Do you, personally, love the Jewish people? Or do you have any feeling of “distance” between you and them? Where does the Living Church of God stand on this matter? What would God have us feel and have us do?
Most of us have probably noticed, from time to time, brief articles or comments in the news about a Jewish school or synagogue being attacked or smeared with blood or otherwise vandalized. This is happening in Europe as well as in the United States. In fact, it is rather well known that an anti-Semitic movement is gathering strength in Europe, just as it did before World War II and the Holocaust. Many Jews in Germany and elsewhere are becoming somewhat apprehensive at the growth of anti-Semitism.
There was a definite anti-Jewish feeling in the early development of the Roman Catholic Church. The liberal bishops and leaders of that movement wanted to throw off the yoke of “Judaism”—and often went to the opposite extreme. The Roman Emperor, Constantine—who actually took charge of the Nicene Council and other religious occasions, even though he himself had an extensive pagan background—put in his Nicene conciliar letter (325ad) an admonition to “have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd… and to avoid all participation of the perjured conduct of the Jews.” This anti-Jewish bias laid the foundation for arguments that began to be developed against God’s Sabbath, and against the need to keep God’s Ten Commandments. It is well known that Martin Luther, as well as other early Protestant leaders, had a definite bias against the Jews, and made no bones about it! And, of course, this bias affected Luther’s doctrinal approach, which was antinomian—or “against law.” For it was Luther, practically the “founding father” of the Protestant movement, who in 1543 accused the Jewish leaders of “holding the poor Jews captive with the sayings of Moses,” and who advised “that their synagogues be burned down” (“The Jews and Their Lies,” cited in Luther’s Works, Vol. 47, The Christian in Society IV, pp. 268–293).
Some religious and political leaders have tried to justify their bias with the excuse of the Jews being responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion. Of course, the Romans were actually the ones who crucified Jesus. Pilate’s act of washing his hands did not get him off the hook! But the real point is that God Himself has “blinded” all of humanity—including the Jews (Revelation 12:9). God specifically prophesied Jesus’ death thousands of years before it occurred, so the Jews were simply carrying out God’s plan when they had their part in crucifying the Messiah. As the Apostle Peter stated to his own people, the Jews, regarding this matter: “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled” (Acts 3:17–18).
The ultimate answer is that every one of us has sinned and come short of God’s standard. As the Apostle Paul was inspired to write: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God” (Romans 3:10–11). The Messiah came to save human beings of all ethnic backgrounds. For the Apostle Paul wrote: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
When you really understand, you will realize that it is Satan the Devil who stirs up so many people against the Jews. For Satan hates the many good things the Jewish people have accomplished and will yet accomplish! The Jewish nation produced Jesus Christ—the Son of God—who will soon replace Satan, the god over this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). And Jesus was absolutely a Jew according to your Bible (Hebrews 7:14). King David of ancient Israel, who will once again rule all the nations of Israel in tomorrow’s world (Ezekiel 37:24), was also definitely a Jew. Most of the prophets, and the original Apostles, were Jewish—and God used them to give us both the Old and the New Testaments of the Holy Bible. So God has used the Jewish people in a magnificent manner to serve humanity over thousands of years, in the way that He has orchestrated world events and used the strengths of these remarkable people.
Frankly, much of the resentment against Jews is simply because of jealousy! The very word Judah in the Hebrew language means “praise.” And thousands of Jewish people down through the millennia have certainly earned the praise of their fellow men, whether that praise was properly accorded to them or not.
Out of all proportion to their numbers, Jews have generally made up a very significant percentage of the world’s greatest musicians, writers, thinkers, doctors and scientists. It is not the purpose of this brief editorial to go into great detail regarding the individual accomplishments of thousands of outstanding Jews. But when you consider, for instance, the very top world-class violinists of the past 50 years, names such as Fritz Kreisler, Isaac Stern, Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh, Itzak Pearlman and many others come quickly to mind. As some of the modern advertising men might put it: “No other ethnic group even comes close!” The same often applies, in principle, to outstanding pianists, scientists, doctors and leaders in other fields.
In addition, some of the warmest, kindest and most empathetic people you could ever meet on the earth are Jewish. They can express a depth of emotion, kindness and empathy that elicits the highest praise and respect. Many Jewish people have been exceedingly kind to me, personally—which I will never forget. And the few “bad” Jews are certainly a minority—as they are among every race of mankind!
By the way, I am not a Jew, and have no Jewish ancestors that I know of. But we should, of course, understand that the Bible refers to all converted Christians as spiritual Jews: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:28–29). The Apostle Paul also referred to Christians as “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16).
The key point that we should all remember is that God loves the Jewish people in a special way (Romans 3:1–2; 11:1–28). And we should always remember that, in tomorrow’s world, the primary leaders under Jesus Christ, who lived His human life as a Jew, will be men such as King David and the 12 Apostles. Remember that Jesus Christ told His Apostles on that last evening before His death: “I bestow upon you a kingdom just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29–30). So the personalities who will sit “on thrones” over the tribes of Israel will be, primarily, Jewish! It should be obvious, then, that God has a very high opinion of the Jews and has used them greatly in His service.
For God has given different strengths to different races. But He has not made any one race “better” than another. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28–29). As “Abraham’s seed,” the Jews certainly have a special distinction in that our Savior came in the flesh as a Jew. To hate Jews is to hate our Savior. But to hate other races is to hate the very ones whom our Savior—a Jew—gave His life to save. If we do not appreciate His sacrifice—or the human beings for whom He sacrificed—we are failing as Christians.
As mentioned above, always remember that King David was a Jew. A disproportionate number of the future sons of God who will actually be in top ruling positions in the soon-coming Kingdom of God will have been former “Jews.” As God does, we all need to have a deep appreciation for this remarkable people, for their outstanding abilities and for the traits of personality, mind and character that have enabled God to use them so mightily in His service. Therefore, it should not be too difficult, when you think about it, to cultivate a deep and profound respect and love for these wonderful people made in God’s image!