Abortion, the Pope and Donald Trump

Abortion, the Pope and Donald Trump

Donald Trump today invited three responses when he said that abortion policy was up to the States by legislators or referendums. He got pushback against this from the left who were angry over the Supreme Court decision and wanted a national law making it legal with no restrictions to the point of birth. He got pushback from the right that want it to be nationally banned or greatly restricted. Neither is realistic.

Then in the same news cycle, the Vatican just came out with a profound document, five yours in the making on God’s creation order of male and female, marriage, abortion, transgenderism, in vitro fertilization (which Donald Trump supports), and more. Here is my take.

The Catholic statement was amazing. Magnificent, theological, and comprehensive. It is based on two premises: that God created human beings as male and female to be expressed for those not called to celibacy in a marriage where children can be produced. It looks at the agendas of transgenderism as profoundly wrong and seeking to overthink the goodness of God’s creation order. Secondly, it also rejects in vitro fertilization because though they understand the desire to have children, having children is not a right but a gift of God. This is consistent with the position of the Church that the life of the developing baby is sacred and to be preserved from the moment of conception until birth. In vitro violates this since the baby is not conceived in marital love and lab-fertilized eggs are destroyed.

Donald Trump was vilified by some on the right and even even former Vice President Pence. But I think we can defend what he did. Precluding abortion as a national stand is a losing position at this point in history. Yes, maybe after 15 weeks precluding could win, but a pro-life position can not accept abortion at any time, one week or ten or 8 months. What Trump did is require the people to take a stand in each state. Then each state faces God’s judgment for policy. The danger is that referendums from Democrats are radical and with no restrictions to the 9th month. They deceptively frame poll questions and referenda. At this point, the best way for Republicans to win is to change hearts through education and media efforts and to see states make restrictions as they have the political support to do so while still engaging in counseling and pro-life pregnancy centers. They have to do a better job of pointing out radical pro-abortion positions that the majority of people do not support. We have to both look at what we ideally want but also face what is politically possible even if this brings God’s judgment on states that do not fight for life.

Israel-Hamas War

The Jerusalem Post was filled today with evaluations of the state of the war with Hamas and what we should do. Not all agreed, but there was a good deal of very good commentary. My own reflections this week agreed with some of the commentators. This week I was on a leaders’ retreat in the desert (Sde Boker) and also got the perspective of other leaders.

When Israel went to war after the terrible atrocities, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that the goal was to end Hamas rule in Gaza and to dismantle the terror organization. Once this became the stated goal and was repeated numerous times (can anyone think it is less than 100 times?) anything less will be seen in the world especially the Arab world as a Hamas victory and will discredit Israel and empower Hamas. Some years ago, Lee Smith wrote the book The Strong Horse on the mentality of the nations in this part of the world. They want to bet on the strong horse and a weak-looking nation will not gain their alliance. The Abraham Accords was a bet on Israel as the strong horse to counter Iran’s power. New accords probably require Israel to defeat Hamas despite what these nations may publicly say.

However, I believe Israel’s leaders have fallen into a Hamas trap. One of the world leaders in game theory, a Nobel Prize winner, saw this trap clearly. By getting Israel to delay the war and focus on the hostages, the nation actually diminishes the chances of getting the hostages out and winning the war. With the Hamas propaganda machine estimated to reach 100 million, the more time that goes by the more Israel is under international pressure to end the war, which would be a disaster. Israel’s leaders originally said they had till January to win the war and then they would lose international support. But here it is April. Wow! And we are still dithering and talking about a cease-fire with only a third of the hostages released.

If Bibi had in the beginning said that Israel would punish Hamas badly and then withdraw, he could have declared victory. But now Israel is in danger of being the weak horse due to the claim. But Bibi was right in the goals because Israel had to end Hamas rule and the periodic terror in the south from Hamas rockets. But why did Bibi and his leaders think time was not on their side? Because the pictures of the destruction and civilian casualties would move the world against Israel since it was Israel’s bombs. Yes, Hamas is the real culprit and the one responsible for it. Despite the lying narratives about Israel violating International laws of war, the truth is that Israel does not violate the actual written laws, and although we do not know the civilian casualty numbers (we only have Hamas reports), Israel receives the brunt of the outrage, not Hamas. It is wrong and unjust and as John Spencer, the retired West Point expert on Urban warfare argues, Israel’s program to protect civilians and the proportion for urban war especially with civilian human shields, is very good.

Donal Trump tells Bibi, to get on with it, finish the job, and end Hamas rule. That seems like good advice and only such an advance might lead to a pause with hostage release.

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER, KANSAS CITY, A PERSONAL RESPONSE

Not long ago I signed onto a joint statement on the present situation at IHOPKC. However, my main emphasis and reason in supporting this statement was again to call for an impartial judicial eldership board. Only this can finally bring judgment and clarity at a level that will settle the controversy, for we now see people on both sides in social media pressing their views, though the larger number is anti-IHOP and Mike Bickle.

I am not happy about how either side is handling this, either IHOPKC or the Advocates that have taken up the grievances against Mike Bickle and IHOP. Both sides should have called for an objective panel of elders that was so credible that all sides would submit to their decisions on guilt, innocence, discipline, and restitution. They would oversee an objective investigator if still needed. This is the main issue in my view. It shows how far the modern churches and ministries are from biblical standards of justice and judicial process (Deut. 1, 16, Matthew 16, 18 and I Cor. 6). This was well established in many Protestant denominations and is also today found in some new church streams.

