Jew Envy

          The development of "replacement theology" is a result of the envy of the relationship the Jews have with God.  The basic tenant of this misguided, man made teaching, is the false teaching that since Jesus came, the relationship the Jews had with God, has been replaced by the Christian Church.  You have to really twist some of the Bible verses to get to this. For this to be true, God would have to be a liar.

          Just because something is claimed to be Christian doesn’t mean that it is Christian.  There are many instances throughout the ages where people have misinterpreted the Bible; whether well intentioned, or for some form of gain.  The apostle Paul said: “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”[1]  “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”[2]

          “Supersessionism is a Christian theology that contrasts with Dual-covenant theology. Biblical expressions of God's relationships with people are known as covenants, so the contentious element of supersessionism is the idea that the New Covenant with Christendom replaces the Mosaic Covenant with the Israelites and Proselytes.

          Supersessionism is also called fulfillment theology and replacement theology, though the latter term is disputed. It is a Christian interpretation of New Testament verses, viewing God's relationship with Christians as being the inheritance of the Christian Church of the promises made to the Jews (or Biblical Israelites) and Jewish Proselytes. A major question related to supersessionism is how or to what degree are the teachings of the Mosaic Covenant displaced or even completely abrogated by the New Covenant and the Law of Christ.”[3]  Jesus said He had not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it.

          “Replacement Theology - reduced to its simplest form - teaches that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. The term “Replacement Theology” is relatively new and unfamiliar to many people (in some cases, even those who believe in it). Among theologians, the older and more widely used term is “supersessionism.” The Church “supersedes” Israel. Its proponents teach that God has set aside Israel and made the Church “new Israel,” the new and improved people of God. There are many variations within the broad spectrum of Replacement Theology, but two of the main approaches are these:

1. Israel’s role as the people of God was completed (economic supersessionism). This is the kinder and gentler way of stating the basic thesis of Replacement Theology. It says that once the Messiah came 2,000 years ago, Israel’s mission was completed. A transition occurred at that point, and the Church took over as the people of God and became the focal point for the outworking of God’s plan and purpose in redemption. God is no longer working administratively through ethnic Israel.

2. Israel’s place as the people of God was forfeited (punitive supersessionism). Other Replacement theologians are more straightforward and actually say that the supposed replacement of Israel was a divine judgment on the nation for its rejection of the Messiah in the first century. This is what some writers have called ‘punitive secessionism.’”[4]

          The Jews are the children of the covenant God first promised to Abraham.  The Arabs, on the other hand are the children of a different covenant given to Ishmael for the sake of his mother, being a maidservant to Abraham.  The contention, over the centuries, has developed because of the two different covenants, because only one was to be The Chosen People of God.  I have a hard time figuring out who is who, and what line the differing peoples are in the area.  Hagar chose an Egyptian wife for Ishmael, which meant that the Egyptians were there before Ishmael.  Today Egypt is known as an Arab nation[5].  This leads to the speculation that Egypt, and other nations in the area, is not Arab but some other race of peoples since they are not descendants of Ishmael. 

          Esau represents another covenant yet.  The blessing given to Esau, because Jacob “stole” his inheritable covenant blessing, led him to establish another people separate and apart from the Jews.  He married Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, and became a part of the Arab peoples.  From this we see that the claim of the Moslems, to be descendants of Abraham is valid, because Mohammad was a descendant of Ishmael. 

          We can see, from the above, that Jew envy may be nothing more than glorified sibling rivalry.  The Islamists have a doctrine known as WAQF, which means once a territory is Moslem it is Moslem forever.  Under this doctrine all of the land God gave to Israel would belong to the Jewish people today. Since we all know Allah is not God and therefore cannot direct the affairs of men, we must submit to the authority of the real God of the Bible.  Recognizing this truth, we see that Israel will never be “wiped off the face of the earth” as the Islamists contend.

          Gentile is a term used by many to refer to anyone who is not a believer in their God, as well as a believer who did not start out as a Jew.  For me this is offensive as, to me, it means one doesn’t believe in the One True and Living God of the Jews and Christians.  The Bible says that the salvation of Jesus is available to both the Jew and the gentile.  If you are a gentile, and accept Jesus, you don’t remain a gentile but become a believer.  Non Jews who accept Christ are grafted into the vine where God is the root and foundation.[6]  Christ came to the Jew first and then to the gentile.[7]  We can see from this, that when someone becomes a Christian, he becomes part of the vine; he does not replace the vine.  I guess that Christians could be looked upon as a sect of Judaism; one who has recognized and accepted the Messiah. Therefore, don’t reject the Jews, become one.  Become, as it says in Romans 2:28-29, circumcised in your heart.

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[1] Romans 11:1

[2] Romans 11:29

[3] Wikipedia

[4] Replacement Theology Its Origins, Teachings and Errors By Dr. Gary Hedrick ,President of CJF Ministries http://www.shema.com/Combating%20Replacement%20Theology/crt-004.php

[5] According to Wikipedia

[6] Romans 11:22-23

[7] Romans 2:10