Debate!
As a Christian, do I have to be a friend of Israel?
FRIEND RECENTLY passed an article on to me that was taken from
the pages of Israel Today (June 2006 issue, p.19), written by Ludwig Schneider and with the same title I used above. I thought
the piece was interesting at several levels, not the least of which are several flawed assumptions that have sprouted legs and have
become institutionalized today in both the ignorant (sometimes deliberately so) religious world, as well as the misinformed and deliberately
misled secular community. I say deliberately misled because some people have mistakenly projected themselves as the singular
and chosen recipients of God’s blessings above all others. What are those flawed assumptions?
The first assumption is that of
the identity of Israel. (1) Who is “Israel”? Another assumption has to do with the identity of the “chosen people” of
Yahweh God. (2) Who are they? Yet one more assumption has to do with the identity of the Jews. (3) Who are the “Jews”? One additional assumption revolves around the identity of “Gentiles.” (4) Who are the “Gentiles”?
The debate question, As a Christian,
do I have to be a friend of Israel? is misleading. What is a “friend”? Is it a supporter, regardless? What
does it mean to be a friend of another nation? The old saw, a friend in need is a friend indeed might work here. That
is to say, if the State of Israel has need of food, medicines, or other essential services, should we (as a nation) support Israel? —To this extent and for humanitarian reasons, yes.
The word “Israel” today commonly refers to the current State of Israel as found
on most all world maps today as “Israel.” It is a place-name of a country with Jerusalem as its capital. The citizens
of Israel are called “Israelis.” On the other hand, the term ancient Israel calls into focus the ancient Israelites, a familial
group of people (12 tribes) descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One subgroup of Jacob was eventually called Jews after
Judah, one of the sons of Jacob (Israel). The State of Israel came into being on May 14, 1948 and its national symbol is the
Star of David. The land that the Israelis occupy today was formerly called Palestine.
The United States formally supports the
State of Israel and so do I. Many Americans do not. But the debate question goes further than general support. It
is: Am I personally obliged to be a friend of the State of Israel because I am Christian or a believer in Jesus Christ? Notice the emphasis is upon an “obligation” of friendship and that this suggested obligation comes from merely professing oneself
to be a Christian. This question does not allow for a choice in the matter. A friend is an ally, not a foe, and one who
is on the same side in a struggle. We should be allies with Israel.
On the other hand, I am not aware of any biblical mandate spelling
out a law or even a suggestion stating that those who follow Christ must befriend the State of Israel on pain of a loss of salvation
or some such. I am open to suggestions on this point. You will be a friend of the Jews is not a concept found in the Bible,
to my knowledge.
This is not to suggest that there is anything wrong with befriending Jewish Israel corporately or personally. I
do support Israel. Then what is the problem?
The problem with this debate is that the issue is couched in terms that are misleading
and untrue. Schneider writes about the Jewish State: The people of Israel are not the chosen people, am segula [the treasured
nation] because they are better or more perfect than all other peoples. On the contrary, it was because they were “the fewest
of all people,” that “the Lord your God has chosen [them]” (Deut.7:6-7). This is why God will save Israel “for [the sake of
His] holy name,” not because Israel has earned salvation (Ezek.36: 22-25). The writer is selectively mixing ancient Israelites
with modern Israel. Fact: The citizens of modern Israel are not necessarily part of The Chosen People of Deut.7:1-8:20.
Anyone
reviewing the above citation in Deuteronomy will quickly discover that the Lord God is speaking to a certain group of people, and
that they are not just Jews. They are the twelve tribes of Israelites.
We know that today, the State of Israel is comprised
primarily of Jewish people—and according to some people, about 80% of Jews worldwide are Ashkenazi. A fruitless argument is
ongoing about the people living in Israel as to their legitimacy as real or genuine Jews.
The argument stems from interpretations surrounding
the two primary Jewish populations, the Sephardic (from the Iberian Peninsula), and the Ashkenazi (said to be those who are from the
medieval Jewish communities of the Rhineland or Central and Eastern Europe) and, according to anti-Semitic factions, therefore notreal Jews but imposters.) Beyond this bit of history, I will lay this argument aside as worthless and not germane to the issue
at hand. In this Debate Column, for the sake of argument, I assume Jewish legitimacy of those now living in the State of Israel. That is, they are rightful Jews, not imposters.
In any case, those religious people living in modern Israel today are called
Jews; they are presently living in the land once called Judah; ergo, these people, insofar as I am concerned, are Jews (as are those
proclaiming their Jewishness in other lands). (The “Palestinian” argument is not relevant to this issue.)
What is the true identity
of the “Chosen People”? The identity of the “chosen people” happens to be ancient Israel. Ancient Israel was comprised
at one time of 12 tribes descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen.35:23-26). Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. His descendants thereafter were referred to as “Israelites” (Gen.35:10).
Some Christians incorrectly refer to the ancient Israelites
as Israelis. (It’s no sin to be stupid, but one should not pass his stupidity on to the world!) And because of much misinformation,
many, if not most, ignorant Christians refer to the people now living in the State of Israel (Jews, Israelis) as The chosen people.
(Continued...)