In the statement that we put out, some misunderstood the idea that the accusers’ testimonies were credible. Credible does not mean proven but sufficiently serious and with enough description and corroboration that they should be taken seriously and heard in a fair court. But unless there is a court with cross-examination, we can have views, and can think something looks credible, but conclusive judgment requires a court. Again, this was a common process in many historic Protestant denominations. In civic law, an indictment does not mean the accused is guilty but that there is enough evidence to bring a trial, but the accused is still innocent until proven guilty in such fair court. Therefore, we have written, called, and cajoled, but it is still not clear that this to finally be done.

And what is happening now? Trial by social media continues. There is a contingent that is now on a feeding frenzy that is discrediting the prophets who were part of the early days of Kansas City Fellowship (the predecessor of IHOP) from 30-40 years ago. Some who related to IHOP are in full confession mode, but their confession includes why they were sucked in, but at the same time their confession is full of severe judgments and accusations. It does not seem only a confession. Another contingent, smaller but also very strong, is blasting the accusers and seeking to discredit them. One video that was sent was about a primary accuser being mentally ill and needing intervention. If true, how sad, and if not true how painful to the accuser! Actually, it is painful in either case!

We do know that Mike Bickle has repented of some serious things. We know that IHOPKC has drawn conclusions on Mike’s sin as the overseers of IHOPKC today and their conclusions are credible and may be seen as having judicial weight. However, there is much more that has not been disclosed including the life that Mike Bickle and some other leaders have lived over more than the last 20 years. That is foggy. IHOPKC has also admitted a woefully inadequate government structure of accountability.

However, I want to speak to the feeding frenzy of attack against IHOP and its history. First, the leaders’ falling into sin does not mean that mighty things were not done through IHOPKC and Kansas City Fellowship and through its leaders. I do believe in New Testament standards for qualification and discipline but do want to say something about examples from the Hebrew Bible. Did God work through Aaron, the brother of Moses, in the Exodus? He was the voice of Pharaoh. He was witnessed as an instrument of the most amazing signs and wonders, amazing prophecy, and more. Yet, he gave himself to make the golden calf and then was in denial as if it happened without his agency. God nevertheless restored him after his repentance. Did Mike Bickle sin more than King David? Not only did David commit adultery but murdered her husband. He was restored by God and made the preparations for the building of the Temple. However, his sin was probably the cause of much of the division and civil war that ensued under his son Absalom. Great tragedy was experienced! Yet, David unified Israel and established so much and is the ancestor of the Messiah. I am not writing this to say that those who sinned and covered up should be restored. I am writing about what God obviously did through the Kansas City Fellowship and later through IHOPKC. I personally experienced some amazing times of holiness there over 33 years ago including supernatural signs and wonders. There was a holy fear of the Lord in His presence.

Now there is a deep revulsion and rejection of the Kansas City prophets by those who were themselves involved with them. This leads to the idea that no great work of God was done as a result of the leadership of Mike and his prophets. I was there at the Vineyard Conference in Anaheim in January 1989 when John Wimber introduced Paul Cain. His word to John before coming to visit John was an amazing supernatural word that John confirmed. His ministry in January 1989 came with signs and wonders and a presence of God that was the greatest I ever experienced. There was a holy Presence that gave rise to deep reverence and fear. The Holy Spirit’s electricity in the air even set off the fire alarms. Should I deny this because Paul Cain later fell into sin and refused the directions that were given to him for repentance and restoration? Then there were the other prophets, ones that to our knowledge never fell into sin who prophesied over our ministry and its future, Jim Goll and John Paul Jackson are two I will name. I don’t think they have any skeletons in their closets. John Paul wrote a great book on avoiding wrong ways and the casualties from wrong prophetic order. Then there is the discrediting of Bob Jones. Did Bob really prophecy that Mike Bickle’s ministry would focus on Israel and its greatest task and fulfillment would be raising 100 million intercessors for Israel? Yes, he did. Did he do this before Mike had a clue about Israel? Yes. Did his later fall did discredit the amazing prophetic happenings and signs and wonders in the early 80s? The history is in Anglican Bishop David Pytches’s book Some Said it Thundered. It is credible and happened. The later sins of some did not discredit what happened. I was a witness to some of this. As for Bob Jones, he did not have a history of sexual sin to my knowledge, stepped down from ministry for a season, and was fully restored under a well-known national leader who does repentance, discipline, and restoration.

For me, it is amazing how many forget that the greatest prayer meeting for Israel’s protection and salvation took place on May 28. Are we forgetting this so quickly? Without any knowledge of this date, my son led a gathering of leaders in January 2023 and called for fasting and prayer on May 28. The words from Bob Jones from 40 years ago were amazingly fulfilled and that was some years after his death. It seems to me that God allowed Mike Bickle’s sin to be hidden until this word was amazingly fulfilled. IHOPKC and the early prophecy were key to launching great prayer worldwide for the salvation of Israel, prayer houses, integrated 24/7 prayer with congregations, and more. The pattern of Zinzendorf’s Moravians was resurrected in many nations. Some even have said they want to destroy IHOPKC. I think that would be terribly wrong. Shall God destroy the innocent with the righteous? Abraham plead.

Do I still want fair judgment for those women who are bringing the accusations against Mike Bickle and IHOP? Yes! Do I grieve over abuses? Yes. Do I want to see an opportunity for cross-examination if there is a desire for a defense to be made by Mike and the former leaders of IHOPKC who are charged? Yes! Then he and others can be found guilty of what they did do and not guilty for what they did not do. Do I want to see other charges of manipulation and the use of prophecy for controlling others to be heard with cross-examination? Yes! But that is a bit harder to prove. Strong prophetic gifts can cause people to fall in line. We too easily forget the responsibility of all believers in the New Covenant to hear the Spirit and to confirm prophetic words for their own individual lives and corporately as well. Yes, we have to constantly emphasize this. But none of this discredits that a mighty work was done worldwide through IHOPKC and Mike Bickle. Again, prayer ministries have been raised up all over the world that pray for Israel and the Messianic Jews. Also, let us not forget the many who for years served at IHOPKC. They were not in gross sin, but morally righteous. They served under a bad leadership structure according to IHOPKC’s present evaluation. Some of these are now on the Advocates’ side in this battle. Also, many were blessed, renewed in strength, and sent out to serve the Kingdom after leading to walk in the power of the Spirit.

