Monday, July 5, 2010

Aliens and Natives

The whole community of Israel must celebrate it. "An alien living among you who wants to celebrate Hashem's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you." -Exodus 12:47-49

One teaching and one judgment shall be for you and for the alien who dwells among you. -Numbers 15:16

It's verses such as those I just quoted that are used as the basis for what some folks call the "One Law" movement. According to Tim Hegg, the term "One Law" was coined by the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC):
...UMJC was formulating its “Definition of Messianic Judaism,” they began to label our teaching as “One Law.” The label was apparently taken from the Torah itself, where God states that there is to be “one law for the native born and for the foreigner” (e.g., Num 15:16, 29). Their position was that some of God’s laws were for everyone, but others were not. They felt that some of God’s laws were given specifically to Jewish people and not to Gentiles because these laws helped maintain a distinct Jewish identity. The conclusion was that Gentiles should not take these laws upon themselves lest they blur the Jewish/Gentile distinction. When the “One Law” label was first used to identify our position...
Here, I use the term "One Law" to describe those congregations that follow what you would call a "Messianic Jewish" perspective, but tend to be comprised of more Gentiles than Jews and who see both Gentiles and Jews as equal members and sharers of all (or at least most) of the covenant promises of God. This is a distinction from how organizations like the UMJC define "Messianic Judaism", which they see as a fully functioning Judaism on the same plane as Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Judaism, with their only difference being the belief that Yeshua was and is the Jewish Messiah. As in other Judaisms, participation by Gentiles is generally minimal to non-existent, hence the Messianic Judaism/One Law distinction.

I used to regularly attend the local Reform synagogue with my wife and children (who are Jewish) and was generally accepted, but I never felt I really belonged. Part of that "non-belonging" was because I believe in Yeshua as the Messiah and Savior and the fine people at the Reform shul, who I have witnessed do love God sincerely, do not share that belief. Being a Reform synagogue, I was not the only Gentile in attendence and in fact, there were (and I believe still are) even Gentiles on the board of directors there (I should mention for accuracy, that they're a combined Reform/Conservative synagogue...the joining of two smaller synagogues in Southwestern Idaho). Eventually, I returned to my local "One Law" congregation where I tend to fit in more.

I can see why Messianic organizations such as the UMJC would believe I should take a similar stance towards attendence of what they would consider a Messianic Jewish synagogue...attending only if I am married to a Jewish woman and raising Jewish children, all of whom are Messianic. From their point of view, as an individual Gentile, even one who shares their belief structure, I would have no place among them.

In my own congregation, I encounter a wide variety of people. Apart from the regular attenders, we get visitors who can have some, what I would consider, unusual practices and beliefs. One of the behaviors of some of these Gentiles is the overwhelming desire to visit and attend the local Reform and Chabad synagogues. I'm not sure what they think they're going to accomplish except putting off a lot of Jewish people. Some of these Gentiles habitually wear a kippah and talit katan which only makes them appear more odd when visiting a mainly or totally Jewish worship service. It's extremely unlikely that the Rabbis of either synagogue will easily accept the presence of such people, when their main duty is to minister to the Jewish population of our area.

When I can, I try to discourage such visits or excursions by "One Law Gentiles" to these synagogues. While they are tolerated in those venues, such visits do nothing to endear "Messianic Judaism" (in traditional rabbinic Judaism, in my experience, they don't make any distinction between Messianic Judaism and One Law, seeing us all as Christians wearing Jewish attire) to the Jews at these synagogues. Such visits will not make it more likely that the Jews attending those synagogues will accept Yeshua as Messiah and will not promote a greater unity between Jews and Gentiles. It's tough to promote unity when you are doing everything in your power (though perhaps unknowingly) to annoy and aggrevate every Jew around you. If our purpose is to sanctify the Name of God, how can we live out that mission by deliberately creating a distance between us and the Jewish synagogues around us?

Anyone supporting the UMJC viewpoint of Messianic Judaism will probably now say to me, "Then please stick to your churches and we'll stick to our synagogues. After all," they might say, "Jews are apples and Gentiles are oranges and we don't belong in the same fruit bin." But is that true? More precisely, is that what God, Yeshua, and Yeshua's emissaries to the Gentiles such as Paul and Peter really intended at the start?

