BIBLICAL BALANCE RESTRAINS ANTI-SEMITISM
By Rev. Ted Pike
7 Mar 05
As I have listened to callers from heartland America during the
nearly 100 talk shows I have been on during the past six months,
I hear the following statement with increasing frequency and vehemence: "The
Jews are behind everything that is anti-Christian and wrong with
America."
I have been warning that sooner or later the world would recognize
an obvious fact: free speech is being taken away worldwide by the
international Jewish organization B'Nai B'Rith and its "anti-hate" laws.
Further, Jews and their "civil liberties" organizations, such as
ADL, People for the American Way, the Southern Poverty Law Center,
and the Jewishly top-heavy ACLU, are perennially in the forefront
of efforts to strip America of its Christian symbols and observances.
I have predicted the obvious result: Unless these Jewish organizations
back off in their Christian bashing or are actually disbanded, it
is inevitable that someday a backlash of anti-semitism will again
result.
Is that backlash even now beginning?
The traditional reaction among Christian leaders and broadcasters
to criticism of matters Jewish is to see, hear, and speak no evil
concerning "God's chosen people." In fact, for a century, the church's
concept of "blessing" Israel has pretty much been to give Israel
unconditional military and moral approval, right or wrong.
Yet, new realities require more enlightened responses.
Undeniably, B'Nai B'Rith is the dominant religious, educational,
fraternal and charitable Jewish organization in the world. It is
the "mother ship" which encompassed all branches of Judaism. Lamentably,
its "civil liberties" arm, ADL, authorized the arrest and imprisonment
of 11 Christians in Philadelphia on Oct. 11th. Many other Christians
have been indicted under its "anti-hate" laws worldwide. Clearly,
its actions over the past 35 years especially in Canada demonstrate
that it is intent upon persecution of Christianity. And it has the
media and political clout to do it.
How does the church respond to this reality? How do we "bless" Israel
in view of these facts?
First, we must initiate open discussion of Judaism from a truly
biblical point of view. This means we will no longer be ashamed of,
and de-emphasize the words of warning in the New Testament concerning
the fact that, during the church age, Christians must expect opposition
from Judaism.
Christ warns us: "Beware of the leaven (teachings) of the Pharisees
(Mk. 8:15)." Modern or "rabbinic" Judaism is directly descended from
the Pharisees and their "oral tradition," which became the Babylonian
Talmud. The Talmud is the greatest religious and ethical authority
for observant Jews – of much greater authority than the Old
Testament.
Christ also described Judaism as "the synagogue of Satan." (Rev.
2:9) Let's be realistic: any religion that constitutes what Christ
defined as Satan's church is going to instinctively oppose the church
of Jesus Christ. St. Paul echoes Christ: "Beware of the concision
(meaning circumcision, the Jews.)" (Phil. 3:2) He warns us that "From
the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies…"
On the other hand, Paul continues, "…from the standpoint
of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers." (Rom.
11:28) Paul said of the Jews: "…my heart's desire…is
for their salvation." (Rom. 10:1) He thus affirms a tremendous biblical
truth everywhere expressed in Scripture: Even though the Jews are
now in a state of deep apostasy, in denial of Jesus Christ as their
promised Messiah, and some are even now attempting to revive first
century persecution of Christians, nevertheless, God has a wonderful
destiny for a beloved remnant of Jews – a remnant who will
repent at the Second Coming of Christ. When they give Him the kind
of faith and obedience that a purified remnant gave in the times
of Joshua and Ezra, then Christ will again lead them out of great
tribulation to dwell in their promised land during His millennial
reign.
Such biblical perspective must prevail in order to persuade and
temper the inevitable backlash against the anti-Christianity of ADL/B'Nai
B'Rith. We must put Jewish anti-Christianity within the big picture
of God's plan for Israel.
In my book, Israel: Our Duty…Our Dilemma, and my video documentaries,
I always try to epitomize this biblical balance concerning the Jews.
Like Christ and the prophets, I reprove them as necessary for their
sins. Yet I never forget that someday God will have righteousness
out of Israel – whether or not anyone, Jew or Gentile, thinks
it is possible.
It is time that Christians and Christian broadcasters graduate
from the simplistic notion that to "bless" Israel means to bid god-speed
to the many evils and injustices of Zionist leadership. Instead,
I invite Christian talk show hosts to discuss with me on the air
how a true biblical perspective can both restrain evil Jewish leadership
and temper anti-semitism.
Historically, bad Jewish leadership has again and again incited
the wrath of the Gentiles. This has resulted, by pograms and expulsions,
in untold suffering for the average Jew.
It is up to us to make sure such persecution never happens again.
To book a talk show discussion of how to prevent a resurgence of
anti-semitism, call Rev. Ted Pike at 503-631-3808.
To learn more about the danger of hate laws, visit www.truthtellers.org
You may purchase online Rev. Ted Pike's gripping 82-min, video
documentary: "Hate Laws: Making Criminals of Christians," or order
at 503-631-3808.
This video is free to talk show hosts.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas,
OR 97015
