#925

MAGA – Make America Godly Again

Wars And Rumors Of Wars

You will hear of wars and lots of talk about wars, but do not be afraid. These things must happen, but it is not the end yet. 7 Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries… (Matt 24:6-7, NLV)

We see these very famous and prophetic words of Jesus being fulfilled all around us and right now it is happening in the Middle East with Israel, Iran, and Iran’s circle of fire proxies. While I can easily make this about the specifics with that war I want to focus in on the building controversy with US President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement he started when he first ran for president back in 2015. MAGA of course means “Make America Great Again” and as for political slogans it worked. It is revered and reviled pretty equally across America and the ubiquitous red hat with white letters is like a lightning rod anywhere one goes. But right now, those firmly in the MAGA camp are splitting over Trump’s current stance on Iran and whether he should get involved with Israel’s fight with them. If you peruse Truth Social which should be dominated by Trump’s supporters and for the most part it is, you are seeing his truths or posts on the social media site being totally filled with people deriding his increasing calls for taking out the Supreme Leader of Iran and that Iran should unconditionally surrender. Gone are the days of negotiations for a nuclear deal. And apparently gone are the days of solidarity for all things Trump. I get that. But I turn now to those Christians who overwhelmingly stand with the president on things but are now publicly stating that we shouldn’t pick a side and definitely shouldn’t lift a finger to help Israel now. Do they have a point?

The Bible Is Clear

Setting aside those who don’t think Israel is still in Bible prophecy and trust me, I know you’re out there, I’m looking right at those of us who see Israel as the super sign in end times prophecy and that on May 14th of 1948 the clock of this generation started. Yes, you also know who you are. And right now you are splitting on your support for Trump and support for Israel. Trump did run on not starting any wars but ending them. You thought that was great. But now that Trump sees that America is in danger of terrorists strikes by a nuclear Iran he is seeing that the writing is on the wall and he is on the precipice of not just tiptoeing around but getting seriously engaged against Iran, you are getting less supportive. You were burned with Bush 43 and the weapons of mass destruction argument and you don’t want to make that mistake again. However, there wasn’t a prophetic reason for that support. Israel wasn’t part of that war. Israel is front and center in this war and there are huge prophetic fulfillments tied to how things turn out. Setting aside the Trump quandary, Christians should see that God commands that we pray for Israel:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. (Ps 122:6, NKJV)

Then there is what I call God’s foreign policy verse in Genesis 12:3:

I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (NLV)

Setting aside politics I’d say we need to support what is good for Israel. Period. Unless we don’t like prosperity and blessings. Your mileage may vary, but mine certainly doesn’t. In any event, if we love what God loves and hate what He hates then we need to support Israel and those who support her as well. Afterall, Israel and her children are still the apple of God’s eye:

For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye… (Zech 2:8, NIV)

If you want a more graphic view here is that same verse in another translation:

“The Lord of Glory has sent me against the nations that oppressed you, for he who harms you sticks his finger in Jehovah’s eye! (TLB)

Well, that would be abundantly clear now. But it isn’t.

I Want America To Be Godly – Again

As I was teaching last week, someone wanted to know how God can still bless America with us being a nation that supports abortion and leads the world in exporting pornography. And that even doesn’t take into account how much sex trafficking we allow. Even our churches support lifestyles that God doesn’t condone. There are a lot of things that point to our 250th birthday signaling the end of our country. As Anne Graham replied to her husband after reading a transcript of his book on America, if God doesn’t judge us He owes an apology to Sodom and Gomorrah. And she would be correct. So why are we not seeing that judgment? What could be holding it back? I would say that we have a president who supports Israel so the blessing side of Genesis 12:3 is in play. And we still have millions of people praying for Israel so the blessing side of Psalm 122:6 is helping. We are also seeing revival breaking out all over the land and we are the leading nation for sending out missionaries. Then we have a leader who believes God spared his life for this time and place. Those could be the reasons. I simply don’t know for certain. But I can make a case for all of those things helping us continue to be blessed and not judged.

Huckabee’s Encouragement
And the US Ambassador to Israel feels that Trump is the right person to be in charge when Israel needs a strong supporter when he wrote this:

Mr. President,

God spared you in Butler, PA to be the most consequential President in a century—maybe ever. The decisions on your shoulders I would not want to be made by anyone else.

You have many voices speaking to you, Sir, but there is only ONE voice that matters—HIS voice.

I am your appointed servant in this land and am available for you, but I do not try to get in your presence often because I trust your instincts.

No President in my lifetime has been in a position like yours—not since Truman in 1945.

I don't reach out to persuade you, only to encourage you. I believe you will hear from heaven, and that voice is far more important than mine or ANYONE else's.

You sent me to Israel to be your eyes, ears, and voice—and to make sure our flag flies above our embassy. My job is to be the last one to leave. I will not abandon this post. Our flag will NOT come down!

You did not seek this moment. This moment sought YOU. It is my honor to serve you.

Truman, a Democrat president endorsed Israel as a nation on May 14th of 1948 and the United Nations agreed. Nixon’s mother who was a Quaker told him that he was elected to support Israel when they needed help and in 1973 he did. Now Trump is here to help Israel rid the world of a nation that has clearly stated they will get nuclear weapons and will rain them down on Israel and America. If you are a Christian and you can’t see this, you are not looking at things with a Biblical perspective. There, I said it. Is it possible that some of you believers who like the MAGA hats and the man who inspired them are also losing your support for him because he is trying to help Israel, a country you don’t like?

I Want God To Make America Great Again

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chron 7:14, KJV)

This famous verse was written to Israel during the reign of King Solomon and it rings as true then as it does today. I want to see a different MAGA movement in the hearts and minds of Christians, one that wants God to make America great again. And this verse gives us the blueprint. We as the church who are called by His name, Christians are first called to humble ourselves. We need to not be more supportive of becoming great again merely as a political slogan or support of a mere man than we are about humbly coming to God to admit our sins as a nation. And then, once we are humble we need to pray not prayers for our blessing or the blessing of America but prayers to God Himself, seeking His face to help us. That prayer needs to include our wicked ways for which He should judge us. But this verse is conditional which is good. If we do the first things then God will do the rest of the things listed. He will not hear our humble cries but will forgive us of those sins and then heal our land. He did it over and over again for Israel, He did it for Niniveh who was a Gentile nation. And if we petition Heaven as prescribed in this sage advice America will be great again not to bless us, but to bless His people Israel. Do you want to see that happen? I know I do.