The Holocaust serves as a stark historical example of where antisemitism can lead. Today, there are those who would extinguish the Jewish state of Israel if they could. There have been reports that antisemitism has grown during the COVID pandemic.
Whoopie Goldberg was recently criticized publicly for saying the Holocaust was “not about race.” In a sense I agree, because I believe there is only one race, and that is the human race. But the Holocaust was all about the hatred and genocide of ethnic Jews in Europe.
I do not understand why we as humans believe our ethnicity is superior to another, or why some hate other ethnic groups, or why we feel threatened by another ethnicity. What I do know is it is sinful to hate others for any reason.
I have read that antisemitism was strong in Europe during the Middle Ages because of some church teachings that the Jewish people should be hated because they condemned Christ calling for His crucifixion.
In his February 10, 2022, edition of “The Briefing,” Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., shares the experience of Emory University’s professor Deborah Lipstadt. She said, “For decades when I got direction to synagogues in [European] countries, … I would be advised that to make my search easier, I didn’t have to know the precise address. When I got to the street on which the building was situated, I was told to just look for the police officers with the sub-machine guns. That’s where the synagogue would be.”
While it is true that there were Jewish accusers, such blind emotion ignores the fact that it was a Roman governor who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus and Roman soldiers who executed his command. Should we hate all Romans and their Italian descendants?
Antisemitism is also blind to the fact that all the apostles were Jewish and evangelized the world at great personal sacrifice. The believers in the first church in Jerusalem were Jewish converts to Christianity, our brothers and sisters in the faith, who supported the missionary work of the apostles amid severe persecution.
Then there is the undeniable fact that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was a Jewish man. This Jewish Man said of Himself, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” Mark 10:45. This Jewish Man named Jesus died for my sins and to set me free from the bondage of sin. How could I hate Him?
While there are still those who hate Jewish people for different reasons, I am not going to be a part of that “blame game.”
The Scriptures teach “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23, and “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8.
When I look for the reason Christ was nailed to a cross, I need look no farther than my own mirror.
Another well-written post, Gary. I especially love your last statement:
“When I look for the reason Christ was nailed to a cross, I need look no farther than my own mirror.”
Sheryl,
Thank you for your encouraging words. Antisemitism is something I have never quite been able to wrap my head around. We owe everything as Christians to a Jewish Man.