We have traced some of the major events that have taken place that have affected the Church since Israel became a State in 1948. How it has resulted in the birth and growth of the Messianic Movement and subsequently the influence this has had upon Christians. Now the question is, what should we be doing about it?
Ever since the Roman conquest of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, the Jewish people have been persecuted. For those who are interested in understanding more about this, Michael L. Brown has written an excellent book entitled Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the 'Church' and the Jewish People. He is presently acting President of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry. This book is a must for every Believer. This knowledge is vital if we hope to reach the Jewish people with the 'Good News'.
The first Foreign Missionaries to go out faced untold dangers and perils, confronted with unknown peoples, languages and customs, and many in addition to this paid with their lives. This paved the way for those who were to follow, predominantly in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. However, they were greatly influenced by 'Colonialism' and tried to force Western culture on the native people along with the Gospel as though they were synonymous. Only a small percentage, less than one, was aimed at the Jewish people.
After W.W.II when the cloak of colonialism was being thrown off, Foreign Missionaries were no longer welcome and alternative means of sharing the Gospel around the world had to be found. About thirty years ago, John Hagaai developed a plan to train Native people to become ministers to their own countrymen..Following this about twenty years ago K.P.Yohannan in India founded Gospel for Asia. They discovered that it was more efficient and at the same time more cost effective to train local Christians to evangelize their own people. They founded Bible Institutes in which to train Christians to become ministers and to develop congregations and build small churches.
This was all very creative and much more productive. However, still very little effort was made to reach Jewish people. Fortunately there have always been defenders of Israel and her people, and as early as the 1840's there were some influential Christians in Western Europe and England in particular who favored the return of the Jewish people to Palestine. Lord Shaftsbury the well known social reformer and staunch Protestant, prayed daily for the peace of Jerusalem. He always wore a ring on which these words were inscribed 'Oh, pray for the peace of Jerusalem'. He believed in the second advent and since it was necessary for the Jews to be back in the Land for this to occur he had no doubt that they would return.
Theodore Hezel a jewish journalist was shocked by the awful outburst
of anti-Semitism at the trial in 1894 of Alfred Dreyfus in Paris.
It convinced him that the Jewish people would never be safe anywhere in
the world and needed a homeland. In Basle Switzerland on August 31,
1897, he convened the First Zionist Congress. Biblically committed
Christians began to support this, in particular Lawrence Oliphant who was
among the British Restoration Movement favouring the return of the Jewish
people to their homeland. He was an officer in the British Foreign
Service, and at that time there were quite a few who were passionate supporters
of this movement. Perhaps Lord Allenby is one of the more well known
persons. After the first W.W. he liberated Jerusalem and was
a great friend of the Jewish people. There were other supporters
of the Zionist movement in the courts of Europe as well.
Then William Hechler a British clergyman with an enormous circle
of friends who had connections in the Royal courts of Europe, joined Theodore
Herzel and together were a powerful team and able to enlist the support
of many influential people. Eventually the State of Israel was born,
but not without the backing and assistance of many dedicated and committed
Christians, particularly in England. Queen Victoria who was greatly
admired, together with her Jewish Prime Minister gave their backing to
the cause. During the Victorian era there were many prominent leaders
who were totally dedicated Christians. It was even popular, and something
of which one could be proud. David Lloyd George Britain's Prime Minister
from 1916-1922 said, " I was taught more about the history of the Jews
than about my own people." These individuals really studied the Bible
and were familiar with its contents and it shaped their values and the
decisions they made.
Without the help and support of these and many other dedicated lovers
of the Jewish people and their unshakable belief in what the Bible taught,
the State of Israel would not have been born. We owe a debt of gratitude
to them. So where is the Church today as far as support of Israel and Jewish
people?. There has been a growth of ministries to the Jews by both
Jewish and Gentile Believers, but the Church has failed to give a unified
voice of encouragement, or a collective statement of Repentance for neglecting
to act during the Holocaust. Certain attempts have been made and
the present Pope is to be admired for his efforts, and going to Israel.
However most Jewish people think it " Was too little, too late." Also the
vatican plans to give sainthood to the Pope who was in Rome during the
time of the Holocaust.
Sidney G. Hall 111 Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church
in Austin, Texas, has written a book"Christian Anti-Semitism and Paul's
Theology." He writes on the cover, "Through the ovens of Aushwitz, Christianity
has been thrust into a new era,....There, along with eleven million people,
our Christian theology went up in smoke."How are we going to respond?
There has recently been a revival of the timeless classic by Charles
Sheldon, "In His Steps" in which a group of Believers agreed that they
would examine every decision they made in the light of "What would Jesus
do?." This was popularized by bracelets, watch bands etc. with the slogan
WWJD. What would Jesus do if He were here in the flesh?. Has the
Church forgotten that "it is not we who support the Root, but that the
Root supports us.?" There is much that can be done if we have willing hearts
to please Jesus and do what He did. He said" I came to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel." Are we willing to go for Him?.
We could visit synagogues, they are always pleased to welcome Christians
who show an interest. We would discover that it would prove to be
a very informative and interesting experience. Many Christians and
Gentiles are members of Jewish Community Centers, and this is an excellent
way in which to develop friendships. We can make an effort
to get to know our Jewish neighbors, instead of being apprehensive about
the differences, be bold for Jesus sake, and reach out. In Matthew
25: 31-46 Jesus said, " as you did it to the least of one of these My brethren,
you did it to Me." Many interpretations have been given for this entire
passage, but in all probability Jesus was referring to His own people when
He said, "My brethren." After all, everyone to whom He was speaking was
Jewish!
The late Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin when he was in
Washington D.C. was quoted as having said. " Israel has only two solid
friends in the world......certain evangelical Christians and some of our
own people." Let us pray and labor to make those number all Christians.
Many Believers are waiting expectantly, and are singing:
"These are the days of Elijah, declaring the Word of the Lord,
And these are the days of your servant Moses, righteousness being
restored."
It is going to happen with or without us.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the
heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved
with fire, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought
you to be in lives of holiness and Godliness, waiting for the hastening
of the Day of God.?" 2 Peter 3:10-12
