{"id":32837,"date":"2022-09-10T16:25:08","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/more-than-a-few-evangelicals-have-jewish-friends-and-family\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:25:08","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:25:08","slug":"more-than-a-few-evangelicals-have-jewish-friends-and-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/more-than-a-few-evangelicals-have-jewish-friends-and-family\/","title":{"rendered":"More Than a Few Evangelicals Have Jewish Friends and Family"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Bob Smietana<\/em><\/p>\n

NASHVILLE, Tenn.\u2014 American evangelicals are known for their support of the nation of Israel\u2014believing God promised that land to the Jewish people. But they also have some more personal motivations.<\/p>\n

One in 3 has Jewish friends.<\/p>\n

And a few have Jewish ethnicity.<\/p>\n

Two percent of Americans with evangelical beliefs\u2014an estimated 871,000 adult Americans\u2014also have a Jewish parent or grandparent, according to a recent study by Nashville-based Lifeway Research.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor some evangelicals, the Jewish community is family,\u201d says Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.<\/p>\n

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Lifeway Research\u2019s finding is bolstered by an earlier study by Pew Research.<\/p>\n

That 2013 study found that about 1.6 million Americans who have a Jewish parent or were raised Jewish say they are Christians. The recent Lifeway Research study suggests that a sizable number of this group have evangelical beliefs.<\/p>\n

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The Lifeway Research study also found 30 percent of Americans with evangelical beliefs have Jewish friends\u2014and of those, about a third (35 percent) have prayed for their Jewish friend\u2019s salvation in the past week.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvangelicals say it\u2019s important to share their faith with their Jewish friends,\u201d said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. \u201cBut most evangelicals find this to be difficult for one reason or another.\u201d<\/p>\n

And evangelicals who do share their faith with their Jewish friends may find a reluctant audience.<\/p>\n

While many Americans are open to changing their faith, American Jews are more reluctant. Only a quarter of those who were raised Jewish no longer identify with that faith, according to a study from Pew Research. By comparison, 34 percent of all Americans have changed their childhood faith group, according to Pew. That figure jumps to 42 percent after taking into account those who switch to a different Christian tradition.<\/p>\n

Some Jewish people feel distant from evangelicals. When asked to rate how warmly they felt about other faiths, American Jews were lukewarm toward evangelicals, rating them only slightly above Muslims and below atheists, according to Pew Research. Jews have warmer feelings about Catholics and mainline Protestants.<\/p>\n

Still, among Americans who identify as Jews, a third (34 percent) say that someone can believe Jesus is the Messiah and still be considered Jewish, according to Pew Research.<\/p>\n

Uncertain relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00ad\u00ad\u00adAnother complicating factor in the relations between evangelicals and Jews: Evangelicals seem unclear about the relationship between Jews and Christians and how Jews fit into God\u2019s plan, according to the survey, which was underwritten by Chosen People Ministries and author Joel C. Rosenberg.<\/p>\n

Just over a quarter (28 percent) embrace \u201csupersessionism\u201d or replacement theology\u2014the claim that the Christian church \u201chas fulfilled or replaced the nation of Israel in God\u2019s plan.\u201d A greater percentage, 41 percent reject that idea, while 32 percent are not sure.<\/p>\n

Younger evangelical believers\u2014those between 18 and 34\u2014are more likely to say Christians have replaced Jews in God\u2019s plan. Thirty-four percent agree, while 30 percent disagree. Thirty-six percent are not sure.<\/p>\n

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By contrast, 48 percent of evangelicals 65 and older disagree with replacement theology. Twenty-three percent agree, while 29 percent are not sure.<\/p>\n

Americans with evangelical beliefs also are uncertain whether many Jews will become believers in Jesus sometime in the future.<\/p>\n

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About half (55 percent) believe \u201cthe Bible teaches that one day, most or all Jewish people, alive at that time, will believe in Jesus.\u201d Sixteen percent disagree, and 29 percent are unsure.<\/p>\n

While evangelicals see a clear tie between Bible prophecy and the rebirth of the nation of Israel, they\u2019re less certain whether Jewish people play a role in the return of Jesus.<\/p>\n

About half (47 percent) agree with the statement, \u201cJewish people continue to be significant for the history of redemption as Jesus will return when the Jewish people accept Jesus.\u201d Twenty-three percent disagree, while 31 percent are not sure.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany evangelicals believe the gospel will be spread to all people in the world before Jesus returns,\u201d McConnell said. \u201cBut they aren\u2019t sure if Jewish people have a special place in God\u2019s plan anymore –this is especially true of young evangelicals.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bob Smietana<\/h2>\n

@bobsmietana<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Bob is the former senior writer for Lifeway Research. In September 2018, he joined Religion News Service, where he currently serves as a national writer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n