Are Dispensationalists a Bunch of Crazy, Heretical Nutcakes?

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Steve Foster

It seems that dispensationalism is back in the news. If you have no idea what dispensationalism is, then just think end-times prophecy, Christian Zionism, the rapture of the church, the Left Behind books, 666, and the rise of the Antichrist all mixed together into a Mike Huckabee-Tucker Carlson interview.

Fun stuff!

I was exposed to dispensational theology shortly after coming to faith in Jesus Christ as a twelve year old. I am a visual thinker and one thing that dispensationalists have is lots of cool charts and visuals! One of the earliest books that I can remember thumbing through was Clarence Larkin’s Dispensational Truth. One picture of a lion-like beast with seven heads and ten horns with blood dripping from one of its mouths was enough to get me hooked.

I cut my teeth on dispensationalism before finally entering into a conservative evangelical Bible College that taught dispensationalist theology and then into a seminary with strong, deep roots in dispensationalism.

It wasn’t until my doctoral studies at a Reformed seminary that I encountered the first real pushback to my dispensationalist mindset. Actually it wasn’t pushback as much as it was wide-eyed shock that I actually was in an advanced degree program (at a Reformed seminary no less) and held to such crazy beliefs.

I can still remember the conversation.

The Left Behind books were in their heydey…all 666 of them…or how ever many volumes there were. And a few fellow students were talking about how crazy the books were and how some people in their churches were reading them. It was creating a stir and most of these Reformed pastors were not too happy about it.

“Can you believe how crazy this stuff is?” they would say. “Can you believe anyone believes it? I keep telling my people to throw those books away.”

In their minds, it was a Cracker Jack, comic book kind of theology.

And, to be honest, I didn’t like the books either. Yes, they were kind of interesting early on…and, for the most part, I would agree with Tim LaHaye’s broad chronology and theology regarding the end times. But as the series progressed, they became more and more unbelievable and “superhero-ish.” I mean one of the main “heroes” is a guy named Buck Williams. And he is sort of a Ethan Hunt-Jack Bauer-MacGyver kind of character all wrapped up into one.

Actually, I think I put the books down and never read them again after I got to the part where a bunch of locusts with little human faces were yelling, “Apollyon! Apollyon!”

That’s weirder than the seven-headed, ten-horned lion thing.

But back to that day in the Reformed seminary… I heard them talking about how stupid dispensationalism was and I chimed in and said, “Yeah, I don’t like the books either but I hold to a dispensationalist theology.” That was when the shocked looks hit me. And that was when I really began to understand how crazy dispensational theology can appear to those on the outside looking in.

And, unfortunately, some dispensationalist (or pseudo-dispensationalist) preachers don’t help our case.

One of the things that I often say when discussing end-time prophecy in the Bible is “be careful because all the nutcakes are in our camp.”

And they are.

So why in the world am I still a dispensationalist? 

Because I believe the core tenets of dispensationalism are taught in the Bible and I believe that it makes the most sense with what has occurred in history and what is occurring today.

Let me give you my brief defense of dispensationalism from both a historical and biblical perspective.

1. The early church was almost unanimously premillennial in their theology.

In most theological circles today, the biggest charge against dispensationalism is, “Well, it can’t be true because it wasn’t developed until the 19th century.” It is considered the theological newcomer on the block and a modern aberration from historical Christian belief.

Well, yes and no.

There are some aspects of dispensationalism that were fleshed out later in church history but the core idea of a literal 1000-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth after His second coming (often referred to as “chialism”) was the almost-universal belief of the early church.

There will be a millennium after the resurrection of the dead, when the kingdom of Christ will be set up in material form on this earth. (Papias of Hierapolis, AD 60-130)

I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be built, adorned, and enlarged, as the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and others declare. (Justin Martyr, AD 100-165)

We do confess that a kingdom is promised to us upon the earth, although before heaven, only in another state of existence; inasmuch as it will be after the resurrection for a thousand years in the divinely-built city of Jerusalem… (Tertullian, AD 150-229)

In fact, the renowned church historian, Phillip Schaff (1819-93), once said:

The most striking point in the eschatology of the ante-Nicene age is the prominent chiliasm, or millenarianism, that is the belief of a visible reign of Christ in glory on earth with the risen saints for a thousand years, before the general resurrection and judgment.

When you read Irenaeus’ classic tome, Against Heresies (~AD 180), you can almost swear at times that you are reading some crazy “end-times preacher” today.

For the Antichrist being endued with all the power of the devil, shall come, not as a righteous king, nor as a legitimate king, in subjection to God, but an impious, unjust, and lawless one…as a robber, concentrating in himself all satanic apostasy, and setting aside idols to persuade men that he himself is God…

Daniel, looking forward to the end of the last kingdom, i.e., the ten last kings, amongst whom the kingdom of those men shall be partitioned, and upon whom the son of perdition shall come, declares that ten horns shall spring from the beast, and that another little horn shall arise in the midst of them, and that three of the former shall be rooted up before his face…

There is therefore in this beast, when he comes, a recapitulation made of all sorts of iniquity and of every deceit, in order that all apostate power, flowing into and being shut up in him, may be sent into the furnace of fire. Fittingly, therefore, shall his name possess the number six hundred and sixty-six…

When the Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for 3 ½ years and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in the times of the kingdom for the righteous. (Irenaeus, AD 130-202)

This was the standard, orthodox belief in the early church regarding the end times. It wasn’t until the 4th century, through the teaching of Augustine and the rising power of the church, that this belief in a literal Antichrist, a literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, a literal seven-year tribulation, and a literal 1000-year reign of Christ on earth would be cast aside for a more spiritualized, non-literal interpretation of prophecy.

2. Daniel’s 70-weeks prophecy is the template for understanding the book of Revelation and the end times as a whole. 

Irenaeus (along with many other early church theologians) based much of his interpretation of the end times on the prophecy of Daniel in Daniel 9:24-27.

It is an amazing prophecy…one of the greatest in Scripture.

The prophet Daniel, fervently praying for the restoration of his nation, Israel, while in captivity in Babylon, is given a glimpse into the future. God, through the angel Gabriel, reveals that 70 “weeks” or, literally, “seventy sevens,” are determined for the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. These “seventy sevens” only make sense as a time period of 490 years.

With this timeframe in mind, Daniel 9 predicts the rebuilding of Jerusalem (which was lying in ruins at the time), the coming of the Messiah (to the exact date!), the “cutting off” of the Messiah (in rejection and death), the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple again (which happened in AD 70), the coming of a future false leader who makes a seven-year covenant with a future restored Israel, the breaking of the covenant at the mid-point (i.e., 3 1/2 years), the “abomination of desolations” (which Paul interprets as the Antichrist demanding worship of himself in the temple, 2 Thess. 2:1-12), and the summing up of all prophecy and the restoration of all things at the end of the age.

