Bleeding Light in a Bleeding Land: Why Israel Still Matters to the Church Today

There’s something about Israel that stirs controversy every time it’s mentioned. Some defend it blindly. Others reject it completely. And many believers just avoid the topic altogether, afraid of saying the wrong thing. But one thing is clear—the Bible doesn’t avoid Israel. In fact, it centers on it.

Recently, I posted a reflection:

“The Holy Spirit dwells in the spirit of a believer, but areas of the soul (mind, will, emotions) and body can still come under demonic influence. If those influences grow unchallenged, they may manifest visibly. Deliverance is not just for unbelievers; it’s for freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1).”

The responses were mixed. Some agreed. Some rebuked. And some assumed I meant something I didn’t. One person told me to “run from the demon slayer teachings.” Others accused me of twisting Galatians 5:1. And I get it. People are passionate. But here’s the thing—we’re supposed to be iron sharpening iron, not stabbing each other with it.

We can disagree without being divided. We can challenge each other without cutting each other off. If we can’t do that with fellow believers, how will we love our enemies like Jesus told us to?

I say this to call us higher.

Because here’s the truth: what we believe matters—but how we behave with those who believe differently matters just as much.

The Holocaust Is in the Bible?

Pastor Greg Locke recently made a strong statement:

“The Holocaust is in the Bible.”

Now, I know that raises eyebrows. He’s not saying the word itself is in Scripture. He’s saying the patterns, the prophecies, the spirit of what happened—are all there. The warnings. The persecution. The scattering. The regathering. The tears of the prophets. The bones of Ezekiel. The lamentations of Jeremiah. The tribulation Jesus spoke of.

The Holocaust didn’t come out of nowhere. It came from a deep root of antisemitism that’s been present for centuries. And it didn’t start with gas chambers—it started with words, with propaganda, and worst of all—with the silence of the Church.

And Pastor Locke nailed it when he said:

“The Holocaust didn’t begin with fire. It began with silence.”

We’ve been silent too long.

So What Do I Believe?

Let me make this clear: I believe Israel is central to the story of the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God works through this people group and this land to accomplish His purposes. The Messiah came through Israel. The early Church was born in Israel. And future prophecy speaks of Israel again.

But I also want to clarify where I stand on Genesis 12:1–5. It’s a foundational promise, where God tells Abram, “I will make you a great nation… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Now, I don’t believe this automatically means that everything the modern political state of Israel does is blessed by default or has divine approval. I’ve studied and prayed through this. And based on how I’ve interpreted the Word and what the Spirit has shown me in my journey, I believe that God’s covenant with Abraham points to something deeper than modern borders or governments. It points to a spiritual reality—a people called out, chosen, and used by God.

God can use nations, but His covenant isn’t with systems—it’s with people.

Yes, Israel today plays a role. But the fullness of the promise is not fulfilled through nationalism—it’s fulfilled through Jesus, the Seed Paul talks about in Galatians 3. That doesn’t mean Israel is irrelevant. Quite the opposite—it means they’re still deeply woven into God’s plan. But we need to be careful not to confuse prophecy with politics, or support with spiritual blindness.

So no—I’m not backpedaling. I’m being consistent. I believe the Word speaks of Israel’s role in redemption history, but that doesn’t mean we equate the modern state of Israel with sinlessness or perfection. Just like we don’t do that with America. But God’s hand is still on the people and the region—for His purposes.

Meeting in the Middle

I know people are wary of any talk that sounds like idolizing Israel. I’m not saying we turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. And I’m not saying salvation comes any other way but Jesus Christ. What I’m saying is this: you can honor the covenant and still preach the cross. You can love Israel and still call her to repentance.

We’re not bowing to politics—we’re bowing to prophecy.

This isn’t about taking sides. It’s about taking Scripture seriously. It’s about recognizing that what happens in Israel matters to heaven. And if it matters to heaven, it should matter to us.

What Happens When the Church Forgets

The Church has made a habit of staying silent during injustice—whether it was slavery, the Holocaust, or today’s cultural collapse. But silence is not neutrality. Silence is agreement.

Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Paul longed for his people to be saved, even willing to be cut off for their sake. How far have we drifted from that kind of love?

If the Church forgets Israel, we forget our roots. If we forget the Holocaust, we lose the fear of history repeating itself. If we forget our calling to love—not just our tribe, but even our theological enemies—we’re no different than the world.

The Bleeding Story

My book Bleeding Purple wasn’t just about my testimony. It was about what happens when pain meets purpose. When what nearly killed you becomes your message. When your scars become your witness. And the same is true for Israel.

Israel has bled. But it hasn’t died.

The enemy has tried to erase it. Empires have tried to crush it. But God still writes His story through it.

Whether it’s through war, fire, or wandering, the nation of Israel remains a living testimony to the faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God. And as the Church, we don’t just observe that—we honor it. We learn from it. And we preach Christ, not in place of Israel—but as her Messiah, too.

Final Thoughts: Sharpen, Don’t Sever

So let’s sharpen each other—but not sever. Let’s call each other higher—but not cancel each other. And when it comes to Israel, let’s stop debating if it matters, and start asking how we can reflect God’s heart toward it.

This isn’t about being right in a comment section. It’s about being right before God.

If the Bible is all about redemption—and if redemption came through Israel—then how we treat that part of the story matters.

Let’s speak up where the Church once went silent.

Let’s love where hate once reigned.

Let’s bleed for the things God bleeds for—even when it costs us comfort.

Because the story isn’t over. And neither is our part in it.