Weekly Update: Replacement
Two recent developments show how sensitive the relationship is between Jews and Christians.
The first is the recent publication of a new Bible translation by the Danish Bible Society in which the term āIsraelā in both the Old and New Testaments has been replaced with other words, like āpeopleā or āhomeā. The translation has caused an international outcry. Many in Israel see it as yet another attempt to deprive the Jewish people of their identity. According to the Danish Bible Society, this was done because many Christians today donāt understand the meaning of the word Israel.
Indeed for many young Christians, who donāt know their Bible, the word āIsraelā makes them think only of the modern State of Israel. Whereas the Biblical concept of āIsraelā (both Old and New Testaments) is much bigger ā it is about a unique connection between the people, the nation and the land.
The Danish Bible Societyās translation seeks to separate the Jewish people from the land and the modern State of Israel. This is a very common mistake amongst Christians. It is a very dangerous approach as it deprives the Jews of their historical and spiritual connection with the land. And it is deeply un-Biblical, as Dr. Petra Heldt explains in her article for Gatestone Institute.
The other development was the outrage this week in Israel when it became known that a Christian TV broadcaster has been given a licence to broadcast programs in Israel āto take the gospel of Jesus into the homes and lives and hearts of the Jewish people.ā
This is no doubt well-intentioned, but reveals a certain insensitivity we Christians often have for the history of Christian persecution of the Jews, and lack of empathy for feelings of the Jewish people today.
At Christians for Israel, we believe it is not our task as Christians at this time to tell the Jews what to do or think. Our job is to get our own house in order.Ā WeĀ have been arrogant,Ā weĀ have become lukewarm,Ā weĀ have failed to look earnestly for Jesusā return, and the coming of His Kingdom. And in all of that, we have for two millennia looked down upon the Jewish people and despised them.
Of course we must witness our hope ā even to Jewish people. But the best way we can do this is by repenting for 2000 years of Christian anti-Semitism, and showing mercy and love towards the Jewish people ā not with words, but with our actions.
God has never abandoned the Jewish people. The restoration of Israel shows His eternal love for the Jewish people. Letās trust Him to bring them home ā in His way and His time ā as He promised. And He is doing just that.
(For Christians wanting to understand why the Jewish people are so sensitive on this issue, I highly recommend Rev. Cornelis Kantās excellent booklet āWhy is it so difficult for Jews to believe in Jesusā –Ā see details below)
Maranatha.
Andrew Tucker
Editor-in-Chief – Israel & Christians Today
Danish Bible translation
The misrepresentation of Holy Scripture by the Danish Bible Society (DBS) has been met with a crescendo of international protest demanding the withdrawal of the falsified Bible. Read this analysis by Dr. Petra Heldt: click here..Ā
Bringing the gospel in Israel
Israelās Communications Minister David Amsalem has threatened to take a new Hebrew-language evangelical channel off the air if it turned out to be proselytizing. Read more..
Israel one step closer to a national unity government
Israel is now close to having a new government. Following the passage of legislation in the Knesset to implement the recent Netanyahu/Gantz deal, the President will now formally ask PM Netanyahu to form a new national government.Ā Read more..
Putin and Jerusalem
Hereās a fascinating article by Shay Attias about Russiaās obsession with Jerusalem: read article..
āMelki Tzedekā – Video teaching by Johannes Gerloff
Episode 22 in the series of teachings by Israeli-based Bible teacher and journalist Johannes Gerloff:
Melchizedek certainly is one of the most mysterious personalities in the Bible. He appears in very few passages. We do not know a lot about him. However, he set standards that are crucial even for New Testament believers.
āRedemptionā-
Video teaching by Rev. Willem J.J. Glashouwer
When Jesus speaks about the āsigns of the timesā, He mentions a great number of things that will happen to this world. The majority of these are not pleasant. Reading about āthese thingsā can strike fear into your heart. But He immediately adds something to it: when āthese thingsā begin to happen, you must understand that your redemption is drawing near.
Booklet:Ā āWHYĀ Ā IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR JEWS TO BELIEVE IN JESUSāby Rev. Cornelis Kant
Scripture for the week: Romans 11:25-32
25Ā I do not want you to be ignorantĀ of this mystery,Ā brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:Ā Israel has experienced a hardeningĀ in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,Ā 26Ā and in this way all Israel will be saved.Ā As it is written:
āThe deliverer will come from Zion;
Ā Ā Ā Ā he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27Ā And this is my covenant with them
Ā Ā Ā Ā when I take away their sins.ā
28Ā As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemiesĀ for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,Ā 29Ā for Godās gifts and his callĀ are irrevocable.Ā 30Ā Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,Ā 31Ā so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may nowĀ receive mercy as a result of Godās mercy to you.Ā 32Ā For God has bound everyone over to disobedienceĀ so that he may have mercy on them all.
The goal of Israel & Christians Today is to help Christians to take Godās Word seriously, and study current events in the world in the context of the Bible.
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