It is a stunning prophecy.

(For a detailed explanation of Daniel 9, you can watch this sermon or read this short article or this academic article.)

Are there differences of opinion on interpreting Daniel 9?

Absolutely.

But almost all biblical scholars acknowledge that the prophecy concerns Christ’s death and the destruction of the temple in AD 70. The question is really over how to interpret any future implications of this prophecy…if it indeed has any.

Irenaeus certainly thought it had future implications and he was writing after the destruction of the temple. He was also the disciple of Papias who was the disciple of the apostle John. So we are only talking two generations from the writing of the book of Revelation. And this was, according to Irenaeus, the standard interpretation of Daniel and Revelation in the early church.

Plus, according to Daniel 9:24, the completion of this prophecy marks the completion of all prophecy and the bringing in of all righteousness. So if you think that the Bible still has something to say about the future and you think that this world is far from being restored to full righteousness, then you have to acknowledge that there is still a future aspect to Daniel 9.

3. God still has a future purpose and plan for national, ethnic Israel.

If Daniel 9 has future implications, then there is still one “week” (i.e., seven years) appointed for the nation of Israel that is yet to be fulfilled. This one week of seven years is often called the tribulation (as Jesus called it in Matthew 24). It will begin with some kind of seven-year treaty of peace with the nation of Israel that will be broken at the mid-point with the “abomination of desolation” in the Jewish temple.

Taking this prophecy at face value means that there has to be a nation of Israel, that there has to be a future temple in Jerusalem, and that there has to be a desperate desire for peace in the Middle East.

This is why the formation of Israel as a nation in 1948 has such major implications when it comes to biblical prophecy. And even if you don’t believe in biblical prophecy, it is still amazing that a conquered nation and a scattered people and a dead language can all be revived after almost 1900 years of national stasis and in the midst of a strangely pervasive, widely practiced antisemitism in the world.

Paul affirms God’s future purpose and plan for national, ethnic Israel in Romans 11…and most biblical scholars don’t see a way around this.

This is not a side issue. Israel’s existence and her future salvation seem to be pivotal in Scripture, rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant which is at the center of God’s redemptive plan on earth. Read my previous post on this topic or read all the biblical verses which reiterate God’s promise of the land to Israel if you still struggle with this idea.

It was this promise of the restoration of Israel and the future kingdom on earth that the disciples were most concerned about in Acts 1.

“Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

This question was after forty days of being instructed by the resurrected Lord regarding the kingdom (Acts 1:3). If the disciples were totally mistaken, then Jesus certainly would have rebuked them like He did many times before.

“O ye of little faith, why are you still so thick-headed? Don’t you see that there is no future plan for Israel and that there is no earthly kingdom?”

Yes, Jesus did redirect their thinking to the task at hand but He did not correct or contradict their future hope in the kingdom. In fact, Peter is still preaching about this hope after being filled with the Spirit.

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:19-21)

4. Jesus Christ will rapture His church, quite likely before a future seven-year tribulation in which God is working through the nation of Israel.

Okay, here is where things get dicey.

Ask someone what most bothers them about dispensationalists and usually somewhere near the top of the list is this crazy belief in a “secret rapture” of the church. This is the basis of the whole Left Behind series…and all the less than convincing Hollywood movies which tried to depict it.

Empty clothes on the couch. Empty shoes on the floor. Planes crashing. Cars wrecking. Millions of people disappearing into thin air. Poor lost pets having no more owners to feed them or take care of them. By the way, there is help for that :>)

And this is where wild-eyed preachers get even weirder when they set dates and interpret every little news story or “blood moon” or “solar eclipse” or event in the Middle East as some kind of definitive sign of the end of the world.

But setting aside all the crazy pictures and thoughts that people may have about the rapture, it is still taught in Scripture.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

That word “caught up” is a Greek word which basically means “to snatch away.” It is the basis of the Latin word, raptura, from which we get our English word, “rapture.”

So there it is. Christ descends from heaven. The dead in Christ are resurrected. And those believers who are alive are instantly “snatched away” to meet Jesus in the clouds.

Sounds crazy. But it is called the “blessed hope” and it is the prayer of the church from the first century until today. Maranatha! “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

So every Bible-believing Christian believes in a rapture. The question is when is it going to happen.

Non-dispensationalists generally place the “rapture” at the exact same moment as Jesus’ second coming in Revelation 19. Jesus appears in the clouds. All believers (dead and alive) meet Him in the air. And then Jesus and all believers come right back down with Him onto earth. Sort of a yo-yo effect.

This view makes sense and it is certainly a valid interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 4 and Revelation 19.

But there is an argument that can be made that the second coming of Christ happens in two phases (just as His first coming did). Jesus appears in the clouds. All believers (dead and alive) meet Him in the air. There is a time of tribulation on earth in which God works once again primarily through the nation of Israel (i.e., Daniel’s 70th week). Israel thus fulfills the mission of being God’s witnesses to the world which they failed at previously. All the world is given a second chance to believe (though at great cost and in the worst of conditions) and then Jesus Christ returns with His church in Revelation 19.

This idea of a “secret rapture” may even be taught by Jesus in Matthew 24:36-44. You can listen to my defense of this interpretation here.

It may sound convoluted but just imagine a bunch of Jewish theologians (and a few Persian magi) gathered together before Christ’s first coming. If someone said, “Well, I think Scripture teaches that the Messiah will come in two phases. I believe that He will be born into the world as a little baby, that He will be eventually rejected by Israel and crucified on a cross, that He will be physically resurrected and ascend into heaven, that Jerusalem will be completely destroyed again, that Gentiles will come to faith all over the world, that Jews will be scattered on earth for close to 2000 years, and then the Messiah will come back again to establish His kingdom on earth.” I am sure that most of those around him would look at him rather strangely and say, “That’s crazy!”

But that is exactly what God did.

So the question is not “is it crazy?” but is it a defensible understanding of Scripture. Hey, if you believe that God became a human baby, that Jesus did miracles on earth, that Jesus physically rose from the dead, and that Jesus is coming back on a white horse in the clouds, then you are already crazy according to the world’s standards!

As Festus yelled at the apostle Paul in Acts 26:24.

“Paul, you are insane! Too much study has made you crazy!”

You can call me crazy along with Paul.

5. All Bible-believing Christians are “dispensational” to some degree.

The word “dispensationalist” carries lots of connotations in today’s theological circles but, again, the word is biblical. Paul uses it to describe “the dispensation of the fullness of times” in Ephesians 1:10.

It is a Greek word, oikonomia, which basically means “the management of a household.”

The best way I can illustrate it is to describe my own “management of my household.”

