Falwell and Hagee Deny Dual Covenant Theology Report

For many years, Christian leaders and Jewish rabbis have been discussing "differences" and how to get along better. It really took hold with Vatican II Church Council in the early 1960's in the Roman Catholic Church, which issued a document called Nostra Aetate. On Aug. 12, 2002 the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops issued a full-blown Dual Covenant paper called Reflections on Covenant and Mission. I discussed this in chapter 16 of my book, The Struggle for the Birthright.

This viewpoint is affecting such preachers as John Hagee and Jerry Falwell--regardless of their protestations and denials. They have bent over backward to secure the blessings of the Jews for many years, in order to prevent God from cursing them. And so recently, they gave the impression to The Jerusalem Post that they had adopted this Dual Covenant theology.

There was apparently a stormy response from the Baptists. Good for them. Both Hagee and Falwell immediately felt it necessary to issue a full denial of the report. See below.

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=22761

“Dr. Hagee called me [Falwell] today and said he never made these statements to the Jerusalem Post or to anyone else. He assured me that he would immediately contact the Jerusalem Post and request a correction. Before today, I had never heard of Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg or had any communications with him. I therefore am at a total loss as to why he would make such statements about me to the Post, if in fact he did.

“In this age of political correctness and diversity, the traditional evangelical belief that salvation is available only through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is often portrayed as closed-minded and bigoted. But if one is to believe in Jesus Christ, he must believe in His words: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father but by Me' (John 14:6). I simply cannot alter my belief that Jesus is The Way to heaven, as He taught."

So now we must decide whether Falwell and Hagee are telling the truth or not. Personally, I have no reason to trust them, particularly since Falwell broke his word to Jim Bakker back in March of 1987--and admitted it on national television without repentance.

But for now, look at the bigger picture. See where the Church is heading. Even if Hagee and Falwell claim to deny Dual Covenant theology, they are doing little or nothing to stop it. And when they continue to claim that the Jews are Israel and "chosen," they undermine their very denials.

They cannot have it both ways. Either Jews are chosen without Christ, or they cannot be chosen apart from Christ. Take your pick. They have elevated Jews to sacred status simply because they are Jews, and give the clear impression that Jews are closer to God than non-Jews, regardless of their hatred of Jesus Christ.

So personally, I look at the bigger picture to see where their theology is leading the Church. I do not give as much credence to their present denials. They have already compromised the Gospel when talking to Jews, so as not to offend them. So why should I believe them when they talk a different message to Christians?