Yes, of course there was a schism between the Messianic Jews and the Gentiles who were called to follow the Jewish Messiah resulting in a total separation of worship styles, beliefs, and theologies by the 3rd Century of the Common Era. That schism is the basis on which modern Messianic Jews, at least those who subscribe to the theology of Bilateral Ecclesiology (I won't address Bilateral Ecclesiology or "BE" at this point, but will attempt to take it up in a later blog) develop the understanding that Messianic Jews and believing Gentiles must worship in two completely separate and disconnected contexts.

We've seen the rather horrible results of this schism and how disasterous it was for the Jewish people, once "Christianity" assumed that they were superior and thus justified in persecuting, torturing, and even murdering vast numbers of Jews "in the name of Christ". Despite how some MJ/BE proponents may feel about me (or at least how they feel about "One Law Gentiles"), I really don't want to be a part of any of that, but as part of my journey through the Bible to attempt to discover my own relationship with God and possibly with the Jewish Messiah, I have to take a look at the scriptures with open eyes, rather than assuming that this theology or that is correct or incorrect, just because someone says so.

Of course, no human being exists without bias and although I've turned my personal assumptions down to a low burn, I doubt they are actually turned off. Still, I need to see what the Bible says about all this and then work my way back out to see if any of the beliefs and behaviors around me (Christian or One Law or Messianic Judaism in all their variations and flavors) match up with God's Word.

I have to inject at this point that everyone believes their theologies and faith systems line up perfectly with the will and Word of God. That's our problem as human beings; the tendency to bend God's Word to our will in order to support our needs, issues, and interests. All people of faith tend to do this (sorry, in this, no one reading this blog is an exception, though you may believe otherwise). If this weren't true, there wouldn't be so many divisions within Judaism (Messianic or otherwise) and Christianity (and I'll include "One Law" under this heading for the purpose of this paragraph).

That said, I have to do something. I can't just sit here endlessly paralyzed by indicision since no one theology stands out beyond the rest of the herd. Nor can I assume that the Sunday keeping Christian church is only and proper place for me to worship as a Gentile just because both the Christian Church and the MJ/BE movement says it is.

Where does that leave me? It leaves me going back to the Bible. What does it say about me and those like me who, following God's plan (see my previous post Light and Dust) and being attracted to the light, have come to faith, as Gentiles, in the Jewish Messiah Yeshua? Now that we have, what do we do according to God's Word?
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again”. -John 10:14-17
This is generally accepted as Yeshua's commentary about Jews and Gentiles who have faith in the One God and in the Messiah. While the Gentiles are not of this sheep pen, that is, not Jewish, he states we Gentiles ..will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd... Wow! One flock and one shepherd. However, are we in two seperate and, as the MJ/BE proponents believe, physical "pens" or worship structures or does being "one flock" with "one shepherd" make us all sheep together?

Paul does say the following, drawing a continual distinction between Jew and Gentile:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. -Romans 1:16
This affirms that the message of salvation through the Messiah must first and foremost be delivered to the Jews as God's chosen ones, and then to the rest of the nations, but it doesn't seem to address the lived relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers in the Messiah. How is that to be acted out (as opposed to how it was acted out after the original schism and in terms of the current schism between Jewish and Gentile worshippers)?

I read recently on Derek Leman's blog that Jews and Gentiles only worshipped together in the same place very briefly, before splitting off, with the Jews worshipping exclusively in the synagogues and the Gentile believers worshipping elsewhere. I couldn't find any information about how long "briefly" was supposed to be or where in the Bible I could find exactly where it says that Jews and Gentiles of the First Century did and were supposed to worship apart from each other, but it's a compellng question and the details need to be revealed.

I know I'm drawing dangerously near to the area where I could be called a replacement theologist, anti-semetic, or other names because I have drawn into question the conclusions of others, but I don't know that the record in the Apostolic Scriptures is specifically clear regarding how or if Gentiles and Jews worshipped together or apart. I do believe that it does not erase the distinction between Jews and Gentiles for them to worship or pray together, at least on occasion. If it did, then each time I worshipped God in my local Reform synagogue, either my identity or the identity of the Jews around me would somehow have been diluted or whitewashed, which wasn't the case.

