Caroline and I just finished watching The Civil War by Ken Burns for her American History credit. I watched it many years ago, but it was new for Caroline. It was thought-provoking and sobering to watch it again now given the times in which we live.

David said to me in a message a few days ago, “…we might be starting to see a civil war in the body of Christ.”

I think he is correct.

The next Civil War in America won’t be over slavery, states rights, or whatever you believe that war was truly about. And it won’t be a regional war.

Whatever happens on a national level, the next civil war has already begun in the body of Christ.

The war is over Israel and the First Amendment. This war is both Constitutional and theological.

There’s a reason I wrote about defining heresy. Among other issues, the body of Christ is becoming increasingly fractured over a secular country on the other side of the world that is only the size of New Jersey.

Just as every war has psychological operations, this one does as well. One thousand American pastors and church leaders recently pledged their allegiance to Israel in exchange for an all-expense paid trip. In return, they are now commissioned ambassadors for the message of the nation state of Israel. Their commission is to take the message of Israel back to their church and community.

As Christian leaders, they have accepted the job of telling you, your children, your teens, and your grandchildren all about the nation-state of Israel.

Not about Jesus according to the New Testament.

Israel. 

The same secular state that completely rejects Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 

I don’t care which side of the theological argument you are on. No pastor or church leader should be pledging allegiance to and getting marching orders from a foreign government that stands diametrically opposed to our Savior. 

Period.

Understand what is going on.

There is a massive propaganda war going on right now due to the declining support of Israel by the Evangelical community. Younger generations, in particular, hold no allegiance to Israel – politically or theologically. The Israeli government believes we as American Christians are not allowed to decide if we support Israel as an ally or not. In their mind, we are required to do so because they depend on us as a voting block to accomplish their agenda. And so they will do anything and everything they can to sway public opinion in America. This commissioning of “ambassadors” is just a tiny part of it. 

I encourage you to read all of this excellent overview to understand what is going on in our country and potentially in your church: Exposing Israel’s Sophisticated Evangelical Foreign Influence Campaign. 

And then ask yourself if you want pastors, teachers, and leaders in your church (who believe they are serving Jesus by being an ambassador for the secular nation-state of Israel) exerting influence among your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Then take it another step and ask yourself if our First Amendment rights should be revoked on behalf of another country which believes we have no right to ask any questions about anything related to them. 

The next civil war is already here in the church. We all need to make sure we understand the battlefield, the players, and what is at stake. 

Photo: Silhouette of Civil War monument at Bloody Lane, Antietam National Battlefield where 22,727 were dead, wounded, or missing