I recently wrote about Replacement Theology, which is the theory that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s Plan. The idea is that Israel sinned by causing Jesus to be crucified, and the Lord renounced all the many promises He made to them and to Abraham, and those promises now accrue to the Church. In my studies of the Bible I have found no indication of this theology, therefore I refer to it as a theory.

An estimated eighty-five percent of Christian denominations subscribe to Replacement Theology, and therefore, be aware that your church may hold to this theory, but may not be directly teaching it.

I disagree with Replacement Theology on a scriptural basis. I find many promises to Israel and the descendants of Abraham in the Word. I do not find where the Lord rescinded those promises. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are wild olive branches, grafted into the “cultivated” Jewish olive tree. (Romans 11:17) Paul says further, “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29) What part of irrevocable has changed?

Several months ago I wrote a letter to a weekly publication of the denomination that I was a member of for many years, questioning Replacement Theology. I was called names and my questions were rebutted on every basis except Scripture. Also, several years ago in my weekly lessons, I provided a list of statements from the Lord where He made promises that “never again” would certain things happen to Israel. I only quoted Scripture. I received a scathing denunciation for writing that lesson. I was told that I was misleading people and the denunciation stopped just short of condemning me to Hell.

Historians remind us that Christians in Germany stood aside and even assisted Hitler in his genocidal attempt to kill all Jews. The underlying basis for this distressing action was Replacement Theology. They believed the Jews did not count. Consider the punishment of Germany and then read what the Lord said of Abraham and his descendants. “I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you;” (Genesis 12:3)

Replacement Theology and the failure to recognize it makes me sad. But it also scares me because of what it says of our attitude toward the Lord. This mistaken doctrine says that God goes back on His promises. It says that He is fallible and changes His mind. This is scary.

John Bevere put it much better than I can. “Faith believes that God says what He means and means what He says. God is not a man to lie; rather He backs His word with the honor of His name. He swears by Himself since there is none higher. So when we doubt Him, we insult His integrity.”

If the Church would repent of this and other sins against the Lord, then He would forgive us and heal our land. (Second Chronicles 7:14)