Why Stand With Israel with Brian Sanders

Part 2

Tim Moore: Wow, that’s all I can say. We are actually delighted today to have Brian Sanders, the director, executive producer of Why Stand With Israel. Of course, Brian, you’re stationed right down the road in Dallas, Texas. I say stationed, you and I, former military, both of us, but you have a heart for Israel and the Jewish people. And so this film has been a tremendous blessing to us. Thank you for joining us today.

Brian Sanders: Well, thank you, Tim, for having me. And thank you, Nathan, for having me as well. It’s an honor and a pleasure to share our film with your audience.

Tim Moore: Well, we look forward to doing that. We’re going to give them some clips throughout but just tell us right up front how you came to have a passion for Israel and the Jewish people, and how you came to create this film.

Brian Sanders: Well, I’ve been in the industry; radio, TV, and film industry for over 30 years. And at the time, I always knew God called the Jewish people as His chosen people. And this is the only place that God sent His Son to. But I remember in 2013 when I was working full-time with the Christian Broadcasting Network, I was asked to cover and film President Obama’s only visit to Israel. And toward the end of President Obama’s visit, I had a great theological conversation with a dear friend of mine.

We were walking around the old city, and if you’ve been to the Kotel in the Western Wall, this theological conversation took a leg, took some life of its own. And at the end he said to me, “You know what, Brian? You might have some replacement theology in you.” And at the time, I didn’t even know what that was. You know, and I thought, you know, as Scripture says, not to add or subtract from God’s Word, and I wondered, did I take the Scriptures out of context, like context like some of us actually do, or was I just blatantly in error?

And then when he pointed to me what replacement theology was, I realized at that moment that I definitely said that. And I believed that based on the church I was actually going to at the time. And so, you know, I remember saying, you know, we are the new Israel. We’re God’s new chosen people. And then we took the Scripture that when God said they were stiff-necked, and we used that. And we applied it as God moved from His covenantal people and land and chose this new people group known as the Gentile church.

Tim Moore: Yeah, we’re not stiff-necked, are we? (laughs)

Brian Sanders: No, no, we’re not. We can be a little stubborn.

Tim Moore: Yeah, I think we’re just stiff-necked as well.

Brian Sanders: But when he shared that, and I realized that, I’m like, yes, I know I said that. And then not too long after, the Lord just put this burden on my heart, and I said, Lord, please forgive me. And yes, give me this burden for the Jewish people in the nation of Israel. And out of that, this film, which is now a film series, was birthed so to God be the glory for opening the eyes of my understanding.

Tim Moore: Yes.

Nathan Jones: Well that’s a beautiful cover, Why Stand With Israel. And that’s a question that seems to be on most Christians’ minds of course, since October 7th, 2023, with the invasion to Israel. It seems like the entire world has turned on Israel, and many Christians are calling in writing into the ministry wondering why should I support Israel? It’s a secular agency, but we’re going to answer that. But first I’m going to go back a bit. Well, how do you feel that God has set you up to be the man to defend Israel? You’ve got a, like you said, a military background, the American Forces Network and the Christian Broadcasting Network. Why are you the guy?

Brian Sanders: Well, I don’t know if I was His first choice. I mean, there’s a lot of other people out there that are doing a great job, have been long in the fight longer than I have, but I’m so glad He got my attention. And you know what? It’s abundantly clear in Scripture of how much God loves the Jewish people in the nation of Israel. And in our film, we show how much. We show proof of how much God loves the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. He talks about no other nation more in His Word than the nation of Israel, approximately 2,400 times.

So if you’re one that maybe doesn’t read the whole Bible from cover to cover, and you just read the New Testament, the B’rit Hachadashah, well, the Apostle Paul even shows why in Jesus, why God loves the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Look, there’s no other nation or planet on the face of the Earth that God sent His only Son to. So this really shouldn’t be a disconnect with believers or the Church worldwide. It shouldn’t be, but unfortunately, we have this survey in our film that shows how much the Church is riding the fence on where they stand with Israel. And those numbers are truly staggering.

Tim Moore: They really are. I think one of the things that jumped out to me was not only the statistics, but even some of the people you brought on.

Brian Sanders: Yeah.

Tim Moore: So just for an example, let’s hear a word from Michele Bachmann as she was interviewed for this film.

