An Introduction

The People of God as One People

These posts in this series are an attempt to deal with some of the complicated issues surrounding the identity of the people of God as the one people of God.

They examine how the Church and cultural Israel are related within the broader scope of the several types of eschatology (end-time study). For the complexity of the issues has led to a multiplicity of differing viewpoints that can be confusing without some road map: using some type of classification of views is one way to create order in an otherwise tangled scene.  



First the question of whether the Church superseded the earthly Jewish nation and its religious practices is a major issue. Some use the language of 'replacement' although 'fulfilment' is currently thought to be a better term within this framework.

Others, of course, believe that God has a plan with cultural Israel as well as with the Church; that He postponed his work with Israel only until the 'time of the Gentiles' would be fulfilled. Then his work with Israel will be taken up again.

These Christians believe that cultural Israelites because of their race will receive grace to believe in the future: these Christians will reject any suggestion that God has abandoned Israel as a nation. Other Christians, just as fervently believe contradictorily, that the Jews have no special place in the economy of salvation but must come by way of the Cross of Christ as do all who would be saved in this age of opportunity. 

Some believe that present-day national Israel is part of a fulfilment of God's 'unconditional' promises to it of greatness, land, and many descendants. Others believe that all such promises to Israel were fulfilled in Joshua's time or that elements of the promises have 'spiritual' fulfilment.

These Differences Have Consequences

The questions raised about Israel above raise individual and even nation-changing consequences. For example, the present US government supports the State of Israel to the tune of 6 million dollars per day (8 billion dollars per year) at present. 

At least some of this support can be explained in terms of Christians who believe that Israel is entitled to the 'Holy Land' because of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Hence the question arises, should the Church or Christians support the present Israeli government in its conflict with the Palestinians on the basis that God has promised the 'Holy Land' to the Jews?

Not An Easy Topic In General

In the reading I've done so far in preparation for blogging I've discovered that this field of inquiry is by no means simple. Many earnest Christians hold widely differing opinions and appear to have solid biblical reasons for so doing. 

Hence, my aim is to approach the area with some caution even though I have already developed what I think is a general sense of the place of the Church vis a vis Israel. (That doesn't of course mean it is correct in all respects and I realise I have much to learn!) Nevertheless, my quest is to acquaint myself more fully with some of the extensive discourse on this theme and hopefully learn much so that my views become better founded.