Hagee's Heresy

I recently read John Hagee's latest book, In Defense of Israel--a book which he claims will shake Christian theology with its assertion that Jesus did not come to be the Messiah. In his typical fashion, Hagee holds up the implicit trump card that disagreeing with him means agreeing with antisemites and replacement theologians (interestingly, the only "replacement theologian" he quotes in his book is aberrant and discredited "archbishop" Earl Paulk).

Thankfully, many respected leaders are disagreeing with him--and not antisemites, replacement theologians or the heresy hunters who react to charismatics, Pentecostals, word-faithers, dispensationalists, prophecy hacks, etc. The strongest, most eloquent and gracious reactions have come from people who agree with Hagee on many issues. I considered writing on it, but the book is so aberrant, I get tired just thinking about it. Here are a few samples:

"... I sincerely do not mean to be disrespectful to anyone, but this book is written as if he did not think that anyone with any serious knowledge of the Scriptures, or power of reasoning, would be reading it. ... it seems as if someone else has taken over the writing and reduced it to a level of spiritual foolishness that I do not believe I have ever witnessed in the writings of such a well-respected teacher and preacher before." - Rick Joyner

" ... Tragically, in the attempt to fight against these serious errors, a more serious error has now been introduced. Yet some believers – and even leaders! – are buying into this error hook, line, and sinker, and some have begun to teach and preach it as well. Since the publication of the book, Pastor Hagee issued some clarifying remarks, but the clarifications only complicate the issues and fail to renounce and remove the error... " - Michael Brown

" ... These teachings contradict biblical doctrine, undermine the testimony of Jewish followers of Jesus, and weaken the cause of Christian supporters of the Jewish people. ... Hagee's book also weakens the cause of Christian Zionism to which he has devoted so much of his life's work. If his theology is so clearly aberrant on the Messiahship of Jesus, why should thinking Christians accept anything he says in support of the Jewish state? But the extreme interpretations that he advocates are not necessary to build the case for support for Israel and the Jewish people." - Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations

" ... If his theology is so clearly aberrant on the Messiahship of Jesus, why should thinking Christians accept anything he says in support of the Jewish state? Indeed, the book includes a surprising number of factual errors, along with its careless handling of Scripture. ... " - Rabbi Russell Resnik