This episode wraps up our summer series, What Does the Bible Say About ___?, as we conclude our discussion on Christians and Israel.

Rich kicks things off with two important questions, one theological and one following up on something Steve mentioned: Is the modern nation-state of Israel the same Israel that God made promises to throughout Scripture? And is dispensationalism something Christians should hold to?

As the conversation unfolds, Sarah touches on our natural desire to belong and be part of something bigger than ourselves. While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, it becomes a problem when our identity is found in a movement rather than in Christ.

The discussion then returns to the original question: How should Christians view and support Israel today? In short, supporting Israel does not mean endorsing everything the nation does. We live in a fallen world, and while we can pray for and desire God's blessing on a nation, we should also recognize that no earthly government is perfect. It's okay to acknowledge injustice, inconsistency, or wrongdoing wherever it exists. That's why praying for peace is so important. Not only for Israel, but for the United States as well.

The episode also explores the difference between political analysis and biblical theology. In today's world, it's tempting to reduce every issue to "good guys" versus "bad guys," but reality is often much more complex. And honestly, hasn't it always been?

We hope you've enjoyed these last eight weeks as we've wrestled through some challenging topics and what the Bible says about them. What would you like us to talk about next?

Check out Episode 86 (audio only) of Resident Strangers where replacement theology is discussed

Steve's sermon on this topic from February 2026

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Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com

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