When I was single and living in New Orleans, I managed my “household” in a certain way. Basically my house was a mess with an ugly green recliner which I loved to sit in. When Liz and I got married, our household management changed. The green recliner was cast to the curb. Things were managed differently. A few years later, when we started having kids, our household management changed again. Schedules changed. Sleep changed. Responsibilities changed. Finances changed. Plans changed. Diapers changed! As our four boys grew, things changed again. Taekwondo classes. School lessons. Chores. Rules. Discipline. When the boys reached their teenage years, our household management transitioned again. Football practices. Driving lessons. Increased food bills. Girlfriends. School dances. College visits. Lots of prayer! Now that we are empty nesters, our household management has changed again. Eating out. Watching movies together. Calling the boys and their wives on the phone. Waiting for grandchildren :).

The point is that at different times, in the different seasons of our lives, we have “managed” things differently. These different seasons could be called the “dispensations” of our lives. At our core, we have not changed. Our values are the same. Our goals are the same. Our commitment to Christ and to one another is the same. But our “management style,” if you will, changed.

Thus a simplified dispensational way of thinking would say that God has changed “management styles” throughout history. If you don’t believe you need to make sacrifices at the temple, if you don’t think circumcision is necessary to be part of the covenant community, if you worship on Sunday instead of Saturday, if you practice baptism and the Lord’s Supper, if you believe in an “old” and “new” testament, then to some degree you are a “dispensationalist.”

God’s character has not changed. The core of the gospel has not changed. But God’s “management style” has changed at different times from the creation of the world until today.

So being a dispensationalist is a matter of degree.

Some take it too far. There are hyper-dispensationalists, just as there are hyper-Calvinists and hyper-charismatics. But dispensationalism as a whole, and rightly understood, is a legitimate, and even essential, understanding of Scripture.

So what am I? Am I a crazy dispensationalist?

I would call myself a sober-minded, gospel-centered, future-oriented, dispensational-guided believer in Jesus Christ.

Sober-minded. I try not to go crazy with every news story. The recent bombing of Iran may have significance but I simply do not know. When the US attacked Iraq in the early 1990’s, it sure seemed to point to something significant prophetically (and lots of books came out in response) but here we are 35 years later and the Iraq War may have moved some pieces in place but it certainly wasn’t the end of the world as we know it. Thus, it is always best to do what Scripture says:

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (1 Peter 4:7)

Gospel-centered. Just as Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:7-8:

“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

There are some things we know and there are some things we do not. Jesus Christ could come back today. He could come back a thousand years from now. We simply do not know. But we do know what He has called us to in this present age. To be His witnesses. To proclaim the gospel. To make disciples of all the nations. This is to be our focus…not trying to figure out the date of Christ’s return or who the Antichrist is or what every news story or political decision may indicate prophetically.

Future-oriented. God is at work in our present world. He is moving all things according to the counsel of His will. His zeal is directed toward the day when Christ reigns on the throne of David in Jerusalem and all nations bow to Him. Thus, our hope is in the future. We don’t look backwards and wish for “the good ol’ days.” Instead we look forward to our “blessed hope” and the soon return of our Savior and God, Jesus Christ. There is nothing to fear in the future. This is where our hope is.

Dispensational-guided. Yes, I believe God still has a purpose for national, ethnic Israel. I believe God’s promises of the land in the Abrahamic Covenant are still valid. I believe in a literal fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the kingdom. I believe that Christ is returning to snatch away His church. I believe that Christ is going to reign for 1000 years on this earth. These things guide my understanding of Scripture. They also guide my support for the nation of Israel today. It doesn’t mean that I agree with everything Israel’s secular-minded government does but it does mean that I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and reject any notion of antisemitism.

Believer in Jesus Christ. Ultimately my faith is in Jesus Christ. He is the crucified Savior. He is the resurrected Lord. He is the coming King. He is my hope. He is my salvation. He is my strength. He is my song.

I confess with the church throughout history.

For us and for our salvation,
the Lord Jesus came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day He rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end. (Nicene Creed, AD 325)

Amen and amen!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Posted in Eschatology/Prophecy | 3 Comments

Abolish ICE?

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Steve Foster

Abolish ICE.

It is apparently the new slogan for those who 1) hate Trump 2) don’t like what is currently going on in Minnesota and 3) think there are quick and easy solutions to complex problems.

Abolish ICE is about as helpful as Defund the Police or Abolish War or Abolish Whatever I Don’t Like in the World (in my case, being served vegetables as the main course of a meal).

At some point we have to move past unhelpful, clickbait slogans to something more tangible, thoughtful, and realistic. It would be nice to live in a world where there is no conflict, hate, crime, injustice, lawlessness, or war but that is not our situation. And appeals to utopia are not helpful and often harmful. (The very word “utopia” means “not a place.”)

As a pastor and as an American, it is hard to know how to respond to all the events that seem to hit us at 200 mph. The 24/7 news cycle seems to create crises every day…and its own share of chaos and craziness.

Image. Emotion. Reaction. Repeat.

Such a short-sighted, short-circuited, short-fused process adds to our anger and division and rarely encourages careful investigation, thoughtful dialogue, balanced reasoning, and helpful solutions.

So how do we respond to what is going on in Minnesota? 

I wish I had easy answers. I wish I could solve the immigration problem in America overnight. I wish I could say that I understand all the issues fully. But I don’t and I can’t. So what I offer here are a few key principles and thoughts that may be helpful.

1. We need to respect authority.

I will start with what is a basic principle in an orderly, peaceful society. There must be a basic respect for authority. Parents. Teachers. Police Officers. City Leaders. Border Patrol. Government Officials. Congress. Courts. The President.

Sure, we can argue about what to do when authority goes too far but let’s at least start with the basics. There should be a recognized respect for authority unless you want your society to descend into anarchy and chaos.

“Defunding the police” because a policeman acts foolishly or abusively is not a reasonable solution any more than saying “abolish parenthood” when abuse happens in a home. We all want to live in a society with some level of authority and order (unless you have a fairy tale view of reality or a nefarious desire to gain power yourself).

In Romans 13, the apostle Paul provides the foundational principles for an functioning society.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. (Romans 13:1-5)

This is about as basic as it gets. Respect authorities. Obey the law. Do what is good. Don’t intentionally resist unless you are prepared to suffer the consequences.

2. We need immigration law and immigration enforcement.

ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) started in 2003 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Though the United States (and every nation for that matter) has had laws and border enforcement since its inception, it became clear after 9/11 that the world had changed. The increase in terrorism and the ability to carry out such attacks on US soil led to the formation of stricter enforcement of immigration laws and greater caution toward the intentions of those who immigrated into our country. Thus, ICE was born.

Both Republican and Democratic presidents have acknowledged and utilized ICE since its inception. President Obama awarded Tom Homan (the same one that Trump appointed) a medal of honor for his work with ICE and his success in deporting over three million illegal immigrants during Obama’s two terms. It was common sense. A nation with open borders and “imported criminals” is putting its own people at risk. That is not the role of a wise, judicious, responsible government.

