There is a lot of discussion regarding the new House Bill HR-6090, “The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act” and its effect on Christianity regarding hate speech implications. Let’s clarify this. Many pundits like Charlie Kirk, Tucker, and others are concerned that the adoption – officially – of the US Government’s definition of Antisemitism via the long-established IHRA such as, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”… and “…Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.”… as being a language that could be interpreted as being against the New Testament – because much of Original Institutional and Reformed doctrines… and those who have enshrined them blame the Jews for the killing of Jesus. The Scriptures used are typically Acts 2:36 and 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15. However, there is inherently a much more complex issue.
The problematic issue being raised is that because the official stance of the Federal Government will become the same as the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism, Christianity will be maligned in an official context. But is this true?
The Jews referred to in these Scripture passages are not directed by Peter and Paul at a race or culture of people, but at the religious leadership at that time. There was only a small fraction of “Jewish” people that called for Jesus to be crucified at the mock exchange of Barabbas for Jesus – very small. At the rousing of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin – because most Jews hid their real sentiments, which was that Jesus was at least a prophet and a good man – if not, a prophet of God and the Messiah.
This is notwithstanding the fact the Jews did not have the authority to kill anyone. They had to go to the Roman government to actually facilitate a legal charge – and at the end of the day, the Roman soldiers put the nails and spear into the human body of Jesus…not the Jews – as a race, or religion.
So where do our English translations get the audacity to charge an entire race of people with killing Jesus? During the formative years of the institutional Roman church, the leaders were belabored by the fact that Rome executed Jesus. This was without equivocation. There came a point where they felt the need to escape this reputation and blame the Jews for actually killing our Savior. They did this through a politicized campaign of doctrinal statements that began to blame the Jews as a people, culture, and religion for killing Jesus. Justin Martyr and Melito of Sardis as early as the 2nd century created an accusation that the Jews were Christ-killers. The Goad of Love was one such document, as it began to appear and affect public consciousness in the twelfth century. At the time of the First Crusade, in 1096, a German Crusade destroyed flourishing Jewish communities on the Rhine and the Danube. In the Second Crusade in 1147, the Jews in France were the victims of frequent killings and atrocities – so, there is now a 1700-year-old campaign that turned the tide of doctrinal belief in the Church which also was never dealt with in the Reformation – or even later in any official capacity, in fact it was only inflamed. The Jewish community was even publicly blamed for the Black Plague – accused of poisoning wells with the virus in the 14th century.
Martin Luther wrote in his last days on earth that Jews should have their businesses taken, their synagogues burned, Jews greet Christians with secret curses – have been known to spit as they curse the name of both Jesus and Christians and also stand accused of kidnapping Christian children for blood-based rituals (later to be known as “blood libel”). He also said they should be forbidden to own property, have justice on the highways, have all their writings confiscated, and be forbidden to preach.
This is why we must look at the original text when engaging what we may see as problematic potential conflicts in Scripture. “Jewish Leadership”, Sanhedrin, “Priests”, and “Teachers of the law” in Greek and Aramaic began to just be called “Jews” and so the inference is now placed on a people group versus certain individuals with nefarious intent.
The Jews did not kill Jesus – Rome killed his body after a tradeoff with another Jesus – Jesus Barabbas – “Jesus son of the father” for the REAL Son of the Father Yeshua. The enemy who operates in darkness has always sought to eliminate the Jewish People so he can eradicate the veracity of Scripture. What better way than to play the long game of what Bill Clinton described as “…f a lie is only printed often enough, it becomes a quasi-truth, and if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes an article of belief, a dogma, and men will die for it.” So now that we have determined the Jewish People DID NOT KILL Jesus (by the way…the sin of the billions of people who have ever breathed life on earth and reached the age of accountability…all of us – OUR sin – killed Jesus)
So then is this definition a threat to the New Testament? – No it is not – but it is a threat to Christians who believe this lie and espouse it publicly. It could be engaged at the legal level if this bill goes all the way through the process to at least publicly indict those who espouse this false idea.
Why is this problematic? First, it is for those who do believe doctrinally that the Jews killed Jesus – a false doctrine – because below the surface it means there is an arrogance and ignorance of the Scriptures; and those who hate Jews and use this tool as a weapon, have not thought the idea through. It was this kind of diatribe from Martin Luther on his deathbed, described above, – that Hitler used in communicating to the masses of Western Europe to influence and convince the people it was a righteous paradigm.
We face some grim realities in the Western Church. Will we let go of long-held beliefs, whether inherent or cemented and enshrined doctrines to reach out and support our Jewish brothers? Wait Mike – you just called them brothers! And in a sense they are. Have they professed Yeshua as Messiah – mostly not…but they will one day.
In Exodus 4:22 – Moses is told by God that Israel “Israel is my Firstborn Son – tell Pharaoh to let my Son go…” Matthew 3:17 (and the other Gospels – 2x in each) chronicle the voice from heaven coming down during the immersion of Yeshua saying, “…This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased…” What do we see here? Two sons – One Father – One family! – there is a several thousand-year-old redemption process, not just for the nations of the earth – but for Israel as well – to return to the Father in the way He describes. That plan includes a turning away – and return and repairing – a Tikkun Olam – that ALL would look upon the one whom they pierced (through our sin) – and mourn…(Zecheriah 12:10)
The beginnings to eliminate Christian-based anti-Semitism must be initiated in each of us. We must ask difficult questions like, “Do we only have a romantic relationship with Israel? – meaning – are we only interested in Israel and the Jewish people because of the feeling it gives us where Jesus lived and our Western identity with the patriarchs of our faith? OR do we have the heart to see and bless the nation and the people of Israel in ways that combat attacks against them from the world – as well as – identifying with them as brothers whom we desire to see the Father’s realization of His Messiah in them? This must occur even when we know we do not agree…YET…who the Messiah is. Can we have enough faith (Emunah) to believe God is going to bring the sticks together in His appointed time – yet at the same time we are always showing love and proclaiming the Truth – so those with open hearts will come to the knowledge of the truth?
Jesus did not win the number of hearts in Israel that His disciples did…It was not a Western Jesus they preached. The day of Pentecost when 3000 were added, were Jewish people celebrating Shavuot – the Feast of Weeks – Pentecost – in Jerusalem. Thousands more were won for the Messiah until the Diaspora when Jerusalem was sacked in 70 CE.
If you find yourself asking yourself difficult questions about your sentiments about the Jewish people – you are not alone = Yeshua felt the same way. In John chapter ten – he pours His heart out at the stubbornness of the leadership by saying, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, How I have longed to gather you as a hen gathers her chicks – but you will NOT SEE ME (meaning – believe I am the Messiah) until YOU SAY, “Baruch Haba Bashem Adonai (Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord) – THE PENULTIMATE MESSIANIC DECLARATION.
Where do you stand today? What are your feelings towards the Jewish People – Ask yourself the hard questions…and share this with friends whom you know are debating within themselves or have a proclivity against the Jewish People.
