1996 issue 2 - anti-semitism, reconstructionism, and dispensationalism - counsel of chalcedon

8/12/2019 1996 Issue 2 - Anti-Semitism, Reconstructionism, And Dispensationalism - Counsel of Chalcedon

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make.

A few paragraphs later, Icecites Rushdoony's charge thatthe premillennial view of thefuture of Israel is a "heresy"because of its "exaltation ofracism into a divine principle"(p. 2). He then concludes:"These statements are clearlyreplacement theology and thustheological anti-Semitism, whiChhas historically been thefoundation for overtanti-Semitism within 'Christendom" (p. 2). Hisargumetlt is: replacementtheology is theologicalanti-Semitism.

The problem is that

dispertsatiOnalismis '

has no special place for theexaltation of national-politicalIsrael in a special] ewishmillennial era. Worse still,Reconstruction theology followsthe pattern of virtually all othernon-dispensational, evangelicaltheolOgies in interpreting theflow of redemptive historysupersessionally. That is, webelieve that in the unfolding ofthe plan of God in history, theChristian Church is the veryfruition of the redemptivepurpose of God. As such,themulti-racial, internationalChurch ofJesus Christsupersedes racial, national Israelas the focus of the kingdom of

. God. But since the Church isinternational, i t doesinc\UderacialIsrael, as well. Allconverted nations will be on art ·

equaUooting in the MessianicKingdom in the "Church" age

has seen in the .1980s a revival ofreplacement of theology (the ,historic cause of anti-Semitism)spearheaded by Dominionistleadership . His concern is thatfor the first time in our lifetime,there is a decline of those whobelieve in the Pretrib Raptureand a f1,lture for national Israel,often known asDispensationalism, and adramatic shift towardsreplacement theology" (p . 2).

Note: Lindsey also saw in the1980s a o u ~ t d o w ntoArmageddon that did not cometo pass Hal Ljndsey, The 1980s:Countdown to Armageddon •(New York: Bantam, 1980).

'

, Turning the Tables'Buthis ill-founded plaint

.against supersessionistic,. l: placement theology and his

'Iaying at the feet ofReconstructionists the scurrilous

redemptively retrogressive. Wenoted previously that they were ' .prone to make ZionistiC . . . .statements. BecaUse' we disagreewith these, we are labeled ."antI-Semitic" -- even thoughargue that Israel will oneday be , .converted to Christ (Rom . .

(see for example: Isaiah19:23-25; Rom. l1:ll-25 . We .believe that Jew and Gentile areeternally merged into a "newman" in the Church ofJesusChrist (Eph. 2:12-18).

' .• charge of anti-SemitiSm is a

11:11"25) According to C.,

dispensationalism the millennialkingdom will be fundamentally ,Jewish in character even to thepoint of rebuilding thetern.ple,setting up David's tabernacle, .re-instituting the Jewishsacrificial system, and :exalting ,Jewish believers over Gentilebelievers. Let us recall just onesample: Herman Hoyt, pastpresident of Grace TheologicalSeminary writes :·

"The redeemed living t o ~

of Israel, regenerated andregathered to the land will behead oVer all the nations crf theearth. . . . So he exalts themabove the Gentile nationsOn the lowest level there are thesaved, living, Gentile nations. "1

Ice 's basic "problem" withReconstruction thought is that it

Consider Ice's complaint:"Reconstructiortists advocate thereplacement of Old TestamentIsrael with the church, oftencalled the 'New Israel.' Theybelieve that Israel does not havea future 'different from any other :nation" (p. 1). In summarizing acharge by Lindsey,.lee writes:

"What 'is the basis uponwhich Lindsey makes such

. claims [of philosophical

anti-Semitism]? flis basis is thathistorically replacement theology(the church replaces the Jews asthe new or true lsrael, and Israelhas no future as a distinct nationwithin God's plan) has been thetheological foundation uponwhich anti-Semitism has beenbuilt within the confines ofChristianity. Therefore, Lindsey

12 f TH COUNSEL of Chalcedon f March, 19 .96

. wo-t:dged sword. The "logic " heuses can be and, indeed, hasbeen used to discredit ·Christianity and the Bible , aswell ,as our Lord Jesus ChristHimself. Let us see hoy; .this isso.

