Latest news with #supportIsrael
Associated Press
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Leading Evangelical Church Expresses Support for Israel and Trump Strike in Iran
DALLAS, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / June 22, 2025 / Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of the 16,000-member First Baptist Church in Dallas - one of earliest megachurch pastors to support President Trump more than 10 years ago - addressed congregants in both Sunday worship services this morning, expressing support for Israel and recent U.S. strikes against specific targets in Iran. The congregation interrupted Dr. Jeffress' statement several times with rousing applause and responded with a standing ovation, expressing solidarity with their pastor's remarks and agreement with President Trump's actions, before kneeling for prayer for the President, the American military, the people and leadership of Israel and the American people. Dr. Jeffress stated the following: 'I wanted to take just a few moments and say a few words about what we all witnessed last night in the strikes against the nuclear facilities in Iran. There has been a lot of debate in our country, especially in the last few months, about whether America should support Israel and to what extent we should support Israel.' Referencing a recent debate between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz in which the podcaster challenged the Senator's contention that Christians have an obligation to support Israel, asking where the Bible states that and what it means to support Israel, Jeffress provided further context. 'To support Israel first-of-all means to support Israel's right to exist. The nation of Iran doesn't believe Israel has the right to exist. Iran has as its stated objective to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, and there are other countries who believe that as well. 'But in doing so, they are going against God himself. Unlike any other nation in the world, God created the nation of Israel. Israel was His idea, and He said Israel will endure forever. No other nation, including the United States has that promise, but Israel has that promise. 'Secondly, to support Israel means to support Israel's right to exist in her land. You listen to the Left, to what's been taught on college campuses, they would have you believe that this land belongs to the Palestinians, (saying), 'It's been theirs and just in the last 50 years Israel tried to come and steal the land that belonged to the poor Palestinians.' Nothing could be further from the truth. 'You look not just at the Bible but at secular history, look at archaeology; we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Israel occupied that land at least 3,000 years ago. It was theirs because God gave it to them, and He said, 'This land will be yours forever.' 'History is very clear on this. Those who oppose Israel are always on the wrong side of history, and most importantly, they are on the wrong side of God; and I thank God we finally have a president who understands that truth in Donald Trump. 'I was watching the news this week and saw the President getting hit from all sides, including his own coalition, about Israel. Thursday I texted him and just reminded him that there are millions of Christians who pray for him every day, 'Mr. President, the vast majority of those Christians are going to trust you and support whatever decision you make.' 'Last night, we saw President Trump make the right decision. In going against Iran, he not only removed a menace and a threat to the nation of Israel, but he removed a threat to America and the entire world. He did something other presidents have dreamed of doing, have talked about doing, have wanted to do it, but only President Trump had the courage to make that hard decision. And he ought to be thanked for doing that, but he also needs to be acknowledged for the way he accepted victory last night. 'In that statement he said, 'I want to thank everybody, but in particular I want to thank God, and I just want to say, 'We love you, God.' Have you ever heard another president say that - Republican or Democrat? No other president has said that before. 'I think I speak for the vast majority of the members of First Baptist Church Dallas when I say, 'Thank God for the courageous and godly leadership of our President Donald Trump.' God bless you, Mr. President, in what you've done.' In his prayer before continuing with the remainder of the service, Executive Pastor Ben Lovvorn said, 'Lord, we thank you that today the world is a safer place. We recognize that what we see on the news is not all there is to this struggle; this is not just a matter of temporal events. We know that there are spiritual forces that are acting behind these nations - spiritual forces of good and spiritual forces of evil. 'This is a cosmic clash, and we know that those same spiritual forces are at work in our churches and at work in our lives,' Lovvorn continued. 'Help us to submit to You and follow You, so we can stand against the spiritual forces of evil in this world so that we can glorify You.' For more information, visit and see Dr. Jeffress' remarks at About First Baptist Dallas First Baptist Church has been a landmark in downtown Dallas, covering six blocks of the city, since its founding in 1868. First Baptist Dallas named Dr. Robert Jeffress as pastor in 2007. Under his leadership, the church has grown to a 16,000-member congregation, the largest in its history. First Baptist Dallas focuses on reaching the city, nation, and world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The church's mission is to transform the world with God's Word one life at a time through its ministries, including its international broadcast of 'Pathway to Victory' and its iCampus, which reaches millions of listeners and viewers worldwide. -30- Media Contact: Abigail Miller at [email protected] or 214-663-9933. SOURCE: First Baptist Dallas press release
