For centuries, a replacement theology shaped church doctrine on Israel and the treatment of Jews. However, the sermon text for this year's Israel Sunday refutes the notion that the church has replaced Israel as God's people. A reflection by Elisabeth Hausen (Israelnetz).
In his letter to the Christian community in Rome, Paul develops his theology. Three of the 16 chapters – 9 to 11 – deal with the role of Israel and the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. The apostle makes it clear: The fact that a large part of the Jewish population rejects Jesus and his message does not mean that God has rejected his people.
The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) proposes a passage from the three chapters as the sermon text for this year's Israel Sunday, which it will celebrate on August 9th. It reads:
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening of part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written (Isaiah 59:20): “The Redeemer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” According to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but according to election, they are loved for the sake of the patriarchs. For God’s gifts and his calling cannot change him. For just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient because of the mercy you have received, so that they too may now receive mercy. For God has bound everyone to disobedience so that he may have mercy on everyone.
(Romans 11:25–32)
There are several ways to interpret the text. One convenient one is to focus on the sentence: “A hardening has befallen a part of Israel” (25). From this, a replacement theology can follow, according to which the church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people—and Christians can feel as something supposedly superior.
For centuries, the churches espoused precisely this theology, which led to anti-Judaism and also anti-Semitism. The term "enemies," taken out of context, certainly contributed to this.
Stubborn Christians
But arrogance toward God's people Israel does justice neither to this text nor to chapters 9 through 11, nor to the Bible as a whole. Clearly, a large portion of Christians were hardened by this misguided interpretation. For the most important message of the passage was overlooked: "God's gifts and his calling cannot be regretted" (29). The covenant with the patriarchs remains valid—regardless of Israel's behavior.
Israel Sunday falls close to the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av, the day of mourning Tisha B'Av. This day commemorates the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem. This year it fell on July 23rd.
The 10th Sunday after Trinity was originally called Jewish Sunday. Its central focus—not always without a hint of derision—was the commemoration of the destruction of the Temple, interpreted as judgment upon the Jews. Since at least 1978, however, it has been known as Israel Sunday, intended to emphasize the enduring chosenness of the people of Israel. This message is also reflected in the sermon text: The Jews are beloved by God (28). At the end of time, all Israel will be saved (26).
According to Paul, this temporary hardening of heart—which, incidentally, only affects a part of Israel—has a reason: Non-Jews should also have the opportunity to hear the gospel. This interpretation cannot be interpreted as contempt, but only as gratitude for the roots that Christians have in Judaism.
What Israel has over Christians
There is certainly no reason for arrogance. For verse 32 makes it clear that both Jews and Gentiles need mercy and redemption. However, Israel has something that the Gentile nations lack. Paul summarizes this in Romans 9:4–5:
„They are Israelites, to whom belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, and the promises; to them also belong the patriarchs, and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ comes