Now that I've set the stage, so to speak, I need to try and understand the details of the first century worship practices. I want to be very clear, I'm not talking about how things ended up in terms of a separation but rather, I'm talking about the original intent and the eternal intent of God. After all, God's original intent for the Jewish people was given at Mount Sinai in Exodus 20 and beyond, but that intent wasn't always perfectly lived out by the Jewish people, such as the incident of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32. No, I am not being anti-semetic in that statement. I am only making mention of this to illustrate that God has an intention for people, and people don't always perfectly obey that intention (and if Adam and Eve had perfectly obeyed God's intention, we probably wouldn't all be in this mess of trying to figure out who has what relationship to God right now). If that was true of the Jewish people relative to the Golden Calf, it can be true of both Jews and Gentiles relative to God's and the Messiah's desire for how we are to worship as one flock with one shepherd.

I've already attempted to examine this issue on my congregation's blog in the article Friday Night in the First Century Church but it requires further examination. I'll delve more into those scriptures in my next article.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

I read recently on Derek Leman's blog that Jews and Gentiles only worshipped together in the same place very briefly, before splitting off... it's a compellng question and the details need to be revealed.


I am interested where he got that as well. It certainly is not shown that way in Acts. Regardless, past error cannot be justification for present error. Repeating the mistake of division between Jew and Gentile seems awful short-sighted considering the results we observed from 100CE to present. No, scratch that... it isn't "short-sighted," it is crazy. Repeating the same mistake with the hope of a different outcome is the definition of insanity.

James said...

Rick, I got your comment in response to this article in my email but it didn't make it here for some reason. Try reposting it. Someone mentioned a day or two ago that they were having difficulties making a comment. I've removed all restrictions, so you should be able to make your comments.

James said...

People have been posting comments but they're not showing up. This is a test. If you've noticed your comments haven't appeared lately, I'm still getting email notices with your content.

Gene Shlomovich said...

Rick, you don't quite understand. There's no division in the Body as far as Messianic Jews is concerned. Rather, there's a furious reaction of Messianic Jews towards hijacking of our heritage by a few groups who insist that Gentiles are required to obey Torah of Moses as well as groups who are promoting the British Israelism/Two-House theology. I have many, many wonderful relationships with Gentile believers who are Christians participating in churches.

Russ said...

There, you see Rick; Gentiles are welcome as long as they know and keep their proper place.

As it is written:

"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?"

So is James concerned only with the rich and poor? Or does this principle apply equally to other situations?

Zion/Jeruz said...

James,

I have been enjoying your articles, keep it up! Anyways I wanted to draw out one point, you might have already understood, but there does seem to be a difference between non-believing gentiles and their relationship to God and believing gentiles and their relationship to God.

One a gentile who comes to faith in the God of Israel is more responsible/accountable than a non-believing gentile.

Gene Shlomovich said...

"So is James concerned only with the rich and poor? Or does this principle apply equally to other situations?"

First of all, I am yet to see ANY synagogues that make Gentiles sit on the floor while Jews sit in chairs. In ANY (even the most ultra-Orthodox) synagogues.

Also, I am quite certain that James is talking about favoring rich over poor, SPECIFICALLY. How do we know that? James goes on to elaborate his point:

"But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?" (James 2:6:)

Efrayim, for you to go on and extend the analogy and equate Jewish believers with the "rich" who exploit the poor and equate Gentiles with the "poor" who are being exploited and abused by the Jews is a new low - but it shows how those involved in your religion view the Jewish people.

James said...

Jeruz and Gene, you had me in a panic for a second. I was scrambling through my memory wondering when I'd made any comments about rich and poor, until I read your comments again and realized you were talking about the Book of James, brother of Yeshua. Don't mind me. Didn't sleep well last night. Need more coffee. Carry on.

Gene Shlomovich said...

LOL, James. I had an inkling that it would cause just such a confusion:)

Russ said...

Gene,

You misunderstanding the point I was trying to make is nothing new. Perhaps you should look at your fellowship's website and see where Jewish families and friends are explicitly welcomed, but non-Jews are not included.

