An appeal requesting sponsors to send a member of my Sunday school class at my large evangelical church to Israel to help the Israel Defense Force (I.D.F) through The National Project for Volunteers for Israel (“an international effort that assists the Israel Defense Force on military bases, primarily, and other places.” Website: sar-el.org) was passed out last week. It stated that “Israel, the epicenter of our faith and the world, is surrounded by hostile forces putting much pressure on the Jewish people there…The roots of our faith are inextricably woven together with Israel and Jerusalem.” As I understand the Bible, Jesus Christ, alone, is the epicenter of our faith and His death on the cross provided the means for salvation and the forgiveness of our sins constituting a New Covenant. According to John 14: 6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’.”
My friend, Ericka Moore1, explains the phenomena of Israel worship far better than I can: “Israel: The New American Idol.” The mantra of “We will always support Israel” is disturbing enough coming from the President, the Congress, and our media, but when Christian Evangelical Churches across America are the loudest voices in the chorus, it’s time to investigate. The most-quoted “proof text” referenced universally by Christians who believe we must unconditionally “bless” the modern day state of Israel is as follows: “The LORD had said to Abram,…I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And whoever curses you I will curse; And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” * (Gen. 12:1-3)
Assuming that scripture interprets scripture and that the New Testament writers often quote, and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, explain the meaning of Old Testament passages, let’s take a look at the New Testament book of Galatians. In Galatians 3:8, Paul quotes a portion of this same scripture: “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.”
And what is the gospel message that God is proclaiming to Abram in advance? Is it the recently gathered, political state of Israel that will be a blessing to all nations? Paul goes on to explain further in verse 16, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his Seed. The scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘to your Seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”
When we take the verse from Genesis 12:3 and apply it to the present day state of Israel, we are distorting the very gospel itself. Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, is the Seed through whom “all nations will be blessed.” That is, and always has been, the only gospel message of both the Old and New Testament. Paul closes Galatians 3:26-29 with these profound words: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
We are all equal in the sight of God. He displays no favoritism based on race, social status, or gender. Jesus Christ gave his life out of love, not to save a tiny plot of land or a favored ethnicity, but for all mankind. Not for inanimate shrines and places, as much as we may love what they represent to us, but for the forgiveness of sins and salvation of all who will receive Him. His sacrifice was to make us “living stones” in one glorious temple, not built by human hands, but by a living God who wants relationship with us. That is the gospel.”
The question for the American church today is simple: What gospel are we believing and preaching? As followers of Christ, we need to demonstrate the love of Christ to all God’s children including Muslims and Jews.
Tom Compton
Notes:
1. In January of this year the I.D.F. attacked Gaza and killed over 1300 Palestinians including 400 children. Fourteen Israelis but no children were killed. I asked the question “Would Jesus Concur or Weep?” about the death of the innocent children (see my story at: http://wordpress.whtt.org/would-jesus-concur-or-weep/ ) What do you think? Would Jesus Concur or Weep? The extended quote in this piece was written by Ericka Moore.
2. In May, Archbishop Elias Chacour spoke at SBC. This was not an event sponsored by SBC but initiated by Rick M., a SBC elder. However, Pastors Jamie and Fred were in attendance. Father Chacour is an Arab Palestininan Christian and a citizen of Israel (a second class citizen as only Jews are first class citizens). Elias Chacour was 8 years old when the Jews took over what is today called Israel. The Chacour home and thousands of other Arab homes were taken by the Jews and Elias’ father along with thousands of Arab fathers were expelled from the country. If you would like to hear his amazing story go to: http://whtt.podbean.com/mf/web/9scsj/Chacour-20090504-SBC.mp3.. Title: “Address by Archbishop Elias Chacour of Gallilee”). Father Chacour holds no rancor against the Israelis and has been diligently working for a peaceful solution. Certainly, there are Palestinians that demonstrate rancor toward the Israelis. Father Chacour has worked hard over the years to demonstrate the love of Christ by opening a school that is free to Muslims, Christians and Jews.
3. Bob Simon of CBS News, who is Jewish and lives in Israel, described Gaza as the world’s largest prison in an interview with Charlie Rose on 1/7/2009 ( http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/9900 ). Also, Bob Simon did a story for the CBS 60 Minutes program (“Time Running Out For A Two State Solution?” – http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/23/60minutes/main4749723.shtml ) about the Jewish Settlements in the West Bank and showed how disruptive they are. In Bob Simon’s opinion, these Jewish settlements will prevent a two state solution and will further consolidate the present apartheid status of Palestinians. No wonder there are Palestlinians that do terrible things to Israelis.
© 2009 We Hold These Truths
