Ep. 98: Why the Relationship Between Israel and Christians Matters

May 29, 2025
Biblical Anarchy Podcast

In this deeply personal and theologically grounded solo episode, Jacob Winograd explores the question: Why do Christian libertarians—and Christians more broadly—need to talk about Israel? With a fusion of political analysis, historical context, and biblical exegesis, Jacob challenges the theological assumptions that undergird modern Christian Zionism. Drawing from Romans 9–11, Galatians 3–4, and Hebrews 11–12, he argues that the gospel centers not on ethnic identity or nationalistic promises, but on faith in Christ and the establishment of one covenant people of God.

Jacob also dives into the foreign policy consequences of Zionist theology, connecting neoconservative ideology to American interventions in the Middle East. Referencing Scott Horton’s Enough Already, the “A Clean Break” memo, and General Wesley Clark’s revelations, he reveals how Israel’s geopolitical influence—propped up by distorted theology—has helped catalyze war, empire, and immense human suffering. The episode ends with a call to realign our theology with the gospel of peace and justice through faith, not blood or borders.

Main Points of Discussion

Timestamp	Summary
00:00	Opening monologue – Contrast between the gospel of peace and the gospel of empire; how theology fuels war
02:24	Why focus on Israel? – Responding to critiques and explaining the political and theological reasons
07:15	Scott Horton’s influence – How Enough Already opened Jacob’s eyes to U.S. and Israeli roles in Middle East wars
10:55	Neoconservative lobbying – Netanyahu’s push for war, the “Clean Break” memo, and ideological ties to Israel
17:45	Israel’s regional hostility – Explaining why Middle Eastern nations oppose Israel, especially over treatment of Palestinians
21:29	Slavery analogy – Comparing fears of Palestinian retaliation to post-slavery anxieties in the U.S.
24:30	Clean Break to Iraq War – How Israeli-aligned neocons used 9/11 as a pretext to push regime change
30:53	Moral inconsistency – Exposing U.S. hypocrisy in supporting terrorism while condemning others for the same
33:32	Refuting Christian Zionism – Theological problems with dual-covenant thinking and misplaced eschatology
42:39	Hebrews and Gospel clarity – God’s covenant people defined by faith, not ethnicity; conclusion and gospel call

Additional Resources

The Libertarian Christian Response to the Hamas Terror Attack on Israel: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/the-libertarian-christian-response-to-the-hamas-terror-attack-on-israel/
Who is the True Israel? Correcting the Dispensationalist Reading of Romans 9-11: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/who-is-the-true-israel-correcting-the-dispensationalist-reading-of-romans-9-11/

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