It has nothing to do with money or possessions does it? And I did not mention the idea that you might make non-Jews sit on the floor did I?

So just what were you trying to do by twisting up the point I was making? Make me look bad? To who? And why? Are you accusing me of sin? If so, which one?

You still do not have a clue about how I view the Jewish people. Your persecution complex is starting to wear me out.

Could we move on please?

Gene Shlomovich said...

"Perhaps you should look at your fellowship's website and see where Jewish families and friends are explicitly welcomed, but non-Jews are not included."

Efrayim, perhaps you didn't read our "Messianic Judaism" section, found under the "About Us" in the navigation menu.

"You still do not have a clue about how I view the Jewish people. Your persecution complex is starting to wear me out."

Assuming that I even have the so called "persecution complex", I think that I and other Jews are fully entitled to it - it lets us know when it's time to flee to yet another place or when to put up a fight:)

Russ said...

Gene,

This is what I read:

When: Every Saturday at 10:30AM.
Where: 11860 W. State Road 84, Ste A16, Davie, FL 33325 (MapQuest Map)
Bring your Jewish family & friends!

Is this not the invitation to your Shabbat service? And if the beliefs of your congregation are different than what I read, why is it not shown on the invitation?

Gene Shomovich said...

"Is this not the invitation to your Shabbat service? And if the beliefs of your congregation are different than what I read, why is it not shown on the invitation?"

Quite simple - we are a congregation of Jews and FOR Jews - this is our primary calling and focus, and we make no excuses about it. However, Gentiles who choose to be our guests and who desire to worship with us, and learn from us are by no means turned away and are welcomed GUESTS. At the same time, neither do we go out of our way to get non-Jews to come - after all, THE sole reason our synagogue exists in the first place is to specifically minister to the spiritual needs of our Jewish people. We do not try to be all things to all people - it's a prescription for failure and irrelevance to the Jewish community we are trying to reach with the basar of the Jewish Messiah. And if someone does not like this arrangement, we are not the only "game" in town - there are thousands of churches of any flavor (including your "One-Law" ones) that cater to Gentile spiritual needs.

Mike said...

K Gene, let me make an observation. I realize your congregation is for Jews, and I can get with that I think. But, demographically, there are few Jews (I am assuming) able to start such a group in 95% of the country. - 95% was a wild guess -

That said, it seems to me, that a messianic group devoid of Jews may not be ideal, but is as a consequence of the lack of that ethnic group in the area. I hope that makes sense.

Isn't this a matter of simple numbers? There simply are not enough Jews to go around?

So... What are like minded nonJews to do? Simply hash it out at church?

Sorry if I am simplifying this, or misunderstanding your argument. Just an observation. As you know, I am open to learn and grow.

Mike

Russ said...

Well Gene that is fair enough. You have a ministry for and to Jews. Cool. I don't have a problem with that at all. Really, I mean that sincerely.

But since that is the case, how about you do what you do and leave me to do what I do. Then instead of always arguing about who is right and who is wrong, maybe we can even learn from each other to the benefit of our different ministries.

I'm sure all who read our comments would also appreciate the break.

Gene Shomovich said...

Mike, there's an good article online written by a Gentile who worships in a Messianic Jewish congregation. It's titled: Can an All-Gentile Congregation be Messianic?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/8521897/Can-an-AllGentile-Congregation-be-Messianic

Mike, I know you are very sincere in your spiritual quest, and I very much enjoy talking to you. Of course, it's between you and G-d where you choose to be. Personally, however, I do not approve of all-Gentile (or even Gentile majority/Jewish minority) congregations that label themselves "Messianic". Often times they are set up simply in opposition to Christianity, and many are very judgmental of "pagan Christians" and churches. But they ARE themselves still thoroughly Christian groups. Historically speaking, there have been many Christian groups who have advocated some form of Torah observances (usually ad-hoc and anti-Jewish) and "Hebrew roots", without the "Messianic" label - they were Christians.

Most of the so called "Messianic" gentile groups today (and even many Jewish-led Messianic groups) are basically Evangelical Charismatic Christian churches with a smattering of Hebrew, abuse of Judaica and affinity for Jewish festivals. Most even meet in churches, while disdaining Christianity!