So here I am, like a voice in the wilderness. I am calling for two things. Do not discredit what God did through the Kansas City Fellowship and through IHOPKC. This is independent of the sin of leaders. Secondly, let there be fair judgment. And please stop the prosecution through social media from both detractors and supporters. I wait and wait for IHOPKC to publicly declare themselves as committed to this objective fair eldership judiciary.

FOR A BOOK THAT PRESENTS THE CASE FOR ELDERS AND THE WHAT, HOW AND WHY OF THEIR JUDICIAL FUNCTION, DO ORDER AND READ MY BOOK “DUE PROCESS, A PLEA FOR BIBLICAL JUSTICE AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE.”.

What We Believe in the Heart

For many Western analysts, the problems of the world are rooted in the material conditions of the people. Then, some problems are rooted in a sense of the lack of dignity and self-determination. Applying this to the Israel-Arab-Palestinian situation, some look to solve the problem by creating good material prosperity and by giving the Arabs of Judea and Samaria their own state. While I would not decry the significance of material provision and dignity (see my book Social Justice), this analysis leaves out the most important factor. It is that war and peace are often determined by what people believe in their hearts. As the famed psychologist-biologist Bruce Lipton argued, you always act on the basis of what you truly believe in the heart. What you believe in the heart is often not what you profess with your mouth. That profession is often just repeating what is socially expected.

The factor of what is believed in the heart is really what is at the root of so much terrible destruction and pain. It is also the root of great progress and redemption. Let’s take a few examples.

What the colonial powers believed about the native American populations, that they were inferior, that they could be enslaved, and that they could be treated as inferiors at every level was behind 350 years of atrocities. Even the idea of those who were professing Christians, first Spanish Catholics, and then Puritans, the fact the natives were pagan was a reason to mistreat them rather than to show love and care to win them. The contrast with David Brainard, Jonathan Edward’s son-in-law in the 18th century, who gave his life for them, is great. However, this was due to what he believed in his heart both about the Native Americans and about the Gospel. How few professing Christians really believed what the Bible taught about all humans being in the image of God! This implies treating people with love, as ends and not means, as the great philosopher Immanuel Kant taught.

Antisemitism is a great case in point. It is based on terribly bad beliefs/convictions, that the Jews are evil and worthy of persecution and death, either because of their racial inferiority or because of their religious perversity by which they deserve persecution. All sorts of conspiracy theories are rooted in the belief that Jews are evil. The horrors that resulted from these beliefs are beyond calculation.

Then let’s look at the issue of the African slave trade and slavery in America. Those involved in this terrible practice and system convinced themselves that African peoples were not fully human and were therefore rightly subjected as slaves to white people. When one reads the writings of southern slave owners and the slave traders, it is clear that there was no heart conviction of the wrong of their practices. Some did not have real conviction of the inferiority of blacks. Jefferson knew that his statement that “All men are created equal,” and endowed with inalienable rights by their creator conflicted with his owning slaves. He submitted to the system despite his misgivings. Washington also knew it was wrong and compromised like Jefferson. He freed his slaves at his death. They needed the slaves for their farms! We see here that people can be conflicted and act contrary to what they know. This is what the Bible calls a divided heart. The challenge is to see people have deep enough belief or conviction that is good that they live by what they believe. However, it is possible to live without deep belief or conviction. We call this being shallow. The convictions of the Evangelical Abolitionists were so strong that they organized and sacrificed to eliminate slavery, first in the United Kingdom in the amazing movement of William Wilberforce and then in the United States. We think of Charles Finney and Harriet Beecher Stowe, her famous clergy relatives and so many more. Without the Evangelical Abolitionists, it is questionable whether slavery would have ended. Lincoln told Stowe that her writings caused the Civil War. Yet within two decades both North and South reneged on the 14th Amendment and allowed the most terrible discrimination and the elimination of equal rights until the Civil Rights Act of the 1960s.

When we analyze the Israeli-Arab conflict in the Land we see how belief plays out. Most Israelis believe in their hearts that it is necessary to have a Jewish state, a place for self-determination, in the light of the history of antisemitism. Right-wing religious nationalists believe that only the Jewish people should have a state in their ancient Land that stretches from Hermon to the Red Sea and from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. They have such heart conviction that they will establish settlements in the areas of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) though they are not legal by Israeli law. The mandate to settle the whole Land, for them, requires them to ignore human law.

The largest source of conflict in this Land is not that Israel is a colonial imposition on the indigenous population. First of all, Israel came into existence against colonial opposition. Its first settlements were not under the colonial power of the United Kingdom, but Turkey and Britain only supported the Jewish settling in the Land for a few years after World War I when Turkey lost control of the Land. Many Arab inhabitants of the Land today are descendants not of indigenous people, but immigrants. Many have seen over many years that the Israeli-Arab conflict is at root not about material prosperity or dignity but is a matter of heart convictions, and deep religious beliefs. The idea of Dar Al Islam is that the Land once controlled by Muslims is Islamic land and must never again be ruled by infidels. This deep religious commitment means that the state of Israel must be forever resisted until it is destroyed. While poverty might open some up to radical preachers, many of the radicals were quite wealthy. Witness Ben Laden and the attack on America in 9/2001!