Brian Sanders: This is God’s land. This is probably the only country that has a deed signed by God where He gave it to a specific people group and put them in a land for one reason. And that is to bless the entire world.

Tim Moore: Well, Brian, along with Michele Bachmann, you had a number of other voices that shared the need for Christians everywhere to understand God’s love for Israel. But let’s unpack even that word. What do you mean in terms of this film when you say the word Israel? Is it the land, the people, the nation or the government representing the nation of Israel?

Brian Sanders: Well, my default is the Bible and God’s Word, ordained Word. And if He made an everlasting covenant with the people and the land, then we should be standing for this everlasting covenant, this love and promises, eternal promises He made of both the land and the people. And so we’re taught in the Scriptures that we should respect those appointed over us. Now, there’s no government or people that is actually perfect, you know, even our nation in general itself.

Tim Moore: Yeah.

Brian Sanders: But you know, if God made an everlasting covenant with the seed of Abraham, the Jewish people, and the nation of Israel, then we ought to as well. And Genesis 12:3 is abundantly clear when it comes to that, and other Scriptures that compliment that.

Nathan Jones: Well, we’ve seen the likes of say Tucker Carlson, for instance, saying that we have grossly misinterpreted Genesis 12. And so what would you say to that?

Tim Moore: Yeah, obviously he had Ted Cruz on there who couldn’t even defend Genesis 12 and truth in advertising. We had Ted Cruz’s father on this program. He would’ve done a better job than the Senator. No offense. And so we understand what Genesis 12 says, but why has there been such a disconnect?

Brian Sanders: Well, I mean to Senator Ted Cruz’s point, I mean, his dad was a minister. Ted Cruz isn’t, he’s a public servant.

Nathan Jones: That’s a good point.

Tim Moore: Yes.

Brian Sanders: Although he was raised in the Church, he had a father as an anointed ordained minister. But, you know, I didn’t really appreciate Tucker Carlson’s perspective. And to me it was an attack on Senator Ted Cruz. And he’s not expected to know this…

Tim Moore: Right.

Brian Sanders: Even though it is one of the most common biblical chapters talks about standing with Israel. But I would say to Tucker, you know what, if we’re called to bless Israel.

Tim Moore: Yeah.

Brian Sanders: Not just in Genesis 12:3 but I believe there’s a compliment Scripture in Romans 15:27 that the Apostle Paul, he exhorts the Church, he exhausts the believers to as much as the Jewish people blessed us spiritually. You know, what did they bless us spiritually? They blessed us with the Word of God. They wrote the Word of God. And then he goes on and he says, we owe to them to bless them materially. So how can we do that? We can do that with our tithes, our offerings, our love, but we also can do it with our knowledge of the Word of God. If our biblical worldview…

Tim Moore: Amen.

Brian Sanders: Isn’t lining up with Scripture, you know, that causes, I mean, that’s not just concern, but maybe even inheriting repercussions of Genesis 12:3. And therefore replacement theology is so dangerous to any believer. And unfortunately, I fell in that but thank God He opened the eyes of my understanding. And I believe God is doing that within the Church today.

Tim Moore: He certainly is. You know, I think there’s such a disconnect, and we’ll unpack that a little bit more, but one young man who I engaged with, he was actually a youth pastor at the time, who had ascribed to replacement theology. I had a conversation with him and I said, let’s go to the Word. He said, yeah, yeah, I know all your proof texts. I said, no, no, let’s go to Ezekiel 36 where the Lord makes promises to the land, the mountains of Israel, that they will be repopulated with His people.

And I said, “Do you as a Gentile Christian, feel a compulsion to go and live on the mountains of Israel?” And he said, “No.” I said, “That’s because that promise is not for you, is not to be fulfilled by the Gentile church.” And for the first time he said, “I’ve never thought of that.” But why are so many Christians so deluded? And I dare I say, deceived. And Satan would like us to be deceived…

Brian Sanders: Absolutely.

Tim Moore: About what God says about His land and His people. Why are so many Christians confused at the very least?

Brian Sanders: Well, to your point, what you were mentioning earlier, if I can throw in Isaiah 54:5…

Tim Moore: Always.

Brian Sanders: We share that in our film. And there’s other Scriptures that say the same exact verse. This is Father God, Elohim Himself, talking to His covenant people, the Jewish people, and He says, your maker will be your husband. Now we go along and we say in the Church that we are the bride of Christ, rightfully so. But do we sometimes forget that we weren’t His first choice? That He has another bride He betrothed Himself to. And that was the Jewish people, and I believe the nation of Israel. That’s what Isaiah 54:5 says. He made an everlasting covenant. And there’s so many Scriptures that back that up.

But again, with media today and just influences of, like, social media, yes, it could be very influential in a good way, but it’s also very harmful. If you’re not grounded in the Scriptures, you’re going to be easily influenced. And that’s just how the enemy works. He’s so deceiving. He’s very good at stealing, killing, and destroying as the Scripture defines who he is and his attributes.

But we need to be grounded in His Word, especially in this hour where, you know, we’re just seeing so much happening. It’s almost like biblical prophecy unfolding before our very eyes. And it’s kind of concerning to me, when you see all these things happen of Matthew 24. You’re seeing–you’ll hear of wars, and rumors of wars, nation against nation, you know, kingdom against nation. We’re seeing floods and earthquakes of biblical proportions.

Tim Moore: Yes, absolutely.

Brian Sanders: And then Yeshua, Jesus says at the end of that chapter in Matthew 24, that we will be experiencing these birth pangs. And if you don’t include Israel in your biblical worldview or DNA, how are you going to be able to navigate in these End Times?

Tim Moore: It is the fig tree that is budding again before our eyes.

Brian Sanders: Yes. Israel is centric to our faith.

Tim Moore: It is.

Brian Sanders: If God loves and made an everlasting promise, and we say we love Him, and His Word, there really shouldn’t be much of a debate.

Nathan Jones: Well, it seems like your passion is for those who have fallen into replacement theology. Would you say that’s your primary audience for this video? Are you also trying to reach a Jewish audience?

Brian Sanders: I believe the Word of God is for everybody.

Nathan Jones: Okay. So you didn’t have a particular target.

Brian Sanders: Yeshua Jesus didn’t just come for the Gentiles. He says, I come to the lost sheep of the house of, not America, not Geneva, Switzerland, not Europe, not the Vatican in Rome, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And He also said that salvation comes from the Jews. He was talking about Himself.

Tim Moore: Yes.

Brian Sanders: That is the fulfillment of God’s full redemption plan. You know, the whole one new man that the apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians 2. The Jew and Gentile believers in Messiah coming together as the one new man. And that is really the message I want to share with the Church and anyone that loves God and stands with His promises and His covenant.

Tim Moore: And there’s a degree to where even as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Eden, for them to be unified, He’s talking about Jew and Gentile, all the believers unified…

Brian Sanders: Absolutely.

Tim Moore: in this regrafted tree. Well, I think you obviously have great passion, but let’s see a few moments of your film itself to sum up why every Christian should be eager to support Israel.

[Film Clip]: God said to Abram right at the beginning, I’m going to make a nation out of you. And whoever blesses you in that nation, I’m going to bless, whoever doesn’t, I’m going to curse, going to oppose.

Brian Sanders: He made some promises with regard to this piece of Earth. No man would have maybe naturally chosen Israel, but God did. And because God chose Israel, that’s why it’s contested.

[Film Clip]: God has expressed His everlasting love for them. He said, I didn’t choose you as a nation, because you were greater than any other nation; you were one of the fewest of peoples. But I chose you because of My love for you.

If you look at Israel through a political lens, you’ll end up either hating Arabs or Jews, or both. If you look at Israel through a biblical lens, you’ll end up loving both Arabs and Jews.

Tim Moore: Brian is someone who’s actually served in the political realm, I also very much appreciated your distinction between a biblical lens or perspective, and a political lens or perspective. Too many people get caught up in the politics today of what’s happening in the world, do I like or dislike what’s happening from the government of Israel? And they don’t go to the Word of God…

Brian Sanders: Right.

Tim Moore: to inform their perspective on what God says. In other words, they either go to their favorite news channel or in the past to a newspaper. I don’t know how many people read those anymore. But this is where we should get our worldview, God’s view.

