Opinion Israel is the Church’s blindspot
By Steve Maltz, Premier Christianity:
It is significant that you will fail to find a serious intercessor who doesn’t pray for Israel and the Jewish people and who doesn’t have a clear biblical understanding of God’s continuing love for his Jewish people (see watchmen.org, lydiafellowship.org, intercessorsforbritain.co.uk). They understand this. (These intercessors also recognise that Israel as a secular nation is as flawed as any other and praying for the Jewish people does not mean endorsing political decisions made by Israel’s leadership.)
Unfortunately, the mainstream Church doesn’t share God’s heart for Israel. They are too distracted by politics, social concerns and secular agendas. Many of the Church’s spokespeople are too eager for acceptance by secular society to speak prophetically. When it comes to ‘difficult’ issues, such as concern for the unborn, marriage and, yes, Israel…they are painfully silent, beyond the occasional sound-bite. When pressed, they’ll toe a careful line, not wanting to offend the establishment (which, when you think about it, is not a very Christ-like attitude).
When Russia invaded Ukraine how many churches showed their solidarity to the Ukrainian people, often visibly through flags, declarations and sermons. When George Floyd was murdered, almost every church leader you could name was tweeting #blacklivesmatter.
Where is the similar solidarity to Israel from today’s Church?
Evidence abounds that the Church still has issues with the Jews.
In 2002 The Spectator featured an article entitled ‘Christians who hate the Jews’, reporting on a meeting of Jews and prominent Christians brought together to discuss the churches’ increasing hostility towards Israel. It stated, “The real reason for the growing antipathy [to Israel], according to the Christians at that meeting, was the ancient hatred of Jews rooted deep in Christian theology and now on widespread display once again…The hostility to Israel within the Church is rooted in a dislike of the Jews.”
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