Once again, I might be using my current position of picking weekly topics for Kingdom Bloggers a bit selfishly. Israel has been a topic of great interest to me over the past year. While I feel I have a good grasp on the political issues surrounding our close ally, the deeply rooted evangelical support for the state still somewhat baffles me.
I have several relatives who have travelled to the Holy Land. Of course, that was in days long ago when tensions and violence were no where near current levels in the country. Each one of them has related a tremendous spiritual experience being in the same areas that Jesus walked 2,000 years ago. I get that.
Where the ground gets a little shaking for me is the seemingly blind allegiance evangelical Christians have for the nation/state. My Sunday School class just finished a series in the books of Joshua and Judges, so I understand the biblical history and the significance of Israel in God's overall plan of salvation. But is the nation of Israel today the same Israel spoken about in God's word?
I'm not so sure and here's why. The Children of Israel were chosen by God, and despite tremendous efforts in disobedience, and were to be the bloodline from where Jesus would be born. Mission completed. But the same descendants of Judah that joined Jesus' ministry are also the same descendants that demanded His crucifixion. What gives?
The connection and continuation between the Old and New Testament or unmistakable and undeniable. I clearly see and understand that. Where I get a bit clouded is the comparison to the nation of Israel of the Old Testament, the Jews of the New Testament, and the current make up of the country of modern day Israel.
According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the population in 2011 was 75.4% Jewish, 20.6% Arab, and 2.1% Christian. That means, by definition, that 96% of the nation does not believe that Jesus Christ came and died for the sins of the world. Adding to the confusion is an additional statistic that shows only 65% of those claiming to be Jewish also state a belief in God. Now what gives?
While my quest for more understanding on the connection between God's covenant with Abraham and the modern day state of Israel is far from over (if there actually is a connection), I will still lean for now on the words of Paul in Romans:
It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their (the Jews) spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.
The is no denying Jesus was forthcoming about His Jewish heritage, and I completely understand why. God endured great long suffering with His chosen people, and they obviously hold a special place in His heart. Jesus came to minister to the Jews, but He died for all of mankind. I don't, however, buy the argument of Pat Robertson and some other Evangelical Christian talking heads who frequently quote the scripture from John 4:22 as contemporary support for Israel when Jesus tells the woman at the well ...salvation is from the Jews.
First, Jesus is clearly speaking of His role in God's plan of salvation for all and the fact that He is a Jew. Eternal life would not be found in the Samaritans or any Gentiles for that matter.
Second, are the Jews Jesus refers to in this passage the same self-identifying Jews of today's Israel? Honestly, I don't know, but I will continue to study while I support Israel for the obvious political reasons I do understand.
No comments:
Post a Comment