Brian Sanders: Absolutely, I couldn’t agree with you more. The Word of God should be our primary source. It should be our blueprint on how we live. That’s what He gave it to us for. And so not just the Scriptures and the promise that God says in His word for His covenantal people and land. But again, it goes back to if we have eternity on our mind and we love God, and we’re all about the kingdom, and we know how much God loves His covenant people and His beloved land, there really shouldn’t be much of a debate. But unfortunately today with replacement theology and antisemitism that, we haven’t seen this kind of antisemitism since the days of the Holocaust.

Nathan Jones: No.

Brian Sanders: You know, I just think it’s–I believe the enemy knows his time is short.

Tim Moore: I was going to say, why do you think that is? Why is there so much rise in antisemitism, and hatred for Israel and even Jewish people in this country? We’ve not seen that before, at least in our lifetimes.

Brian Sanders: Well, it all started in the garden. And then look at, since the days of Pharaoh, the enemy is coming up against God’s people and His land. We saw what happened during the Holocaust, which unfortunately, and it’s sad that majority of the Church was silent. And we’re still seeing them silent today after October 7th. And so there’s been intifadas, there’s been the 12 day war with Israel and Iran that President Trump has said is now done. But I don’t think Iran got that memo. They don’t usually play by the rules.

Tim Moore: You know.

Brian Sanders: Yeah.

Tim Moore: Just this last week I wrote a letter to the Archdiocese of Louisville, because in their paper, I still get, being a former legislator, they constantly bemoan the suffering of the people of Gaza. They have never said one word about the suffering of the people of Israel beset by terrorism all around. So there’s an agenda.

Brian Sanders: Absolutely.

Tim Moore: And quite frankly, even many Christians are deluded because Satan has deceived us. And the Scripture talks about the things He loves; we should love…

Brian Sanders: Absolutely.

Tim Moore: and the things that He denounces, we should stay far from.

Brian Sanders: You just look at what’s going on in the news, and how Satan is using the younger generation. And this woke agenda; we’re seeing antisemitism just take over our college campuses. It’s in our politics; it’s in our town squares. It’s in our educational system.

And to your point about Gaza, if we remember, if we look at Scripture, Gaza is still part of Israel. And you know, today’s map of Israel is not what it used to be. But when the Messiah, Jesus Yeshua comes back, it’s going to go back to the original borders of Israel. And we showcase that in our film. And it’s our prayer for our target audience, the global church, to see why God chose Israel. And we try to answer that question biblically, historically and geopolitically. We felt it was important to just answer all of these questions so the skeptic would say, “well what about this? What about that?”

Nathan Jones: And you did it so well, too, because like you said, media can be used for good, like this video. And it can be used for propaganda like the Palestinian cause. Even if Israel is winning the war in Gaza, they’ve lost the PR war with the world.

Brian Sanders: Yeah.

Nathan Jones: So did you get any pushback against releasing this video? Were there struggles with trying to produce this?

Brian Sanders: Well, I think anytime you’re doing anything for the Kingdom, you’re going to get spiritual warfare.

Nathan Jones: Because Satan’s going to hate this.

Brian Sanders: No, no, well, I’ve had spiritual warfare, but when I said yes to this project, to me it just seemed like all of hell was alarmed. Like there must have been like a target on my back. But the thing is, you know, when you’re touching the apple of God’s eye, you know, His treasured possession, it’s kind of like par for the course. I mean, God is faithful. You’re going to have your challenges. But you know, we know His promises. He’s faithful to them because look at what He’s done with Israel.

Tim Moore: Yes.

Brian Sanders: You know, and His promises. If we judge or were skeptic and doubt God’s faithfulness… just look at Israel today. There’s no reason in history when we see all these nations that came against Israel after the War of Independence and the six day war, that Israel still should be standing. But to the faithfulness of God, and His character, and His Word, they are still around, and they still will be…

Tim Moore: Amen.

Brian Sanders: until the Messiah comes back and the new Jerusalem comes down.

Tim Moore: Amen, you know, we tell people that coming on a pilgrimage, and hopefully, if you have any interest in joining us, come with us, that we’re going next year, 2026 in the month of June. But going to Israel brings the black and white of Scripture to living color…

Brian Sanders: Absolutely!

Tim Moore: to technicolor. But your film has captured beautifully. I mean, I was just so amazed at the sweep and at the grandeur and at the detail you wove into your film. It is truly beautiful.