During President Biden’s term, the number of “unauthorized immigrants” reached its highest level ever in US history. An estimated 14 million people were in the country either without any legal status whatsoever (~8 million) or with expired or limited legal status (~6 million). If even a low percentage of these numbers are violent criminals, then every American is at risk, as the tragic story of Laken Riley illustrates.

3. When governmental agencies are in conflict with each other, the people that they govern will suffer.

As a state with “sanctuary laws,” Minnesota often works at cross purposes with ICE. Local police forces, state agencies, and the governor himself are not only not helping federal agents but, in some cases, they are also working counter to them. Even if an illegal immigrant has committed a crime and is in custody, in many cases, Minnesota will not cooperate with ICE to deport them. This kind of stance seems more political than practical.

The environment in Minnesota was created because the leadership in Minnesota did not want to work with the leadership in Washington DC. Or perhaps more simply, Tim Walz does not like Donald Trump and Donald Trump does not like Tim Walz (who was on the Democratic ticket against him). There are personal stakes as well as political stakes on the table. This has created a confrontation which was going to play out poorly. And it has.

4. Current ICE tactics and targets need to be re-evaluated.

When Donald Trump took office, he immediately signed executive orders to reverse the porous border policies of the Biden administration and to ramp up enforcement of immigration laws. His stated goals were similar to President Obama’s stated goals in immigration enforcement, except that Trump’s rhetoric was notably tougher, his targets were notably broader, and his tactics were notably more aggressive.

Though the Trump administration has secured the border and deported illegal immigrants with criminal records, it has also gone after people with misdemeanor offenses, with some limited legal status, or with long-term residency in the States (even from childhood).

With broad targets and aggressive tactics, there is a greater potential for “collateral damage” and unnecessary incidents. I have talked with immigrants with legal status who have encountered ICE agents locally. Though this is only anecdotal evidence, they have stated that the encounter started off aggressive from the start, almost as if the intent were to intimidate, create fear, and even provoke an incident. These kind of encounters with ordinary individuals are not necessary or helpful, especially in already volatile situations. In such situations, the person with the authority (and the gun) needs to act more calmly and wisely.

5. Our current immigration system is dreadfully broken.

Our church planted a local congregation that ministers to many immigrants in our area. We have loved, supported, and helped this congregation in numerous ways over the past 10+ years. They are our friends and fellow co-workers for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of them have legal status in the States, some do not. Some have legal work permits with visas in process. Some have been here since they were children and are now trying to gain some legal status. They know no other life in no other country. They love the United States, have paid taxes, and have contributed to their community for years, yet their situation is precarious.

It is easy to say, “Well, why don’t they become legal?”

My own experience in trying to help some of them become legal has exposed me to the brokenness of our immigration system. Giving thousands of dollars to immigration lawyers, filling out mountains of paperwork, calling the immigration office, being interviewed by immigration officials, and even seeking intervention from sitting senators have not resulted in any movement in some of these cases.

As a church, we have particularly worked hard to keep one of our Hispanic pastors in legal status, visa after visa, application after application, lawyer after lawyer. Yet the process for a green card took so long that he had to leave the country for three years before his application came up for approval, even though he had followed every law, dotted every “i” and crossed every “t,” and had served faithfully in our church community for close to ten years.

It was as frustrating as any process that I had ever gone through.

And it was even more frustrating to realize that it seemed that there were a lot more incentives to disobey the law than to obey it.

Until Congress can work together and come up with an immigration system that makes a pathway to legal status easier, clearer, and more efficient, then we will continue to perpetuate our problems from one administration to the next.

6. Donald Trump needs to tone down his rhetoric. 

I read Bill O’Reilly’s book, The United States of Trump, to try to understand Donald Trump’s personality and tactics better. According to O’Reilly, Trump is a master deal-maker and he has learned to disrupt and go to the extreme in order to get what he wants (which is usually somewhere in the middle). Whereas most politicians tell you what they want and then work toward consensus to get it, Trump throws something on the table that is so extreme and disruptive that a person finds themselves working to a place where a reasonable deal is made. (Just consider Gaza or Greenland.)

Trump’s tactics may work in some settings but they are incredibly damaging in others. Whether he is a narcissist, cantankerous old man, or master dealmaker who is playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers is sometimes hard to tell, but regardless, as president of the nation, he has to learn how to turn off the divisive rhetoric for the sake of the greater good of the country. Now would be a good time to learn and exercise that ability.

7. What happened to Renee Good and Alex Pretti is both tragic and troubling.

Though everyone seems to have their preferred political angles and corners, it seems that a simple, balanced narrative would say that an intentional attempt to annoy, disrupt, and hinder ICE officers led to an extremely angry confrontation, leading to an ICE officer acting in an overly aggressive way, resulting in the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

These deaths did not need to happen.

And it is tragic that they did.

There are no winners in this story.

By inserting themselves into a law enforcement operation, these two people had to know that they were putting themselves into a potentially dangerous altercation, especially since one of them was driving a large vehicle and the other was carrying a gun.

But, regardless, this does not justify the use of extreme force nor did it need to result in their deaths, especially with multiple gunshots when the situation (as far as the videos show) did not require it.

I don’t know what it is like to be a law enforcement officer in a stressful, life-or-death job every day. But, in taking that role, one has to be trained to react differently in such scenarios. At the very least, there needs to be an honest, thorough investigation to see if their actions were justified in any way. If not, then justice demands accountability.

8. Quick judgments are usually poor judgments motivated by personal or political presuppositions.

We live in a day and age of quick, knee-jerk reactions and judgments, before all the facts have come out and before people can even consider another side to the story.

“Hands up, don’t shoot” has become a slogan, repeated over and over as a rallying cry against police brutality, even though it never happened. Such slogans endure long after the facts come to light…and they continue to do their damage.

Thus, it would be wise to stop, pause, and take a deep breath, before coming to a conclusion that merely supports your own preconceived political assumptions.

9. Every person is made in the image of God. 

At the root of every story and every tragedy is a human being made in the image of God.

In dealing with immigrants, you are dealing with someone made in the image of God.

In dealing with law enforcement, you are dealing with someone made in the image of God.

In dealing with a protestor, you are dealing with someone made in the image of God.

In dealing with a political opponent, you are dealing with someone made in the image of God.

There is no room for pride, for prejudice, for partiality, for personal hatred.

Argue your point (respectfully). Defend your position (logically). Fight for your cause (peacefully). But don’t forget that you are dealing with other people who are just like you in some way.

