Israel, the Church, and the Middle East edited by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser is a collection of essays that presents a cogent, academic response to reemerging supersessionist teaching in the church that threatens to reduce the status of the State of Israel to simply one player among many on the geopolitical stage. One of the services the book performs is a masterful reinforcement of the bond between Israel’s land claim and other crucial aspects of the Abrahamic covenant. This bond forms the basis upon which the other covenants are built and expand, including the new covenant. It also lays out how an insistent, one-sided critique of the politics of the Middle East that vilifies Israel, while underrating the culpability of its neighbors can negatively affect Evangelicals’ motivation to share the gospel with their Jewish neighbors and support Jewish missions generally. Well organized and clearly written, Israel, the Church, and the Middle East will engage the thoughtful reader who may be skeptical regarding Israel’s present role, but is also open to persuasion. -- Dr Alan M. Shore
Israel, the Church, and the Middle East is a fascinating and eye-opening book. It is a must-read for those who want to understand the past, the present, and the future of the Middle East, according to the Scriptures. This book will help you develop a heart of compassion and prayer for both Jews and Arabs. You will learn about the latest extraordinary developments in the Messianic congregations in Israel and the national Palestinian churches, and gain insights into the important struggle for genuine unity and reconciliation. -- Joel C. Rosenberg, New York Times bestselling author
Israel, the Church and the Middle East is recommended highly! The book displays a number of strengths: First, as far as the present writer knows, Richard Averbeck’s essay plows considerable significant new ground in regard to the exegetical underpinnings of God’s biblical covenants with Israel. Second, Craig Blaising’s chapter goes a long way toward filling a yawning vacuum in a crucial area previously drastically undeveloped: theological perspective on Israel and how it relates to the church. Third, Soref’s and Doyle’s pieces both open compelling windows into the practical theology side of the issues related to Israel/the Jewish people and the wider ethnic/religious context. Fourth, Bailey’s, Parshall’s and Brown’s essays all embody exceptional insight/wisdom in the biblical and practical perspectives they share. Fifth, the inclusion of the LifeWay Survey materials and the Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem’s superb ‘Our Hope for Peace’ statement reflects that there is currently much more going on here than just the publication of another relevant book. And, this is just the best stuff! In sum, Israel, the Church and the Middle East represents not just a step in the right direction in regard to many of the questions surrounding Israel and the Middle East—and now the church, but a giant step—perhaps even a virtual ‘broad jump! -- The King's University
