Thoughts on Israel

It is important for Christians to remember our relationship to Israel. However, in doing so we must recognize Israel as it is today, and not simply what it was/is from a Biblical perspective.

From a state standpoint we remember that its government is generally secular, like most other governments, and that an aspect of the ongoing battle for "promised land" is being handled in a secular, non-religious way.

Secondly, we see Israel is the culture center for much of Judaism. While Israel is still God's chosen nation, it is important to realize that without a belief in the savior of the nation who already came, that is the promised messiah Christ, Israel stands just as condemned in sin as our unbelieving world as a whole.

Paul and many early Christians were Jewish (Hebrew) before following Christ and had histories tied into the OT promises of Messiah. They believed in the promise of Christ as messiah and were saved by that faith. We recognize as Christians that all have sinned and fallen short of God, and that despite Israel's long history of being God's chosen nation, they are still subject to the necessity of the blood of Christ for forgiveness of sin. Whether or not God has special provision remains to be seen, but we can know for sure that if Paul and the other Jews of his day trusted in Christ for salvation, the Jewish nation of today would not be exempt.

It is the Israel who will ultimately come to Christ that Christians support. The nation is still an ally, but from a spiritual, end times standpoint it is Jewish people who believe on Christ whom we stand with as brothers and sisters in the faith. Until that time, we are dealing with a state much like our own--both secular and religious.

We know in the end God will fulfill His Abrahamic covenant and we rest assured knowing Israel's history is far from over. Certainly we know that Christ too will set up his kingdom in a New Jerusalem yet to be realized.

As we watch the news of Israel and the Middle East's trials, we must be careful to distinguish that we support Israel as God's chosen nation, but that like any nation they are certainly not perfect. We do not necessarily support actions against humanity committed by Israel the state.
We look at them in the sense that God promised them the land and that Israel has a special place in the history of Christianity.

We anticipate restoration of Israel in a spiritual, Christ-based sense, and until that day, we continue the message of the gospel to a nation who has lost it's way for a time, before its ultimate redemption comes to pass.

Be blessed friends!