A reader writes:<\/p>\n
Speaking of the sons of Abraham, God says, \u201cI will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.\u201d Mark, it is quite safe to say you\u2019re under a curse with your views of Israel.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In\u00a0case anyone is\u00a0wondering, my views on Israel are that it is a secular nation-state like any other, with as much right to exist as Australia or France.\u00a0 It\u2019s an ally and deserves to be treated as any other secular nation-state that is an ally, no more and no less.\u00a0 However, I don\u2019t believe it to be divinely founded, nor to be immaculately conceived and preserved from all sin original and actual.<\/p>\n
About that whole\u00a0\u201cpromise to Abraham\u201d thing.\u00a0 Here is Paul on that:<\/p>\n
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, \u201cIn you shall all the nations be blessed.\u201d 9* So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith. 10* For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, \u201cCursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.\u201d 11* Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for \u201cHe who through faith is righteous shall live\u201d; * 12* but the law does not rest on faith, for \u201cHe who does them shall live by them.\u201d 13* Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us\u2013for it is written, \u201cCursed be every one who hangs on a tree\u201d\u2013 14 that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human example, brethren: no one annuls even a man\u2019s will, * or adds to it, once it has been ratified. 16* Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, \u201cAnd to offsprings,\u201d referring to many; but, referring to one, \u201cAnd to your offspring,\u201d which is Christ<\/strong>. (Galatians 3:8-16)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In short, the attempt to make that passage mean that anybody who fails to\u00a0confess the sinless perfection of\u00a0the secular state of Israel is \u201ccursed\u201d is complete and utter crap.\u00a0The seed referred to is Christ, not the state of Israel.\u00a0 It is through him all nations are blessed.\u00a0 Those who curse him shall have the curse redound to them.\u00a0 This has nothing whatever to do with the secular nation-state of Israel.<\/p>\n
That said, Scripture also says, \u201cBless those who curse you.\u201d\u00a0 So to the reader who wrote to curse me:<\/p>\n
The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.<\/p>\n
I forgive you for the sake of Christ, the seed of Abraham.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A reader writes: Speaking of the sons of Abraham, God says, \u201cI will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.\u201d Mark, it is quite safe to say you\u2019re under a curse with your views of Israel. In\u00a0case anyone is\u00a0wondering, my views on Israel are that it is a secular nation-state like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[8,39],"class_list":["post-41441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-mailbag","tag-whiskey-tango-foxtrot"],"yoast_head":"\n
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