Organizations that helped Vance Luther Boelter become a Christian preacher and hosted him as he gave his faith testimony quickly disavowed him after he was charged in federal court June 16 with the assassination of a top Democratic Minnesota representative and her husband and the serious wounding of a Democratic state senator and his wife.

Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minn., studied practical theology and pastoral leadership at the Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas. He earned a diploma in 1990. The institute describes itself as a “Spirit-filled Bible school” that “offers a place to grow in faith, develop your ministry skills, and live out God’s calling in your life.”

‘He would likely have been killed or taken captive.’

Christ for the Nations Institute was quick to distance itself from Boelter and condemn his alleged violent actions in the early morning hours of June 14. The institute placed a prominent “Important Press Release” graphic at the top of its homepage.

“We are absolutely aghast and horrified that a CFNI alumnus is the suspect,” the statement read. “This is not who we are. This is not what we teach. This is not what we model. We have been training Christian servant leaders for 55 years and they have been agents of good, not evil.”

Infamous alumnus

While the institute said it educates future leaders for spiritual battle, it condemned the violence of Boelter’s alleged shooting rampage.

“CFNI unequivocally rejects, denounces, and condemns any and all forms of violence and extremism, be it politically, racially, religiously, or otherwise motivated,” the statement continued. “Our organization’s mission is to educate and equip students to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through compassion, love, prayer, service, worship, and value for human life.

“These core Christian values and principles, which we highly esteem and embrace, are in stark contrast to the hateful beliefs, behavior, and actions now being attributed to Mr. Boelter.”

Boelter was charged in U.S. District Court in St. Paul with two counts of murder, two counts of stalking, and two firearms charges related to stalking. He is accused of the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, a total of 17 times. The Hoffmans survived the brutal attack.

Boelter is being held without bond. He will next be in court June 27.

The FBI said Boelter burst into the Hortman home in Brooklyn Park about 3:30 a.m. June 14 after exchanging gunfire with police. He allegedly shot and killed the Hortmans and seriously wounded their golden retriever, Gilbert, who had to be put down due to his injuries.

About 90 minutes earlier, Boelter, dressed as a police officer and wearing a “hyper-realistic” silicone head mask, allegedly shot the Hoffmans when they opened the front door of their Champlin, Minn., home, police said. Mrs. Hoffman threw herself in front of their daughter to shield her from the gunfire.

RELATED: The stuff of nightmares: Boelter allegedly sought to kill 4 lawmakers

Mourners lay down candles at a memorial on the steps outside the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul during a vigil on June 18, 2025.Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

After leaving the Hoffman residence, Boelter reportedly went to the home of state Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove), pounding on the door and demanding to be let in. The family was not at home.

“The past several days have been surrounded by so much grief and fear. This senseless violence came to my door as well, placing me and my family in harm’s way,” Bahner said in a statement. “I do not know why this man was filled with such hatred that he would come to my door; divine intervention led my family to change our plans, keeping us safe.”

Before allegedly driving to the Hortman residence and killing the couple, Boelter traveled to the home of state Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), police said. As Boelter allegedly sat in his fake police squad vehicle down the block from Rest’s home, a New Hope police officer pulled alongside and tried to get his attention. He stared straight ahead and didn’t acknowledge the officer, who then continued driving to Rest’s residence.

As more squad cars arrived at Rest’s home, the suspect slipped away without notice and allegedly went on to murder the Hortmans.

Boelter evaded police for nearly 40 hours during the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. He was captured at 9:15 p.m. June 15 about a mile from his Green Isle home and 60 miles from where the murders were committed.

Christian ministry

Boelter founded a nonprofit charity called Revoformation Ministries Inc. in 2007, according to IRS records. The organization filed 13 annual tax returns between 2007 and 2023, each reporting less than $50,000 in donations.

Revoformation Ministries’ website was initially set up to promote a 2006 book by Boelter, “Original Ability.”

“It presents a different paradigm on the nature of man and our relationship with God,” the website said. “Original Ability will be shown in Genesis all the way through to the teachings of Jesus Christ. The author considers the understanding of Original Ability to be the single most important factor in successfully explaining the Gospel, yet most people have never heard of it.”

