Over the last two years, antisemitism has soared to heights not seen since the 1930s and 40s. Violence and open hostility have caused Jewish people across the world to once again feel the need to shroud their identity with constant vigilance.
As in past centuries, many followers of Christ have served as defenders of Jewish people, while others who also carry the label of “Christian” have been active participants in stoking Jew-hatred in their communities.
The latter category of “Christian” succumbed to antisemitism through a false teaching called “replacement theology.” They believe that God has tossed aside the Jewish people, bestowing His covenant and promises to Israel on another: the church.
Replacement theology has many damaging side effects. For the individual, this false teaching results in a warped understanding of God’s Word, from the first to the very last book of the Bible. Neglecting to comprehend God’s role for and love of the Jewish people has provided fertile ground for thousands of years of antisemitism to take root in the church.
Apart from the heinous persecution of Jews that has come as a result, another side effect is even more devastating: replacement theology has repelled Jewish people from recognizing their Messiah and Savior.
As ambassadors for Christ, many self-proclaimed Christians have delivered the Jewish people a false version of Jesus, stripping Him of His Jewishness and representing Him as someone who despises and rejects them. Consequently, the name of Jesus has become an offence to many Jewish ears.
This portrayal of Christ is far from Biblical. God’s plan for the future testifies to His continued love for the Jewish people. These are the people God selected to be the avenue by which the world would come to know Him. Through the Jews, God not only provided us with His Word, He also chose them to be the people through whom He would step into His own creation and lay down His life for the sins of mankind. In the words of the Apostle Paul: “Hath God cast away His people? God forbid” (Romans 11:1). God promises a day in which Israel will recognize Christ and be reconciled with Him.
Here also lies the immeasurable benefit of rightly interpreting God’s Word: a proper representation of Jesus’ profound love for the Jewish people draws individual Jews toward the Gospel.
While Jewish people are aware that many “Christians” have made themselves their enemies, they cannot deny that other followers of Christ have been their most unflinching friends. During the holocaust, it was Christians who were willing to boldly and self-sacrificingly protect the Jews—inserting themselves into the line of fire for a persecution that was not their own.
Today, numerous followers of Christ are doing the same. Many believers vocally support Israel, both in advocacy and financial blessing. There are churches worldwide that assist with security and volunteer at Jewish events. In a time when Jews fear for their safety when leaving their homes wearing Jewish symbols, Christians don hats, shirts, and necklaces showcasing their support for God’s chosen people. This presents a profound question in the Jewish mind: Why?
My dear friend Tiauna Lodewyk, a representative for the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, volunteers at countless Jewish events and marches, often offering to drive people home afterward. During the car rides, the Jewish people often gaze at her with a puzzled expression. “You are a Gentile Christian… why are you doing this?” they frequently ask. Tiauna sees this as an open door to sharing with them the deep love Jesus has for the Jewish people. For many, this is contrary to what they have been told about the Church, inviting more questions about the Christian faith. With each answer she carefully supplies, Tiauna regularly describes a visible softening of their hearts toward the Gospel. She ends by inviting them to church or to continue the one-on-one conversation over coffee—a gesture frequently accepted.
Understanding the Scriptures and prophecy pertaining to Israel and God’s chosen people is more important than most believers realize. This is not a tertiary issue. A correct comprehension of God’s love for the Jewish people actively draws them to the Gospel, just as the Bible declared in Romans 11. The false teaching of replacement theology, and its twisted presentation of Jesus, does the exact opposite, casting a vast stumbling block before the Jewish people—blocking their view of Jesus, who stands before them as a perfect fulfillment of Messianic prophecy and with loving arms wide open.