No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. (James 3:8-10)

One of the best things that you can do is simply engage with someone, one-on-one, who thinks differently than you or who is “on the other side of the aisle” so to speak. Take them out for coffee. Grab a meal. Get to know them. See them as a person rather than a political opponent. It will go much further and have greater impact than retreating to your corner, watching more news, posting more posts, and coming up with caricatures of other people.

10. Pray for the peace of the city and nation in which you live. 

Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jeremiah 29:7)

I pray for Donald Trump almost every day. I disagree with his rhetoric on many occasions. I lament the way he attacks people. I pray that he would be humble. I pray that he would be wise and listen to wise counselors around him. I also pray that he would be successful and effective as a leader and president.

I prayed for Presidents Bush, Obama, and Biden in the many of the same ways.

It is to my benefit, and the benefit of my children, and my children’s children (when they have them, Lord willing) for this nation to succeed, to prosper, to be at peace.

I would be a fool to want to see it destroyed.

Stack up all the nations in history and all the nations around the world, and I would still want to live in this one.

I fear that those who relentlessly seek to critique our past, deconstruct our system, and disrupt our government may not know what they had until its gone. It is ironic that many use the beauty of our freedoms to destroy the very foundations that created those freedoms in the first place.

Maybe some consider prayer a waste of time, a cliche, or an escape from reality but it is not. Actually it is the opposite. In praying, I not only connect with God’s power and providence but I also gain a bigger perspective, see others as God sees them, learn to love those that I pray for, and exchange the anger or anxiety of my own heart with the grace and peace available in Jesus Christ.

In praying to God, I also acknowledge my own inability to do things on my own. I acknowledge my dependency, my limitations, my need for help, my need for God.

In other words, I humble myself. And in so doing, I can truly seek God and the good of my neighbor.

So as a pastor, as a believer in Jesus Christ, how should I respond to the culture around me, to the turmoil that often crops up in places like Minnesota?

The Bible has already given us this answer.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy. (Titus 3:1-5a)

That about sums it up.

Abolish MALICE.

Now there’s a sign I could hold up that might actually help.

Posted in Government/Politics | 5 Comments

Why I Support the Nation of Israel

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Steve Foster

I remember watching the clips from Tucker Carlson’s interview with Senator Ted Cruz. It went off the rails quickly. Tucker hammered Ted on why the U.S. should support Israel. Ted went with the biblical promise that God made to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” Unfortunately Ted could not remember where that verse is found. Tucker pounced on that fact and made Ted look like a biblical ignoramus.

Then Tucker followed up with a pivotal question, “Is the Israel in Genesis the same as the nation of Israel run by Benjamin Netanyahu today?”

Ted said, “Yes.” Tucker mockingly chuckled.

Up until that point, I had never really watched Tucker Carlson. I remember him on Fox News. I remember him wearing bow ties at one point early in his career. I remember hearing him argue conservative talking points along the way. But that was about it. I wasn’t aware of his recent skepticism and critique of the nation of Israel.

Recently on his podcast, Tucker hosted Nick Fuentes, a far-right white nationalist who has questioned and even joked about the death of six million Jews in the Holocaust. During the interview, Tucker said that Christians who support Israel (often called “Christian Zionists”) have a “brain virus.”

And Tucker’s harsh critique of Israel and its Christian supporters is not an anomaly. More and more conservative voices are joining the chorus, particularly younger people who tend to see the nation of Israel as “oppressive,” “genocidal,” and purveyors of “apartheid.” A recent survey indicated that only 32% of evangelicals aged 18-34 sympathize with Israel when it comes to the issue of Palestine and the recent war in Gaza.

So how should Christians respond to the nation of Israel? 

Does the present-day geo-political nation of Israel have any ties to the Israel of the Bible?

And why does it matter?

To answer the last question first…yes, it certainly matters. In fact, it matters a great deal.

How one views the nation of Israel today has implications related to one’s interpretation of the prophecies and promises of Scripture, one’s theological understanding of eschatology, one’s view of God’s providence in historical events, one’s response to the divisive, pervasive political issues of our present time, and even one’s reaction to the individual Jews, Palestinians, or Muslims that one may encounter in every day life.

These are not small matters…as the “heat” often generated around this issue makes clear.

There is a lot that I cannot comment on as a pastor. I am a Bible teacher not a geopolitical expert, political pundit, or military strategist. But since many of these issues are rooted in biblical and theological interpretations, then hopefully I can add value to the conversation.

Three major principles govern my response to and support of the nation of Israel.

 1. Present-day Israel is a secularly-governed, politically-divided nation.

Israel is a modern geo-political nation. It has a prime minister. It has a parliament, the Knesset, with representatives from over ten different political parties. There is not a unity of thought, policy, or political persuasion in Israel. So to treat Israel as a “monolith” is not accurate or helpful.

Modern Israel is by all accounts a secular, imperfect, divided nation, similar to our own.

Because of that, it is easy to criticize Israel, just like it is easy to criticize the U.S. There are no perfect governments. There are no perfect nations. There are no perfect politicians (which is stating the obvious!).

If Tucker Carlson or Candace Owens or any political pundit today wanted to find someone who could criticize Israel, point out its flaws, highlight its injustices, and accuse it of atrocities, then they could easily find them.

This is not “news.” It is choosing to paint a narrative based on what reaction you are hoping to provoke (and what reaction will increase one’s viewership).

The question is not whether Israel has failed or even been guilty of injustices and crimes. The question is whether their government system is set up in such a way to expose these wrongs and hopefully correct them.

America is also far from perfect. Depending on your agenda, you could highlight slavery, the treatment of native Americans, racial injustice, lynchings, Jim Crow laws, war crimes, military atrocities, and a whole host of other sins committed by our nation.

But, though far from perfect, America offers freedom, protection, and opportunities that many other nations (past and present) do not. I see Israel in the same way.

2. Present-day Israel is a historically-unforeseen, providentially-revived nation.

I do not know how a person could say that the existence of a Jewish nation today in the ancient land of Canaan is not close to miraculous. It is at least worthy of some degree of amazement.

The Jews as a people were nation-less, “homeless,” if you will, for millennia. Though they were in their ancestral homeland after their return from exile in 516 BC, they were still under the rule and oppression of other nations for centuries before ultimately being destroyed and dispersed in AD 70.

Jews were scattered throughout the world, never possessing a majority in any nation and often hated and persecuted in the places where they settled.

Though every Passover, the religious Jews proclaimed, “Next year in Jerusalem!” the hope seemed to be more of a wish dream than something that could ever be a reality. Even the Hebrew language was dead.

The Jews were a people without a land, without a government, without a language, and without a hope.

Early Christians often considered the Jews “Christ-killers” and a rejected people.

The Arabs subjugated them and persecuted them in their lands.

The Crusaders slaughtered Jews on the way to reclaim the Holy Land.

Medieval people blamed them for the Black Plague and expelled them or killed them for simply being “Jews.”