There is no indication that Boelter ever published the book. The title does not appear in Google Books, on Worldcat, or at Amazon.

Boelter is listed as an author on Worldcat for “The Impact of Training on Performance,” his 2016 master’s thesis from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

According to the Revoformation website, Boelter also did missionary work overseas, including travel to dangerous hot spots.

‘Such reports … strike at the honor of God.’

“Prior to 9-11, Vance had already made several trips to violent areas in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, where suicide bombings were taking place,” the website said. “He sought out militant Islamists in order to share the Gospel and tell them that violence wasn’t the answer.”

Robert Spencer, director of the Jihad Watch website, said Boelter should consider himself fortunate to be alive.

“Islamic law forbids adherents of other religions to proselytize, on pain of death,” Spencer told Blaze News. “If Boelter actually did this, he would likely have been killed or taken captive, unless the ‘militant Islamists’ with which he was conversing realized he was a fool and decided to give him a pass.”

Author of more than 30 books including “The Truth About Muhammad” and the forthcoming “Holy Hell: Islam’s Abuse of Women and the Infidels Who Enable It,” Spencer said approaching jihadis would not be smart.

“Trying to convert Muslims to any other religion, however, is extremely dangerous, as in Muslim countries there is generally no shortage of believers who would be only too happy to implement Islam’s death penalty for proselytizing.”

RELATED: Phone associated with accused assassin’s home traveled to Dubai, Nepal, India, and Turkey, report says

Boelter gave several sermons at the Centre Évangélique Francophone La Borne Matadi in far Western Democratic Republic of the Congo. The church’s YouTube channel has videos featuring Boelter from 2021, 2022, and 2023.

In his 2021 talk, Boelter danced in front of the huge gathering.

“When I was 17 and I first got saved, I was excited about Jesus. I’m just as excited about Jesus, right here, right now,” Boelter said. “When I get excited, I want to dance!”

He then virtually flew around the stage with his arms outstretched. “What Jesus did for me! Ho-ho!” he said.

‘These allegations run contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.’

Officials at the Matadi church released a statement in French and English disavowing Boelter after the Minnesota murders. It said Boelter visited the church as part of a group from the Minnesota-based Global Impact Center and had no affiliation with the church.

“It is with deep sorrow and profound sadness that we have learned of the serious allegations involving Mr. Boelter,” the statement read. “We are heartbroken and grieved by such reports, which strike at the honor of God, the integrity of the local church, and the unity of the Body of Christ.”

The Global Impact Center in Columbia Heights, Minn., also released a statement distancing itself from Boelter.

To fulfill the organization’s mission, “we collaborate with church organizations and individual volunteers,” the statement said. “It is within this context that Mr. Vance Boelter has, on occasion, appeared in some of our meetings and ministry platforms, as seen in various media.

“However, we want to clearly state that Mr. Boelter is neither a member of Global Impact Center’s leadership team nor affiliated with any of our local or international church partners.” Boelter’s visits to the Democratic Republic of the Congo were all less than two months, the statement said.

“Like many, we are deeply saddened by the recent developments and the serious allegations involving Mr. Boelter,” the statement continued. “These allegations run contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and undermine the integrity of the church’s calling and mission.”

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overruled a Clinton judge and delivered some bad news to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) that might wipe the default grin off his face.

How it started

Exercising his constitutional and statutory powers, President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles on June 7, noting that the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement riots constituted “a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”

‘It is likely that the president lawfully exercised his statutory authority under § 12406(3).’

Newsom — among the many Democrats who downplayed the violence and appeared sympathetic to the rioters’ cause — asked a federal district court judge to force Trump to surrender control of the federalized California National Guard.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, a Bill Clinton appointee, sided with Newsom, claiming on June 12 that Trump’s actions “were illegal — both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

Newsom subsequently told Trump, “You must relinquish your authority of the National Guard back to me and back to California,” then smugly attacked the president in a press conference where he called Trump “weak.”

The governor’s gloating was cut short when the Trump administration appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and secured an emergency ruling to return command of the National Guard to the president.

How it’s going

Newsom optimistically stated on Tuesday, days ahead of the appellate court’s ruling, “I’m confident in the rule of law. I’m confident in the Constitution of the United States. I’m confident in the reasoned decision issued last week by a very well-respected federal judge. And I’m confident that common sense will prevail here.”

