'The Vexed Vicar' warns Church of England has abandoned its historic support for Israel

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Reverend Chris Wickland, known to many online as The Vexed Vicar, believes the Church of England is drifting away from its historic support for Israel, embracing theological and political positions that he argues have fueled hostility toward the Jewish state and weakened the Church's moral witness. 

In a wide-ranging interview with Christian journalist Paul Calvert, he discusses replacement theology, Christian Zionism, rising antisemitism in Britain, the Church of England's adoption of the Kairos II document and why he believes Israel remains central to God's prophetic plan.

Looking at the Church's response since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Wickland argues that many church leaders failed to acknowledge Israel's suffering while promoting what he describes as a one-sided narrative. 

"When October the 7th happened here in the UK, the silence that came from the church was deafening. They just wouldn't speak up, wouldn't talk about it," he says. He believes that silence damaged the Church's moral witness at a time when clear leadership was needed.

A recurring theme throughout the interview is the influence of replacement theology. Wickland contends that many churches no longer recognize God's continuing covenant with Israel, despite what he sees as the clear teaching of Scripture. 

Pointing to Romans and the biblical covenants, he states, "You read Romans chapters nine, ten, 11. It's so clear that God has a place for Israel... Israel becomes the very central pivot stone, if you like, around which everything revolves. And if you don't get Israel, you don't get anything."

The conversation also explores why the term "Christian Zionist" has become controversial in Britain. Rather than distancing himself from the label, Wickland embraces it, saying, "Christian Zionism is a dirty word here in the UK, but we just wear it as a badge of honor because it's true. 

We believe biblically that the Jews have a right to determine their own state and their own homeland, which is in the land of Israel." He argues that supporting Israel's right to exist should not be treated differently from supporting any other nation's right to self-determination.

Addressing the Church of England's broader direction, Wickland argues that biblical authority has increasingly been replaced by cultural and political pressures. 

Summing up his criticism, he remarks, "The trouble is with the Church of England, they only believe what they read. Sorry. They only read what they believe. They don't believe what they read."

The interview concludes on a more personal note. While acknowledging growing fears within Britain's Jewish community, Wickland insists that many Christians continue to stand with Israel and the Jewish people.

Click below to listen to the full interview.

Read more: ANTISEMITISM | ISRAEL UK RELATION

Fixing Our Eyes In Jesus

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Watchman’s Prayer Letter August 2026 - Jewish Year 5786

Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:5 NKJV)   It has often been said, both of the suffering of the Jewish people, and of the need for Christians to remain strong in the face of adversity, that the darker the darkness becomes, the stronger the light will shine.  This is certainly true of our common situation today, as increasingly, Jews and Christians are joining together in support the world’s only Jewish state, even as some established churches turn against her.   As we go to press, the Jewish nation worldwide is entering its saddest day, a solemn fast, Tisha B’Av.  On this date in the Hebrew calendar, some of the worst events happened, such as the destruction of both temples, the first murderous crusade launching across Europe, and the expulsion of the Jews of England.   In England today, supposedly far more advanced and sophisticated than in 1290, just a few days prior to this solemn date, the established Church of England agreed to ‘hear’ a dangerously anti-Israel and anti-Zionist motion, Kairos II.  The majority in the house of bishops present voted in favour giving credence to a text which can only inflame tensions between communities, at a time when the UK Jewish community is already under attack.  A few bishops spoke against but then abstained.   Evoking some of the statements of the Early Roman Church in the 3rd/4th centuries AD, such as the need to separate from the Hebraic heritage of the faith, support for Kairos II puts the Church of England at odds with the Bible and the God of Israel.  The text condemns Christian Zionism (including the faith of the Puritan intercessors) as the launching pad of the restoration of the Jewish state.  It moves along a slippery slope towards deconstruction of anything mentioning Jews, Judea, Zion or Israel, within the Scriptural texts (which could ultimately lead to the erasure of the words of Jesus himself).   Some of the statements in Kairos II include inflammatory language such as the following:   “Israel is a colonial, settler, and exclusionary entity”; “Zionists do not want us to remain on our land. Their plan for us is displacement, death or submission. The genocidal war on Gaza is the continuation of the Zionist project to seize all of Palestine, emptied of its Palestinian people… This genocide has been carried out by Israel after decades of apartheid, settler colonialism, political repression and the deliberate policy of killing any possibility of a political solution”;

File:A Talit, Keffiyeh and Palestinian scraf.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

“We see creative resistance embodied in the popular Palestinian movements confronting occupation, settlement expansion, settler terrorism and apartheid…”; and, “In addressing ourselves, we say: ‘We are the sons and daughters of the first Church — descendants of the apostles and the saints of the first Christian centuries…’”.   Let us pray that the enemy has overstepped himself so severely that this will lead to exposure of this anti-biblical movement which, falsely wearing the cloak of true Christianity, is a politicised Palestinian-ism.   Last year, CFI Jerusalem published an article about Beit Lechem (Bethlehem).  From the ancient prophecy, “But you Bethlehem in the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler, who will be the shepherd of my people Israel” (Micah 5:2), through to its fulfilment with the Saviour’s birth, and right up until the present day, the ‘little town’ is a source of both great joy, and sadly great deception.   The Kairos movement began at Bethlehem Bible College (BBC).  While many well-meaning teachers and students have passed through its programmes, some are known to have had an historical grievance with Israel.  While certain individuals who have genuinely suffered loss may graciously speak lovingly and seek to progress on the path of forgiveness, others are unfortunately obsessed with dehumanising Israel.

