HAGEE AND THE GOSPEL OF HATE

In the Fall of 2002, one of John Hagee’s false prophesies went like this: “I predict that a war in Iraq will destabilize the Middle East, and arouse an Arab army to march against Israel.” In one camp were those mesmerized by Hagee’s apparent charisma. They did not bother to search Scripture while watching Hagee because they were predisposed to receive his message as God’s unquestionable truth. In another camp were those who had no time to agree or disagree with Hagee’s message, even if he was influencing hundreds of thousands of people with falsehood. Then there is the camp that includes people like me. We want people to preach truth; and when their statements do not hold water, we are disturbed to see them continue to draw funding from members of mainstream church congregations.

Stephen Mansfield is the author of The Faith of George W. Bush. In a second volume, The Faith of the American Soldier, Mansfield refers to a treacherous message coming from a nationally-known preacher in San Antonio, Texas, who describes the Prophet Muhammad as a demon-possessed man, and the Holy Quran as a book that calls its readers to immerse the world in a bloodbath. Consequently, the U.S. military now has soldiers who become less concerned about civilian lives in Iraq (i.e. “collateral damage”). Some can even describe struggles with temptation to kill members of an evil religious system (male, female, young or old) on sight. This appalling message of hate has carried much clout in American society for a season.

Recently, presidential candidate John McCain rejected John Hagee’s endorsement because he wanted no identification with a preacher who preached a gospel of hate. In truth, this is not just about John Hagee. It is also about Rod Parsley, Michael Savage, and many others who thrive on condemnation. Now, the place for such opportunism is being denied in both major political parties of the U.S. To some degree, this is the end of a reign by people observed in Cal Thomas’ and Ed Dobson’s 1999 book: Blinded By Might. I believe, more importantly, that it is a time to distinguish between hatred and true courage in this age of globalization and terror.

I have grown up and lived my life among a brand of white Evangelical Christians who seem unable to identify real martyrs in our population. We have produced countless sermons that evoke little unity among us. We admit nagging deficiencies in our church practice, but we have yet to conceptualize broad-based reform. New prophets are evidently leading new flocks in a new direction; yet we are still waiting for a big connection that will radically transform America’s faith communities with godly wisdom and power. I offer no brilliance of my own. However, I hope we continue to watch in prayer and humility as God is doing things His way.