Brian Sanders: Thank you.

Tim Moore: But did you learn anything as you were filming, obviously, the Lord opened your eyes, even through that theological conversation with a friend. But as you began to film and put this documentary together, what did you learn that perhaps you didn’t know before?

Brian Sanders: Well, several things, and thank you for the kind words. I wanted to capture the Israel that I love, and I love going to the land. And to me it’s like when I’m there, I’m home. I’m sure you’ve probably…

Tim Moore: I feel the same way.

Brian Sanders: I’m sure you probably can attest to that as well. So I wanted to capture to not only those that have been there, but those that have always longed to go there and show them the beauty of God’s land. And so with that, what God showed me as I was learning this or making this film, you know, how the borders are different, and how the land is divided.

Nathan Jones: Yeah, the ABCs were very enlightening.

Brian Sanders: Well, thank you, I thought it was important because although I had an understanding of that, but to those that might be going for the first time and saying, “I’m going to see all of Israel.” Well, there’s some places you just can’t go…

Tim Moore: No.

Brian Sanders: because of the Palestinian areas and that’s why we wanted to showcase and break it down in zone A, B, and C. I mean, all of it belongs to Israel.

Tim Moore: And even Christians don’t understand. We have a Jewish guide. I always have a Messianic Jew who is our guide. We don’t go to Bethlehem because if he went with us to Bethlehem, his life would be threatened. They would probably absolutely kill him…

Brian Sanders: Absolutely.

Tim Moore: for daring to set foot in Palestinian territory. But again, you expose all of those things and do so in a very beautiful way.

Brian Sanders: Well, thank you, I wanted to share with those that were, again, going there for the first time that yes, all the land of Israel is for the Jewish people. He gave it to them to, you know, steward. And like your point to Bethlehem. We show what zone A is and zone B, like we know about what happened in Jericho based on the stories in the Bible. But if Joshua was to go back there today, he would have trouble going back into that territory.

Nathan Jones: Jericho yes, you even animated the little man going to Jericho. And he wasn’t allowed in.

Brian Sanders: Well, we just wanted to show that perspective and we wanted to make that known. And so believers would be safe and they would understand what’s going on in the political arena. And then so the watchmen on the wall can continue to be praying for Israel and the Jewish people.

Tim Moore: Yes.

Brian Sanders: And that’s what we’re called to do.

Tim Moore: Well obviously the film that is available on DVD, I know you can also stream it. You have a fantastic study guide.

Brian Sanders: Download.

Tim Moore: Yes downloaded. A fantastic study guide…

Brian Sanders: Thank you.

Tim Moore: that accompanies the film. But how can people get in touch with you, your ministry obviously to access the film.

Brian Sanders: Thank you so much, well, they can simply just go to our website, whystandwithisrael.com. And as Tim said, we have DVDs available and digital downloads and in the language of your choice. Right now we have our film translated in eight languages.

Nathan Jones: Wow.

Brian Sanders: But soon to be seven more. And our heart is, because we believe the Gospel is for everyone, we believe that everyone should understand, especially believers, why God chose His beloved people and land, and He made an everlasting covenant with, and called them to be a light unto the nations. So we’re trying to get this film in as many languages as we possibly can so there isn’t any more disconnect. So they can see God’s heart on display for His beloved people and land.

And we also just have this new accompanying study guide, and it’s built and designed for pastors, Sunday school teachers, homeschoolers, Torah school, Torah club teachers, or even small group leaders. And you can follow along. We’ve got the time codes for the chapters that we’re teaching on. And we go just a little bit deeper, so you get a chance to just really see with the biblical worldview, why God chose this beautiful people and land He made an everlasting covenant with.

Nathan Jones: Fantastic! Now I know being a man who’s passionate about teaching through media like Tim and I are, what do you have next in the pipeline?

Brian Sanders: Oh, we have about 20 films that we would like to do. I feel like the number just keeps growing.

Tim Moore: Of course.

Brian Sanders: And I mean, I’m thankful that God gave me this mandate. And to me, I can’t see myself really doing anything else. I guess for me, it’s my pulpit where I get a chance to educate and inspire the global church to live out their biblical responsibility to stand with Israel. Because I believe Yeshua is coming back soon. Jesus is coming back soon.

