Replacement Theology – why the church isn’t Israel.

One of the wrong interpretation models in some churches is one where they approach reading the Old Testament Scriptures by replacing Israel with the church. This consequently leads to interpreting passages that explicitly speak to the nation of Israel, and the Jewish people, as though they were addressed to modern-day church Christians.

The term “Replacement Theology” has been coined for this kind of interpretation, where the reader replaces the intended meaning for Israel (the original audience) and substitutes it with an application for the church.

This is achieved by spiritualizing the text with a different meaning that allows for a direct connection to the church.

The danger with such an interpretive approach is that it opens the door to multiple meanings that are governed by the interpreter’s preconceptions rather than basing it on the context in which the text was written.

An illustration of how this type of interpretation looks is like reading a love letter you found on the streets and saying, “aww, somebody loves me.” That is what we do when we take something out of context and try and apply it to our own lives.

How do we know what verses apply and what do not?

One of the prevalent questions concerning the applications of the verses directed at Israel is to determine how the principles in those verses would apply to us in the Church age today.

The answer to that is not very easy and is a heavily debated topic among scholars who recommend careful study to discern which of the Old Testament principles are transferable to us while staying true to their context.

But the general premise is to examine the context of the Old Testament events to find out whether the verse is attached to a spiritual truth or is simply stated as some kind of identification mark for the nation of Israel.

Acts such as certain dress codes or dietary laws had no spiritual application tied to them. They were simply identifying marks to keep the people of Israel from associating or joining with other pagan nations.

It is essential while reading certain texts to identify what was the motive of God in giving these principles and, at the same time, source out any direct spiritual application for it.

Another way to identify if the principles apply to us is to see if Jesus Himself repeated or said anything specifically about those principles.

In conclusion, interpreting Old Testament passages requires careful thought to determine whether a principle is a timeless spiritual truth or a specific instruction for Israel. By understanding God’s purpose in giving these commands and looking for any spiritual application, we can better discern their relevance for us today. Additionally, examining whether Jesus affirmed or repeated these principles provides further clarity, helping us stay faithful to the context of Scripture and its intended meaning.