Persecution Return

 

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is a complicated thing and I have kept quiet not wanting to incite either side. But I like Bonhoffer feel my conscious pricked and must speak of the pogroms & persecutions returning. One could say that the bloodshed and persecution of the Jews is as old as The Bible, Pharaoh seeking to prevent The Deliverer wiped out a generation of Jewish boys (Exodus 1:15-22), and then Herod trying to prevent The Christ from coming killed the Sons of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18). Rachael keeps weeping in every generation (Matthew 2:18). In the Medieval Period Jews were hunted in pogroms by Count Emicho and The German sect of the First Crusade in what became The Rhineland Massacres. The Church intervened, hiding Jews in churches, and bishops spoke out, even trying to prevent forced conversions of Jews, “The Catholic Bishop Cosmas attempted to prevent forced conversions, and the entire Catholic hierarchy in Bohemia preached against such acts. Duke Bretislaus II was out of the country and the Catholic Church's officials' protests were unable to stop the mob of crusaders,” (Salo Wittmayer Baron (1957. Social and Religious History of the Jews, Volume 4. Columbia University Press, ironic this Columbia uni since that is where the major protest was), and “The hierarchy of the Catholic Church as a whole condemned the persecution of the Jews in the regions affected (though their protests had little effect). Especially vocal were the parish priests (only one monk, named Gottschalk, is recorded as joining and encouraging the mob).” (Salo Wittmayer Baron (1957). Social and Religious History of the Jews, Volume 4. Columbia University Press.). In Word War II Hitler and his Nazis sought the full extermination of the Jews in The Final Solution that killed 7 Million Jews. Christians hid the Jews under floor boards like Ann Frank, what few know is 12 Million Christians were also wiped out by Hitler’s pogroms (Rosemary Schindler in person shared this). Then in October 7th of 2023, Israel was attacked and 1200 Jews were slain, including women and children. Now across the world, and especially in America Jews fear for their lives, and are leaving secular universities where they are targets to study remotely or attend Christian universities where they feel safe. Once again we Christians are a shield, not hiding them under floor boards this time, but in our wooden schools. 

There is a complex nexus of problems to unravel here. The genocidal rhetoric against Jews must stop! No people should be treated thus. Ire towards Israel over the War should not equate with the common Jew, many Jews do not agree with The State of Israel’s decisions and politics, even Israelis in Israel! That said Israel was attacked first, and the rules of war dictate the right to reprisals. Now I have heard many Palestinian Christians were exiled from Israel, National Geographic ran a magazine on it, and its why Israel only has 2% Christian population, there is also the burning of churches like the one in Galilee (https://www.timesofisrael.com/arson-suspected-in-fire-at-church-on-sea-of-galilee/amp/), and the Ascension Church, and that The Kinesset last year had a bill by a radical extremist Zionist sect to remove all new testaments, churches, crosses, and every shred of Christ from the holy land (see my post on it) which thankfully Netanyahu stopped, he being a moderate and wise to that Christians comprise the bulk of Israel’s tourism trade. There have also been other attacks by extremist  zionists of Christians (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/151224-israel-jewish-terrorism-arson-christian-church-multiplication). 

We must remember these are extremists, just as there extremists in other religions ansd even our own Church. They are not the bulk of Jews. 

There are some who would say the Jews deserve this because they cursed themselves, “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified..” (Matthew 27:15-26). This argument along with that The Pharisee Jews arrested Jesus to be killed and thus Jews should be persecuted for having a hand in Jesus’ death has fueled Christian bigotry towards Jews for ages, but that is folly! Jesus had to die for our sins, and so the Jews like Judas were in the perfect will of God ensuring that God as a Man died as The Passover Lamb for all sin (John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19, 1 Corinthians 5:7, Revelation 12:12). To ridicule and get angry at Jews for killing Jesus is ridiculous because then you are saying you didn’t want Jesus to die for our sins, and besides Jesus Rose from the Dead anyway (John 20:1-31). Also Jesus our Lord and God is Jewish according to the flesh, “concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,” (Romans 1:3-5), and “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham..” (Matthew 1:1). So if you hate Jews, you hate the Man part of Jesus! You hate God Incarnate! 

The Jews can be stubborn in their unbelief about Jesus, something Jesus and the Apostle Paul remark on. But that does not mean they deserve to be be subjected to hatred, bigotry, and threats of genocide! Even Iran who is considered the enemy of Israel is where patriarch of Israel, Abraham is from! (Genesis 12:1). Islam’s Prophet Muhammed was descended from Ishmael the Brother of Isaac and God saved Ishmael in the desert! (Genesis 21:8-21). And our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Son of God and Very God of Very God existed before Abraham (John 1:1-5, John 8:48-59) created Abraham (Colossians 1:16) and when He came to earth born of a virgin he became the Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16). We are even told that if we are Gentiles, pagan spawn, through faith in Jesus we become Abraham’s seed, “And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” (Galatians 3:29). So you see hating anyone is insane, because there is connections between us all, especially in Christ! It behooves us to share the gospel, all need Jesus and His forgiveness of sins, we do not hate but are taught to love, even love our enemies, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48). There is instructions from Jesus himself you can’t hate anyone! 

The Jewish Hatred is from Satan. Any hatred is from Satan because God is love, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4;7-8). Yes there is a judgement day for those who refuse the gospel (John 3:18), but Paul tells us wisely to wait and let God judge, “do not avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19). Until then I say love the Jew, The Muslim, The Hindu, The Buddhist, The Pagan, and etc; and the greatest way to love them is share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ and His Way. Amen.