Recently, I have noticed what seems to me a disturbing amount of hostility from CC members toward the Jewish people. I blame this mostly on ignorance of the beliefs, culture and history of the Jewish people.
To the Jews, I am sorry. As a Christian, and as a Gentile, I want to apologize for this ignorance, because it tends so often to do more damage than good. To the Orthodox, Reform, Messianic, and even to the non-religious Jew, I’m sorry that so many people don’t understand, or even try to understand, who the Jewish people are.
I do wish that more people would realize that it is not one’s religion that makes a Jew. Judaism is a religion, but it is also an ethnicity and a culture. If you are a Jew, then that is your identity, no matter what religious belief you may hold. Many Christians show hostility to Jews as a whole, without even realizing there are many who share the same beliefs that we Christians do.
As a Christian I realize that the one I call Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, was a Jew. He came from the seed of Abraham, though Isaac and Jacob. He followed the Jewish law, as did His disciples as fellow Jews, up until Jesus’ crucifixion. Even after this point, Jews who believed Jesus to be the Messiah still followed many Jewish traditions. It was in their culture. These were the same people who later went on to write the New Testament of my Christian Bible.
I have no doubt that I will receive some hostility myself for this letter to the Jews. Possibly from Christians and Jews alike. From Christians, because I have highlighted how many of us are ignorant of where the roots to many of our own beliefs lie. From Jews, because now is the time to mention as a Christian, I do believe Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews as well of the Gentiles. This means that just as with any other person, I believe Jews need also to be born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3.
With this said, I find the behaviour some show toward Jews who are not born again somewhat appalling. I don’t see Jesus in words that tear down another for beliefs and traditions we are ignorant of, whether this be a Jew or someone of other beliefs. In my opinion, this actually misses the whole point of what Christianity is supposed to be.
To the Jews, I am sorry. As a Christian, and as a Gentile, I want to apologize for this ignorance, because it tends so often to do more damage than good. To the Orthodox, Reform, Messianic, and even to the non-religious Jew, I’m sorry that so many people don’t understand, or even try to understand, who the Jewish people are.
I do wish that more people would realize that it is not one’s religion that makes a Jew. Judaism is a religion, but it is also an ethnicity and a culture. If you are a Jew, then that is your identity, no matter what religious belief you may hold. Many Christians show hostility to Jews as a whole, without even realizing there are many who share the same beliefs that we Christians do.
As a Christian I realize that the one I call Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, was a Jew. He came from the seed of Abraham, though Isaac and Jacob. He followed the Jewish law, as did His disciples as fellow Jews, up until Jesus’ crucifixion. Even after this point, Jews who believed Jesus to be the Messiah still followed many Jewish traditions. It was in their culture. These were the same people who later went on to write the New Testament of my Christian Bible.
I have no doubt that I will receive some hostility myself for this letter to the Jews. Possibly from Christians and Jews alike. From Christians, because I have highlighted how many of us are ignorant of where the roots to many of our own beliefs lie. From Jews, because now is the time to mention as a Christian, I do believe Jesus is the Messiah of the Jews as well of the Gentiles. This means that just as with any other person, I believe Jews need also to be born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3.
With this said, I find the behaviour some show toward Jews who are not born again somewhat appalling. I don’t see Jesus in words that tear down another for beliefs and traditions we are ignorant of, whether this be a Jew or someone of other beliefs. In my opinion, this actually misses the whole point of what Christianity is supposed to be.