I think that G-d's plan for Gentiles has been precisely THROUGH Christianity (yes, in its many, MANY flavors - however flawed some of them may be in certain areas) - it's an ancient multinational movement, it easily adopts to most if not all cultures and languages, very evangelistic (carried the Good News all over to the ends of the earth). And, lest we forget, Christians DO worship the G-d of Israel. I understand that some of them are mistaken on some issues regarding the future role of Israel and continuing Jewish relationship to Torah - but so what? All of us are mistaken in some way or another!

What's more, most Jewish believers today came to find out about their Messiah from Gentile Christians or Christian ministries or churches! No, G-d is not through with Christianity as a Gentile expression of faith, no matter what some "messianics" may feel and claim.

Carole said...

I believe Jesus' intention when He said go and make disciples of all nations was that they would be His disciples. Because the Word says God Himself will teach them. Also Jesus said whoever will be great among you will be the servant of all. We are brothers and are not to lord it over each other. Encourage, teach ,admonish yes, lord it over, be masters of, no. We have only one master and lord Jesus Christ. I believe the Jewish people have from the beginning misunderstood Gods meaning when He said to Abraham through you I will bless all the nations of the earth. People who blame Jews and Jews who try to lord it over Gentiles are both wrong. The letter kills but the spirit gives life. Therefore Paul states that it is those who share the faith of Abraham that are the true heirs of the promise.

Gene Shlomovich said...

"I believe the Jewish people have from the beginning misunderstood Gods meaning when He said to Abraham through you I will bless all the nations of the earth."

Carole, but you are the one who got it right? Your translation is a bit off too. In most Bible translations done by Jewish scholars that verse says that "all nations will bless THEMSELVES by your descendants". This is in direct relationship to the preceding words:

"I will bless those who BLESS YOU, and whoever curses you I will curse" (Genesis 12:2-3)

Think carefully about what this means for you personally.

"People who blame Jews and Jews who try to lord it over Gentiles are both wrong."

First of all, you are right - people have blaming Jews for thousands of years for all sorts of things (and not just blaming, murdering them!). In fact, quite ironically, you yourself have just accused Jews of lording over Gentiles! But I am yet to hear about or know of any Jews who lord over Gentiles. Can you give me any examples from history, or even examples among the Jewish followers of Yeshua? Think about it.

James said...

Gene, while I agree with what you have said to Carole for the most part, depending on what you think of communication theory, just about any statement one person makes to another has a "command" component (my Masters degree is in Counseling with an emphasis in communications theory).

You may not realize that, when you (or anyone) make a statement to some Gentiles who are attached to the OL movement saying, "You should go back to the church", it can be interpreted as a command. Some people might believe that you are trying to give them a directive regarding their behavior and even their thoughts and beliefs.
I'm not saying that's your intent, but we have a "text-only" communications interface here. Most of human communication occurs on a non-verbal level, so misunderstandings are common.

It's possible for a Gentile believer to interpret at least some of your statements as implying that, as an individual Messianic Jew, you have the authority to direct Gentile believers where to go, what to do, and how to worship.

Again, I'm not saying this is actually what you're doing, but you may not be aware of how some non-Jewish people may be interpreting your message. Also, it's possible to disagree with an individual Jewish person without actually "cursing Israel".

Gene Shlomovich said...

"It's possible for a Gentile believer to interpret at least some of your statements as implying that, as an individual Messianic Jew, you have the authority to direct Gentile believers where to go, what to do, and how to worship."

Certainly, James, it's possible that my advise to Gentile believers may be interpreted as a command from me directly to them. But if you think about it, many of the things that I (or others here or elsewhere) merely give "advise" on are already commanded in the scriptures by those who actually had the authority to do so - the apostles (for example). By doing so, I am not establishing my supposed authority, but rather simply extrapolating and relating pre-existing directives issued by those whose commands were respected and had weight among all followers of Yeshua.

Also, being a leader in a Messianic Jewish community, I do have some input in the direction of that community. Sometimes this input directly or indirectly affects other people's participation in our community.

James said...

I don't have a problem with scripture being the authority as long as the scripture is referenced so that others (me) can check it out.