Common sense prevailed — just not in Newsom’s favor.

RELATED: Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass to California: ‘Look what you made us do!’

Mario Tama/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

On Thursday, a three-judge panel of the appeals court ruled unanimously in the president’s favor, granting a stay of the Clinton judge’s order.

The appeals court concluded that “it is likely that the president lawfully exercised his statutory authority under § 12406(3), which authorizes federalization of the National Guard when ‘the president is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States'” and indicated Hegseth’s transmittal of the order “likely satisfied the statute’s procedural requirement that federalization orders be issued ‘through’ the governor.”

‘The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared.’

The court also recognized that Trump had “a colorable basis” for deploying the National Guard, citing evidence that the anti-ICE rioters:

interfered “with the ability of federal officers to execute the laws”; threw objects at ICE vehicles attempting to complete a law enforcement operation; threw Molotov cocktails and vandalized property;”‘pinned down’ several [Federal Protective Service] officers defending federal property by throwing ‘concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects,’ and used ‘large rolling commercial dumpsters as a battering ram’ in an attempt to breach the parking garage of a federal building.”

To Newsom’s likely chagrin, the court noted further that “the president’s failure to issue the federalization order directly ‘through’ the governor of California does not limit his otherwise lawful authority to call up the National Guard” and that “Newsom had no power to veto or countermand the president’s order.”

Newsom, like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats, suggested that the presence of the National Guard was inflammatory and prompted more unrest.

RELATED: The Democrats’ key to success

California National Guard troops outside a Los Angeles federal building on June 9, 2025. Photo by David McNew/Getty Images

The appellate court was not buying what the governor was selling, noting both that “these concerns are counterbalanced by the undisputed fact that federal property has been damaged and federal employees have been injured” and that such concerns “are too speculative.”

President Trump celebrated the ruling, suggesting the decision affirms his ability to take similar action elsewhere if necessary.

“BIG WIN in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the President’s core power to call in the National Guard!” the president wrote on Truth Social. “The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.”

“This is a Great Decision for our Country, and we will continue to protect and defend Law abiding Americans. Congratulations to the Ninth Circuit, America is proud of you tonight!” added Trump.

Newsom expressed his disappointment, vowing to press forward with his “challenge to President Trump’s authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.”

Judge Breyer is reportedly contemplating whether to slap Trump with another injunction, restricting the president’s use of National Guard troops in Los Angeles.

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Democrats smell blood in the water. From the threat of a new Middle East war to proposed changes to Medicaid and food stamps, they see dozens of opportunities to regain political ground. But their own dysfunction — infighting, petty rivalries, and a stunning lack of talent — is holding them back. No rising star has emerged. No one seems capable of carrying the flag.

America faces the prospect of another foreign war, one that’s deeply unpopular and threatening to split President Donald Trump’s coalition. Polling remains limited, but a quick Washington Post survey found 45% of Americans oppose involvement. Only 25% support it.

Aside from strong polling numbers, the best news for Republicans is that Democrats remain in total disarray.

And the Democrats? Good luck finding a credible opposition voice. Is it Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who spent her time in a Senate hearing shouting about the L.A. riots before filibustering her own line of questioning? Or maybe it’s Tim Kaine of Virginia — yes, still in the Senate nearly a decade after his dismal turn as Hillary Clinton’s running mate.

Meanwhile, trouble looms for the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. When Democrats describe it as a plan to gut Medicaid and food stamps while bankrupting rural hospitals to benefit corporations, support craters. But when Republicans explain the reforms — cutting off benefits to illegal immigrants, purging the deceased from the rolls, and requiring work from able-bodied men who admit to spending most of their time playing video games — voters respond differently. Those policies poll at 82%, 86%, and 72%, respectively.

Assume you’ll never persuade the 14% of Americans who apparently support Medicaid for the dead. That leaves Republicans with near-total lock on public opinion. Proposals like eliminating taxes on tips and overtime also enjoy overwhelming support. So does deporting criminal aliens. And Democrats? Their response has consisted mostly of street theater — getting arrested and setting fires in Los Angeles while waving Mexican flags. Just wait until one of their protests ends with a federal agent injured or killed.

