Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Is it a Biblical Requirement for Christians to Support Israel?


This is a thorny issue, and one on which many Christians disagree. I do not intend to provide a detailed list of how we should or shouldn't. However, we can look at a few scripture passages in the New Testament which can provide a very basic framework for how to think about and evaluate each situation. Not everyone will land on the same conclusion.

The basic premise used to support a requirement to support the nation of Israel is that she is God's chosen people (stated throughout the Bible) and that all nations will be blessed through Israel. You can see the original covenant with Abraham in Genesis 18:18 "all nations on earth will be blessed through him." and also in the New Testament in Galatians 3:8 Paul explains it "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.'"

We must respect and honor that God worked through Israel in history, and our salvation came from the Jews (John 4:22), namely Jesus was born of Israel. The Messiah was promised to the Israelites in their scripture and culture. They believe it is unfulfilled, but we know the Messiah is fulfilled in Christ.

There are clear Biblical indications that God has not totally discarded Israel, but will restore them after a time. This is explained in Romans 11, starting with the first verse, "Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin." and clearly in verses 26, 28-29, "so all Israel will be saved...   As far as the gospel is concerned, they are your enemies; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." But also, through Romans 11, it says several times that they were "hardened", signifying a hardening of their hearts until the right time. They collectively are in a period of discipline by God for their rejection of Christ as the Messiah.

Paul explains in Ephesians 1:9-10 that "he made known to us the mystery of his will...to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ". In Ephesians 3:6 he says "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." and Ephesians 2:13 says that "[the Gentiles] who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ", and verse 16, "in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross"  So we are united with them by the cross and the blood of Christ.

In a general sense, God has not forgotten them, they are a remnant of his people. He will bring us together in the end. However, those who reject the cross and the blood of Christ, have rejected Him and are not reconciled to us. We should treat them as a "prodigal brother", a brother who has fallen away and needs to be restored through Christ and repentance.

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