Ice apparently does notrealize that the idea of .supersessionism is fundamentalto the Christian faith itself. Thebasic idea of supersession sm isthat Christianity has supersededJudaism as the true faith . This isheresy? 5upersessionism -which is despised by liberals , as

well as by Ice -- shamelesslyendorses the words of Christ: Iam the way; the tTUth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father,but by me "Oohn l4:6).

Ultimately, supersessionism isorthodox Christianityproclaimip.g that neither is theresalvation in any other: for there is



none other name under heavengiven among men, whereby wemust be saved (Acts 4:12).Supersession theology isexlusivistic in arguing: For otherfoundation can no man lay thanthat is laid, which is Jesus Christ

l Cor. 3 :11). Supersessionism

arrogantly proclaims that thereis one God, and one mediatorbetween God and men, the manChlistJesus 1 Tim. 2:5). Let meillustrate how this is so from arecent spate ofletters and articlesto the Biblical ArchaeologyReview magazine.

A Roman Catholic article byEugene Fisher, entitled "TheChurch's Teaching onSupersessionism," attacks theProtestant view of the necessityof converting from Judais)1l toChristianity':

"For Catholics, the era inwhich it was possible to espouseany theory that the ChristianChurch has 'superseded' or'replaced' the Jewish people as<3od s Chosen People in thehistory of salvation endeddefinitively on October 28,

1965. On that day the world'sCatholic bishops, together withthe bishop of Rome, Pope PaulVI, signed the declaration,Noastra Aetate (In Oilr Time), ofthe Second Vatican Council."

He laments ancient contemptfor 'Judaism" because it "wasposited on the erroneous notionthat God had 'repudiated' theJews because of their so-calledfailure to acceptJesus as theChrist" Is this not what Ice issaying in essence?

Fisher continues:

"The destruction of the .Temple and the Diaspora are notto be utilized polemically as a .proof of divine punishment fromJewish 'failure' to 'recognize'

Jesus. Rather, the Jewish 'no' isproperly understood as a 'yes' to<3od s continuing call to them .Jewish refusal to convert toChristianity is not to beunderstood as anything less thana faithful witness to God."

Of a statement by Pope · John

Paul II, Fisher comments :"Clearly, such language ...

indicates how far Church [i.e.,official Roman Catholic dogma]teaching on the official level hascome from anytlling resemblingsupersessionism or the old'replacement' theologies of therelationship between the Churd1and the Jewish people . NoCatholics who wish to consider

themselves in conformity withthe Magisterium of the Churchcan espouse or countenancesuch views today."

Nor may dispensatlonalists

C. Nicky Blackford , a UnitedMethodist pastor, wrote to BAR:

It always saddens me to readof Christians and ministelial ..colleagues whose theology hasnot advanced beyond the Middle

Ages. Nicola Grenci, a fellowUnited Methodist minister ,wrote in the MarchiApril1991 .issue that the Jews must acceptthe Christian covenant to beaccepted by God. It seemsimportant for me to say thatsuch a god is not the God thatmost of us worship . .. I have nodoubt that my Jewish friendshave a vital relationship with the ·God I serve. 3

Blackford despisessupersessionism, as does Ice. ·

Bruce A. Broterton, UnitedMethodist pastor, also recoils atChristian exclusivism insupersessionist theology ;

"Our denomination has longfostered a relationshi of res ect

and cooperation with our Jewishbrothers and sisters. Suchbigoted intolerance andarrogance as Mr. Grencidisplayed in his letter wouldindicate to me that he isseriously at odds with the UnitedMethodist Church ... I can only

feel velY sad for him and praytlmt someday he will grow in hisability to tolerate and acceptothers different from himself'(Ibid.).

Kathleen Marble respondedwith disgust: "What kind of'pastor' would spew out suchhateful bigotry against the Jewishpeople and the way they worshipGod? I am not Jewish, but I wasbrought up to respect all mannerof worship, be it Catholic,Protestant, Charismatic, Jewishetc. We all believe in God,whether we call him Allah,Jehovah or just plain God"(Ibid.). Is .dispensational -likeanti -supersessionism leading tothe Antichrist's One- WorldChurch?