As an observer of Israel and the Middle East for many years, and more intensively since I became a leader in the Messianic Jewish world (June, 1972) I am convinced that the deep convictions or beliefs held by the Arabs in this land are the primary barrier to peace. When Mahmoud Abbas walked away from the peace offers in 2007 and 2008, he sealed the fate of the Arabs to not have another state, at least for the foreseeable future. Why? Did Abbas share the religious convictions about Dar Al Islam? It is hard to know. However, he could rightly fear for his life if he accepted a peace plan that embraced the acceptance of the Jewish state of Israel. Since then, with Hamas in power in Gaza and a great influence in Judea and Samaria in the Arab villages, it is hard to see a peace plan that could be accepted. A massive change in education and then a change of heart conviction will be needed. A recent article in the Jerusalem Post from Friday, March 16th, noted the great problem is the deep belief in Islamic Fascism and the commitment to martyrdom in the quest to eliminate Israel. See the book Islamic Fascism by Hamed. That is what the mini-holocaust of Oct. 7, 2023, was about. All atrocities are acceptable as methods to destroy Israel. Until the West sees that the big problem is the belief system and the depth of conviction/belief that motivates Arab Muslims to lay down their lives and commit any atrocities for it, the West and the rest of the world will not grasp the true situation. In addition, the antisemitic beliefs mean that Jews do not have to be treated as sacred beings in the image of God. This belief in the Image of God is the greatest foundation of humane behavior.

Israel’s Strategy on a Temporary cease-fire and the Hostages

Israel is under enormous pressure from two directions. First, world leaders want a ceasefire in Gaza due to the number of civilian deaths in the Gaza War. They lie about what the International Laws of war say, and which laws Israel seeks to keep. They do not admit, as key analysts have noted that despite the level of human shielding, for an urban war, Israel’s percentage of civilian causalities is amazingly low. The world says that Israel should not go into Rafah. If she does not go, Hamas wins and can reconstitute and come into power again.

The second pressure is from some of the hostage families. Not all of them agree. Their protests and the desire for some to see their family members released at any cost is rejected by the majority of Israelis, but their protests have led to awakening the pre-war protests against the Netanyahu government and are breaking down the strong national unity that characterized our nation back in November.

However, could a temporary cease-fire and the release of hostages and Hamas murderers in Israel’s jails be the right decision to get the hostages back? Could such a cease-fire compromise Israel’s need to defeat Hamas? Maybe but maybe not. And these murderers could be killed in the onslaught after the cease-fire. Would that Israel have a death penalty for terrorist murderers? This would end trading for terrorists.

The United States has pushed Israel not to invade Rafah, the last Gaza stronghold for Hamas, but there has been a “but.” The “but” is unless there is a credible plan to save the civilians whose number has burgeoned to maybe 1 ½ million in the very small area of Rafah. Israel could use the pause to get their plan in place to move most of the refugees in Rafah and other civilians back to the other areas of Gaza. They can set up checkpoints for all who return North, so no weapons can be taken with them. Until the actual cease-fire, they can clean up the other areas of Gaza so they can be re-occupied by civilians. Right now, it appears that Israel’s primary focus is now cleaning up the areas of Gaza outside Rafah. If Israel does adequate clean-up before the cease-fire, they can evacuate Rafah when the cease-fire ends. Yes, the war is drawn out, but maybe this is Israel’s strategy.

The other big problem is Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel does need to clean out Southern Lebanon and push the terrorists beyond the Litani River in Lebanon as is the UN resolution 1701. Israel should have done this 15 years ago. Would she continue to fight in Lebanon if there is a cease-fire? Probably not, but this is a huge problem since almost 100,000 Israelis have been displaced due to Hezbollah rockets. I do not see a solution to this. Prolonging their displacement until after a six-week ceasefire will be infuriating to them. Stay tuned.

Do sign up for my Twitter account, Daniel Calvin Juster, to make sure you do not miss my writings.

What is Civilization?

This is just a little piece of reflection on what is civilization. For some civilization refers
to societies with civilized behavior. This would be connected to the word civil and hence
treating people in civil or respectful ways. However, many writers treat the meaning of
civilizations as societies that are well organized, powerful, or produce sophisticated art,
or sophisticated technology. Civilizations are extensive in territory, like Rome,
European civilization, or Chinese civilization in its classic period with its amazing art
forms and incredible bureaucracy with civil service exams and stratified class
distinctions. Some point to inventions and advances.

The Bible does not divide people based on the idea of whether or not they are civilized
in the above terms. Rather, the center of Biblical evaluation is whether a society is just
and good. The Greeks gave us the idea of the transcendentals, truth, beauty, and
goodness. The Bible indeed reflects these transcendentals and gives them definitions.
Let’s drop the term civilization and replace it with what is a good society. A great and
good society attains a high level whereby its people pursue truth, goodness, and beauty
as defined by Scripture and its collimation in the life and teaching of Yeshua.

Such a society first of all promotes the treating of all people with love, dignity, and
justice based on the idea that they are all equally created in the image of God. This
means that love and kindness are established values. Justice is pursued as an order of
righteousness where every person can attain his or her God-intended destiny. This
destiny begins with loving and knowing God. Every person has a God-intended good
destiny to exercise gifts and talents as God distributes and to exercise such gifts for the
benefit of all. Love is the passionate identification with others that seeks their good
guided by God’s Law. Good is defined by the destiny fulfillment of each individual. It is
not equality of wealth but sufficient wealth to fulfill one’s destiny. Of course, it includes
food, shelter, education, and provision for families and communities.

