The Historical And Current Relationship Between Jews And The Church by PJ

The resulting anti-semitism, Replacement Doctrine Theory, and hatred of the Church toward Jews has created an evil against the Jews which I often wonder can be corrected or forgiven. How does one begin to deal with such error and in what way is it possible to establish a trusting and working relationship that brings the House of G-d together?

Can anyone truly understand the breach? And if so, why is there no one to fill the breach? I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Isaiah, (Yesha`yah / Isaiah 59:16) “And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness [having the Spirit without measure] sustained Him.” (1)

Ultimately, ha`satan is the author of hatred against the Jews and the Church. It began in Gan Eden when G-d announced the judgement of ha`satan in B`resheet/Genesis 3:15, “ And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel.” (1) From this moment, ha`satan set out to destroy Jews and the righteous Seed that would build His Church.

The Book of Hadassah/Esther reveals through the hatred and persecution and wicked plans of Haman, the root cause of anti-Semitism. Hadassah/Esther 3:2-6 says, “And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and did reverence to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do him reverence. Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, Why do you transgress the king's command? Now when they spoke to him day after day and he paid no attention to them, they told Haman to see whether Mordecai's conduct would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do him reverence, he was very angry. But he scorned laying hands only on Mordecai. So since they had told him Mordecai's nationality, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.” (1) It has been since Gan Eden, the dark angel's goal to get people to bow down and worship him instead of the King of the Universe. When people of faith won't bow down to other kings, persecution always follows.

The term “anti-semitism” was coined in 1879 by a German journalist, Wilhelm Marr, to designate anti-Jewish campaigns then appearing throughout Europe. Since that time, the term has been universally applied to any form of behavior or literature which evidences hostility toward the Jews. (2) Hostility to the Jews became the foundation of the Greco-Roman Church upon which I shall focus, since it is the foundation of the American Church.

More Jews have been murdered in the Name of Yeshua by so-called Christians than by anyone else. I suppose one could write an entire encyclopedia and still not cover it all but I shall highlight a few. Not only did the Christian forefathers hate the Jews, they persecuted them and I don't see it has stopped even today. I should know, I have experienced the cruelty of Christians calling me ”Christ killer” and refusing to invite me into their congregations and many other such behaviors I shall not list here.

In the 17th Chapter of Yochanan/John , Yeshua was praying. He says in verse 2, "Just as You have granted Him (Yeshua) power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), (now glorify Him) so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him." (1) Here Yeshua is claiming to the King of the Universe that He has all power and authority over all humankind. That's a bold statement from someone who knows He is headed to a cross. If indeed He does have all power and authority over all humankind, who could have possibly killed Him without it being His wish?

In verse 31 of Yochanan/John 18, there is an interesting statement by the Jews who took Yeshua to Pontius Pilate. "The Jews answered. It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." (1) And so it wasn't. Only the Romans could put a person to death. But did the Romans truly put Yeshua to death? Oh they may have physically driven the nails and hung Yeshua on a tree, but to have the power to do so came from above, just as Yeshua had spoken to Pontius Pilate, in Yochanan/John 19:11 "Jesus answered, You would not have any power or authority over Me if it were not given you from above. For this reason, the sin and guilt of the one who delivered Me over to you is greater." (1)

Who was this one? It wasn't the Jews. It wasn't the Romans. It was the one Judas Iscariot, the son of perdition, possessed by ha`satan and a follower of Yeshua. But even with all of that, no one had the power to murder Yeshua. He gave His life and He was nailed to the cross, bruised, pierced, beaten, whipped and it was to take the punishment you and I deserved. Who killed Yeshua? Our sin.

The second false accusation was “Replacement Theology.” This false teaching says that since the Jews rejected Yeshua that their special bond with the Father was no longer valid and that Christians were now “the new Israel.”

Some have taught that G-d has now finished with Israel and has turned His attention solely toward the Church. However, rather than suggesting G-d has finished with Israel or that she has been replaced, Paul wrote in Romans 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." (1) In Romans 9, Paul shows that to Israel belong the adoption, the glory, the covenant, the law, the priestly service and the promises and the Patriarchs and above all, the Messiah.

Christians owe their spiritual inheritance to Israel. If there were no Jews, there would be no salvation, no patriarchs, no prophets, no Bibles, no Apostles, and no Savior. These are man-made ideas that go back to the early Christian fathers. It is interesting that "Christian" was not a name used by the early church. It was a title given to followers of Yeshua by their enemies! The original followers were known as "Followers of the Way". They did not see themselves as converts to another religion but made complete or fulfilled Jews. What was once a real ministry to the Jews (by Jews) became a message of hate and prejudice (by Christians.)


Here are a few things the early Church fathers had to say:

Justin Martyr charged that the Jews crucified Christ in the highest pitch of their wickedness. It was during this time (150 A. D. )that the first encounter with Replacement Theology was embraced where the church replaced the Jews as God's chosen people. (3)

Justin Martyr said in 170 AD, “You Jews are to be separated from the world and from us, the Church, that you may suffer that which you justly deserve and that you may be desolate your cities burned with fire. These things have and will happen to you for you have slain the Just One, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (4)

Cypian the Bishop of Carthage said, “All Jews leave my diocese or die.”(4)


Eusebious said, “Jews are always cursed by God and thus doomed to perpetual judgment.” (4)

Tertullian argued that divine judgment is upon Israel, and Jews are destined to suffer for the crucifixion. (5)

Several Church Councils from 341 A.D. to 626 A.D., prohibited Christians from celebrating the Sabbath, festivals, and even eating with the Jews. It seemed that the greatest concern with Judaism on the part of Christian leaders was the attraction that it held for Christians. (6)
Ambrose of Milan said, “Certainly Synagogues are houses of impiety, receptacles of folly which God Himself has condemned.” (4)

Ignatus said that those who partook Passover were partakers with those who killed Jesus. (5)

Jerome produced the Latin translation of the bible which became the official bible. He said, “Jews are incapable of understanding scripture and should be severely punished until they confess the true faith.” (5)

Augustine wrote that the Jews deserved death but were destined to wander the earth to witness the victory of the Church over the Synagogue. (5)

St. John Chrysostrom said, “Jews sacrifice their sons and daughters to devils.” “Jews are worse than wild beasts.” “Jews are forever and eternally under God's curse.” “Not only every Synagogue but every individual Jew, as well, is a temple of the devil and I would say the same thing about their souls.” (4) And yet this man is still used as an example in many seminaries as the golden tongued preacher to imitate.