The more serious threat to the GOP comes from inside the tent: the Senate Republican push to scrap the health care provider tax. Barring a major war, we’ll unpack that mess in Monday’s newsletter. The short version: Republicans have every political incentive to avoid this fight — and they’re scrambling to fix it before it blows up.

Republicans fear a political repeat of Obamacare — but in reverse. If Democrats manage to define the GOP’s top legislative achievement more effectively than Republicans can, they’ll seize the advantage. To prevent that, Republicans need to campaign now — and outwork the Democrats from the start. It’s a race to frame the narrative, and GOP super PACs are already buying airtime.

Aside from strong polling numbers, the best news for Republicans is that Democrats remain in total disarray. Even with the usual advantage of being the opposition party, they can’t get out of their own way. The fallout from the L.A. riots continues, and the DNC just forced out activist turned Vice Chair David Hogg in a chaotic leadership shake-up.

Then came the public resignations. Randi Weingarten — the COVID-era school-closer in chief — and Lee Saunders of AFSCME both quit their DNC committee posts, blaming the crying and dithering of Chairman Ken Martin. When union bosses start walking, it’s rarely a sign of strength.

Unless New York Democrat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s latest branding brainstorm — the “We Are All Going to Die Bill” — magically catches fire like “Obamacare” once did, Republicans hold the upper hand.

Even Rahm Emanuel sees it. “We’re in the most serious existential crisis with Donald Trump both at home and abroad — and with the biggest political opportunity in a decade,” the former Obama chief of staff and possible 2028 contender complained this week. “And the DNC has spent six months on a firing squad in the circle and can’t even fire a shot out. And Trump’s world is a target-rich environment.”

Yes, it is. But you still have to take the shot.

Blaze News: DNC plagued by infighting and incompetence, leaving Democrats desperate for cash

BlazeTV’s Sara Gonzalez: Trump derangement final boss Ilhan Omar claims Somalia is better than America

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​Opinion & analysis, Politics 

The recent clash between Tucker Carlson and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) over the Israel-Iran conflict isn’t just a Twitter skirmish. It’s a proxy battle highlighting a deeper divide within the MAGA movement. That divide cuts to the heart of competing worldviews, and I’ve spent much of this week on my show trying to make sense of it through a biblical lens.

This internal debate isn’t a problem. In fact, it’s a strength. You’ll see it across Blaze Media on a wide variety of questions. Glenn Beck champions critical thinking and challenging assumptions. We don’t all walk in lockstep — nor should we. On this issue alone, you’ll hear wildly different takes across the network. That diversity makes us better.

We live in a time that punishes discernment. Critical thinking doesn’t just get ignored — it gets attacked. And yet I’ve never seen so many people hungry for truth.

We’re also better off when we allow that debate to happen within ourselves.

When I first became a Christian, I devoured everything I could find about church history and theology. I loved Augustine. Then I read Calvin and agreed with him — even where he contradicted Augustine. Then I read Luther, who opposed both of them — and I agreed with him, too. What now?

That tension never goes away. Pick up a Tim Keller book, and the same thing happens. If he wrote it before 2005, it’s probably excellent. If he wrote it after, it probably isn’t. So is Keller good or bad? Right or wrong?

I care about truth more than just about anyone I know. But early in my journey, I learned a hard lesson — delivered, oddly enough, by one of my favorite childhood films “WarGames”: “The only winning move is not to play.”

So do I have to pick Tucker or Cruz? Do I have to vote someone off the island?

Nope. If someone’s right in the moment, I’m with them. If they’re wrong — even if they were right 10 times before — I’m not. It’s not personal. It’s principled. That’s the only way I’ve found to avoid losing my mind, becoming a tribalist, or slipping into flat-out idolatry.

We live in a time that punishes discernment. Critical thinking doesn’t just get ignored — it gets attacked. And yet, I’ve never seen so many people hungry for truth.

That hunger forces us to work with unlikely allies.

Take Naomi Wolf. For three decades, she belonged to a political world I deeply opposed. She worked for the Clintons and trafficked in feminist nonsense. But during COVID, when the lies were thickest, she told the truth. She fought the right fight, at the right time, on the right side. That mattered more than her résumé. That’s what discernment looks like. Personality cults don’t interest me.