Various cultures, even outside of Biblical influence, can be evaluated by how much they
attain to these norms. Romans 1 and 2 teach that people have something of the law of
God in them and are better or worse to the extent that they live out the law that is more
or less perceived intuitively or by experience. H. Richard Niebuhr in his Christ and
Culture makes Christ the measure for evaluating what is good in various cultures and
what is bad and to be discarded and what can be transformed through Christ.

In the light of Biblical norms for evaluating cultures, we realize that even the history of
the “Christian West” shows an incredible failure to live out biblical norms but that
selfishness, rationalizations for power, and greed, too often were dominant. Such evil
has been defended in the name of Christianity. Dr. Peter Hocken rightly uses the idea
of “The Glory and the Shame” as the title of his book showing the great things and the
shameful things in Church history. Human beings terribly mess it up in their sin. We see
this in the history of the United States with wonderful ideals in the Declaration and the
Constitution but a terrible history in dealing with native Americans, black slavery, and
then the abandonment of the equality ideals that were to be enforced after the Civil War.

Germany considered herself the height of civilization in her philosophy, music, art, and
scientific progress. They then gave rise to Nazism and the Holocaust. So much for
Civilization!

When we read the Torah, then the Gospels and Epistles we see an orientation toward
life, the treatment of people, and love that the world and even the Church in history was
challenged to really understand and live out. This is the center of righteousness and
real civilization. It is not whether urban or rural or highly educated or simple. It is rather
that the center is how biblical norms are perceived and lived out.

A Plea to Transcend Independence, An Essay on the Independent Movement of Churches

ACCOUNTABILITY

My calling and part of my life quest has been to establish good government and accountability in the Messianic Jewish world. This was accomplished in two organizations I led, the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and in Tikkun America. Both have been effective. I have also had a good influence in the Church world. I have written on government. I also wrote a book that has been a positive influence, Due Process, A Plea for Biblical Justice Among God’s People.

I grew up in a national and world association of congregations (45 million at that time) that were organized into a structure of mutual accountability in each city, region, and nation. When moral and doctrinal issues arose, there were eldership councils, or courts of appeal, that would resolve these situations.

When I was 18, there was a conflict in my congregation with the pastor. They appealed to the regional authorities in the denomination and were not treated well. I was at the congregational meeting with these authorities. The members were offended. Most of the elders, Sunday school teachers, and members left and formed a new congregation. (1966) I was a charter member. I remember the first meetings and the heady feeling that we were in the right. We thought that we now were going to have a more truly biblical organization, an independent congregation governed by elders elected by the democratic vote of the members. We thought we were returning to a more first-century way of congregational organization, free from the interference and control of denominational leadership. This congregation has had a record of good ministry and integrity and for many years was pastored by one who became a good friend. I do credit the fact that there are good independent congregations that do good work and have integrity.

However, I was too young and uninformed about government in congregations to realize the dangers and the importance of being connected to something larger where courts of appeal can deal with issues too hard for local leaders. When I was at Wheaton College in Illinois, I connected to an independent congregation that went into terrible heresy. There was no appeal for higher authorities to come and help to resolve the issues. Many friends and some family members were shipwrecked in their faith in this congregation. Thankfully, Patty and I left when the heresy was just in its beginnings, well before it was full-blown. When I sought ordination, I returned to my roots and was ordained in an association with mutual accountability and strong standards. I no longer believed that independent congregations represented the biblical model. Rather, I believed in congregations and leaders in mutual accountability with a layer of appeal for serious issues beyond the capability of the local eldership. I now believe that this is much closer to the biblical model where we see the congregations planted by apostles still accountable to the planting apostles and accountable to the apostles in Jerusalem to resolve a major dispute (Acts 15). This model gives us more than a hint that there has to be something beyond mere local independent congregations.

Such higher accountability structures hold leaders accountable to basic standards of morals and biblical teaching which I call broad orthodoxy. Many associations also require congregations and leaders to maintain their distinctives which include more than broad orthodoxy, such as Baptist requiring belief in water immersion and Pentecostals requiring belief in the baptism in the Spirit, speaking in tongues and the supernatural gifts of the Spirit for today.

HOLDING LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE AND PROTECTING LEADERS FROM FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND ATTACKS

Associations that have a good government hold leaders accountable to its standards, but also protect leaders from false accusations. In my 51 years in governing as a pastor and as a trans-local association member and leader, I have found that there are more cases of leaders being cleared from false accusations and then finding the accusers guilty of false accusations. Sometimes the leaders were guilty as charged in very significant sin or error. Sometimes the accusations were tearing a congregation apart and the false accusations were spreading and being believed. The situation was beyond a local eldership to handle. Our outside appeal leadership came and heard the cases and were able to re-establish trust for the leaders. It is wonderful to look back and see how this was successful in many situations. Several congregations were rescued from destruction and prosper today. In a very few cases leaders had to step down, be restored or be removed permanently. Much damage was averted in those cases!

History of Accountability

The Reformation leaders reacted against the Catholic Church and its hierarchical structures which often made the Pope and bishops beyond real accountability. They exercised almost royal leadership. Different models were embraced after the Reformation; the mutual accountability of the college of bishops (Anglicans, Methodists), the congregationalist model of accountability to all the members voting and then accountability to the larger association, and the Reformed model of a lead elder in mutual accountability to a plurality of elders at the local level, city level, regional level, and national level. This last model was the least subject to abuse by leaders. It was a model of mutual submission. Some Pentecostal denomination and new stream charismatic associations have also embraced this government structure. I might note that the government of ancient Israel foreshadows this with the elders of the gate and appeal to Jerusalem for cases that were too difficult.