Carole said...

" But I am yet to hear about or know of any Jews who lord over Gentiles."

Gene, I live in an area with a large Jewish population and come into contact with them in public places all the time. They treat me so badly and act so arrogantly that I can't stand to be around them. One time I was checking out at a register in a gas station and a Jewish couple came in the man had a prayer shawl on his shoulders he grabbed items off the shelves and reached between me and the cashier who was ringing me up and threw his items on the counter in front of me. In so doing he slapped me in the face three times with his prayer shawl. I was trying to overlook it the first time but after the third time me and the cashier looked at him like what the heck and he finally got behind me in line. By the way according to the legal definition he assaulted me. Any unwanted touch is an assault. I encounter this type of behavior all the time, so I have my personal experience to back up what I said and I stand by it. The Jewish Nation has a long history expounded on in the scriptures themselves, of rejecting God and bringing on themselves His wrath to the point of rejecting their own savior. So Jesus said to them Don't say you have Abraham for your father because God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. So while that man felt superior to me because I am a Gentile unbeknownst to him I am first and foremost a blood bought child of God according to God's own word. My life is covered in the blood of the true Passover Lamb because I believed God and therefore He has accounted it to me for righteousness not my own but His. Now maybe I'm wrong, but I think not, in that God has more respect for a believing Gentile than an unbelieving Jew any day.I also draw on my experiential knowledge of God as I have been walking with Him since I was a child. And have seen miraculous answers to my prayers and I can feel His tangible presence and pleasure in my life. So don't try to imply to me that I'm in danger of being cursed ,maybe anyone Jew or Gentile ought to be concerned about how they treat me. Seeing as how I'm the apple of my Father's eye.
In Christ and lovin it. See ya.

James said...

Carole, just because a person is Jewish or non-Jewish doesn't automatically make them good or bad. It sounds like the Jewish community you are in contact with has "issues" with the people around them. Just ask some Jews in Israel about the behavior of the Ultra Orthodox and you'll find they can behave just as rudely. It doesn't mean all religious Jews everywhere think or behave the same way.

I spoke with a Jewish fellow once who was (and I suppose still is) secular. He said that he and his wife have felt so judged by the Orthodox community (in Southern California) that they were totally put off in seeking out a religious Jewish life. This is tragic but it does show that Jews and Gentiles are human.

At times, some Christians have been known to be rude and judgmental to those who are different. As people we can behave poorly, even when we call ourselves servants of God.

Gene Shlomovich said...

Carole, I figured you to be a rabid antisemite, and I was right. Antisemites like you usually conveniently overlook vile behaviors among their own "kin" (and their own personal sins, violence, thievery and arrogance), while projecting real or perceived faults (which are almost always overblown out of proportion) of a few Jewish individuals onto the whole Jewish nation and onto every Jewish community.

"...don't try to imply to me that I'm in danger of being cursed...."

Your vapid hatred of the Jewish people almost guarantees it (if one is to believe the Bible, of course), "friend". However, may G-d open the eyes of your darkened heart and spare you and your descendants.

Gene Shlomovich said...

"He said that he and his wife have felt so judged by the Orthodox community (in Southern California) that they were totally put off in seeking out a religious Jewish life."

James, that may be in their case, although I am yet to encounter judgmental attitude among the Orthodox in my neck of the woods (especially in places like Chabad). Again, the problem is projecting behavior as well as experiences and perceptions of a few onto the whole group or even on a whole nation.

James said...

Gene, hopefully you didn't somehow read in my comment that I was criticizing all Jews everywhere by reporting what one Jewish person said regarding his opinion of the Orthodox. I am not generalizing. In some ways, I get the feeling that you see any criticism of even one Jewish person by a Gentile as an automatic admission of anti-semitism and hatred.

All I'm saying is that, at the most fundamental level, we are all human. As individuals, we are capable of deciding to do good or evil. Certainly we've seen lots of good and evil in Christian history, but don't mistake my telling you one story as related to me by another individual as a blanket condemnation of the Jewish people. No one is perfect, Gene. Not me, not you, not anyone.

Gene Shlomovich said...

"Gene, hopefully you didn't somehow read in my comment that I was criticizing all Jews everywhere by reporting what one Jewish person said regarding his opinion of the Orthodox."