RELATED: Which will it be, America? God, greed — or the grave?

KvitaJan via iStock/Getty Images

Same with Donald Trump. In 2015, his campaign tried everything to hire me. I almost said yes. But then I did everything I could to stop him from winning. Yet the morning after his victory, I said something on my show that might be the most important thing I’ve ever said on-air: “The country has spoken. NeverTrump is dead and never coming back.”

I wanted what was best for the country. And at that moment, that meant helping Trump succeed. How could I help?

You won’t think that way if you’re obsessed with defending your narrative at all costs — especially if that narrative floats untethered from the Word of God.

You won’t love your neighbor. You’ll straw-man your opponents. You’ll never consider the possibility you’re wrong.

Look around. Just days ago, Israel versus Iran wasn’t on our radar. Now, people have already retreated to their corners and locked in their positions — on a conflict that could reshape the lives of millions.

Maybe we should stop. Breathe. Listen.

Maybe, before we harden into another round of generational mistakes, we should consult God — and one another.

Let’s reason together. It’s not weakness. It’s wisdom. And we need more of it.

​Opinion & analysis, Israel, Iran, Maga, America first, Wargames, Truth, Donald trump, Glenn beck, Elections, Nevertrump, Debate, Dissent, Naomi wolf, Reason, Discernment, Prayer, God’s word, Feminism, Leftism, Democrats, Republicans, War 

75-year-old Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner flew to Tel Aviv to be the guest of honor at a Pride parade — but all that came to a screeching halt when Iranian missiles began to pierce the sky.

When Jenner was moved to a bomb shelter instead of the parade, Israeli influencer Regev Gur snapped a photo of himself and the famous transgender athlete, posting it to X with the caption, “What did you do during the alerts? Because I’m drinking wine with Caitlyn.”

Jenner is shown in the photo holding a glass of wine up next to the influencer while in the bunker, but BlazeTV host Dave Landau doesn’t see it as a good thing.

“It’s wine o’clock somewhere, apparently in Tel Aviv while you’re getting bombed,” Landau says, dripping with sarcasm.

“The former Olympian, who’s 76 — you wouldn’t have guessed that,” he continues, “captioned via Instagram Friday with a picture of missiles, adding, ‘There is not a place I’d rather be than with the brave people of Israel. God, please continue to shield and protect us.’”

1/4 Black Garrett finds the timing of the missiles to be suspicious, as it was just as the Pride celebration was set to begin.

“Why would Palestine blow them up at that time?” he asks, alluding to Palestine’s strict laws against homosexuality.

“I’d say this is the most woman thing he’s ever done,” he continues, adding, “making a very bad situation about himself.”

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On June 15, Christian author Owen Strachan tweeted, “As an evangelical Christian, I stand with Israel without shame or apology.” This is, of course, an expression of support for the nation of Israel in its current conflict with Iran. Since Strachan tied his support of Israel to his identity as an “evangelical Christian,” he apparently sees a theological connection between Christianity and support for Israel (though he did not explain his reasoning here).

I quoted Strachan’s statement with my own tweet, which read, “As an American Christian, I stand with America.”

Christians should desire (and pray for) the good of all nations, especially their own. They should seek the good of their people.

I intended this statement to distance myself from support for Israel. But I did not mean that I support Iran. Rather, I meant that I do not desire to publicly stand for a foreign nation, and I do not want my home nation getting involved in unnecessary international conflicts.

I especially do not want Americans fighting in more wars.

As a Presbyterian minister, I affirm a doctrine known as the spirituality of the church. This means that the church’s mission is primarily spiritual. It follows that the church as an institution should not make political statements, except on occasions when the church is asked by the civil magistrate or when the church petitions the magistrate in extraordinary cases (see Westminster Confession of Faith 31.4).

I also seek to avoid preaching politics from the pulpit, unless by that we mean preaching Christian duties relating to the civil government. Though I am a minister (serving in the Presbyterian Church in America), I speak to this issue as a citizen and not from my office as a pastor.

However, my theological knowledge informs my opinion on this matter, and I hope it is helpful for guiding other Christians.

