A Jewish scholar says that over the past half century, Christian churches have been undergoing a remarkable theological revolution in their attitude towards Judaism and their relationship with the Jewish people.
Moshe Auman, who served 35 years in Israel's foreign ministry, devoted the last four years of that time largely to extensive study of Jewish-Christian and Israeli-Christian relations. He feels many of the so-called "mainline" Protestant churches have had trouble coming to grips with the rebirth of the Israeli nation over 50 years ago.
By looking closely at the Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and Methodist denominations, Auman says, one finds that these and a number of other mainline churches "don't relate to what's happening today in Israel - the rejuvenation of the Jewish people, the revival of the Jewish people, their prosperity in the land." Among these Christian groups, he contends, modern Judaism is simply "not regarded as seriously as it is in the Evangelical world."
However, Auman believes the mainline churches have been forced to rethink some of its doctrines and ideas regarding Judaism. One such doctrine, he notes, is "replacement theology" - the idea that Christians have replaced the Jews and that the many promises God made to the biblical "children of Israel" are fulfilled in the Christian Church rather than in the literal, historical and contemporary Jewish people.
The Israeli scholar says some mainline church members have had to revise their thinking "because the facts on the ground have shown that the Jews are not wandering aimlessly over the face of the Earth and, apparently, are not totally rejected by God," as many Christians once believed.
He adds, "The fact that they've had to make these theological changes with regard to the Jewish people and Jewish faith as a result of the rebirth of Israel, and they have these changes - you have to give them credit where credit is due. They've made some really far-reaching revisions."
In light of his studies, Auman believes many mainline Protestants are finally coming to recognize the importance of Israel today, even as Evangelicals have for years. His scholar's findings are outlined in a book he wrote called Conflict and Connection: the Jewish-Christian-Israel Triangle (Gefen Books, 2003).
(c) 2005, Agape Press
