It’s time for Christians to Consider Anti-Semitism
Many Christians don’t know that anti-Semitism was once central to Church teachings and so many people who called themselves Christians were responsible for some of the most evil and violent expressions of hatred against Jews throughout the ages. On the 9th of Av, Jews fast and mourn the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem, seminal events which produced the long exile from the Land of Israel. It is a time when Jews consider the terrible consequences of that exile — the persecution and murder of Jews during the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Pogroms, and the Holocaust. While you, our trusted friends of Israel and the Jewish people, could not be further from this terrible history, it is important for all Christians to understand the terrible beginnings of Christian – Jewish relations.
Sondra Oster Baras, an Orthodox Jew who has devoted her life to reaching out to Christians all over the world to bless Israel, presents a Jewish perspective on Christian Anti-Semitism. Tommy Waller, a Christian Zionist, explains how he gradually became aware of this terrible history and relates his commitment to educating Christians and creating a new relationship between Christians and Jews. Watch this video and pass it on to your friends!
I believe that it is critical to clarify the term “Christian” when discussing Christian Anti-Semitism. Just as Judaism has many different ‘sects’, so does Christianity. What the world sees as ‘Christian’ is really not Christian at all, but simply various forms of religion that follows tradition and ceremony and offers a work-based ‘salvation’ that is not Scriptural by any sense.
The different denominations within “Christianity” mostly have all their little ‘religious’ quirks that keep them separate one from another. The only segment of Christianity that adheres to Scripture 100% are the ‘born-again’, evangelical Christians who love and live for Messiah Yeshuah and love and support Israel and the Jews as the “apple of His eye”, God’s Chosen people. This Christian group acknowledges that the Jews had Messiah for 2,000 years before we were ‘invited’ to join their family through the new covenant.
Rev. Roy……….<
I totally agree with you Roy. Even as a youngster I never heard this virulent antisemitism, although I’m sure it happened up in London or other big cities. My parents were not active Christians
Totally agree with you Roy. I read this sentence,
“Many Christians don’t know that anti-Semitism was once central to Church teachings and so many people who called themselves Christians were responsible for some of the most evil and violent expressions of hatred against Jews throughout the ages.”
And whilst true in its outworkings i.e. persecutions, many Jews do not recognise that it is not in line with the teachings of the New Testament/Brith Hadasha. And of course the New Testament was by and large the writings of devout Jews who were talmidim/students of Rabbi Yeshua. They walked and talked with him, they listened to his teachings and saw the miracles he performed.
In other words, the New Testament is not an invention of Gentiles, but devout Jews in what was then referred to by the Romans as (Jewish) Palestine.
So as born again Evangelical Christians we know that our faith has its roots in Jewish Scriptures, especially but not only, in the prophetic writings. We are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and to love and support the Jewish people.
Thank G-d that in various ways and increasing numbers, Christians are coming to Jewish websites and organisations to learn more about how Jewish people practice their faith and interpret the Scriptures. We cannot undo the past, but we can change our attitudes to the Chosen People.
How sad that a reported 80% of “Christians do not read or study their Bible”
Jesus said the truth shall set you free. Those of us who know our Bible are well aware of
God’s plan for Israel—we love what God loves and He loves Israel—so do we.
Blessings in Yeshua
Good topic. We need to bring these topics out into the open before any reconciliation can happen.
My sister tells me our family used to be Jewish. Spain must have forced the family to convert. What interesting times we live in now.