File:BritLib Cotton Nero DiiFol183v Persecuted Jews (cropped).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Pray for truth to prevail… and act accordingly

•Thank the Lord that the land of Israel is his.  Praise him for his plans, promises and his unfailing word. (see Isaiah 40:8) [Book by the Church of England’s Faith and Order Commission available via CFI UK resources or pdf link below: https://www.cfi.org.uk/Gods-unfailing-word https://www.jcrelations.net/article/gods-unfailing-word.pdf   •Give thanks that there were those, including CFI UK’s Jacob Vince, who spoke against the Kairos II motion, with various amendments passing, and that a fair number voted against the final amended motion with others recording abstentions. (see Psalm 71:16)   •Pray that those contending in the Church of England know the right strategy going forward to encourage understanding of Israel and Jewish people in this key part of the wider and historic church.  For those favouring Israel standing in the upcoming elections for the General Synod governing body - where policy is decided upon. (see Genesis 24:40a)   •Pray for all theological deception, which in the 1930s and 40s, helped enable the Holocaust, to be fully exposed to the true God-seekers in both the Church of England and wider Anglican communion, and in Arab communities. (see Proverbs 6:16-19).   •Thank God for the strengthening of Jewish-Christian partnership in the UK and beyond.  May God turn this awful situation for the good of Israel and the nation where we reside. (see Genesis 50:20)   •Pray for the UK Jewish community as some consider making Aliyah, for all the support that they need. (see 2 Chronicles 36:23)   •Pray for provision, protection and courage for true Arab/Palestinian believers living under unjust and corrupt governance, that the Lord will reveal his word in truth, and deliver them from all evil. (see Philippians 4:19)

Thank you for joining with us in prayer to our Father in heaven, who hears and answers as we bring our petitions before him in Jesus’ name, Ruth Richmond - CFI Jerusalem   Christian Friends of Israel – Jerusalem

prayer@cfijerusalem.org

PO Box 1813 Jerusalem 9101701 Israel Phone: 02 623 3778

Love For His People Ministry was founded in 2010 by Steve & Laurie Martin. Charlotte, NC USA

Grandeur - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Grandeur

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:9-10, NKJV)

Amazing isn’t it – a wedding that cost $45,000,000! And I thought $10,000 for such an event was extravagant (which it is, for many families.)

That, I repeat, was a mere $45 million as the estimated price paid for the marriage ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England, according to some reports (CBS). About $40 million went to cover security needs, with over 100,000 as the estimated spectator size lining the route after the wedding, and thousands more invited guests gathered in and around Windsor Castle. So overall about $5 million was spent just for the wedding itself. (Still unfathomable!)

The UK taxpayers cover those security costs, leaving the family to reportedly pay for the wedding themselves. (Doesn’t the father generally cover most of that, as here in the USA? I guess it is different among the royals.) 

Meghan’s dress was reported to be around $340,000 alone. I am sure the military provided Harry with his uniform, so they saved there if that was a concern.

When I see such grandeur (meaning splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style) I get somewhat cynical and judgmental at the very use of such funds. After all, could not that money have been spent on the needs of the poor, which I am sure also line the streets in the nation’s cities? (Didn’t England’s own Scrooge say that once in regards to the poor?)

And yet I recall a message once given by a Bible teacher, outlining the ways the Lord demonstrates some of His majesty through the specifics each nation represents of His glory, if only as just a glimmer. What England and other monarchs through the ages have shown is quite royal, and yet even that is nothing compared to the overwhelming glory of the King of the universe. By their earthly demonstration of a kingdom and its royalty, we are able to see, again as if only a glimmer, how much our Eternal King, His Only Son and Holy Spirit are preparing for those who believe and have accepted His salvation. That salvation, by the way, paid in full, bought solely by the precious Blood of Jesus, the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach.

When I take some time to ponder the majesty and glory of heaven, I simply cannot comprehend it all. And yet, the grandeur it represents will certainly cause this temporal world’s presentation to be far short of that which is to come.

“Who compares with you

among gods, O God?

Who compares with you in power,

in holy majesty,

In awesome praises,

wonder-working God? 
(Exodus 15:11, THE MESSAGE)

What a hope we have, for those who are trusting in the saving grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, He Who came sinless, lived among us, was brutally crucified, dead and buried, and then Who magnificently rose on the third day, fulfilling all prophecies to that point concerning the Messiah. He Himself is soon to return on His mighty steed, taking up His throne in the city of the Great King, Jerusalem, Yerushalayim. What a day that will be!

Nothing compares to that which is to come, and yet He allows us to see some glimpse of it while we remain here on earth.

While I still have a bit trouble with such immense wealth some have here for a few decades of life, my Lord tells me that the mansion and eternal life laid up for myself and many others far exceed that which we know now.

So while it is good to celebrate marriages (between one man and one woman) as we await the mighty big one that is yet to come, between Jesus and His Bride, we say “Even so, Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus! Your marriage supper will have it all!”

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

  

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This #351 - in the year of our Lord 05.21.18 – “Grandeur”, Monday, 9:45 am