For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. – Deuteronomy 7:6

Today's Scripture Reading (February 23, 2025): Deuteronomy 7

There is a discussion within theological circles about whether all of the promises the Tanakh proclaims for Jews now apply to Christians. And does that mean that they no longer apply to our Jewish brothers and sisters? Maybe let me address the second issue first. I believe all of the promises we find in the Hebrew Bible still apply to Israel. The relationship between God and the Jews has no end date attached. However, these promises did come with an expectation. God chose Israel as his people so that they would be salt and light in the world. He called them to make this world a better place. And that expectation is still in place. The Jewish people have been called to be positive change agents in the world. Judaism is a success as long as that is true. Israel remains a people that is holy to the Lord, set apart for his purposes. 

The second question is more troubling, and I think the answer is some but not all. However, it also means that God has added the Christian Church to his expectations for Judaism; we, too, should be salt and light. This world should be a better place because we are in it. Our presence should be transformational; if it isn't, then we have failed at the job God has given to us. 

Moses reminds Israel that they are a holy people. God has set the nation aside for his purposes and intends to bless Israel as long as it stays holy or set apart. And that is as much true today as it was almost 3500 years ago. Israel is still holy and is still a nation set apart. I am disturbed by the way that Israel has responded in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. It is not that they didn't have the right to respond, but they responded in a very similar way to the way Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran might have responded. There was no difference, no mercy that could be extended to the non-combatants and children, just as Israel wishes that Hamas would have acted with mercy to children and non-combatants in the original attack. There should have been a difference in behavior, but there wasn't. God's call to Israel remains that they are set apart and different, and that difference should be evident to the world and evident in a positive way.

And this is one expectation that is true for Judaism and is also true, or even raised, for the Christian Church. The true church is set apart. We are different; our reactions should be different from that of the world. A warmongering church is an oxymoron; that shouldn't be us. However, the Apostle Peter insists that not only are we a holy people, set apart for God, but we are a holy priesthood. 

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5).

We are different. Our responses should be different. Gossip and hate should be an anathema to the Christian Church. It is not who we are created to be. We are different, and the world should see that difference and be blessed. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 8