Israel and the Bible

There are two theological issues that arise from the question of support for the nation of Israel. The first is the relationship of Israel to the Bible.

Since I hold to Reformed theology, I understand the church to be “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16). It is not that the church replaced Israel, but that the church is the new Israel. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are the true spiritual sons of Abraham.

As the apostle Paul wrote, “If you are of Christ, then you are the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29, my translation). As such, Christians inherit all the promises made to Abraham in the Old Testament.

Jews who have rejected Christ have been cut off from the covenant with God, and Gentiles (non-Jews) who have believed in Christ have been “grafted in” to God’s “olive tree,” which is His covenant (Romans 11:17). There is debate even among Reformed Christians as to the future of the Jews (Romans 11:25-26).

Regardless, I believe the modern nation of Israel will bow before King Jesus as part of His inheriting all nations (Psalm 2:8).

Reformed theology differs from the popular “dispensationalist” theology, which affirms that there are two peoples of God and that the promises in the Old Testament are for ethnic Israel (a view most famous for the pre-tribulation rapture).

While there are many variations of dispensationalism today, all proponents see strong discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments and thus discontinuity between Old Testament Israel and the church. As such, they believe that many of the promises in the Old Testament, including the land promise (e.g., Genesis 15:18-21), continue for modern Jews.

This explains why dispensationalists often express widespread support for modern Israel.

On the contrary, Reformed theology understands the land promise to be spiritually fulfilled in Christ, who has dominion over all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). This is how Paul understood the land promise, as he spoke of “the promise to Abraham [and] to his seed that he would be heir of the world” (Romans 4:13, my translation).

All of that is to say that as a Christian, I have no special relationship to the modern nation-state of Israel. I do not wish Israelis harm but hope they become Christian, which is my hope and prayer for all nations. That is also my prayer for all of Israel’s enemies.

Christians and America

This raises a second theological issue arising from the question of support for Israel, which is how Christians should relate to their own country.

I see a lot of errors on this topic, exemplified by many comments on my tweet that basically communicated, “As a Christian, I stand with Christ and no earthly nation.” But I believe this is a completely unbiblical approach to the subject.

It is not that a Christian should endorse everything his or her nation’s government does. Of course not. But we should support our nation.

It is true, as Paul says, that as Christians “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). But that is not our only citizenship. While believers are united to Christ, who reigns in heaven — and that is our destination upon death — we are still earthly citizens while we remain in the body. This is why Paul also commands us to “be subject” to our civil authorities (Romans 13:1; cf. 1 Peter 2:13).

God instituted civil government for our good. If a nation’s government is following God’s design, it will also protect the church and uphold righteousness in the nation. So Christians should have a healthy loyalty to their earthly nations, especially if that nation has a rich Christian history (as America does).

Ordo amoris applied

Christians are dual citizens, and their earthly citizenship is good. This is part of the Reformed doctrine of the two kingdoms. We must not over-spiritualize this world by rejecting the goodness of God’s creation, including nations.

Nations and civil government are good, although corrupted by sin.

Yet even though nations are corrupted, Christians should still support their earthly nations. Christians should desire (and pray for) the good of all nations, especially their own. They should seek the good of their people. As an American, this is why I support America first and foremost. My loyalty is not to Israel or Iran or any other foreign nation. My earthly loyalty is to the United States of America. And as long as that does not conflict with my ultimate loyalty to Jesus Christ, then I will support America.

This is part of the Christian tradition’s teaching on the ordo amoris, cited recently by Vice President JD Vance. There is an order of love that starts with one’s own family, and it prioritizes one’s nation before that of other nations. This is part of how Christians fulfill our Lord’s teaching to “love your neighbor” (Matthew 22:39).

America’s first and greatest president, George Washington, warned against entangling “alliances” in his 1796 farewell address. Yet too often America has been dragged into foreign wars because we did not listen to the father of our nation.

Our people pay taxes and die for the interests of other nations, including Israel.

I say no more. I wish Israel and Iran well, and I pray for peace between them. But I want what’s best for my people. And involvement in foreign wars is bad for my fellow Americans.

​Christianity, Christian, Israel, Iran, God, Reformed theology, Dispensationalism, Left behind, Faith