Hatred Towards Israel and the Jewish PeopleSýnishorn

The Church and the Jewish People

In Romans 11, Paul talks about the promises for Israel. He says that the promises made in the Old Testament are still valid. Then he shows that Israel's hostility toward the Gospel is part of God's plan to bring the message of Jesus' salvation to the Gentiles (non-Jews) too! In doing so, Paul makes it clear that God did not reject His people. His promises remain!

Unfortunately, many in the Church believed that God did cast out Israel. Jews were blamed for the death of Jesus and were often persecuted. The Church claimed that Israel was obsolete. That Christians were now the “new Israel”. This is called ‘replacement theology’. According to replacement theology, Israel no longer counted; Christians were now “God's people”. How could that be true? Hadn’t God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham? That didn't just end then, did it?

Unfortunately, the consequences of replacement theology have tainted the history of Christianity. Christian crusaders murdered countless Jews on their way to Jerusalem. The famous reformer Martin Luther called for the burning of synagogues and Jewish books and to ban rabbis from teaching. During the Holocaust, the belt buckles on German uniforms read, “God with us”. And even today, many Christians think Israel is outdated and irrelevant. But if God loves His people so much, shouldn't we do the same?

Pray today: Lord God, I realize that Christians in the past have done much harm to Your people. We so often apply Your promises only to ourselves, when they are about Your special plan for the world and for Your people. Help me to see that Your promises to the Jews still stand firm. Be with Your people and help me to love them as much as You love them. Amen.