Unfortunately though, such behaviour is similar to how Christendom has treated Israel. The difference being however that when Christendom pushed Israel out of the nest a large Eagle came flying by and caught Israel. In one of the greatest miracles of our time, God returned Israel to His nest.

Struggle between brothers

The gospel was first given to the Jews. When on earth, Jesus lived as a Jewish rabbi, worked in Israel and brought the gospel to the Jewish people. It was not until Paul started his missions that non-Jews, or Gentiles, were reached by the gospel. However, before long, there were more Gentile believers than there were Jewish believers and slowly rivalry between the Church and the Jewish synagogue arose. This struggle between brothers was full on by 140 B.C. at which time a Christian leader, Justin the Torturer said to a Jewish adversary: "As far as your Scriptures are concerned – or rather, not yours but ours ...". The sense of competition soon turned into hostility against the Jewish faith and people and then into anti-Semitism.

As is clearly illustrated by the horrors under the Nazi regime in Germany during WOII, having anti-Semitists in power is dangerous for the Jewish people. Something similar can be seen in church history. When Constantine the Great (306-337) declared Christendom the official religion, the church immediately took advantage of the situation and in 315 the first discriminating laws against the Jews were taken on. Church fathers and bishops preached fiery sermons against the Jews and their faith. God warned the church in the Roman Empire by sending bands of robbers from the Huns and Vandals to plunder the region in the 5th century. However, after a miraculous recovery from this shock, anti-Semitism rose again in the church. Jews were persecuted and in some places were even forced to join the church. God's judgement was complete around 650 when little or no Christians were left in North Africa (besides Egypt) after the Islam conquered the region. Yet the church continued to preach against Israel and the anti-Semitic poison started the "hell of the Middle Ages" for the Jews. The crusades particularly caused many Jewish victims. Once again God's judgement was inevitable and in 1348 the largest epidemic in history broke loose. Killing millions, the plague caused the death of about 1/3 of the population.

A final significant matter in the church's anti-Semitic history, is the use of anti-Jewish statements by the great reformer Martin Luther in Nazi anti-Semitic propaganda. Through this over the centuries a curse has come upon many churches.

Two questions and an answer

What is then the nature of the relationship between Israel and the church? After all, the Jewish people do not (yet) believe in Jesus as their Messiah do they! And, how do we reverse the curse? The answer to both questions can be found by listening closely to the Bible. In John 12:39 we read that the Jews were not able to believe. 'God gave them a spirit of stupor' (Romans 11:8). Why was that? According to Paul it was for us 'Because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles' (Romans 11:11). And 'Through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus' (Ephesians 3:6). So instead of persecuting the Jews or, as in the metaphor, pushing them out of the nest, we need to realise that we share the nest with Israel. Through our faith in the Lord Jesus, we are 'fellow citizens with God's people' (Ephesians 2:19). God uses both Israel and the church for His purpose here on earth. Israel continues to be God's chosen people, but we can share in that. Paul illustrates that for us using an olive tree. He compares Israel to a cultivated olive tree from which a few branches have been broken off. We, the gentile believers, are compared to a wild olive tree. People who believe in Jesus are grafted onto the cultivated olive tree, being Israel. You can read about this in Romans 11.

Return to Israel

Sadly we must conclude that Christendom has not learnt a lot from the effects of 18 centuries of anti-Jewish sentiment. We are at fault before Israel and the God of Israel. A fault that can only be redeemed by admitting it, confessing it permanently changing our attitude towards Israel. Returning to our biblical Jewish roots and Israel is particularly important in this day and age because the final fulfilment of world history is drawing near. That means that after a time of judgement – as described in, among others, the book of Revelation – the messianic kingdom will come down to earth. Israel is going to have a leading role in that Millennium and we too shall participate; at least if we once again take up our position next to Israel in God's plan. A plan in which we each are given our own task. As Christians, we have two important priorities at this time. Firstly, to pray for and support Israel and secondly, to continue spreading the gospel to all ends of the earth. Churches and individual Christians that dedicate themselves to these two tasks can expect blessing from the Almighty, the God of Israel.