We cannot look to Rabbinic Judaism for our model. Rabbinic Judaism produced very different models over the course of its history from the royal master of the dynastic ultraorthodox leader to the democratic models of Reform Judaism but whose Rabbis have some limited accountability in its association of Rabbis, to those who have bet din (courts) in modern Orthodoxy and associations of congregation with standards for Rabbis. The last is closer to a biblical model. However, we have to look to the New Covenant Scriptures for our applications today.

Situations we Face today

One of the characteristics of our day is that so many have become part of the independent church movements. In the 19^th century such congregations, without higher accountability and standards would have been considered rogue. This included approving qualifications for pastors. There are royal pastors types who are very gifted and lead large congregations but whose elders are mere advisors and certainly do not practice real mutual accountability. There are royal apostles who lead networks and congregations are accountable to them, but they have such control with ability that they would never be opposed by the team leaders of the network. They themselves are not accountable.

We recently were notified of a scandal in a prominent ministry. We still do not know for sure what has happened, the extent of guilt, the guilt of others involved and so much more. Why does this keep happening. This happens with charismatic and non-charismatic Evangelicals? I can give examples in both. There are many reasons, but I want to write on one. It is the rejection of the wisdom of the historic Protestant denominations. These denominations had clear standards for vetting ministry leaders and maintained strong accountability structures. In addition, some of the major Pentecostal denominations also have embraced these standards.

After mainline denominations did not fully embrace the charismatic renewal of the 1960s to the 80s, there was an arrogant “Plague on your house” response to these denominations. New independent congregations and streams were founded. Some of the new streams that connected congregations in networks were solid in their vetting and accountability structures (I can name some) and some were not and embraced a royal pastor model or a royal apostle model for the network. Some did so in actual government documents and some, though with better government documents, acquiesced to a totally controlling but gifted leader. Some prophecies were given that grieved me, that the day of the denominations was over. I on the other hand believed that they all could be renewed if they maintained a classic Evangelical confession. So much of the projection of the “new churches” and ministries shows this root of arrogance. I am part of one major ministry, Toward Jerusalem Council II, that teaches that when the Church taught it had replaced Israel, replacement theology came into the DNA of the Church. Now each new movement claims to replace the last movement from which it came. Of course, such attitudes and teaching cannot lead us to the John 17:21 unity for which Yeshua prayed.

What has this spirit of independence produced? Multiple scandals both sexual and financial! There is no court of appeal. Very large churches and ministries have gone down with accusers having no appeal court to which the accused will submit. The situation is therefore handled by public accusations, gossip and today by social media exposure. Some use secular courts contrary to the exhortations in I Cor. 6 and Matthew 18:15 ff. to constitute a court of those who can judge such matters. For the world outside of the Church, the Church is considered a bunch of crooks, hypocrites and worse. Yes, the scandals are a minority of churches and ministries, but it seems so much larger due to media magnification.

I ask a question. Where is a big scandal in the denominations that have stayed biblically orthodox? You do not hear of such because it is so rare, though not non-existent. In the Presbyterian Church in Chicago all salaries and congregational budgets were presented annually to over 400 elders representing over 200 congregations. Disclosure and transparency were the rule. Can you think of any scandals in the conservative Presbyterian denominations? I can’t.

Were I to state my preferred government, it would be a denomination structure that gives great freedom for ministry expansion by those who give the gifts to multiply but who are still accountable to the association. It would be an association that embraces five-fold ministry. We see this today with the Pentecostal Holiness Church and also in the Four Square Churches association.

I know that there are many ways to have an accountability and a strong connection to solve this problem. A five-fold network of congregations should require all to subscribe to appeal to the leadership team or a judicial board that is appointed for such appeals. This has been our practice in Tikkun for some 40 years. The Dove Network under Larry Kreider, with hundreds of churches in North America, Central America, and Africa where there are about 200 more, maintain oversight and appeal for their congregations. Beyond that if there is serous accusation against the leadership of the network, they maintain a group of outside elders that will be brought into judge the matter. I was privileged to serve them in this way for ten years. There has never been a scandal in any Dove Church and probably never will be. Those who join are joining in a commitment to accountability beyond the locality.

I dream that someday in revival and the embrace of the power of the Spirit that God will bring together the congregations of the city into structures for mutual accountability. Does this fit the prayer for unity of Yeshua (John 17:21). I wrote a little paragraph for a beginning, a minimal standard to overcome independence.

Serious moral or doctrinal charges against the lead pastor/elder or one who has ministry beyond the local church are too difficult for a local eldership and should be handled by an outside group, either in an appeal to the leadership of an association that they are part of, or another group of elders called together who can serve as an objective group to handle the situation.

I believe this standard should also be embraced by non-congregational ministries as well, an appeal beyond their board. It can be officially placed in by laws and constitutions.

The historic Protestant churches including the Pentecostals and Charismatic streams that have learned from history have established the following standards.

That churches are to be related and mutually accountable though joining in mutual accountability associations and that their leaders come together in mutual accountability.
That the royal leader idea is to be rejected and the leader of a congregation or association should lead in mutual accountability with other leaders.
That there is a real eldership over every congregation and every sodality (specialized missional community).
That there is a higher level of appeal from a local eldership to an eldership that is called upon to handle accusations against the senior leader or a group of leaders that is too difficult for local elders to handle. This is an appeal court of the Church.
That there is transparency for finances. All is disclosed.
That leaders are seriously vetted for moral integrity, marriage and family quality, and basic knowledge of the Word of God.

Some years ago, the famous Derek Prince said to me. “Good leaders can sometime do well in spite of a bad government structure. Bad leaders can sometimes get around a good government structure. But these are not reasons to not have the best government structures that we can.” For Derek Prince, good government and accountability greatly mitigates against leadership abuse and gross sin in the leadership.