An excellent letter by LewisEntze , who defendedsupersessionism, read:

"It seems that the thingcurrently in vogue in intellectualcircles is the seeking and findingof anti-Semitism. It seems theuprooting of anti-Semitism hassuch priority that, if need be,basic Christian doctrine can bejettisoned . If Pastor Grenci's .. isyour worst anti-Semitic letter,you are blessed indeed. The

letter stated that God's cleansingis 'given in the Christ.' That isbasic Chlistian doctrine ....Would you consider the Christto be anti-Semitic if He said, 'Iam the way, .. No one comes tothe Father but by me" 00hn14:6)? I am not anti-Semitic. Ifeel that anti-Semitism is

March, 1996 TH COUNSEL of Chalcedon 13



extremely detestable, secondonly to denyingjesus Christ asthe only Savior" (Ibid.).

Another defender of Grenci'ssupersessionisin was Georg; E

Mohun:

"Pastor Grenci goes on to 'say

that Judaism rejects Christ as theMessiah. That is neitheranti-Semitic nor a gratuitousinsult. It i sa statement offact.The difficulty with such words as ,'anti-Semitic' and 'racism' is thatthey lack clear definition whileimplying 'an imputirig immoralmotives and behavior. As such,they make the perfect meat -ax"p. 16), '

Lawrence M. Downs. defendsJohn Strugnell's basic allegedanti-Semitic sentiments:.

John Strugnell's great crime,it seemS, is ' in being bold enough .to say today what the apostlePaul said 2,000 years ago andwhat Orthodox Christianity hasalways believed. I quote Mr.Strugnell: 'The correct answer ofJews to Christianity is to becomeChristian.' . , I realize .that 'such

statements are not popular , . .diplomatic or acceptable to youreditorial philosophy, but if thatis bigotry; anti-Semitic andconteinptible, then all of us whostill subscribes to classicChristianity are guilty also"(Ibid.). '

Robert T. Tuten fdHowed suit:'<You 'are in r t o t suggeSt that •sup ers essionism .. equals .anti-Semitism : Anti-Semitismand anti-Zloilisiri 'do exist in theworld, but they are not definedby supersessionism" (p. 19) . Rev. ,Robert F. Cera r Wrote: "You 'assume that supersessionism isanti-Semitism. I have neverheard suth a thing before.Really, your continued rantingverges on paranoia.

Anti-Semitism 'is hatred ."Kenneth M. Sears: "To believethat God would supersede theold covenant with a new one isto be no more anti-Semitic thanthe prophet Jeremiah ..Oeremiah 31 :31). Evidently Godintended his new covenant with

Israel to displace the old. Realanti-Semitism is not a matter ofthese theolOgical concepts;anti-Semitism is a matter ofmurderous hatred" (Ibid.).

Thus, s u p e r s ~ s s i o n i s misorthodox Christianity. Ironically, 'the anti-supersessionism of Iceand Lindsey is more compatiblewith official Roman Cathohc .dogma and iiheralism thari. withevangelical senti)Ilents.

Reconstruction thought doeshold to s1.lpersession: We believethat the international Church hassuperseded for all times nationalIsrael as the institution for theadministration of divine blessingto the world. We believe theChurch is coU)posed 0f]eW and iGeniile merged jrlto one bodyforever (Eph. 2: 12fl). We believe ·that froU) now and pntil the end

of history .the Church is the sole 'agency of the redemptivepurposes of God. We believe t h ~

Church is the fruition of Israel "even .though we believe thatJewsthemselves will one day be .converted in mass (Rom.1l:15 cZ5).

