#0121 How Anti-Semitism Crept Into The Church -Further Every Day
With all of the riots in the West, and even supposed Evangelical Christians championing the demise of Israel, the question rises: How did anti-semitism creep into the Church and the Western Psyche?
First off, what is Anti-Semitism: “Hatred of and hostility toward the Jews, at times including the belief that they pose a threat to society and should be eliminated. The term was coined in 1879 by the German anti-Jewish writer Wilhelm Marr to refer specifically to “scientific” rather than “religious” opposition to Jews, but it is generally applied to all manifestations of hatred of the Jewish people. Over its long history, it has taken different forms in different cultural contexts. This has led to debate about what precisely constitutes antisemitism and whether it is unique or merely the specific expression of the kind of inter-group hostility that is found in most societies. The Jewish experience of antisemitism over the centuries, especially under the Nazis, plays a significant role in contemporary Jewish self-understanding and communal life....” -Oxford
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199730049.001.0001/acref-9780199730049-e-0207
We are seeing pro-Hamas protests across the US and Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fmahzTQppw
How did we get here? Well let's set up a rough timeline:
Timeline of Events:
Early Christian Period (A.D. 160-180):
Marcion launches a theological crusade against perceived Jewish Influence (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1, p. 493).
Later, many of these same anti-Judaic sentiments found their way into the thinking (and writings) of the Early Church fathers. Irenaeus (c. 180), for instance, wrote, “The Jews have rejected the Son of God and cast Him out of the vineyard when they slew Him. Therefore, God has justly rejected them and has given to the Gentiles outside the vineyard the fruits of its cultivation” (The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Ed. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, [1885-1887], Volume 1, p. 493).
7th Century (A.D. 680-687):
Jewish converts to Christianity must renounce their Jewish heritage before baptism (Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, compiled by Professor Paul Halsall of Fordham University).
Development of Theological Views:
Chiliasm (premillennialism) prominent in Early Church despite later shift to amillennialism (History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, p. 614).
Augustine's symbolic interpretation of Israel's prophecies contributes to amillennialism (City of God, Books 15 to 19).
Martin Luther and Anti-Semitism:
Luther, a supersessionist, advocates burning synagogues, expelling Jews, influencing Nazi policies (On the Jews and Their Lies, Luther's Works, pp. 268-271).
Luther's ideas inspired Nazi leaders Goering, Himmler, and Hitler to commit the atrocities Luther prescribed against Jewish people (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, p. 236).
So what does the Bible say about the Jewish People and their Covenant with God?
Paul asserts God has not permanently rejected Israel (Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 15).
Foresees a future restoration of Israel, a time of "fullness" and recognition of Yeshua as Messiah (Romans 11:26).
David is promised an eternal heir in 2 Samuel 7:12-13
And of course the Abrahamic Covenant: https://www.gotquestions.org/Abrahamic-covenant.html
Closing Question to each chair: So how should we as Christians look upon the Jewish People?
Final Question: What Old Testament Era Figure has inspired you the most in life?