Are Christians obligated to support Israel?

[parky76]

someone in another section suggested that supporting Israel, is somehow expected as per the New Testament.

from what I read, Christianity is the "New Israel", and the Old Covenant with the Jews no longer exists (at least according to the New Testament).

There are no more Jews, no more Greeks....just those who accept Christ and those who don't.

Therefore, since Christians are the "New Jews", they have no obligation to recognize the Old Covevant, giving the Jews ownership of Canaan, let alone an obligation to support the modern State of Israel.

am I read this right?

[Safe-Keeper]

Peggy or some other bible scholar could probably tell you.

[drkitten]

am I read this right?

Not really, although your conclusion is right.

Supporting (the old) Israel was never one of God's commandments in the first place; the inhabitants of the Biblical kingdom of Judah could hardly be expected to support Israel, which was one of its neighbors and enemies. (Indeed, the kingdom of Judah is supposed to have outlasted Israel by about two hundred years.)

And of course the new Israel has nothing to do with the old one.

Basically, your informant is wrong as to the obligation to support Israel.

[gtc]

I haven't really read Revelations but I believe some Christians feel that that book creates a requirement for Christians to support Israel. I think it is something to do with the events of the 'end times' and the return of Jesus requiring the existence of Israel.

The book of Revelation is heavily allegorical and mystical. As far as I am aware there is little consensus about how to interpret the book, let alone about the book calls Christians to do. However, different people and different groups have their favourite different beliefs about the book.

If you are interested in exploring the topic, you may want to start by looking at that book and seeing if you can make head or tale of it. I think a lot of CTs use the terminology of the book so it might be interesting.

The range of positions of Christians with respect to Israel is similar to the range of positions of Jews with respect to Israel. Christians and Jews use different source materials and have a different underlying set of beliefs but they both have to try to interpret their material to see what it has to say about Israel. As you know, there is no single Jewish position about Israel and it is the same with Christians.

[parky76]

correct. the Old Covenant was not "I shall give you the land of Canaan and EVERY Kingdom that arises there will have my blessing"

God gave the Hebrews the land. But thats it.

Not only are Christians not obligated to support the modern State of Israel, but NEITHER are the Jews.

We are obligated to honor the Jews' everlasting right to live in this land. Not own it..and certainly not recognize a modern day liberal Democracy.

[parky76]

I haven't really read Revelations but I believe some Christians feel that that book creates a requirement for Christians to support Israel. I think it is something to do with the events of the 'end times' and the return of Jesus requiring the existence of Israel.

.

well, Revelations says that the Jews will return to the land. It doesn't say they would rule it.

[drkitten]

well, Revelations says that the Jews will return to the land. It doesn't say they would rule it.

Nor does it say that anyone is obliged to support them in their returning; in fact, there's a lot to be said for the idea that if [X] is a symptom of the apocalypse, we should act to prevent [X] for as long as possible, if only to have a better chance to redeem sinners from themselves (which is no longer possible after Judgement Day).

[Darth Rotor]

We are obligated to honor the Jews' everlasting right to live in this land.
Who is this "we" parky? Can you back that up with a Scriptural reference, from either Jewish scripture, Christian Scripture, both or whatever?

FWIW: The imagery of establishing the New Jerusalsm was strong in the Puritans who settled in New England. You will note that they didn't head to the Holy Land to do that, they went to a whole new continent.

DR

[Beerina]

It's my understanding they support it to help fulfill some prophecy somewhere where Israel will become a state as granted by other states, then the End Times begin.

So (and this has been angrily pointed out) they love Israel not because they love Jews or feel they've had a historical injustice that needs to be compensated for, but because it means, I think, it will help induce the End Times, which may involve its destruction. Some "love" there, eh?

[CriticalSock]

Aren't christians meant to hate the jews? I'm thinking Shylock in Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare and Isaac in Ivanhoe by Scott? Or is that just mad medieval christians?

[gtc]

Aren't christians meant to hate the jews? I'm thinking Shylock in Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare and Isaac in Ivanhoe by Scott? Or is that just mad medieval christians?

That argument is basically that while some Jews converted, most Jews rejected Jesus when he was alive and eventually killed him. Worse, the Jews today still reject Jesus.

I think downplaying the role of the Romans and emphasising the role of the Jewish people and their leaders in the rejection and death of Jews was good politics in the early days of the Church. And later, the Jews made very handy scape goats for several reasons.

I think modern Churches would, if they even consider it, argue that people in general and their leaders rejected Jesus and still reject Jesus and for obvious reasons the first ones to reject Jesus were Jewish.

[parky76]

Who is this "we" parky? Can you back that up with a Scriptural reference, from either Jewish scripture, Christian Scripture, both or whatever?

FWIW: The imagery of establishing the New Jerusalsm was strong in the Puritans who settled in New England. You will note that they didn't head to the Holy Land to do that, they went to a whole new continent.

DR

"We", are the Jews. Its the covenant that God made with Abraham. Heard of it?

As to anti-Judaism..and in some sense anti-Semitism, being a part of Christian philosophy, I would have to say yes, that is correct. One can not read the Gospel of John or the writings of Paul, and think otherwise. They greatly resented the vast majority of the Jewish population who did not become Nazarene, and they made that resentment and hatred part of their religious creed.

[mikeyx]

correct. the Old Covenant was not "I shall give you the land of Canaan and EVERY Kingdom that arises there will have my blessing"

God gave the Hebrews the land. But thats it.

Not only are Christians not obligated to support the modern State of Israel, but NEITHER are the Jews.

We are obligated to honor the Jews' everlasting right to live in this land. Not own it..and certainly not recognize a modern day liberal Democracy.

Israel of today, creation of the winning states of World War two, political, not religous, and poorly done.

[Ron_Tomkins]

Are Christians obligated to support Israel?

No

[moon1969]

correct. the Old Covenant was not "I shall give you the land of Canaan and EVERY Kingdom that arises there will have my blessing"

God gave the Hebrews the land. But thats it.

Not only are Christians not obligated to support the modern State of Israel, but NEITHER are the Jews.

We are obligated to honor the Jews' everlasting right to live in this land. Not own it..and certainly not recognize a modern day liberal Democracy.

Israel a democracy? Don"t make me laugh. Israel is an apartheid state.

[drkitten]

Israel a democracy? Don"t make me laugh. Israel is an apartheid state.

Just like the United States is a theocracy?

Moon, your deeply beloved Nazis lost the damn war. We are not going to allow you to build extermination camps so that Finland can come to the Holocaust sixty years late.