The Cossacks pillaged their villages and massacred over 100,000 of them in eastern Europe.

The Russians killed over 200,000 of them during the pogroms.

The Nazis sought their complete annihilation, executing 6 million of them during the Holocaust.

The “Jewish problem” was something that nations dealt with throughout history, with many labeling them, mischaracterizing them, hating them, expelling them, and shouting at them, “Jew, go back to Palestine!”

The fact that an actual Jewish nation emerged, survived, and flourished in the area of Canaan (called “Palestine” in the 2nd century to disassociate the Jews from their land) is actually pretty amazing.

And the fact that the Hebrew language was dusted off from the trash heap and revived as a modern language is unheard of in history. I don’t think it is too much to say that it is a miracle.

3. Present-day Israel is a prophetically-foretold, biblically-significant nation.

Yes, I believe that the present, geo-political nation of Israel today is tied to the past, historical nation of Israel in the Bible. I also believe that modern-day ethnic Jews are tied to the biblical Jews, the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Based on the hatred that they have endured for millennia for being “Jewish,” then I think it is safe to say that a person who bears the Jewish identity, ethnicity, heritage, and history today is the same kind of “Jew” that Jesus, Peter, and Paul were in the New Testament.

The Nazis didn’t seem to have a problem identifying them as Jews, just as most anti-Semites today know who they are as well.

So why wouldn’t the nation of Israel today be tied to the ancient Israel of Scripture?

It seems that people like Tucker Carlson who mock the idea that there is any association between the two almost have a view that the world of the Bible should be separated from the world of reality today. Almost like the Bible is an ancient fairy tale not to be taken seriously. I beg to differ.

If God exists and Scripture is true, then I would fully expect that the nation of Israel would survive and still be around today.

Here is where theology and biblical interpretation come into play.

The Abrahamic Covenant is the foundational covenant of Scripture and is still applicable today.

God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 provides the basis of the rest of the covenants seen in Scripture. God’s promise is often summarized into three main parts: the land, the seed, and the blessing.

Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. (Gen. 12:1-3, 7)

The significance of this covenant is seen in the New Testament with Jesus’ genealogy being traced back to Abraham (Matt. 1:1), with Zacharias’ Spirit-filled declaration that God is going to fulfill the “oath that He swore to Abraham” in “His holy covenant” (Luke 1:72-73), with Christ’s kingdom being tied to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:28), and with the gospel and salvation being specifically identified with the promise made to Abraham (Gal. 3:5-29).

And the land promise is not just an addendum to this covenant. God’s promise to give the land of Canaan to the nation of Israel is mentioned over 170 times in Scripture, with 55 of these references stating that God gave Israel the land “on an oath.”

Psalm 105:7-12 is just one example:

He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
When they were few in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

If God does not ultimately fulfill His sworn oath to Israel, then we can rightfully ask, “Will God fulfill His promises to us today?” Maybe they are just “spiritualized” promises that God does not take seriously and that we have misunderstood.

The apostle Paul clearly states that God is not done with ethnic, national Israel.

Paul’s whole treatise in Romans 9-11 is centered on God’s covenant promises to the nation of Israel.

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. (Romans 11:1-2a)

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! (Romans 11:11-12)

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:25-27)

Paul specifically warns Gentile believers not to “write off” the Jewish people nor, in arrogance, to assume that God will not graft them in again, at some future point when they finally receive Jesus, into the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant.

All the OT covenants were made with the nation of Israel (even the New Covenant). As Gentile believers, we are grafted into these promises. This is an act of God’s grace. And God’s grace is certainly strong enough to graft the Jews back into their own tree.

So how should believers respond to the Jewish people today?

Paul answers this question as well:

Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:28-29)

Even in their unbelief, even in their rejection of Jesus the Messiah, even in their opposition to the church, they are still God’s chosen people, beloved for the sake of the fathers. 

The nation of Israel will play a part in the final days of God’s redemptive plan.

Even those who may have a totally different view of the “end times” should at least be able to agree that God has some future plan for the Jewish people (see Romans 11:12, 25-27 above). What this will look like is certainly debated.

But in reading Revelation 12, it seems fairly clear that the “woman” mentioned in this passage is not Mary (at least not Mary as an individual) but rather the nation of Israel as a whole (with the Jewish Mary being the woman through whom the promised Seed came). The whole context points to Israel as a people, as a nation, through whom the Messiah was born.

With that in mind, then it becomes clear that the “great dragon” (the symbol of Satan) has hated the Jewish people from practically the beginning of time.

Egypt tried to stop them by casting their babies into the Nile. Assyria sought to wipe them off the face of the map. Babylon destroyed their nation, took them into exile, and tried to assimilate them into Babylonian culture. Persia appointed a specific day when all the Jews could be killed without recourse. Greece tried to Hellenize them and destroyed all those who refused to comply. Rome subjugated them, oppressed them, and eventually razed Jerusalem to the ground. And this theme continued throughout the rest of history.

Over and over again, the Jews have been threatened with extinction.

Why?

Why is anti-Semitism called the “world’s oldest hatred”?

Why do many of the Arab nations today continue to refuse to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and still hold to the Khartoum Resolutions–“no peace, no recognition, no negotiations”?

Why does Hamas and its supporters cry out in the streets, “From the river to the sea!” and “globalize the intifada!”?

Why, after just one generation from the Holocaust, are there people still blaming Jews for the world’s problems and calling for their condemnation, elimination, or annihilation?

It sure seems like the hatred goes much deeper than just political disagreement or even ethnic prejudice.

It seems spiritual.

The “great dragon” still hates them as a people, as a nation. He still hates the Messiah who emerged from their seed, born into the world as a Jew. He still hates the truth of Scripture, written, recorded, and preserved by the Jews. He still hates the church which began with the preaching of the Jewish disciples. And He still hates the surviving Jewish remnant today who will one day receive their Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the promised hope of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

If the dragon still hates them, and all that is associated with them, then is it a surprise that he can spread that hatred among people today, even among those who claim the Jewish Messiah as their Savior?

I say “no.”

In fact, it should be expected.

Supporting the nation of Israel does not mean that they get a free pass on their political policies, decisions, or practices. It does not mean that they cannot be rightfully criticized when they “cross the line” and commit injustices. It does not mean that the Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims are to be mistreated or hated or seen as anything other than people “made in the image of God” and for whom Christ died.

But it does mean that we are to support the right of the nation of Israel to exist in their ancestral, promised homeland, to acknowledge their unique contribution to world history and to the Christian faith, to see their vital connection to the covenants of God, to oppose any form of anti-Semitic thought, propaganda, or actions, and to rejoice in the hope that one day the Jewish people will finally receive their Messiah.

So don’t get your talking points from Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes, or any other political pontificating televangelist.

Instead, read Scripture.

And pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

May they prosper who love you. (Psalm 122:6)

Posted in Random Thoughts | 2 Comments

Charlie Kirk and the Soul of a Nation

Posted on September 20, 2025 by Steve Foster

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot while answering questions on the college campus of Utah Valley University.

The news spread fast.

While initial reports suggested that Charlie Kirk was fighting for his life in a hospital, it eventually became clear that he was killed almost instantly by that lone bullet.

When I heard the news, I was shocked, saddened, and searching for answers. I had not listened to any of Kirk’s podcasts nor had I followed him on social media, but I knew who he was. I knew that he regularly interacted with college students all over the country. I knew that he was a young conservative who impacted politics, particularly in this last election. I knew that he espoused some level of belief in the Christian faith. And I knew that he was an effective communicator based on the few clips that I had seen of him in debate with college students.

But I did not know that he was a young husband and father, with a 3-year old and 16-month old at home with his wife, Erika. I did not know that he was growing more and more in his Christian faith, becoming bolder and bolder in his witness to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on college campuses. I also did not know that he was so controversial, and so hated, among many who disagreed with him. I found that last fact out when I posted a simple tribute on my Facebook page and began to look at some of the posts about Charlie Kirk on the pages of some of my other Facebook friends.

What I saw shocked me almost as much as the news of his assassination.

While many expressed grief over his murder and admiration for his faith, others were more caustic, cold, and even cruel. One Facebook “friend” whom I have not personally interacted with in over 20 years even celebrated.

I was nauseous.

Unfortunately, Facebook has increasingly morphed into a cesspool of the worst side of our humanity. When I joined Facebook 20 years ago, it was a neat way to connect with family and friends from the various seasons of my life. Having lived in Florida, Alabama, Texas, New Jersey, and Louisiana, Facebook became the one place where I could keep up with the lives of people whom I had come to know in school, church, ministry, or community activities. Now, though Facebook can still be a good way to connect and stay in touch, it has become more of a political and ideological boxing ring. People seem to be more interested in posting controversial memes than cute snapshots for grandma.

Charlie Kirk’s death has made this even clearer.

Whether you liked Charlie Kirk or not…whether you knew of him or did not know of him…how you respond to his murder says a lot about the condition of your heart and the soul of our nation.

Here are four things to consider.

1. Timing

To post a tribute to someone after they have died, particularly in such a tragic, unexpected way, is not only normal but it is also human. One of the things that separates us from animals is the fact that cultures from all over the world, and throughout all of history, have developed rituals and ceremonies to honor the deceased. There is something in the human soul that recognizes the beauty of life, the finality of death, the tragedy of loss, and the mortality of us all.

As a pastor for over 30 years, I have conducted numerous funerals. Even in the best of situations (e.g., long life, painless death, hope of eternity), there is still sorrow over the finality of death. There is still the reality that someone who is loved, who was once young, breathing with life, is now gone.

It is customary and comforting for family and friends to gather around and remember the best of the person who is deceased. Even in cases where there is not much to celebrate in their life, there is a desire to honor them in some way in their death.

We treat their body with respect.

We treat their death with humility.

We treat their life with dignity.

To attack a person right after they have died, to tear them apart, whether by words or actions, is what animals do. Vultures, scavengers, and carnivores particularly.

When a society does not even let a person’s body be placed in the ground…does not even let a young wife and mom grieve…does not even care how a 3-year old processes her daddy’s death…but instead goes on the attack, it has diminished its humanity.

It has lost its soul.

2. Tone 

It is not just the timing of the attacks on Charlie Kirk’s character, but also the tone that is disheartening.

Did Charlie Kirk say provocative things? Yes.

Did he cross the line at times with his words? Certainly.

Did he sin at times in how he treated others? Absolutely.

Have you and I done the same things? Without a doubt.

Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone. (John 8:7)

It is fair to critique Kirk’s words. It is right to evaluate whether his words were true, helpful, or necessary. This is the biblical standard for all of our speech (Ephesians 4:29). And, if we are honest, we all fall short of that standard in some way every day.

Certainly the influence of Kirk’s words was greater than any one of us. He was a public figure. He was a debater. He was a podcaster. He was a political influencer. He was a provocateur in many ways. One could argue that he intentionally or insensitively provoked at times. But, on the other side of the coin, one could also argue that he provoked to force people to think, to confront preconceived opinions, to challenge political correctness. Cutting and pasting a few quotes, generally out of context, is not helpful regardless of what you may think. None of us would want that done to us. None of us should do it to others, particularly when our aim is to destroy the other person’s character.

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. (Matthew 5:22)

What is ironic is that those who seek to judge the tone of some of Kirk’s words often use a tone that is even worse. Of course, they justify it. But their own words condemn them.

For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. (Matthew 7:2)

To see the speck in another’s eye and miss the 2×4 in your own is the epitome of blindness.

Here is what is practically indisputable: Charlie Kirk loved to debate…but he also loved the people he debated. He wanted the free exchange of ideas. He wanted to engage. Watch any of his videos on a college campus and you will see that (if you are willing to see it). Even those who vehemently disagreed with him (e.g., Bill Maher, Van Jones, Gavin Newsom) noted his genuine desire to listen, to learn, and to understand the issue more deeply.

We can all lament the loss of such a life.

3. Trump

I have found that many people condemn Charlie Kirk simply because they do not like Donald Trump. Guilt by association. Condemnation without consideration. Enmity without mercy.

The labels seem to fly out at a fast pace. “Homophobe! Transphobe! Racist! Misogynist! Fascist! Nazi!”

The labels are intentional. Their goal is to discredit a person. Dehumanize them. Demonize them. And then justify their destruction. Whenever we use a label, we seek to reduce a person to the lowest level. We seek to minimize their demise.

But human beings are much more complex than a label.

And human life is much more sacred than a political category.

Charlie Kirk campaigned for Donald Trump. Some credit him with swinging the election in Trump’s favor. But those things did not define Charlie Kirk. Perhaps the younger Charlie Kirk was all about political posturing and currying favor, but the husband-father-man of faith Charlie Kirk was changing…maturing. Thank God that none of us are “static beings.” We can change. The things of the past do not have to define us in the future.

Over the last few years, Kirk was being discipled by Frank Turek, a Christian apologist. He was arguing more and more from a biblical worldview. He was talking more and more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. His wife was leading an online Bible study. Whether you agree with his viewpoints or still question his motives, at least acknowledge that getting married, being faithful to your wife, and fathering two young children have a way of enlarging your perspective.

And don’t despise him just because you may despise Trump.

They are different individuals.

Each made uniquely in the image of God.

What Trump says, does, or does not do in response to Kirk’s death does not matter in the grand scheme of things.

Death is not a political issue.

It is a human one.