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Are Christians Biblically Obliged To Support Israel? Cruz-Carlson Clash Fuels Debate
The viral interview between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz has sparked a fierce theological debate among American Christians: Are Christians biblically commanded to support the modern state of Israel? The exchange occurred during an episode of Carlson's online show, The Tucker Carlson Encounter, which streamed on X and was released on June 18, 2025. In the interview, Cruz strongly defended his pro-Israel stance in light of the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. 'Growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed. And from my perspective, I want to be on the blessing side of things,' Cruz told Carlson. Carlson pressed further, asking, 'We are commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel?' 'We are commanded to support Israel,' Cruz replied. 'Define Israel,' Carlson pushed back. The exchange quickly spread online, prompting pastors, theologians, and conservative leaders across the country to weigh in. Carlson's question—delivered in his signature, low-toned cadence—was direct: 'Are we as Christians commanded to support the government of Israel?' At the core of the debate is Carlson's question—what exactly does 'Israel' mean in a biblical context? Is it a geopolitical state, an ethnic group, or a spiritual identity? This ambiguity has long divided Christians, particularly evangelicals, about whether the biblical covenant applies to the modern nation-state of Israel. In response, several pastors have weighed in on the debate. Pastor Lance Cashion of Kings Cross Fellowship in Fort Worth urged caution in applying Old Testament verses directly to modern political states. 'The exchange between Carlson and Cruz on such a huge public platform is a good thing. It brings a very important issue to the forefront. It reveals a deep theological divide among American Christians over the past 100 years. As Christians, we must be extremely cautious about how God's pronouncements in Scripture are applied to the spheres of government, countries, nations, and peoples.' 'As such, we must think in biblical categories using proper theology. As history has shown, taking Bible verses out of context can have devastating historical implications. Like the Men of Issachar, we must have understanding of the times. Like the Bereans, we must look to Scripture for wisdom,' Pastor Cashion told The Dallas Express. Cashion added that both Iran and Israel need repentance and to believe in Christ. 'The fastest-growing church in the world is in Iran. Therefore, the Christian prayer for the Ayatollah and Bibi is the same: that they would repent of their sin, believe the gospel, and lead their nations in righteousness and peace.' Pastor Landon Schott of Mercy Culture Church in Fort Worth called hatred of Israel demonic. 'Either you really care about justice or you are pretending to be a social warrior because you are not a biblical justice warrior. It is tolerated, it is permitted, it is celebrated—because it's demonic.' Pastor Bruce Mejia of First Works Baptist Church in Anaheim, CA, offered a strong rebuke of Cruz's theology. 'Ted Cruz, unfortunately, has embraced Zionist propaganda that has infiltrated many churches and led countless believers to think they must unconditionally support the modern state of Israel,' Pastor Mejia told The Dallas Express. Mejia continued. 'Contrary to the narrative promoted by mainstream Christianity, the Bible does not command believers to support Israel. Many Christians have been conditioned to believe that the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 should be applied to the modern nation-state of Israel. However, the New Testament, particularly Galatians 3:16, makes it clear that these promises ultimately refer to Jesus Christ and, by extension, to all believers.' (Genesis 12:3: 'I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse…')(Galatians 3:16: 'The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed… meaning one person, who is Christ.') 'Moreover, Scripture warns against supporting individuals, organizations, or nations that openly reject and blaspheme Jesus Christ. By that standard, the modern state of Israel—which explicitly denies Jesus as the Messiah—falls into this category. Politicians like Ted Cruz should stop misusing Scripture to advance political agendas that are not grounded in the full counsel of God's Word.' Pastor Troy B. Jackson of New Beginnings Church in Bedford defended Cruz's position. 'Tucker raises fair questions every republic should ask before it swings a sword. But his isolationist instinct overshoots the runway. Christians who read their Bibles—and conservatives who revere the Founders' moral universe—cannot treat Israel like just another ZIP code on the foreign-policy map,' Pastor Jackson told The Dallas Express. Pastor Larry Huch, also with New Beginnings Church in Bedford, commented. 'God's covenant with Israel is forever, and Genesis 12:3 still rings: 'I will bless those who bless the nation of Israel.' That's not preacher-talk; it's a covenant clause older than the Constitution itself,' Pastor Huch remarked. 