A couple of things from a Christian perspective: 1) The modern state of Israel is not the same as the Israel of the scriptures. Israel is not a place, but a people. Christians were grafted into Israel. Those Jews that accepted Christ were part of Israel. Those that rejected Christ after Christ was here have rejected Israel. 2) Whether or not modern Jews accept Christ has no bearing on how we should treat them (golden rule). 3) The modern state of Israel is not exempt from being criticized, et cetera just because they have slapped the name Israel over everything. 4) What the settlements have done to the inhabitants that were already there is criminal. The settlers and their actions are often wicked.
Romans 9:4-8
4 who are Israelites, to whom
pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service
of God, and the promises; 5 of whom
are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ
came, who is over all,
the eternally blessed God. Amen.
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they
are not all Israel who
are of Israel, 7 nor
are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”[
a] 8 That is, those who
are the children of the flesh, these
are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Replacement theology (or supersessionism) is not biblical. Romans 9:4-8 you mentioned talks about our adoption as sons and daughters of the most high that came from the Jews (John 4:22) in regards to our salvation (Galatians 3:28). But it does not mean that God is done with the nation of Israel. Here are some mainstream christian sources that talk about this theology more in depth:
"For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob,'” (
Rom. 11:25-26).
Some replacement theologians would teach that any mention of "Israel" after Acts chapter 2 (
Pentecost) would be referring to the Christian church, but the above Scripture cannot be used to support that idea. In fact, it plainly contradicts it. Obviously, God is not done with Israel. The text tells us that God has hardened Israel but it also tells that disheartening is temporary.
What is replacement theology? | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
Replacement theology teaches that the church is the replacement for Israel and that the many promises made to Israel in the Bible are fulfilled in the Christian church, not in Israel. The prophecies in Scripture concerning the blessing and restoration of Israel to the Promised Land are spiritualized or allegorized into promises of God’s blessing for the church. Major problems exist with this view, such as the continuing existence of the Jewish people throughout the centuries and especially with the revival of the modern state of Israel. If Israel has been condemned by God and there is no future for the Jewish nation, how do we explain the supernatural survival of the Jewish people over the past 2,000 years despite the many attempts to destroy them? How do we explain why and how Israel reappeared as a nation in the 20th century after not existing for 1,900 years?
The view that Israel and the church are different is clearly taught in the New Testament. Biblically speaking, the church is distinct from Israel, and the terms
church and
Israel are never to be confused or used interchangeably. We are taught from Scripture that the church is an entirely new creation that came into being on the day of Pentecost and will continue until it is taken to heaven at the rapture (
Ephesians 1:9–11;
1 Thessalonians 4:13–17). The church has no relationship to the curses and blessings for Israel. The covenants, promises, and warnings of the Mosaic Covenant were valid only for Israel. Israel has been temporarily set aside in God’s program during these past 2,000 years of dispersion (see
Romans 11).
What is replacement theology / supersessionism?
So where is the church now concerning this shift, it is mostly still divided. Interestingly though, along similar lines to those in the church who are holding to more conservative and liberal interpretations of Scripture. With those from the charismatic and Pentecostal denominations along with a mix of evangelicals opening up more and more towards the restoration of Israel and those from the liberal side of the church where church growth has been shrinking rapidly, still holding to the teachings of replacement theology.
Could those holding to a continued separation between Israel and the church be bordering the arrogance that the apostle Paul spoke of in
Romans 11, thinking like the Pharisees that they have had God to themselves?
These are strong words, but they are written in a spirit of love for us in the church to re-align ourselves with our Father's plans. Yeshua/Jesus is very close to the door and we are still in a time of mercy for us to come into repentance and get it right (
Romans 11:32).
Where Should the Church Stand Regarding Israel?
God's eternal purpose is to bless the world through Israel. Already He has done so in measure, for "salvation is from the Jews" (
John 4:22), but the fullness of future blessing is indicated in the wondrous promise of
Isaiah 27:6: "In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit."
The declaration that "salvation is from the Jews” suggests our immeasurable debt to Israel. All that we have worth having has come to us through the Jews. Our Bible is a Jewish Book, and our Savior is a Jewish Savior. Let us never forget to pray for God's chosen people. It is true that Israel, today, is in the place of rejection. The nation is a secular, unbelieving (as to the claims of Scripture and their Messiah, Jesus Christ) nation; but "…at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" (
Romans 11:5). Some Jews are being saved and are becoming members of the body of Christ through faith in their Messiah.
Should Christians support the nation of Israel?
The Church at its inception was virtually entirely Jewish, and it remained so until the Gospel began to spread. Ultimately the Gospel spread to Antioch, where the first Gentile congregation began, the base from which the Gospel spread into all the world.
In the book of Romans, chapters 9 through 11, the apostle Paul deals with the question of the Jews in God's providence and purpose. Within the whole of the Bible, these three chapters virtually stand alone as an elaboration of the theology of God's dealing with Jews.
The Jews were the "firstfruit" ...the "first people" (through Abraham) to understand a covenant God. They then relayed the riches of that truth to the world, and through their agency, the Messiah came into the world.
The Word of God calls Jews the "root" and Gentiles the "branches." We're reminded that while "because of unbelief, some of them were broken off and you stand by faith," we are not to become haughty but to fear: "
For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either." When the fullness of the Gentiles is completed, "all Israel will be saved." (Romans 11:16-27)
Why Stand With Israel Today? | Jack Hayford Ministries
