“…isms” blog

Conservativism Libertarianism Modernism Statism Unitarianism Zionism

Edit: Thanks to the commenter Stephen below for pointing out an error which I have corrected. More discussion below.Over at Talk2Action there have been a series of articles on Zionism among Christians in the US, touching on what they refer to as anti-Semitism because, in the premillenial dispensational worldview, 2/3rds of the Jews will be killed prior to the rapture. in the Tribulation. I remember hearing this comment some years ago from one Yacob Prasch, himself a dispensational Christian teacher, who wondered “how can you say you are a friend to Israel when you are pushing them towards destruction?”I don’t believe that there is anything “special” in store for Israel, prophecy wise. The great tribulation was over with when Jerusalem fell. But even if you don’t buy that, the simple Gospel truth is that there is, and has only ever been, salvation in Christ. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Therefore, anything which denies Christ is a false religion. This includes the apostate religion known today as Judaism. It is not the religion of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - as Jesus points out in John 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”So why are so many Christians interested in “comforting” the modern secular state of Israel, apparently meaning everything but preaching the Gospel of Christ to them? Often quoted is Is. 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. But what do the next two verses say?

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isa 40:2-3

And what was that voice crying about? It was John the Baptist, preparing the way for Christ to come. So what is the comfort? It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.And yet, in 2006 according to this article one ministry alone channelled US$37 million into aid to Israel - including rebuilding a synagogue in Turkey. Keep in mind that Christian evangelism is forbidden in Israel. So are they comforting ethnic Israel with the gospel? Or propping up a false religion? Ministries like Christian Friends of Israel are content to “share” in the covenant with ethnic Israel. But, the Scriptures tell us in Romans 9:6 that they are not all Israel, which are of Israel and in Romans 2:29 that he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. The judgement against ethnic Israel - was because this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. (Isa 29:13).So what is the summary:

• Are we to prop up Israel because there is some special blessing of God, or because it fits with the eschatological timeline we’d like to see? No.

• Are we to be anti-semitic? After all, didn’t the Jews deserve whatever trouble they get? Well, any good or calamity is the result of the sovereign will of God. What we refer to as ‘anti semitism’ throughout the ages - pogroms, holocaust, etc. - may well be partly the judgement of God, but, that doesn’t make it any less wicked on the part of those perpetrating them. So this is also a resounding No.

• What should our attitude towards Jewish people be? Well, tending to physical needs is all well and good and we are commanded to do so. But, it must be accompanied by tending to their need for repentance and believe in Christ.

Trackback This Post | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed