Great observation, concerning Modern Judah and the Church. This dilemma can be summed up in two words: Judah and Ephriam. The story of the restoration of these two groups goes all the way back to Abraham, and runs continuosly through out the Scriptures.
Below is an over simplified, but short-read on the subject from my humble and still-learning perspective. It's meant to encourage -- not exclude or discriminate in any fashion. So before reaching for the closest and nearest rock, please read it thoughtfully and completely.
Not to give away the ending, but it you are reading this then chances are you are probably Ephriam; unless, you were raised in an orthodox, conservative, or reform Yehudim or (Jewish) household.
Shalom,
jc
TWO HOUSES...ONE NEW MAN: in other words, the gospel of the Kingdom!
This is NOT replacement theology or British Israelism...rather, this is a message of "inclusion & unity," what the Hebrew word Echad (oneness) is all about, becoming a member of a unified servant-hood, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation...the Kingdom of Yisrael - our Father's special and peculiar people.
(overly condensed Hebraic history lesson)
The House of Israel and The House of Judah are two distinct kingdoms and audiences spoken to and of in Scripture. This division came about because of disobedience, plain and simple. Nothing like a good drive-by exegesis of Holy Writ.
Let's take a closer look at what Scripture says, though:
Matt. 15:24 - But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Matt. 10:6 - "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Mark 12:29 - Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.'
Acts 5:31 - "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."
Acts 1:6 - "Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Fox News Alert (sort of): One of the main roles and missions of the Messiah is to restore and re-unite the House of Judah and House of Israel. This is part of the message and intended meaning of the parable of the prodigal son - these two groups coming back to their heavenly Father...both of them, united, forever - through the power of His love and spirit.
Only the Messiah can accomplish this kind of restoration...but the result will be, in the future, His "called out ones" united; His body; His Bride; One New Man; His Holy Nation - a nation of priests....in other words, His Kingdom - ISRAEL.
Matt. 19:28 - So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
Luke 22:30 - "that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
The Kingdom of God has always been, is, and will always be ISRAEL. All wishing to acknowledge and serve His name (not some substition, thereof) are welcome to be a royal priest and servant in His Kingdom (Psalm 91:14-16).
The apostle Paul confirms this:
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants(plural) of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
(Eph. 2:11-13)
Get It: If you are walking with God and pursuing Him through His gift of atonement, made possible by the shed blood, death, and resurrection of His Son, then you are an ISRAELITE. This is what the Scriptures call it!
What's in a name? EVERYTHING!
Welcome to the tribal Nation and Kingdom!
jc
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Prof. C. A. L. Totten[1851-1908], of Yale University, was quoted [5]:"I can never be too thankful to the Almighty that in my youth he used the late Professor Wilson to show me the difference between the two houses. The very understanding of this difference is the KEY by which almost the entire Bible becomes intelligible, and I cannot state too strongly that the man who has not yet seen that Israel of the Scripture is totally distinct from the Jewish people, is yet in the very infancy, the mere alphabet, of Biblical study, and that to this day the meaning of seven-eighths of the Bible is shut to his understanding."