In 325 A.D., the Council of Nicea notes show, “We ought therefore not to have anything in common with the Jews for the Savior has shown us another way and consequently in unanimously adopting this mode we desire dearest brethren to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews. How can they be right? They, after the death of our Lord, have no longer been lead by reason but by wild violence as their delusion may urge them. It would still be your duty brethren not to tarnish your souls by communications with such wicked people, the Jews. It is our duty not to have anything in common with the murderers of our Lord.” (4)

The Council of Elvira (Spain) in 306 - Marriages of Jews and Christians were forbidden. (5)

Council of Laodicea 434-481 - Christians forbidden to worship on the sabbath. (5)

During the Crusades, tens of thousands of children died. Jews were herded together and killed. “Kill a Jew and save your soul.” was the motto. Jews were herded into Synagogues and the Synagogue set on fire while Crusaders sang “Christ We Adore Thee.” (4)

You might say, "I am not Catholic, so I don't have such a history in my background because I'm Protestant." Listen to what Martin Luther, a father of the reformation, had to say.

“What shall we do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews? I shall give you my sincere advice. First to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury or cover with dirt what will not burn so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and Christendom. Secondly, I advise that their houses be burned to the ground and destroyed. Thirdly, I advise that all their prayer books and talmudic writings and wit such like idolatry, lies, cursings, and blasphemy are taught to be taken from them. And fourthly, I advise that their Rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of limb or even life.” Martin Luther died a week after this was published. (4)

Now allow me to ask you a question. When were Christians ever given a mandate to punish the Jews? Yeshua never gave a mandate to punish Jews. He cried out to His Father upon the cross to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. Yeshua NEVER gave a mandate to punish Jews.

In 1924 at a Christian gathering in Berlin, Adolph Hitler, a professed Christian, stood before thousands of Christians, and with a standing ovation said: “I believe that today I am acting in accordance with the will of Almighty God. As I announce the most important work that Christians could undertake and that is to be against the Jews and get rid of them once and for all. We are doing the work of the Lord and let's get on with it.”

Hitler further stated, “Martin Luther has been the greatest encouragement of my life. Luther was a great man. He was a giant. With one blow he heralded the coming of the new dawn and the new age. He saw clearly that the Jews need to be destroyed and we're only beginning to see that we need to carry this work on.” Hitler followed to the letter, Luther's treatise on how to exterminate the Jews. Martin Luther preached his last sermon avidly against the Jews and died four days later. Indeed, Nazi leader Striker at his Nuremberg trial stated, “I have never said anything that Martin Luther did not say.” (7)

This is only a short list of attrocities committed by Christians against Jews. And yet, Christians expect that a Jew must “convert” to a Christian gospel and become a “born again Christian”. I cannot tell you the number of times I have seen well meaning “Christians” beat Jews over the head with scripture after scripture, confronting them with oftentimes a lack of knowledge of the scriptures only to make one huge mess.

Another thing the Church often misrepresents is that Jews did not accept the Messiah Yeshua.  This is absolutely a lie.  Jews DID accept the Moshiach Yeshua.  If Jews had not accepted Yeshua, you'd not know about Him Church!  Wake up!  It was to Jews Yeshua came.  It was to Jews the Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit was sent.  It was Jews who took the gospel to non-Jews.  Most certainly 100% of the Jews did not accept Yeshua as Moshiach, but neither have 100% of non-Jews.  

Is it really any shock that most Jews today don't believe Yeshua is their Messiah?  Would you if His followers were trying to murder you or steal your land or constantly told you that you were going to hell?   Do you ever wonder how Christians are going to provoke the Jews to jealousy as stated in Romans 11:11? I truly believe Christians must stop and search deep within themselves to find the answer to these two questions. Could it be that Jews do not deny Yeshua as much as they just flat don't want to become Christian?

That first century Judean Church was a Jewish Church. The Church was always meant to be a continuation of Judaism, not a separate form of worship. (That's what grafted-in means.) The true Church must take it's responsibility and overcome centuries of anti-Jewish behavior. To do that there must be life, joy and spark. There must be sensitivity in language. But above all, there must be LOVE.

The blessings for those who venture to show love toward the Jewish people are highlighted in the Word. B`resheet/Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]” (1) And T`hilim / Psalm 122:6 Amplified “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!”(1)

REFERENCES

(1) The Holy Bible, Amplified Version, The Zondervan Corporation and the Lockman Foundation, 1987.
(2) Christians for Israel Today, Year of Jubilee Issue, p. 7.
(3) Moseley, Dr. Ron, The Spirit of the Law, Mozark Research Foundation, 1993.
(4) Seif, Dr. Jeffrey, Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies, various lectures, tape 1986.
(5) The Wild Olive Branch
(6) World Zionist Organization, Anti-Semitism of the Church
(7) Hocking, David, Why Jews Don't Become Christians, tape 1997.