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My husband is a NC Delegate at the National Convention. I will be with him. I want to help make a difference for the sanctity of life, of marriage and of what Christianity is really all about. The wheat grows up with the tares. Humans are not omniscient, but we do have the Holy Spirit to impart wisdom and discernment. Tara what suggestions do you have for me as I navigate this Convention?

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It is so comforting to know that people like you and your husband will be there! I think the most effective thing you can do in addition to prayer is to work the convention and engage as many delegates (and spouses) as you possibly can in conversation—try to whip the votes to stop the hijacking (making biblical appeals)—though it seems well underway.

This appears to be well orchestrated and the RINOS likely have the votes they need to get the watered down platform adopted without amendments or consideration of the Minority Report or the will of the grassroots, but there is always hope…

One thing that would be extremely helpful to those of us reporting on it is a comprehensive list of delegates’ contact information which seems nearly impossible to get. The Platform Integrity Project links are not working for many people and direct delegate/committee emails do not seem to be available. The lack of transparency is incredible and so unbecoming…

The 2024 Republican Party is unrecognizable in so many ways.

If this is indeed a coordinated effort to purge Christians and unite America under a “Uni-Party” centrist/compromised muddy (im)moral “middle” ground-

the mass exodus of Christians will be unprecedented.

I have heard from Christian Conservatives across the state and the country all day today who simply will not remain in a Party whose platform is little different than the Democrats on Sanctity issues.

Three generations of my own family are prepared for the GOP to leave us behind after decades as loyal card carrying Republicans.

So be it.

Our loyalty is to Christ and biblical principles…not a party that has abandoned them.

May God grant you great boldness in Wisconsin. Thank you for your efforts!

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Tara, I so appreciate your reply!

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Tara, can you help me understand why you believe the current state of Isreal is who our Christian Bible is referring to from your pull quote?

Secondly, Isreal is not worthy of our alliance. They are not our greatest ally and have been using the United States for 70 years. How can we hate the money sent to Ukraine but "bless" Isreal without question?

Third, jews (Israelis) who are not messianic do not believe in the same God as Christians. In fact, according to the Talmud jews believe Christ is boiling in actual fetal matter in hell right now for being a false prophet.

Fourth, why are we providing extra protections for a ethnoReligous group who hates us.

You are aware it is the jewish interest groups who are fighting for abortion right? Those groups are why abolitionist van gain ground and why the parry platform has devolved.

It might be time to examine Romans and understand the "chosen people" are messianic now and not demon worshipers like the current lot.

Protestants have been subverting through Darby and Zionism.

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Hi Matt,

This is a question I get a lot by those who have embraced Replacement Theology.

I appreciate that you were respectful and didn’t curse me out and call me a Zionist #%~#% as is usually the case. Ha!

To answer your question (which would actually take hours and hours of countless scripture and context), I will share a link to Jack Hibbs who tackles this question and share with you my most basic answer from Romans 11…

So I ask, did they (Israel) stumble in order that they might fall?

By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean?

(Romans 11:11-12…)

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery brothers; a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob;

And thus will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake.

But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they may also now receive mercy…”

Romans 11: 25-32

In short, I do not believe that Israel will be redeemed because of their covenant with God but because of God’s covenant with them. God cannot lie or break His own word. His covenant with Israel was both a land covenant and a spiritual covenant.

I would not argue one ounce that they do not “deserve” blessing (nor do Gentiles.)

I argue only that Scripure makes clear that God covenanted with them and decreed blessing and salvation and hardened their hearts for a period of time (that we-the Gentiles could be grafted in.)

We saw the fulfillment of the land covenant in 1948 and we will see the fulfillment of the spiritual covenant either on earth or in Heaven depending on God’s timeline.

Jack Hibbs and Amir Tsarfati are great resources and the testimonies on One for Israel “I Met Messiah” are moving beyond words.

God is on the move throughout the Gentile world and in Israel.

Hope this helps explain my perspective.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OnfgdmJM4bY

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I have to much respect for you and your work to do that! I'll watch and then post my thoughts.

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Obviously Tara you have deep current knowledge spiritually of the current state of Israel. I offer this insight which I have gleaned from a new show on Real America’s Voice Network that airs on Sundays named “Eyes On Israel” w/ host Rabbi Wosocki. It has been very informative and has ties with faithful Christians FOR Israel. Almost everything we Americans hear on-line, central news is propaganda. I have learned so much about what is really happening over in Israel and just like here in the US, it is the remnant that Almighty Sovereign God is using to bring forth His will in Israel.