I have not addressed the issue of the reason leaders fall into abusive patterns of leadership and then also fall into sin. A great book on this is The Other Half of Church, by Jim Wilder and Michael Hendricks. It deals with the self-centeredness and the somewhat narcissistic problem in leaders. Leaders who learn to walk in mutual humidly, mutual correction and mutual submission are a great protection for the people of God. However, that is for another paper.

Accountability and Historic Protestant Denominations

We recently were notified of a scandal in a prominent ministry. Most of you can probably figure this out. We still do not know for sure what has happened, the extent of guilt, the guilt of others involved and so much more.

However, why does this keep happening both with charismatics and non-charismatic Evangelicals? I can give examples of both. There are many reasons, but I want to write about one. It is the rejection of the wisdom of the historic Protestant denominations. These denominations had clear standards for vetting ministry leaders and maintained strong accountability structures. In addition, some of the major Pentecostal denominations also have embraced these standards.

However, after mainline denominations did not fully embrace the charismatic renewal of the ’60s to the ’80s, there was an arrogant “Plague on your house” response to these denominations. New independent congregations and streams were founded. Some of the new streams that connected congregations in networks were solid in their vetting and accountability structures (I can name some) and some were not and embraced a royal pastor model or a royal apostle model for the network. Some did so in actual government documents and some though with better government acquiesced to a totally controlling but gifted leader. Some prophecies were given that grieved me that the day of the denominations was over. I on the other hand believe that they all can be renewed if they have maintained a classic Evangelical confession. So much of the projection of the “new churches” and ministries shows this root of arrogance. I am part of one major ministry that teaches that when the Church taught it had replaced Israel, that replacement theology came into the DNA of the Church and now each new movement claims to replace the last movement from which it came. (Toward Jerusalem Council II). Of course, such attitudes and teaching can not lead to the John 17:21 unity for which Yeshua prayed.

The historic Protestant churches and the Pentecostals and Charismatic streams that have learned from history have established the following standards.

That churches are to be related and mutually accountable through joining in mutual accountability associations with their leadership coming together in mutual accountability.
That the “royal leader” idea is to be rejected and the leader of a congregation or association leads in mutual accountability with other leaders.
That there is a real eldership over every congregation and every sodality (specialized missional community).
That there is a higher level of appeal from local eldership to an eldership that is called upon to handle accusations against the senior leader or a group of leaders that is too much for local elders to handle. This is an appeal court of the Church.
That there is transparency in finances. All is disclosed.
That leaders are seriously vetted for moral integrity, marriage and family quality, and basic knowledge of the Word of God.

Some years ago, the famous Derek Prince said to me. “Good leaders can sometimes do well despite a bad government structure. Bad leaders can sometimes get around a good government structure. But these are not reasons to not have the best government structures that we can.” For Derek Prince, good government and accountability greatly mitigates against leadership abuse and gross sin in the leadership.

Two-State Solution

Some of my friends and followers here may be confused about the idea of a two-state solution, a Jewish state and a Palestinian state living side by side in peace. Twenty years ago, the majority of Israelis were in favor of a two-state solution to preserve the Jewish majority in the Jewish state and a way for Palestinian Arabs to have their own state where they could live with full national identity among the nations. Many Messianic Jews in Israel supported this solution, but many did not. Many were optimistic that this would happen.

Some Messianic Jews agreed with the right-wing nationalist Orthodox who looked at the book of Joshua and saw that Israel had a mandate to take the whole land. Only by exercising faith and taking all the land from the Jordan to the Mediterranean can we have the blessing of God on Israel. Palestinians who desire to live in peace and live with some level of autonomy but not citizenship can stay, and those who do not want to live in peace on this basis would have to leave.

Other Messianic Jews rejected this view called maximalist. Why? Because Israel has not repented of sin and come to fully embrace the Bible’s teaching on morals and life. We have not come to Yeshua but even more, the state supports abortion, the LGBTQ agenda and so much more. Of course, the Orthodox Jews do reject these orientations. We Messianic Jews believe in Israel and the return to the Land, but a counsel of taking the whole Land now may not have God’s favor. It might bring destruction as the Zealots in the first century brought Roman destruction on Israel. This is still a debate among Messianic Jews in the Land.

However, today the majority of Messianic Jews and the great majority of Israelis reject the two-state solution, at least for now. This is not as wrongly perceived in the West because of the domination of the right-wing national Orthodox. Rather, the Israelis are disillusioned with the Palestinians and the two-state solution. It is not religious reasons that drive them. Here are the reasons.

Israel sought to have a two-state solution under Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. What happened? The first big attempt was during the time of Yassir Arafat. He rejected the plan negotiated with President Bill Clinton. When he walked away, Clinton said to him, “You have made me a failure.” Prime Minister Olmert negotiated even more generous terms, terms that no Israeli government could go beyond. He offered 97% of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and East Jerusalem for a Palestinian State. He offered land swaps for the 3%. He offered a right of return to near relatives of Arabs living on the Israel side of the new border, but other refugees could return to the new state. Mohammed Abbas rejected the plan. Again, later there was another violent intifada uprising. Israelis became convinced that the Palestinians did not really want a two-state solution, but it was only a game played for the West. Maybe Abbas was afraid of the radicals like Hamas and thought if he accepted peace, he would be killed. Remember Anwar Sadat of Egypt.
Secondly, Israel under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was pro-settling Judea and Samaria, came to believe that two-states were necessary to preserve Israel. He withdrew all Israeli settlements from Gaza and turned this completely over to the Palestinians. It was a grand experiment. There was no blockade. They were totally free and were encouraged to make Gaza a great place. This was very controversial. Sharon’s desire was for them to succeed. If they did then he could withdraw from most of Judea and Samaria except for the big settlement blocks needed for Israel’s territory depth for defense and security. He said he wanted to draw the border. Because he did not think the Palestinians would accept any agreement, he decided that unilateral withdrawal was the way forward.