Nathan Jones: Amen.

Brian Sanders: And right now, all of us have to step up our game to share why He made this everlasting covenant with Israel and the Jewish people. Because Israel is where it all started. And this is where it’s all going to end. So the next one we’re going to do, I preluded earlier about, we’re going to talk about what it says in Matthew 24 with nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom. You know, we’re seeing floods and earthquakes in biblical proportion. And then when you look at Psalms 2:1 where it talks about why do the nations rage? Are the nations not raging against Israel?

Nathan Jones: Oh, yes.

Brian Sanders: They’ve been doing that for centuries, since the days of Pharaoh.

Nathan Jones: Up to the UN Assembly in September.

Brian Sanders: UN Assembly, yes. You know, where they’re going to push this two-state solution that God says in Joel 3:2 do not divide my land and woe to us or any nation that does that. There are, again, there’s blessings and there’s curses. And we’re going to get into Jeremiah 16:16 where God talks about His fishermen and His hunters. Are we not seeing that now? And then Zechariah 12 and 14, where the nations come against Israel. That’s happening before our very eyes.

And then some are wondering after this 12 day war with Israel and Iran, that it might be over, according to President Trump. Is the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war, is that upon us? Is it looming? So we’re going to talk about all these things with a biblical prophetic lens. And also to again, encourage the Church. Why we need to be standing with Israel in this hour we’re living in.

Tim Moore: Well, you’re right in our wheelhouse. Because everything you said just thrills my heart, because that’s what we talk about all the time. And yet we are presenters of the truth from Scripture, Nathan and I talking, and sometimes with guests, but you have the power of film. And so many of us with the visual representation, it really saturates even deeper than just mere conversation. Obviously, the Word of God has great power.

Brian Sanders: Yes.

Tim Moore: Brian, we will continue to pray a blessing on you, your ministry…

Brian Sanders: Thank you.

Tim Moore: Your film, Why Stand With Israel was a blessing to us. Our entire staff loved it. We know it’ll be a blessing to all who watched it, and we know that it has glorified God. So thank you for your faithfulness.

Brian Sanders: Pleasure, thank you.

Tim Moore: And as you make additional films, we want to have you back.

Brian Sanders: Thank you, it’d be my honor. Thank you so much for having me on.

Tim Moore: Well, we’ll do it again.

Nathan Jones: Fellow Dallas boy.

Brian Sanders: Thank you.

Tim Moore: Let’s finish up for just a moment by sharing with you a clip of why it’s so important if you love God, to love Israel as well.

[Film Clip]: As Christians, we love God, and we want to love Him with all of our heart, with all of our being. But we also have to love what He loves, and He has chosen to love a very special nation. If we’re going to love God, we must love the nation of Israel.

Closing

Tim Moore: Well obviously movies, or films for those who are more refined, offer a powerful tool to convey information. They can be visually engaging and yet emotionally evocative!

Nathan Jones: And we do hope that Brian’s film, Why Stand With Israel, fulfills its own subtitle: changing hearts. That’s really the promise of the Gospel. When we believe in Jesus Christ, He changes our hearts from the inside. The Holy Spirit presses in to make us more Christlike day by day. And if we are yielding and obedient to Him, we inevitably come to love the things He loves and oppose the things He opposes.

Tim Moore: We’ve made it clear long before October 7th and ongoingly since that horrifically dark day that Lamb & Lion Ministries stands with Israel. We obey the commandment of God to bless the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And we trust the promises of God. Simply put, He has not washed His hands of the Jewish people. Instead, He has a rich blessing in store for them when a great remnant is saved at the end of the Tribulation.

Nathan Jones: And because we want to be obedient to God’s Word, we work to share the Gospel with Jew and Gentile alike right now. We know that God does not want any Jew or Gentile to perish, which is why He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins, and why the Father has been patient to give every opportunity for salvation.

Tim Moore: Make a point to watch this film. Support Why Stand With Israel and others who are trying to bless the people of Israel. But most of all, make sure that you know the King of the Jews who came to suffer and die, and is coming again to reign from the throne of His father David in Jerusalem. Become a part of His story and join us in looking for our Blessed Hope. Until next time, Godspeed!

End of Program