Articles
Boasting Against the Branches = Replacement Theology
Barbara L. Klika, MSW, Undershepherd, Life Coach
June 2016
Written for Wisconsin Christian Newspaper
For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Romans 11:16-18 NKJV
Throughout the Scriptures, our Abba used the metaphor of the olive tree for Israel, His chosen people. Sha’ul, whose Greek name was Paulos, known to English speakers as Paul, wrote of this metaphor in his letter to the Romans. As one who was sent out to reach the Gentiles, after Messiah made Himself known to Israel first (Romans 1:16), Sha’ul was working primarily with people who hadn’t grown up in the faith of the God of Israel, gentiles. These were the wild branches being brought into the natural tree.
Many recall the story of what is called Pentecost in Greek which occurred on the Feast Day of Shavuot, which is 50 days after First Fruits, the day of resurrection of Messiah Yeshua. There were thousands of Jewish people gathered there as our Abba commanded, the natural branches. You might say, a captive audience! Just as 3,000 souls were lost at the earlier Feast of Shavuot on the Mount Sinai, on this Shavuot, 3,000 souls were saved. This is a thematic connection between the “Old” and “New” Testaments. The Word, Messiah Yeshua, was present at both Shavuot gatherings. Some say this is the “birth” of the church where I would see it as a restoration to the fullness of Truth that had been from the foundation of the world, through the shed blood and finished work of Messiah Yeshua, Who is Himself, God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
Those among Israel who could receive the knowledge of Messiah were the same ones who had willingly received the baptism of repentance through John. There were many Israelites, including priests, who received Messiah Yeshua as the long awaited Savior, and of course, many who did not. Historically, only those who resisted seem to be remembered. Suffice it to say, that many ancestors of those called “Believers” have roots in the bloodlines of Israel. They have a part in the natural tree of Israel, whether they know it or not. Abba knows.
Our understanding of “the church” has been skewed. The Hebrew word used was “qahal” meaning an assembly or congregation. In very brief summary, translation issues occurred when the German word “kirke” came into English as “church” and when translators chose to translate the same word meaning “assembly” differently. Those assemblies that did not receive Yeshua were called “synagogue” and those who did receive Yeshua were called “church.” This created the impression that there were two separate bodies of Believers. So it has been, with this separation having been allowed by our Abba for His purposes, until the time has come for Him to make them, along with their companions, again, one stick in His Hand. (Ezekiel 37:16-17)
This skewed understanding has led to some teachings that are not only errant but hateful, particularly this “replacement theology.” It goes something like this: God has a wife, Israel, whom He has divorced. He refuses to have anything more to do with Israel (natural branches). Jesus has a Bride, that is, Christian believers (wild branches and natural branches both grafted in to the natural tree by faith.) They have replaced Israel as the chosen people. Jesus is coming back to rescue His Bride while God the Father deals with the Jews, His wife, by allowing them to experience the tribulation.
This usually seems to be based on the interpretation that the Jews are the people who crucified Christ and have refused to come to belief therefore they need to be punished while the “church” is protected.
Do you see the antisemitism here? It is for the sake of all believers that Israel was temporarily blinded! Messiah Yeshua came to die on purpose to make a way back to relationship with God. He came to His own, but they did not know Him, thus fulfilling the promise made by God from the beginning (Genesis 3:15), that He would provide for Himself a Lamb. (Genesis 22:8) He atoned for the sins of all who will believe on Him. He came for the Lost Sheep of Israel…
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
John 10:16 NKJV
This, too, is a common metaphor for Israel and those grafted in by faith. Like natural and wild branches of an olive tree.
Have you noticed that there is no gentile gate in the New Jerusalem? If you are not part of His family, Israel, where will you go in? If you believe that the “church” supposedly begun at Pentecost, is separate from Israel, you are in effect saying that the wild branch has now replaced and superseded the natural branches of Israel. Isn’t that boasting?
God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.
Romans 11:2 NKJV
For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:24-25 NKJV