The Great Obligation: Why Christians Must Oppose Antisemitism Today

With my dear friend Yoram Shpirer at Kibbutz Nahal Oz

Some thoughts on what a Christians views should be scripturally regarding Jews and Israel

A Season of Repentance:
Correcting the Christian History of Antisemitism
Unlearning Contempt:
Reforming Christian Teachings on Judaism
Shadows of the Past, Light for the Future:
A New Path for Jewish-Christian Relations

Shared Covenant: God remains “steadfastly faithful” to the biblical covenant with the Jewish people. Romans 11, Genesis 17, and Jeremiah 31

Rejection of Supersessionism: Rejects the idea that the New Testament made the original covenant with the Jewish people obsolete Matthew 5:17-18

Repentance for History: The church expresses “deep repentance” for the historical persecution of Jews by Christians. Leviticus 26:40-42, Isaiah 40:1

Opposition to Coercion: The church rejects any form of evangelism toward Jews that is “coercive in nature, violent in its means, or anti-Semitic in its intent”

Dialogue over Conversion: The church prioritises “fruitful and respectful dialogue” to build bridges of understanding rather than making Jews a unique target for conversion

I view the Jewish people as “partners in waiting” for the fulfilment of God’s reign, that the covenant God established with the Jewish people is eternal and irrevocable, rejecting the historical belief (supersessionism) that Christianity replaced Judaism

Jewish Roots of Faith: The church acknowledges that Jesus was a devout Jew and that Christian faith is “unintelligible” without its roots in the story of Israel. Galatians 4:4, Luke 2:21, John 2:13, 7:2, John 4:22, Hebrews 7:14

A Christians Obligation: The Christian church has a profound obligation to correct historical and theological teachings that have led to false and pejorative perceptions of Judaism and contributed to persecution and hatred of Jews. It is our responsibility as Christians to oppose antisemitism whenever and wherever it occurs.

Jews still await the messianic reign of God foretold by the prophets. Christians proclaim the good news that in Jesus Christ, “the kingdom of God is at hand”; yet we, as Christians, also wait in hope for the consummation of God’s redemptive work. Together, Jews and Christians long for and anticipate the fulfilment of God’s reign. Together, we are “partners in waiting.”

Empathy for Others: As Christians, we are deeply affected by the anguish and suffering that continue for many people who live in the Middle East region that includes modern Israel.

Conclusion:
We believe that just as God is steadfastly faithful to the biblical covenant in Jesus Christ, likewise God is steadfastly faithful to the biblical covenant with the Jewish people, and no covenantal relationship is invalidated by the other. Further, we are mysteriously bound to one another through our covenantal relationships with the one God and Creator of us all. The covenant God established with the Jewish people through Abraham, Moses, and others continues because it is an eternal covenant. Paul proclaims that the gift and call of God to the Jews is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Thus, we believe that the Jewish people continue in covenantal relationship with God. We are partners in waiting, Agape love.

Thank you Yoram, Nicholson, Margot and Ariel.