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Tara,

Recently I have begun the catachilles in process into the orthodox church. The views and theology surrounding the subject of the state of israel Are more in line with what I have always believed to be true on the subject. I bring this up because there is a massive volume of evidence showcasing the subversion of protestants.by evangelicals, we're negatively influenced into pushing dispensationalism.

While Christ himself Was a Jew, and the disciples were all Jewish, The church of christ was established via the transformation into messianic jew. This is in stark contrast of the jews who choose not to believe in the triune god.

I personally do not believe in replacement theology. As that line of thinking was introduced by evangelicals to combat what I believe is, the more appropriate understanding of what has actually occurred.

I would ask that you spend some time reading the website's. I'll list as reference here and give me your thoughts on them. They aren't very long and it'll take you probably five minutes to read all of them together, but unpacking, what is said inside of them might take a little longer.

https://www.goarch.org/-/the-people-of-god-an-orthodox-perspective

https://www.saintjohnorthodoxchurch.org/2021/01/did-the-church-replace-israel/

https://essentialbeliefs.org/chapter-11/the-church-as-israel

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Matt,

I read through the links you posted and am familiar with Greek Orthodox doctrine. (My daughter’s best friend in HS was Greek Orthodox.)

It would take weeks to unpack it all line by line.

What I can offer in short is this…

Greek Orthodox theology is in many areas a major departure from systematic Biblical theology. In reference to Israel, it reminds me of revisionist history—assuming false definitions and drawing false conclusions from Scriptures taken out of context.

At one point it explicitly states that it does not embrace Replacement Theology and in the next sentence it affirms that the church is Israel.

The assertion that the church is Israel is the very foundation of Replacement Theology.

There is no way I could ever convince anyone that God’s Covenant with Israel (the nation) is irrevocable. This is something that can be revealed only by the power of His Holy Spirit through His Word.

Jack Hibbs (in the video I linked) gave a Scriptural answer to nearly all of the doctrinal positions taken by Greek Orthodox and all others who believe the church has replaced Israel.

As for me, I personally have never met a Spirit filled follower of Christ who did not have a supernatural love for the Jewish people, who did not pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and who does not look forward to the day when the scales fall from the eyes of all of Israel and they bend their knee to Jesus Messiah—anxiously awaiting the age to come when Jesus rules and reigns from Jerusalem.

By contrast, I am watching unprecedented (since the 1930s) hatred and anti-semitism toward Israel and the Jewish people from those who hate Jesus. (I am by no means attaching you to this crowd.)

As someone who has followed Jesus for more than 30 years and has been discipled by a family of Christ followers now 4 generations deep, I can also tell you that what we are witnessing today in Israel and the Middle East (and worldwide) has been a topic of discussion in my family since the 1980’s. They were by no means clairvoyant—they simply understand Bible prophecy. While I am grieved, I know we are witnessing the birth pangs of the end of the ages and Jesus’ return draws so very near.

I would encourage you to find the answers you are looking for not in religions or denominations or history books or the Internet, but with the Bible itself. I have found in my lifetime that God always answers the simple prayer to grant wisdom and reveal truth exclusively through His Word if we have no other agenda than to know Him and understand His Word and walk in Truth.

Trevor Rubenstein and Jan Markel at Olive Tree Ministries are phenomenal resources if you have questions about how to understand the New Covenant through the seamless thread of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is always fascinating to me to discuss the Old Testament with Jewish believers because as a Gentile, there are many connections I cannot make without context.

I have Trevor’s number and am certain he’d have a conversation with you if you would like. He has been a blessing to me. May the Lord grant us all clarity through His word and the power of the Holy Spirit as we endure and discern the times.

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I would agree with your sentiment (lead by paul) that we should feel sorrow and mourn for the non believing Jew.

However, I do believe that the orthodox church has a much deeper grasp and understanding of jewish tradition and understanding than most Protestants could match. I don't believe in judeo-christian values, as the non believing jew shares very little values with the Christian, but I do believe in judeo-christian traditions. The entire orthodox church is modeled after that. What the messianic disciples established the orthodox have maintained.

And, regardless of the belief around the validity of old testament covenants it should never be used as a tool to prioritize a group of people who actively work against Christian values and undermine out American political structures.