Supersessionism is not .heresy; nei ther is it anti-Semiti c.In fact , it is orthodoxChristianity. The dispensationaldenial of supersession doesborder On blasphemy, though.Let us see how this is so. Let usnotice that orthodoxsupersession is deemedanti-Semitic by ecumenicalliberalism ' ahd modem Judaism.Bibliqtllinguist and liberalscholar James H. Charlesworth,

14 ~ THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon March, 1996

writing in Biblical ArchaeologyReview, provides a case in point.He lashes out at David P. Crews,an orthodox Christiah, whostates that Jews cannot be savedapart from trusting in Christ. Herecognize s thatthls is theprinCiple df supersessionism:"Regarding supersessionism:Crews cannot acknowledge thatJews who don't acteptJesus asthe MesShih have not endangeredtheir relationshlp to God. Thushe enters the world ofanti-Semitism ,"4 NotiCe carefully:to promote the view ,that Christis the only means of entry toGod is sup .ersessionist. And thisis, to the liberal, arrogantanti-Semitism. Ice is so blindedby his dispensational odditiesthat he does not realize the truenature of supersessionism.

A Christian respondent toCharlesworth complains:

'James Charleswortherronebusly states that super"sessionism 'certainly is ndttypicaI'ofjesils ' ... 1 have visitedIsrael twice and have manyJewish friends. 1 am still a strong'supersessidriist.' Ddes this makeme an t i ~ S e m i t i cHardly ... I amnot 'against ' these people. On thecontrary; "am for them -praying daily for their welfare,both temporal and eternal. Am I'anti-' their ,belief systems?Absolutely ,a nd so was Christ.'"

Another wrote:

,"I have been following thecontinUing' argument r e g a r ~ i h g

supersesSioniSm n your 'magazine for several months. Asa practicing Catholic who wasborn and raised Jewish, thisissue has quite naturally grabbedmy attention. In JamesCharlesworth 's response toDavid Crews , he says that byaccepting the doctrine of



supersessionism, one 'enters theworld of anti-Semitism' Earlierletters have made the same point-- that the mere acceptance ofthis doctrine by itself makes onean anti -Semite. This isinflammatory and demonstrablyuntrue." 6

I agree. Lindsey and Ice makeinflammatory statementsregarding anti-Semitism that aredemonstrably untru e.

A Jewish writer, LillianFreudman, engages the super-

session view, in an anti"Ch1istianfashion:

"The belief that salvation isonly through J esus Christ is adenial and a rejection of theTorah , o fJudaism and ofthecovenant that God made withIsrael.... Many Christianscholars .. have long realized thatsuperse ssio nism .. denies thelegitimacy of the Torah ... WhenChristians insist that th eirs is, ashe writes, the 'sole true faith ' andconsider Judaism 'as false, but agood try,' the wise professor

Oacob Neusner} shouldunderstand that th e y aredenigrating Judaism. Althoughsome Christians who professthese ideas maintain cordialrelations with Jews and mayeven disavow anti -Semi ticbehavior, their statementsindicate a la ck of respect forJudaism and its believers. »

(to be continued,)

Biblically Correct B.C.), ot Politically Correct P.c.)lSman Hoy t,

"DispensationalPremillenialism," in RobertG. Clouse. The Meaning ofthe Millenniu m: Four Views

(Downe r's Grove, Ill:I n l e r ~ v a r s i t yPress, 1977), p.B1.

215]. Fisher, "TheChurch 's Tea chi ng onSupe rsession ism," BIblicalArchaeology Review, 17:2(March -April, 1991) 58.Fisher is Director of theSe Cretaria l forCatholic-Jewish R e ~ a t i o n softh e National Conference ofCatholic Bishops. This is aone-page an lde , so allcitations from it are frompage 58.

Christ ollegeand .

315"Queries andComments," BiblicalArchaeology of Review,17:4Ouly-August,1991) 14. A llth e following quotations andpage references are from this 'issue of BAR

415 H. Char lesworth,"Superse ssion or God'sA w a r e n e s s ~BiblicalArchaeologyReview 18:1OanuarylFebruary. 1992) n

515 Hanvey , "DidCharlesworth Look at the

Context? BiQlicalArchaeology Review 18:3(May/June, 1992) 16.

6151bid.

7.l5 Freudm an,"Shanks is D ishonest andNeusner Speak sDouble-talk," BiblicalArchaeology Review, 18:5(September/October , 1992)25 an d continued on p. 78.

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1996 issue 2 - anti-semitism, reconstructionism, and dispensationalism - counsel of chalcedon

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