.  I think it is clear that Habib (and you, if you agree with him) is using these various scripture quotes, out of context or deliberately misinterpreted, to bolster an extra-Biblical personal agenda--to excise the children of promise from their rightful place in scripture and in the land of Israel.
  
  Habib did you really say, "The Christian has no duty toward any nation except his own."?  What do you make of the Great Commission in Matthew 28?
  
  18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
  
  19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
  
  20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

  
  

• Habib Khoury

  

  • 80 posts
   

  February 17, 2011 1:59:57 AM EST

  Nathan Bickel said:
  Re: Dr. Khoury's Comment of 2/16/11 -- 11:42 PM: Dr. Khoury - At first reading, of what you have written, I have to agree. I think that many Christians (mistakenly) feel that modern day Israel is equated with the Israel often spoken of in the Scriptures. Your expose about the Abrahamic Covenant [faith in Jesus Christ] helps to point out the distinction. In your comments on this forum and on your website, (with the 5 articles), you point out how the ancient Jewish nation [by and large] rejected their Messiah, and that, by that, rejection, their refusal opened the door for the Gentiles, vis-a-vis the gracious plan of God. This plan of God, has always been, through the promise, of faith -- just as it began with Abraham, when God chose him to be the father of those who would come by faith to [in] Jesus Christ. However, there is something that I believe, you overlooked in your comment. It is, where you state: "........The Christians of the world who choose not to pray for, not to support and/or not to finance the State of Israel --- in so doing, DO NOT VIOLATE SCRIPTURE, and therefore do not sin by making such a choice........' I'm sure that you did not intend to suggest that Christians are not to violate Scripture's clear command to pray for all men - especially, those who are in authority. That command, would, of course include all the souls in present day (modern) Israel and those who are in authority, there. [1 Timothy 2:1-4]

  Nathan, you are completely right; I have removed the phrase "not to pray for" from my saved file and it will not appear in my writings again.  Thank you for the correction.  Those not acquainted with the passage Nathan referred to, here it is:

  ¹First of all, then, I urge that ^(A)entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

   ^2(B)for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

   ³This is good and acceptable in the sight of ^(C)God our Savior,

   ^4(D)who desires all men to be ^(E)saved and to ^(F)come to the knowledge of the truth.

• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 17, 2011 2:06:09 AM EST

  Dr. Khoury -- Thank you for your reply.
  
  I was sure that you did not intend to exclude praying for precious souls and those in authority in the modern day state of Israel...........
• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 17, 2011 2:11:59 AM EST

  I am not trying to be disrespectful or anything, but I completely disagree with you on that Dr. Khoury.. I have a lot of respect for you.. but I think we have to support Israel.. I think it is Key in the end times and Revelations.. My father raised me from birth to support them.. and to pray for them. It even says in Revelations that there will be a great revival --and that 188 thousand of them will evangelize the world. I will have to find that one.. but I know it says it because I have read it.
  
  I am not a bible scholar - but I know what I feel in my heart and from what I have been taught my whole life. Not only that, even if it wasn't something that God wanted from me, I would still do it. I feel for them.. And I love Netanyahu so much. Even if what you are saying is true and I had no God-given obligation -- I have a moral obligation to support them. A Lesli-given obligation to support them. Anyway, that is how I feel about it..
• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 17, 2011 2:23:08 AM EST

  Mary Ann - Re: Your February 17, 2011 1:56:31 AM EST comment:
  
  I'm disappointed that you did not agree with me, just as I am disappointed when other people disagree with me, for whatever, reasons. LOL
  
  On the more serious note:
  
  Your reply now, seems to be taking on a general disposition, rather than you responding specifically to my terse comments regarding the following verse:
  
  "......That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” [Romans 9:6-8]
  
  What more can I say? The Scripture, qualifies it for us. Modern day Israelis, who are not believers in Christ, have to be, the opposite -- "children of the flesh."
  
  As, I stated in another previous comment of mine, in response to yours -- I am very reluctant to discuss and debate millennialism on a public forum. Your previous comments lead me to believe that part and parcel of your understanding about Jewish unbelief, is, that all will be made well (for the unbelieving Jew) in the [supposed] 1,000 yr. reign of Christ on earth.
  
  Whereas, I, don't believe, that they will be given a "second chance," since, when the end comes, Christ will return, once, and will judge both the living and the dead, as the Apostle's Creed, states.
• Deleted Member

  
   

  February 17, 2011 2:26:40 AM EST

  Lesli - I can't help it, if you misunderstand me.
  
  With Israel, as an ally of the US, I fully desire for our country to be supportive of them. I have high regard for Benjamin Netanyahu.
• Habib Khoury

  

  • 80 posts
   

  February 17, 2011 2:33:14 AM EST

  Mary Ann Hartzler said:
  

  Nathan, election/calling/grafting is not the same thing as being a child of promise.  They aren't even close to being the same thing.  The quoted scripture does not in any way say or support this. 

  MY RESPONSE:  I deny this charge completely.  It is one of your repeated attacks on the New Testament under disguise.  Please demonstrate where did I violate the distinction that I dearly hold among these terms.

   I think it is clear that Habib (and you, if you agree with him) is using these various scripture quotes, out of context or deliberately misinterpreted, to bolster an extra-Biblical personal agenda--to excise the children of promise from their rightful place in scripture and in the land of Israel.

  MY RESPONSE: The New Testament repeatedly and clearly asserts that NO ONE, be that Jew or Gentile, is a child of promise outside Christ.  Your blatant and repeated public refusal to accept the New Testament authority on the subject declares you a heretic.  Any verses you interpret to offer special Divine privileges (and a false hope) outside Christ are misinterpretations and are deceptive.
  
  Habib did you really say, "The Christian has no duty toward any nation except his own."?  What do you make of the Great Commission in Matthew 28?
  
  18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
  
  19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
  
  20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

  MY RESPONSE: The Great Commission is related to discipleship, not to taking money from the Gospel to give to a Gospel-rejecting nation.  This stealing from the Gospel is an act of treason against the Gospel!  The "All Nations" includes the work of discipleship in Israel, the Arab nations, the Muslim nations, and all other nations.

   That statement from me that you quoted must be understood in the context of the discussion --- the Christian has no Divinely-appointed obligations toward Israel other than to pray for Israel as he does for all other nations, the Muslim nations not excluded.

  Contrary to the New Testament, you seek to bestow upon modern Israel a certain sacredness, a Divine immunity that cannot be found in the New Testament.  This is HERESY!