JEWS AGAINST JESUS
By Harmony Grant
22 July 08
Liberal Jewish leaders are among the loudest defenders of “civil
rights” and “freedom from defamation.” Yet their
so-called “anti-hate” laws represent the scariest threat
to Christian freedom in America. And the Jewish state of Israel is
anything but free for Jews who convert to Christianity. Messianic Jews
face stiff opposition both in Israel and the United States from their
Talmud-following brethren.
The Talmud teaches that worship of Christ is idolatry; many Jews believe
conversion of Jews threatens a spiritual Holocaust upon the Jewish
people. In Israel and the United States, powerful Jews teach that it
is an assault to lead a precious Jewish soul toward truth about Jesus.
Conversion of Jews represents theft and even spiritual “genocide.”
Jewish opposition compelled the Christian Jews of the Union of Messianic
Jewish Congregations (UMJC) to focus
on discrimination against their Israeli brethren at a June conference
in Jerusalem. About 300 Jewish believers in Christ gathered to protest
discrimination in Israel.
The UMJC
conference’s discussed topics including “the recent
public burning by haredim of New Testaments distributed by missionaries
in Or Akiva, a bomb attack that seriously wounded the son of well-known
Messianic Jew in Ariel and the attempt to disqualify a Messianic
Jewish high school girl from this year's International Bible Quiz
for Jewish youth.”
Meanwhile, gentile evangelicals remain oblivious, or uncaring, about
persecution against their fellow Christians. They continue to lavish
financial and moral support on Israel, despite its continuing, blatant
anti-Christianity. Recently a young Christian Jewish woman was
denied citizenship in Israel because she allegedly “committed
missionary activity,” thus “acting against the interests
of the state of Israel and against the Jewish people.” Another
Christian, a grad student from Germany, even now battles the government
of Israel, which is trying to deport her for the “speech crime” of
witnessing. (See, Christian
Deported From Israel )
A recent
Associated Press article described how Christians Jews in Israel
face persecution and violence. It quotes Rabbi David Rosen, head
of interfaith affairs for the powerful American Jewish Committee.
Rosen defends Israel’s anti-Christian policies. He is a powerful
American Jewish leader and this is his description of America’s
dominant faith, a faith that created the freedoms of our nation— "Historically
the core of Christianity ... was 'convert or die,' so it was seen
and is still seen as an assault on Jewish existence itself…When
you are called to join another religion, you are being called on
to betray your people."
This slander against Christianity demonizes two millennia of faith.
It is shocking that the head of interfaith for the AJC, an organization
the New York Times calls the “dean of American Jewish organizations,” should
describe Christians as preaching “convert or die.” While
such coercion did exist during the Catholic Inquisition, this is a
gross mischaracterization of two millennia of authentic Christianity—a
period in which Christians have done more to advance human happiness
than any other group. Christians preserved learning in the Dark Ages,
built the world’s freest nation, founded thousands of universities
and schools in poor countries, militated against slavery and other
sins, and spread Christ’s gospel of self-denying love. It is
also deeply troubling that this powerful Jew describes personal religious
decisions as ethnic or national betrayal. What kind of civil liberties
can he support if he believes Jewish individuals are guilty of treason
if their consciences lead them to a religious conversion?
The rabbi’s troubling words won’t shock anyone, however,
who knows hard-line Judaism’s teachings about Christ. Talmud-believing,
Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jews are taught to hate and despise Christ,
the “false prophet” who lured millions into idolatry. (
See, U.S.
Government, Talmud Mock New Testament) One British rabbi
put it this way when asked about the witness of Messianic Jews: “We
have rejected, do reject and always will reject what they are saying.
To target Jews, I see it as antisemitic.”
Such animosity is very alive in Israel.
“Calev Myers, a lawyer who represents Messianic Jews [in Israel],
said he has fought 200 legal cases in the past two years,” reports
the Associated Press. “Most involve authorities' attempts
to close down houses of worship, revoke the citizenship of believers
or refuse to register their children as Israelis…In incidents
of violence, police are reluctant to press charges, Myers said.”
American evangelicals, who fill church pews every Sunday to worship, would
never support a harassment campaign against a Jewish family in their neighborhood.
They would never allow the public burning of Judaism’s most sacred text,
the Talmud. They would never support ecclesiastical leaders who advocate violence
against people of other faiths.
Yet such bigotry against Christian Jews has occurred this spring in
Israel. (See, Israel:
A History of Hate Crimes, Israel
Teen Gang Attacks Arabs, Christian
Deported From Israel and Israeli
Christians Worship Under Armed Guard) By unconditional support
and blessing of Israel, tens of millions of American churchgoers empower
these very acts. The persecution is just done a little farther away
in a place American Christians call the “holy land.” But
Messianic Jews are learning, the hard way, the opposite: Israel is
anything but holy.
Harmony Grant writes and edits for National Prayer Network, a Christian/conservative
watchdog group.
Let the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith teach you how they
have saddled 45 states with hate laws capable of persecuting Christians: http://www.adl.org/99hatecrime/intro.asp.
Learn how ADL took away free speech in Canada and wants to steal
it now in the U.S. Congress. Watch Rev. Ted Pike's Hate
Laws: Making Criminals of Christians at video.google.com. Purchase
this gripping documentary to show at church. Order online at www.truthtellers.org for
$24.90, DVD or VHS, by calling 503-853-3688, or at the address below.
TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike on this
topic. Call (503) 631-3808.
National Prayer Network, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas,
OR 97015
