Steve Berryman (17 May 2007)
"To Jim B and Sherry Y:  Ref Reply concerning Jerry Golden"


I am assuming your reply is reference the article placed by Donna Danna on 14 May, God's Judgment on the U.S. by Jerry Golden.
 
I went back and reread the article several times and I just could not get the same interpretation.  Maybe I am missing something, but the large majority of the article is dealing with current events in the nation-state of Israel, particularly the pressures being placed upon the leadership of this small nation by the U.S., our President Bush and Secretary of State Rice.  I think you could sum up the article by saying that Jerry Golden is calling our attention to God's word that whoever blesses Israel shall be blessed and whoever curses Israel shall be cursed.  This is first mentioned in Gen 12:3 and is stated in various forms in many places in scripture.  If God's word is truth, then the basic theme of Golden's article is factual.  The U.S. and the rest of the world which comes against Israel and Jerusalem can expect repercussions from the Almighty.
 
I saw absolutely no comment that could be construed that salvation comes from any source other than faith in Jesus Christ.  I have read and enjoyed articles by him over several years.  He appears to be a devout believer in Christ and the brunt of his writings concern the plight of his nation.  Some of his writings have put him in grave danger by exposing the truth behind political events there.  While I am no expert on the fellow or his writings, what I have read gives me no call for alarm.  His opening remarks in the article could probably be written better, but I think it a leap to accuse the man of replacement theology or trying to lead people astray.  Both he and his nation are under great stress and both need our prayers and support.
 
Here is a copy of a portion of Jerry Golden's article and what I think you may be referring to in your letters:
 
If you are a student of God's Word you know that Israel is the center of His Word in Prophecy, and when God says in reference to Israel the Apple of His Eye in Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  God is not kidding or joking around, He is very serious.  In fact, I have never read anywhere in His Word where He said something that He didn't really mean.  And just for your information Israel is the apple of God’s eye now and always will be.  And if you are a gentile and want to  make it to heaven you will have to be grafted into the natural roots and the promises given to Israel by God's Grace through faith in your acceptance of the Jewish Messiah, the Bible you read is a Jewish Book and your way to heaven is through Yeshua the Jewish Messiah.  Many have been lied to, but there is no other Gospel that will secure your soul in a relationship with God for eternity, and if you have accepted any form of replacement theology it will send you directly to hell.

 
I have read each sentence several times and can find no particular comment in which to take exception, aside from the Bible is a Jewish book.  I think it more fitting to say it is God's word and it came through Abraham's descendents, the Hebrew children.  Only one of the 12 tribes is Jewish, albeit Jesus Christ was born of the Jews, a descendent of David, and His disciples were also of Judah.  Neither Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua nor Elijah were Jews.  Believers are called to become part of the family of God and the seed of Abraham.  While the apostles recognized their Jewish ancestry, they saw themselves as did all the early believers as new creations in Christ Jesus, neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, but one in Jesus Christ (Gal 3:26-29).  The only door is through Jesus Christ and I might add to Jerry Golden that this applies to the Jews as well as the Gentiles.
 
Now, I do not believe Jerry is saying anything different, though he could have written this portion a little more carefully.  In the article, the subject of salvation was not his message and he wasn't trying to preach how to receive it.  He was merely trying to get Christians to recognize the plight of our brothers, the Jewish people and nation.  As he watches the U.S. and the world abandon them, he is calling for our help and reminding us of God's word concerning their nation.
 
Jesus tells us that those who love Him obey His commandments.  That would include all of them and considerable more than 10.  Now salvation comes by faith (belief), but a quick read of Hebrews chapter 11 will show you that the faith of each of these individuals resulted in actions.  Without these actions, there would have been no faith.  James 2:14-26 is a good read to bring understanding.  Jesus warns us there is more to the subject of belief in Him when He stated the devils believe and tremble.  Jerry Golden is simply pleading with the believers of a rich and powerful nation to pray and take political action to help his small nation in their hour of need.
 
Maybe you take exception to being grafted into the tree?  Jerry states that we are grafted into the tree by faith in Yeshua (Jesus).  Well that too is basic Biblical scripture, though I might take exception to it necessarily being called a Jewish tree.  The gentiles are in fact drafted into the tree, but the tree is the covenant which began with Abraham.  The first 10 chapters of Hebrews does a detailed explanation of how and why Jesus came to establish a new and more perfect covenant.  This covenant is for the believer and as discussed above in Gal 3:26-29, the believer is a new creation, neither Jew nor Greek.  Again, I might add it is equally applicable to the Jew as well as the Gentile.
 
There are many Jewish Christians in Israel and probably all 12 tribes.  Rev 5:9-10 indicates some of these will be the bride and Rev 7:9-14 tells us some will come out as tribulation saints.  Rev 7:1-8 tells us 12,000 of each of the tribes will be sealed to remain on earth (Rev 9:4) and become the mortal government of Israel when Jesus returns.  As Christians, these are our brothers and we are to care for them.  I believe Jerry Golden is one of them and he is a courageous one at that.
 
He may at times get a little carried away and paint the picture with a Jewish brush, but to my knowledge he has always upheld Jesus as the savior, king and only door to heaven.  His basic message was not about salvation, but an urgent plea for our prayers and help.  It appears to me that the theology he is stating he supports is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I saw nothing that says He supports some new doctrine that salvation comes by way of theological support of Israel.  On the contrary, he is urging fellow Christians to obey God's word by blessing/supporting Israel.
 
While the Jews have been blinded in order to graft in the gentiles, they and Israel are the apple of God's eye. When Jesus returns and sets up His global government, Israel will be chief of nations.  It will no longer be the USA.  Lukewarm Christians of prideful Ephraim who think that no evil nor plague shall touch them, should consider their actions well.
 
I appreciate Jerry Golden's dedication and work and very much appreciate any of his articles/letters posted on Five Doves to keep us informed on the status of things in Israel.  If I have missed something that shows us that Jerry needs some correction, let us do so as good Christian brothers.  This man has already risked much.
 
Steve