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From Pastor Ray

Response to a letter:
Do we focus too much on Israel?

“I sometimes feel as though I am in a Jewish Synagogue instead of a Christian Church when I enter Maranatha,” writes one concerned reader.


Recently I received a very thoughtful and challenging letter from someone attending Maranatha Chapel. Some of the thoughts expressed were:

“I feel compelled to say some things to you after recently reading some of your online articles concerning the Jews and the Jewish religion.  I sometimes feel as though I am in a Jewish Synagogue instead of a Christian Church when I enter Maranatha... As a Christian, I do not understand your doctrine or beliefs when it comes to Jews and the Jewish religion. It seems as though you believe they are somehow superior to Christians...the Jewish people are non-believers and as such, will not enter the kingdom of heaven. That is, I believe, something you do not consider.

“I do not ‘believe’ in the Jewish people because they are non-believers and I wish my country did not support the Jewish nation to such a significant degree. I would do whatever I could as a Christian to convert Jews to Christians and I think that is where all focus should be where all non-believers of all religions are concerned, including Jews. However, as non-believers, I treat them just as I would people from any other world religion such as Hindus, Buddhists or those of Islamic faith...they are all non-believers.”

I certainly felt that these thoughts deserve a response, so I responded with a personal note, but want to share a few thoughts publicly, because I am sure there are many other readers with similar concerns.

First, I am in agreement with the writer that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and that it is the gift of God.  Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead, conquering sin, Satan, and death forever, making eternal life possible.

I believe John 3:16-17:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” and John 14:6:  “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

So, I am sure we are in agreement that those statements are true for all people!  At the same time, I have been on a journey that has led me to appreciate the Jewishness of our roots, just as the apostle Paul talks about in Romans chapters 9-11.  When I read the promise God made to Abraham, I don’t look at it as ancient history, but as a vital, ongoing covenant: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."  (Genesis 12:2-3).  I don’t believe God has changed His mind.  Therefore, I don’t believe that any of us can receive God’s fullest blessing until we are able to love and bless His chosen people.

I look at the apostle Paul, whose mission was to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  He never forgot his roots, and he never lost his passion for the Jews.  After all, he, like Jesus, was raised in a Jewish home, versed in customs and traditions that he continued to honor for the rest of his life.

When Paul talked of his mission, he declared, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” [emphasis mine]. During his travels, he always stopped at the local synagogue in every town he visited, as you can read throughout the book of Acts. 

Paul expressed great sorrow and anguish in his heart over his longing to see his fellow Jews saved.  And, he recognized the vital role they play in our own Christian faith.  Look at how he describes them: “...my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen” (Romans 9).

Recently I preached a message on 2 Timothy 2:8, which says: “Don’t ever forget the wonderful fact that Jesus Christ was a man, born into King David’s family; and that He was God, as shown by the fact that He rose from the dead” (Living Bible).  A man came up to me afterward and said, “I am a Jew.  I always said that I would commit suicide before I would ever step inside a Christian church.  Yet here I am, and I would like to accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior.”  It was a blessing and privilege to lead this man to Jesus, his Messiah!

This has been a fascinating jounrey and one that has moved me to develop personal relationships with Jewish people here in San Diego and in Israel.  I do not wish to compromise the important message of the Gospel, that salvation comes only through Jesus.  But I also believe in the God who is “the same yesterday and today and forever,” and that His promises are as true today and as they were when He spoke to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

I am praying, along with Paul, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Roman 10:1).




I appreciate all of of your comemnts and thoughts.