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| Replacement Theology | |||||
 Printer Friendly Version - opens in separate window The roots of Replacement Theology go back to the early
Church and became the seed bed of 'Christian anti-Semitism.' What Is Replacement Theology? In simplicity the belief is that Israel has been replaced
by the Christian Church in the purposes of God. The Church is now the
continuation of Israel and the latter is excluded. After Pentecost 'Israel',
in the Bible, refers only to the Church. The Jewish people are no longer God's chosen people
and the promises, covenants and blessings ascribed to Israel in the
Bible have been taken away from the Jews and given to the Church. The
Jews are subject however to the curses found in the Bible. The Jewish people as a whole have no specific future or hope, nor calling in God's economy; although individual Jews can be saved. Development of Replacement
Theology in the Early Church Clearly Jesus is Jewish, and taught that He was not
abolishing the things of the past. "Do not think that I
have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish
them but to fulfil them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth
disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will
by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
- Matthew 5:17-18 The New Testament shows us that separation between
Judaism and Christianity began partly as a result of the widespread
acceptance of Christianity by the Gentiles. At the same time, the destruction
of the Temple and the move away from Jerusalem, being the centre of
the Christian faith, contributed much. (See The Legacy of Hatred, David
Rausch, 1984.) As more Gentiles came in to the church, many read
the Bible through a Greek mindset, which it is claimed, resulted in
many heresies. Judaism began to be considered as a legal religion under
Roman law, while Christianity, a new religion, was illegal. Clarence H. Wagner, Jr. informs us that, "The antagonism of the early
Christians towards the Jews was reflected in the writings of the early
Church Fathers. For example, Justin Martyr (c. AD 160) in speaking to
a Jew said: 'The Scriptures are not yours, but ours.' Irenaeus, Bishop
of Lyon (c. AD 177) declared: 'Jews are disinherited from the grace
of God.' Tertullian (AD 160-230), in his treatise, 'Against the Jews,'
announced that God had rejected the Jews in favor of the Christians." In the early 4th century, Eusebius wrote that the
promises of the Hebrew Scriptures were for Christians and not the Jews,
and the curses were for the Jews. He argued that the Church was the
continuation of the Old Testament and thus superseded Judaism. The young
Church declared itself to be the true Israel, or "Israel according
to the Spirit," heir to the divine promises. They found it essential
to discredit the "Israel according to the flesh" to prove
that God had cast away His people and transferred His love to the Christians." With Christianity becoming the official religion of
the Roman Empire under Constantine, laws began to be passed against
the Jews and their buildings. Over the next 1,000 years, Church Councils
confirmed and added to these restrictions. And Wagner again informs
us that, "So, by the Middle Ages,
the ideological arsenal of Christian anti-Semitism was completely established.
This was further manifested in a variety of precedent-setting events
within the Church, such as Patriarch Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, expelling
the Jews and giving their property to a Christian mob. From a social
standpoint, the deterioration of the Jewish position in society was
only beginning its decline. During this early period, the virulent judeo-
phobia was primarily limited to the clergy who were always trying to
keep their flocks away from the Jews. However, later, the rank and file,
growing middle class would be the main source of anti-Semitic activity.
"The result of these anti-Jewish
teachings continued onwards throughout Church history, manifesting itself
in such events and actions as the Crusades, the accusation of communion
host desecration and blood libel by the Jews, the forced wearing of
distinguishing marks to ostracize them, the Inquisition, the displacement
of whole Jewish communities by exile or separate ghettoes, the destruction
of synagogues and Jewish books, physical persecution and execution,
the Pogroms. Ultimately, the seeds of destruction grew to epic proportions,
culminating in the Holocaust, which occurred in 'Christian' Europe.
