Israel, the Church, and God's Plan (publ. 2024-11-02)

In the September Friends of Israel call-to-action letter, Dr. Jim Showers summarized a few theological and prophetic points in a helpful way. I want to quote here some parts of that letter.

Has the Church Forgotten Israel?

I was deeply concerned to see how many churches struggled to speak about the brutal attack on Israel last year on October 7. People across America told me that their churches mentioned little, if anything, from the pulpit following that tragic day. When the assault was addressed, it often included a call to pray for everyone involved on both sides, including the terrorists.

Whether church leaders realize it or not, such thinking draws a moral equivalency between innocent Israeli men, women, and children who were tortured and murdered and Hamas, who carried out this heinous attack. Nothing justifies Hamas’s savagery, which was supported and celebrated by the majority of Gazans.

Has the church forgotten Israel’s important role in God’s redemptive plan—past, present, and future? I believe so. This is not a recent phenomenon, but it is a growing trend. Recent polls show a decline in support for Israel in the church, particularly with those under the age of 40. The behavior of the church following the deadly massacre in Israel reveals just how widespread this issue has become.

Since the 2nd century, factions within the church have believed the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. What is troubling today is the number of evangelical churches that used to support Israel but now are silent. This change is a result of a lack of proper biblical teaching about the key role Israel plays in God's plan.

God never intended for the church to replace Israel; otherwise, He would have made it clear in Scripture. No Bible verse states that God has rejected and replaced Israel in His plan to redeem the world from sin. While God does say He will discipline Israel for disobedience, He also promises that His covenants with the nation are everlasting (Gen. 17:8, 19) and that He will restore the people of Israel to the land and bring them to salvation (Jer. 31)...

In Romans 11, Paul warned the church not to become arrogant or boastful against Israel, reminding Gentiles that our salvation and spiritual blessings come from the covenants God made with Israel, not the other way around. He explained that God has left Israel in unbelief so that salvation could come to the Gentile world, fulfilling God's promise to bless the nations through Abraham's Seed. Paul further declared that, one day, all Israel will be saved (v. 26-27), referencing God’s prophetic promises to bring them to faith (Isa. 27:9; 59:20-21; Jer. 31:33-34; cf. Zech. 12:10).