Gaza then came under Hamas rule. They killed Palestinian Authority government leaders and took over. The population supported Hamas. Hamas did not want a two state solution but wanted to destroy Israel. They turned Gaza into an armed military camp with offensive weapons galore. This is the background for the present war.

After this, the left wing parties declined and never again came into power. Labor that had been so big dwindled to be a tiny party. Why? As Israelis looked at this history, they came to believe that there was no real partner for peace. Palestinian education was anti-Semitic. The Palestinian authorities gave big support stipends to terrorists who were jailed or killed. This is called pay for slay.

Contrary to Western perceptions, Israel’s rejection of a two state solution was not due to the religious fanatics, but due to a hard evaluation of the history and the present situation.

Only a change of heart among the Palestinians can lead to lasting peace under any scenario.

The Spirit of Depression and Encouragement in a time of War

We’ve recently passed 100 days of war here in Israel. Some of my Israeli friends are down. This includes followers of Yeshua. Why wouldn’t there be depression? Here is a list of twelve reasons why many are depressed:

1. The terrible slaughter of over 1200 Israelis.

2. The mistreatment of the Israelis, the rape and torture of so many just before their deaths.

3. The hostages that were taken captive, some tortured and almost 300 Israeli soldiers killed.

4. Over 1500 injured; what injuries are long-term and life debilitating?

5. Over 10,000 Gaza civilians probably killed. This is not intentional but adds to the depression because Hamas set things up so they cannot be defeated without such civilian casualties.

6. The response of the pro-Palestinian Arabs in many nations who now have demonstrated in favor of the terrorists.

7. The response of the “woke” left who identify with Hamas, though Hamas would kill them if they were in the countries that support them. It is devastating to Jews who were liberal and now believe their political allies have turned on them, and they have.

8. The division in Israel between those who want to fully defeat Hamas and those who would stop the war to get the hostages back. Most Israelis want the war to conclude with a full defeat of Hamas and a pullback by Hezbollah in the North in submission to U. N. resolution 1701.

9. That many on the left have accepted the lying narrative that Israel is a colonial settler state and should never have come into existence. The messaging of Hamas has been much more effective than Israel.

10. For Messianic Jews, that the Bible and its teaching on the election of the Jewish people and the promise of this Land to our people is ignored, and even by those who claim to believe the Bible but ignore these passages.

11. The trauma of missiles form Gaza and Lebanon that have displaced over 200,000 people counting both the north and south.

12. The proceedings of the International Court of Justice of the U. N. where Israel, the victim of genocide, is being accused of genocide due to civilian causalities in its war against Hamas. Hamas should be blamed.

Well, you get the idea. However, God is never defeated and ultimately, He will be victorious. In Psalm 83, Israel fights against enemies who perhaps would wipe them out in a genocidal war. The enemy says of Israel, “Come, let’s wipe them out as a nation. Let Israel’s name be remembered no more.” v. 5. This sounds just like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad. The Psalmist prays that these enemies would be defeated. But then though praying that the enemies perish, the Psalmist gives a glimmer of hope in the important verse, “Cover their faces with shame so that they may seek your Name.” (v. 17). Also, we note v. 19, “Let them know that you alone—whose Name is Adonai—are El Elyon over all the earth.”

Some years ago, Lee Smith wrote the book The Strong Horse. In it he tried to get westerners to understand the Middle Eastern mind. There is a deep tendency to be in alliance with the strong. For the more primative mind, the winner at war shows that their God, or their religion is more powerful. Accommodating radical Muslims will bring about positive change, but their utter defeat. In Psalm 83 the defeat leads to the confession of the Lord. Can we believe for a harvest into the Kingdom as a result of this terrible war, this terrible time if Israel is victorious?

The good news is that ultimately the enemies of God will be defeated. Yeshua will return and put all things right. We have to maintain this perspective in all times of trail and fight depression with hope. This is our ultimate hope. However, there is also much hope that God will bring good in the interim out of these trials. As we pray for victory for Israel in all these trails, the false attack and so much more, can be not find hope in the present prospects for the advance of the Kingdom? I think we can. We see in Heidi Baker’s amazing book, Always Enough, that the worst apparent setbacks led to great advances for the Gospel.

What are some other signs of hope? First, Israel is recognizing more than ever before that the Evangelical community is her strongest supporter. This helps overcome the stronghold of the mind that faith in Yeshua and the New Testament leads to opposition to the Jewish people. It is just the opposite when the Bible is truly believed. Jewish people are and will also be more open to the Gospel. We see an advance with both Jews and Arabs.

Secondly, the war is exposing hearts in the West and in the leadership of nations. Now the bankruptcy of the radical left is being revealed. Jewish people in the nations as never before are reevaluating their political alliances. This is a very good thing. The hearts of the radical left are being revealed as perverted. There is exposure of the anti-Semitism in the culture, the Ivy League schools and more. It is not too late for many are now seeing this and strongly rejecting this. Congressional investigations on anti-Semitism are starting.

We also now see the evil of the leaders of nations. We see Russia and China ally with Iran, the sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah. Turkey and South Africa say Hamas is not a terrorist organization. It is good for us to know that these leaders are evil and that the present war has revealed their hearts. We hope this changes Israel’s policies and the policies of other nations.

Israel is an instrument of revealing God to the nations. We believe that this is taking place.

Therefore, despite the 12 reasons for depression, let us look up to Him and have hope that God is mightily at work.