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), lobby Congress to keep Iran's mullahs awake at night, and let's bless what God blesses,' Pastor Jackson added. Messianic Jewish leader Dr. Ron Cantor responded to the Carlson-Cruz exchange in an open letter. While he acknowledged Cruz's misquote, he argued that the question 'Is modern Israel biblical Israel?' has a theological answer grounded in Scripture. Cantor cited prophecies from Ezekiel 36, Amos 9, Jeremiah 16, and Romans 11 to argue that the 20th-century return of Jews to Israel is a literal fulfillment of biblical promises. He emphasized: 'The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.'— Romans 11:29 Cantor further contended that the reestablishment of Israel after 2,000 years is without historical precedent and cannot be explained apart from divine intervention. In a 2023 podcast from Desiring God, American theologian Pastor John Piper addressed this divide directly. 'A non-covenant-keeping people does not have a divine right to hold the land of promise.' 'A people in treason against her King cannot lay legitimate claim on the King's promises to a covenant-keeping people.' Piper argued that both Jews and Palestinians should be treated with justice — not theological favoritism — and that modern land disputes must be resolved on moral and civic grounds, not prophetic claims. The theological debate has real-world consequences: for many voters and policymakers, belief in Israel's biblical role directly shapes how the U.S. allocates aid, votes in the UN, and responds to Middle Eastern conflict. As debate over the Israel-Iran conflict deepens, Carlson and Cruz have touched off more than a foreign policy disagreement—they've exposed a foundational divide over how Scripture should inform politics, diplomacy, and the Christian conscience. The Dallas Express reached out to Senator Cruz's office but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Law enforcement responds to ‘terror attack' on Sunday in Colorado
A man reportedly set people on fire in Boulder, Colorado, multiple people were injured, according to the city's police chief, as crowds gathered to show support for the Israeli hostages. Police have a suspect in custody and are investigating what the FBI initially called 'a targeted terror attack,' though local authorities are still unsure how to classify the incident. 'When we arrived, we encountered multiple victims … with injuries consistent with burns,' Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said Sunday. FBI Director Kash Patel shared a comment in a social media post on X, which you can view below. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino added: 'We are investigating this incident as an act of terror and targeted violence.''I am closely monitoring the situation in Boulder, and my thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror,' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a to the Anti-Defamation League, the reported attack occurred at the Boulder Run for Their Lives event. This weekly gathering of Jewish community members aims to show support for the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.'Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation. More information will be provided as it becomes available,' Polis is an evolving situation and no further information has been 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino added: 'We are investigating this incident as an act of terror and targeted violence.' 'I am closely monitoring the situation in Boulder, and my thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror,' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the reported attack occurred at the Boulder Run for Their Lives event. This weekly gathering of Jewish community members aims to show support for the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. 'Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation. More information will be provided as it becomes available,' Polis added. This is an evolving situation and no further information has been disclosed. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
National Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
'It's needed now more than ever': Jewish community optimistic ahead of Walk with Israel fundraiser
Article content Last year's walk was buoyed by the return of four Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas and held in Gaza, and this year's event is equally timely, Lefton said. 'It's a scary time to be a Jew in Toronto and in Canada, in general. We have never seen this kind of hate targeted against our community before,' she said. 'Our children are waking up and going to school knowing that there are very real threats that they're facing. For the last year, our community has really been banding together to make sure that we stand up against this hate and use our voices, because we need to call attention to the fact that we're facing this kind of hatred and antisemitism and that it's not acceptable.' Article content The adversity Canadian Jews have faced throughout the days and months since the October 7 atrocities — swastikas graffitied on schools, bomb threats against synagogues, shootings at Jewish day schools — underscored for Godfrey the unending struggle of the Jewish people to never give up or be complacent. Article content 'We can never take freedom for granted…. I think that is even more palpable today, post-October 7, than it has been in my entire lifetime,' he said. Article content 'It's even more important now to show our friends in Israel and around the world that they are not alone and that the Jewish diaspora is here and strong and supportive of what we're fighting for.' Article content Article content