No James, I didn't read that in YOUR comments.

"In some ways, I get the feeling that you see any criticism of even one Jewish person by a Gentile as an automatic admission of anti-semitism and hatred."

Not at all. Although there are different types of criticisms out there - the criticism I am talking about concerns attributing some supposed bad behavior to the fact a person happens to be Jewish or that he/she's part of a particular Jewish group, instead of treating each person's sin as an individual.

Take Carole's words for example:

"I live in an area with a large Jewish population and come into contact with them in public places all the time. They treat me so badly and act so arrogantly that I can't stand to be around them."

Now, if I were to say the same thing about a "Gentile population"? Even growing up as a Jew in a country where antisemitism has been expressed verbally and physically towards me and my family on countless occasions (and had many family members murdered by the people of that country), I still would never say that "I can't stand to be around them" (the people of that nation) - because I look at people as individuals.

Carole said...

Gene, let's backup a minute and let me introduce myself. Growing up in the U.S. in the 60's and 70's I was very affected by what I saw concerning the civil rights movement I could see that Dr. King was a good and righteous man and was confused about all the anti black sentiment I saw on the news and in those around me. I asked myself what is so bad about these people that everyone hates them so and I determined to find out. The only contact I had with blacks at that time was at the laundromat in town when I was taken there to do our wash every week I was about 9 or 10. So for the next 3 or 4 weeks I would observe closely their actions and conversations to see what was up with these people. One such day I made my conclusion: There is nothing wrong with these people they are just like everyone else except their skin is dark and their hair is curly, but they have the same needs and desires of everyone one else. This conclusion I extended to all people on the face of the earth at our core we are all alike. I decided on that day I would not be racist but would look at everyone with open eyes and heart and let their individual behavior determine my attitude about them. So don't think it was on the basis of the one encounter I related here that I made my determination about this group of people. Even after many encounters of the kind I spoke of I am determined to keep my heart open to them. As a true heinz 57 garden variety american I searched for my roots my identity as to my heritage. I looked at my jewish grandfather at his actions and because of my faith in Christ as the savior I was open to my jewish heritage but couldn't go there when I compared that ungodly and foolish man to my godly native american grandmother who at her wake had people come from 3 states all day and night and into the next day in the front door and out the back door and everyone said if it wasn't for her I would not know Jesus as my savior. So I said I will take the native american heritage as mine and again God would not let me revealing to my heart the foolishness of that nation in worshipping the created rather than the creator. What about my scottish heritage I thought well not much to go on there. So I asked God so who am I and where do I belong and God spoke to my heart these words: " Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people, and your father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty ; honor him, for he is your Lord." Psalm 45: 10,11. And so I find myself in the family of those who believe God and put their faith and trust in Jesus who call on God out of a pure heart. This family is made up of people from every tribe and kingdom and nation on the face of the earth because, the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. And every day I strive to live a life of fasting, prayer ,and intercession filled with gratitude that God had mercy on me a sinner. And I preach the good news to everyone to whom the spirit leads me regardless of creed, color, language or whatever because on that great day when Jesus presents us to His Father with these words; Here am I and the children You have given Me, I want His joy to be as full as mine is in being found in Him not having a righteousness of my own but the righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. And I with Paul will be determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. And will become all things to all people in the hope of saving some against the wrath of God on the great and terrible day of the Lord. And now may God enlighten my darkness and give me eyes that see and ears that hear and a heart that understands. May I walk humbly before my God in full knowledge of His grace in and through me for the salvation of not just me and my house but as many as the Lord will call through me. In Jesus name. Amen

Gene Shlomovich said...

"And now may God enlighten my darkness and give me eyes that see and ears that hear and a heart that understands. May I walk humbly before my God in full knowledge of His grace in and through me for the salvation of not just me and my house but as many as the Lord will call through me."

Carole, may it be G-d's will to grant you your prayer if it's sincere.

James said...

Carole, it looks like you posted the exact same comment three times in this article. I only published one and removed the other two, since it looked redundant and was probably the result of some technical problem. If I've inadvertently removed content that was different, please let me know and repost it. Thanks.