For instance, one could believe that jews are still gods "chosen" people and hate the fact they believe christ is burning in hell in a lake of fe al matter. Or that the rabbis and jewish leaders attempted Christ's death and ultimately succeed with the political powers help at the time. Or that jewish interest groups are directly responsible for why abolitionist work is not successful in this nation.

Aren't we not to judge by the fruits?

So how then is a Christian (if one was to believe your stance) suppose to reconcile this "unwavering stance" in support of the nation state and the ethnoreligious group while they destroy everything we are told to love and protect?

I'm not going to change your mind and that's OK! But, I will add that there is a direct conflict between those beliefs about the current jewish nation state and what our Bible says.

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I should clarify that while I absolutely believe in God’s irrevocable land Covenant and irrevocable spiritual covenant with Israel, I do not give Israel or the Jewish people or any other nation or people group a free pass when it comes to accountability for sin or the requirement of salvation through Christ and the gospel requirement that ALL men must acknowledge their sin and repent and confess Jesus Christ as Lord—both Jew and Gentile!

God is not a racist!

On the other side of that coin, I will also not assert that the Jews and/or Israel are more guilty or more wicked than any other people or nation as many are attempting to suggest right now (again, I am not accusing you of this.)

The idea that the Jews are responsible for all evil in the world is the building cultural narrative right now fueled largely by Internet anti-Semitism and a demonic spirit of the age that seeks to rid the Jewish people and nation from the face of the earth.

We know that Scripture teaches that ALL men are born with a sin nature and that ALL human hearts are deceitful and in need of cleansing and salvation through Christ.

There is none righteous-no not one! (Except of course Jesus…)

I see Israel as unique only because of God’s Covenant with them not because they themselves are “special”.

God’s Covenant with them heightens not just the blessing but the judgment for trespass.

We remember the gospel is first for the Jew then for the Gentile, but the judgment is also first for the Jew then for the Gentile.

God is no respecter of persons but also unable to violate His own Covenant which he swore by Himself to Abraham not because of Abraham’s righteousness but because of HIS own righteousness.

Our hearts should be for the repentance of all men and all nations-especially for Israel not because of their righteousness but because of their lostness. We also know that when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we pray for His return. How I long for the day. The earth has lost its curb appeal. Much love to you, my friend…

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Yes, the earth is a dumpster fire. Thanks for your response.

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Also, I meant to add that I agree we are in the labor ward of the end!

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Matt,

I asked my brother, Matt, (what is it with all the Matt’s? 🤣) to weigh in on this conversation after reviewing the links to the Greek Orthodox doctrine you sent. For what it is worth, this was his response…

“The wave of antisemitism is growing...there is no doubt. Look at the progressive left. Throughout history and in every generation, it seems the devil has inspired in the hearts of the wicked a plan to exterminate the Jews. Why is that? Why did Hitler target and hate Jews? Why did Rome destroy Israel in 70 AD and destroy the Temple and Jerusalem and rename the area Palestine as a punishment? Why did Haman seek to destroy the Jews in the Book of Ester? Today, Muslims led by Iran promise to kill all Jews on the face of the earth. Is this hate and evil inspired by the pit of Hell who "replacement theology" Christians want to align themselves with? That is insane!

.

No, the Church did not start with Abraham. Jesus said he would build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. He did not say "rebuild" or revive the Church. The Church was a new thing in Acts 1 but grafted into the covenants with Noah, Abraham and David. Given Romans 11, if the Church starts with Abraham, is God hardening the hearts of Church (Old Testament Jews) against the Church (New Testament Gentile converts)? Jesus said a house divided against itself will not stand. We are "Grafted" in as Gentile Converts. Grafted refers to a new foreign body getting merged with an existing body but different. If the Church started with Abraham, then why is there a need to graft in a New Testament Gentile to an Old Testament Jewish Covenant? And if the Church started with Abraham, why did Jesus wait to empower it until Pentecost some 1,500 years later? No, the Church started by a Jew (Jesus), with 12 disciples (Jews) and in Israel (Jerusalem in the upper room...120 of them). It spread to Antioch from there and to the would thru dispersion via Roman oppression so the Gospel would reach the nations. They (Jesus and the 12) were a remnant even then but we Gentiles are Grafted into that remnant started by those 13 Jews. At the rapture, the church age ends and then the redemption of the Jews and Israel will begin thru the fire of the Tribulation concluding with the 1,000 millennial reign of King Jesus. God uses his enemies to sometimes punish his children but those enemies will not be redeemed and utterly destroyed and we do not want to side with them.”

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Talmud reference: Gittin 56b-57a

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