"Had the Church understood
the clear message of being grafted into the Olive Tree from the beginning,
then the sad legacy of anti-Semitic hatred from the Church may have
been avoided. The error of Replacement Theology is like a cancer in
the Church that has not only caused it to violate God's Word concerning
the Jewish people and Israel, but it made us into instruments of hate,
not love in God's Name." Verses used to teach Replacement
Theology In Matthew 21:43 and similar verses, Jesus
says that the kingdom of God would be taken away from the Jews. However,
these verses must be read in context, as Jesus was not talking to the
whole race of Israel but specifically to the Pharisees, chief priests,
etc. Romans 2:28-29 is dealing with the fact that
whatever we believe it must be from the heart and not just an outward
show. Relationship is the key. This has nothing to do with one group
replacing another, rather it shows that both are on the same footing. Romans 11:17-23 talks about the Gentiles being
grafted in, to the original olive tree, not replacing it. It shows that
the Gentiles are drawing on the same life Verses such as Galatians 3:29 and Romans
4:13 are used to show that Abraham only had a partial inheritance
but the church today has the fullness. However these and similar verses
in the New Testament do not exclude Israel but rather include the Gentiles.
Gentiles have been brought in to the fulfilment of the promises of God
not Israel excluded and replaced. Other Verses to consider Ephesians 2:11-18 are central verses to this
subject and I believe that they show clearly that replacement theology
is not taught within Scripture. They do not just show that the Jews
need the Gentiles but equally for fullness the Gentiles need the Jews.
Note the following statements that are made in these verses. * We were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel Clearly it is talking about a unity of two groups
not a take-over by one of them! Romans 11:11-36 reveals that, indeed for a
time, the Jews did stumble in order that the Gentiles could come in.
But within the verses there is a clear warning not to be smug about
what has happened because God has not yet finished with Israel. Outcome of this I will sum up this article by again quoting from Wagner
as I do not feel that I can improve on what he says here: "What Happens When the Church
Replaces Israel? 1) The Church becomes arrogant
and self-centred. 2) It boasts against the Jews
and Israel. 3) It devalues the role of Israel
or has no role for Israel at all. 4) These attitudes result in anti-Semitism
in word and deed. 5) Without a place for Israel
and the Jewish people today, you cannot explain the Bible prophecies,
especially the very specific ones being fulfilled in Israel today. 6) Many New Testament passages
do not make sense when the Jewish people are replaced by the Church. 7) You can lose the significance
of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, for today. Many Christians
boast of being a New Testament (NT) Christian or a NT Church as in the
Book of Acts. However, the Bible of the early Church was not the New
Testament, which did not get codified until the 4th century, but rather
the Hebrew Scriptures. 8) You can lose the Hebraic/Judaic
contextualization of the New Testament, which teaches us more about
Yeshua and how to become better disciples. 9) The Church loses out on the
opportunity to participate in God's plan and prophecy for the Church,
Israel and the world today. What Happens When the Church Relates
to Israel? 1) The Church takes its proper
role in God's redemptive plan for the world, appreciating God's ongoing
covenant relationship and love for Israel and the Jewish people. 2) We can see the consistency
of God's redemptive plan from Genesis to Revelation as an ongoing complementary
process, not as disconnected snapshots. 3) We show love and honour for
God's covenant people, not contempt. 4) We value the Old and New Testaments
as equally inspired and significant for the Church today. 5) Bible prophecy makes sense
for today and offers opportunities for involvement in God's plan for
Israel. 6) We become better disciples
of Yeshua as we are able to appreciate the Hebraic/Judaic roots that
fill in the definitions, concepts, words and events in the New Testament
that are otherwise obscured. Why? Many were not explained by the Jewish
writers of the New Testament, because they did not feel the need to
fill in all the details that were already explained in the Old Testament." Further Study The
Error of Replacement Theology, Clarence H. Wagner, Jr. (****
Please note that we do not agree with all that Wagner says but we believe
that he is correct on the issue of the dangers of Replacement Theology
to Christians today. Most especially we would affirm our commitment
that salvation can only come by grace through faith and that works of
the law will never save anyone. ****)
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