 | Pastor Dave grew up in northern New Jersey in a very diverse cultural area. He attended Central College in Pella, Iowa received a BA in sociology and psychology. He was an offensive guard for their NCAA Div III National Championship team in 1974. In speaking for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he sensed a call to full time ministry. Meeting is future wife Sandy at Central, went to Michigan to finish her college while Dave started Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Dave married Sandy in 77 and completed his Masters of Divinity degree in 78. Pastor Dave’s first church was in Fort Lee, New Jersey, home of the George Washington Bridge. Their three children were born there and he also served as a Police and Fire Chaplain for the city. In February 1991, they came to Wichita to start Harvest Community Church. In 2006, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological (Presbyterian) Seminary in St Louis. During that year he gained a daughter-in-law with now 2 grandsons of 3 years and 6 months old. Besides Pastoring at HCC for the past 20 years, he has been Director of the SCSD & WPD Police Chaplains for 11.
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Religion
2008-02-01 10:12:00
Israel and Judaism: Is it a biblical thing?
We have a relationship with Israel, whereby whatever (to a point) they get involved in, the U.S.A. government backs them. Is it a biblical thing?
Answer: There are several view points among Christians on the backing of Israel in everything they get involved with right or wrong. Some feel we should do so because they are God’s Chosen People as a nation since the original call of God in Genesis 12:1-5; 17:1-2. They are blessed to be a blessing to the whole earth. Israel has a special privilege that God may show the Glory of His saving grace by taking the weakest among the nations to become the strongest as found in Isaiah 65:22. Anyone who stands with her will be blessed and those who curse her will fall (Genesis 12:3).
Others think, yes, even though she is God’s chosen vessel, when Israel is wrong, she needs to be made aware and stood against. We see God doing this Himself all throughout the Old Testament times and punishing her waywardness. (Number 14:22; Jeremiah 25:8ff).
Still others feel that the true “Israel” is no longer the nation of Israel, but it is now the church. The true Jew is the one who is circumcised of the heart (Romans 2:29). Jesus seems to infer that the new true Israel of Abraham will be from all the nations (Matthew 21:33-22:10). Paul affirms that in Philippians 3:2-3 and the New Testament church saw themselves as heirs of Israel’s position as God’s people (1 Peter 2:9-10).
The way I perceive it in the scriptures, is that we are to stand with God’s Chosen, Israel when she is right and let her know it when she is wrong. That is God’s way. That also for a period, God has cast off Israel as seen in Matthew 21:33-44 which actually is driven by what Isaiah said in Isaiah 5:1-7. Paul resonates this and weaves this mystery together in showing that the bulk of contemporary Israel has forfeited their place in the true Israel, but God has not cast her off forever since it would make Him unfaithful to Himself (Romans 11:29). Rather, Israel is experiencing a temporary condition so that we Gentiles (how very grateful we should be) can experience salvation (Romans 11:25) and that in the end “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26)
May the Lord give our leaders and this nation the wisdom to follow God’s leading in world affairs and especially in the middle east.