A human being was murdered. A human being was taken away from a wife and two children. A human being has left this life and entered into eternity.

This is all that matters.

Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee. (John Donne)

4. TRUTH

In the end, it does not matter whether you agreed with Charlie Kirk or not. In the end, it does not matter if you like Donald Trump or not. In the end, it does not matter if the “left wing” is worse than the “right wing” or if conservatives are worse than liberals.

What matters is TRUTH.

The political landscape has turned into a power play. Cultural Marxism and nihilism are becoming the philosophies of our generation. The goal is to get power. “Might makes right.” When the liberals are in power, they seek to attack, cancel, and silence conservatives. When the conservatives are in power, unfortunately, they often do the same.

Each side wants to win elections because each side knows that whoever wins gets to set the rules for the next term of office.

But if a person roots all of their hope in political power, if they justify behavior based on political expediency, if they evaluate their choices and responses based on party platforms, political positions, and pundit talking points, then they have lost their moral foundation.

Anything is justified.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the current state of our culture.

The question is not what a political party has done or not done or what a politician has said or not said, the question is, “Is it true? Is it right?” And for the Christian, “Is it biblical? Is it Christ-like?”

When it comes to the challenges and divisions of our time, the solution will not be found in DEI but in the Imago Dei.

We are all humans.

There is only one human race.

He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. (Acts 17:26)

Racism is rooted in Darwinistic evolution.

But we are created in the image of God.

Every human life has value.

Every human life is sacred.

Every human life is flawed.

Every human life has been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.

This is the truth that matters.

This is the truth that enables us to agree to disagree.

This is the truth that should govern our behavior.

This is the truth that should change our hearts.

This is the truth worth dying for.

And Charlie Kirk did.

That is why his life is worthy of our tribute.

Rest in peace, brother.

Posted in Government/Politics, Random Thoughts | 11 Comments

The Heart of Violence

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Steve Foster

How long, Lord, must I call for help,
But You do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
But You do not save?
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
There is strife, and conflict abounds. (Habakkuk 1:2-3)

Thus begins the prophet Habakkuk, writing 2700 years ago.

Our problems today are not new. The context is different. The weapons are different. But the hatred and violence are the same.

The heart of violence is the heart of violence. 

There is simply something wrong with the human heart.

What happened in Minneapolis, at a Catholic school for young children, is hard to fathom. How can someone have so much hatred in their heart that their sole purpose in life eventually crystallizes into a demonic passion to destroy. And not just to destroy people, but to destroy the most vulnerable and innocent…children…while they are praying in a church.

It is so far from many of our thoughts that we have no way to process it.

But we try.

And in our politicized, partisanized, propagandized culture, the words are so familiar that they are almost cliche.

“Outlaw guns!”

“Pass more laws!”

“Hire more police!”

“Get angry at the other side!”

Or the most grim, “Stop offering thoughts and prayers!”

But here is the reality: the violence doesn’t stop because we are not willing to examine the heart of the violence. We run to our proverbial political corners and refuse to see the whole picture. We don’t want to. Because the whole picture includes us all.

I don’t know anything about Robert/Robin Westman except what the news offers. But the 23 year old obviously had serious mental health issues. No one would dispute that. But how does someone get to this kind of violent, murderous place?

Let’s make a list of possibilities. Rough childhood. Exposure to violence at an early age. Feelings of not fitting in. Parents arguing and divorcing when he is young. No father in the picture during his formative years. More exposure to violence. Instability in the home. Instability in life. Moving from school to school. No friends. Finding solace in an online world that caters to the lonely and disenchanted. Exposure to transgenderism. A hatred of his own body. A hatred of God for making him that way. A hatred for religion. A hatred for life. An affinity for death. A fascination with mass killers. Increased isolation. Increased addiction to the internet. A hunger for significance. A war in his mind. A desire to destroy. A desire to make a name for himself. A desire to rid himself of his turmoil. A hatred for children. A hatred of his own childhood. An increased desire to destroy. An increased desire to be known. A plan. Multiple videos. Scrawling messages of hatred. Access to weapons. A sketch of the school. A day to die. A day to destroy.

Within this possible pathway to destruction, there are so many elements that have to be addressed. The breakdown of the family. The impact of divorce. The absence of fathers. Exposure to violence on TV, movies, video games, and the internet. The breakdown of community. The lack of face-to-face friendships. A culture of death. A nihilistic worldview. An increasingly divided society. A radical transgender movement. A hatred for one’s own body. A hatred for God. Access to weapons. No one close enough to intervene.

Unless a society is willing to address the contribution of all of these elements, then a society is not ready to be honest with itself.

We are all part of the problem in some way.

We all contribute to some degree.

We all add to the ethos of the culture.

We all tend to pursue our own selfish ends before God and others.

The heart of violence is the heart of violence. 

“Are you so dull?” Jesus asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?… He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:18, 20-23)

We like “top-down solutions.” We like to think that all our problems are rooted in the government…in the authorities above us…in things far away from us.

But the true, long-term solutions are “bottom-up.” They begin with each one of us…within each one of us.

Yes, there are things that government can do…should do. There are laws that can be passed. There are safeguards that can be put in place. There is a need for greater security and better law enforcement.

But, in the end, a culture is defined by its people…by its moral values…by the collective nature of each individual heart.

So when an event like Minneapolis happens, how should we each individually respond?

Humble yourself. Take an honest look at your mortality. Realize that you are not in control. You did not create yourself. You are not your own god. Instead, you need God whether you want to admit it or not.

When arrogance comes, disgrace follows,
But with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

Eliminate anger, malice, slander, and hatred. Yelling louder does not solve anything. Becoming increasingly angry…blaming others…attacking others…hating others only contributes to the problem. Murder begins with hatred in the heart.

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. (1 John 3:15)

Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31)

Acknowledge your need for grace. We all have sinned. We all have fallen short. We all have contributed to the problem. There is no room for pride. There is no place for self-righteousness. We are all creatures, created by God, sustained by God, accountable to God, and, thankfully, loved by God. He offers each of us His grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. We didn’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. But He offers it as a gift to each one of us. He died on the cross to prove His love. He rose from the dead to prove His power. We all need a Savior. We all need grace.

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Love one another. I guess it sounds cliche but what other solution is there? We share a common humanity. We share a common earth. We share a common need. Loving one another begins with those closest to us and spirals out from there. Start with your spouse…your children…your extended family. Start with your neighbor. Start with your neighborhood. Start with the person you meet in daily life or online. Start with the person who seems isolated, lonely, or forgotten in your community. Don’t put the solution “out there” somewhere. Put it on the one person whom you can control…yourself.

For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13-15)

The heart of change is a changed heart. 

Humbling yourself.

Eliminating anger.

Accepting the gift of grace.

Loving one another.

This is what can heal a land.

If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

O Lord, please heal our land.

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