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There is an old saying that goes, “How odd of God to choose the Jews?” The mother of one of my friends added a verse to this little enigmatic poem. “How odd of God to choose the Jews? But the goyim annoy him!”
As a Jewish believer in Jesus, my view is that it was not odd of God to call the Jews His chosen people. Rather, it was an act of His sovereign will. Further, it seems to me that God harbors no additional annoyance with non-Jewish (goyim) sinners than He feels toward Jewish sinners. “ God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34). All have sinned (as is stated in no less than five different verses of the Bible) and all of us need the same forgiveness that is uniquely available at the Cross.
Nevertheless, God made a deal with the Jewish people. It goes all the way back to His special covenant with Abraham. Jews and Christians are all partakers in this deal with God by faith. Yet somehow, the question lingers. Is God done with the Jews? What do you think?
Some suggest that God finished with my people 2,000 years ago when Christ was killed. Various detractors presume that when Pontius Pilate symbolically washed his hands at the sentencing of Jesus, the Jewish people claimed and received responsibility for our Savior’s death. One New Testament verse has enflamed enemies of the Jews more than any other. It is found exclusively in Matthew’s Gospel. “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” (Matt. 27:25).
A famous anti-Semitic radio preacher loved that verse. It was a fulcrum of his perverse faith. Rev. Gerald L. K. Smith loved to quote that text. He hated my people. He wanted to remove every vestige of the Jewishness of Jesus from the minds of his followers. He was known to pass out pictures of a blond-haired, blue-eyed Jesus.
“Brother” Smith influenced millions of Christians via his hateful radio rhetoric earlier in this century. Then, in 1947, Smith sent a copy of the anti-Jewish Protocols of the Elders of Zion to every member of Congress. The book is a court-proven hoax! It has long been the classic text of anti-Semitic propaganda.
Some readers may wonder why this article addresses a dead Christian anti-Semite. He is buried, but it must be understood that his impact lives on. His grave is enshrined at the site of his legacy in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Gerald L. K. Smith was the founder of The Great Passion Play. Millions continue to make pilgrimage-like visits to his world famous religious tourist attraction.
He hated the Chosen People. How can a Christian hate Jews? I make this inquiry to challenge every man, woman, or child who reads these words. I want you to think about these awkward issues. Many Christians continue to wonder about God’s relationship with the Jews. Is God done with the Jews?
I feel compelled to confront my readers at this crucial time in world history. Are you a friend of Israel? God loves the Jews, the Arabs, and all for whom Jesus came to die. Sadly, when an American pulls up to the gas pump and empties his wallet, some citizens focus more attention on oil prices than praying for the “peace of Jerusalem” (Ps. 122:6). I fear that our loyalties are fickle and God wants them to be sure! Your blessings may depend on it.
Gas prices are an issue. Tensions do exist in the Middle East. Rhetoric abounds from Jewish, Moslem, and Christian sources. Who’s report will you believe? Is God done with the Jews?
I opened a letter I received just prior to working on this article. The hand-written plea came from a prisoner in jail who may have seen one of our CrossTalk TV programs. He wanted some free information we provide about the Jewish Passover. He reported to me that he had 27 racist tattoos emblazoned on his body. The man is a skinhead! Skinheads hate Jews.
The prisoner seemed to be a pitiful example of human wreckage. He grew up in state homes and institutions without a family. Early in life he landed in a juvenile detention center. From there, he graduated to adult prison life. His letter related that he had just come to know his biological father.
God clearly has a huge sense of humor. Can you guess the end of the story? Well, suffice it to say that now he wonders if his past life precludes him from practicing Judaism!
My council to this man is that after he has his tattoos removed, he needs to give his life completely to the real source of his Jewish bloodline. The only blood that really matters is that of Jesus, our Jewish Savior.
God is NOT done with the Jews! In fact, the miracle of the land of Israel is proof of God’s heart toward His people. More than 2,500 years before modern day Israel was established as a nation, the prophet Ezekiel foretold,
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land” (Ezek. 37:21). No tribe or race in history has remained a distinct people group outside of a national homeland for thousands of years like the Jewish people. No people on earth have ever been repatriated after dozens of generations had forgotten their distinct language. No people, that is, except for God’s people.
The Lord is re-gathering the Children of Israel. It is a modern day miracle. His promise is being fulfilled before our eyes. Now is it is time to love the Jewish people and reach them with God’s love. Now is the most important time to stand with the Chosen of God. Now, more than at any time in recent history, it is urgent for Christians to declare their support of Israel.
God is proving His love for His people with power. Yet, do you realize that many Jewish people fail to trust their own God? This is a real oddity. Yet, it is a tremendous opportunity for Christians to be examples of faith.
I enjoy going to Israel. I love to produce TV programs and host tours to Israel. As such, I have much contact with Israelis. One common statement that I hear from my Israeli friends is that every time the U.S. newspapers print articles about turmoil in the Middle East, Jews cancel their travel plans to Israel. Some Israelis find it remarkable that “Jews chicken out, while Christians keep coming.” It is as though the Christians know something that Jewish people have yet to discern. It’s true! Christians tend to realize that the safest place on earth is always in God’s will.
My advice to Christians is that we must bless Israel. We must show our support. We should fill airplanes with people of faith to visit the Holy land. We should bless the nation of Israel with our prayers, our tourist dollars, and our voices in America.
God is not done with the Jews! God made a promise to all who would bless Israel, that He would bless them for so doing (Gen. 12:3). If you need a special blessing from God, maybe you need to do something special to bless Israel. Plant a tree? Pray for peace? Support causes that help the Jewish people, but boldly do it in the name of Jesus! How else will my people know that Christians are our best friends?
Better yet, visit Israel and do all of these things at once! Your presence will be meaningful to my people. Israel’s economy depends on American’s pilgrims. Go in faith! I believe you will be changed forever. And I believe that God will use you to minister life and truth to my people.
God will protect His people and His land. He brought Israel into existence against all odds. He has kept Israel for more than 50 years. Enemies dedicated to our annihilation have surrounded us. He is the reason Israel remains the safest country on earth. When other nations are destroyed, Israel will stand. This is a certainty.
When Jesus returns, He is not coming to Kansas City; He is coming to Jerusalem. Israel will stand strong til the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!
“Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: . . . I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel” (Ezek. 37:26, 28).
In conclusion, I ask, “Could God break His deal with my people?” If He did, how do we know He will keep His promise to the Church?
Is God done with the Jews? For all our sakes, I hope not! My question is, “Are you?” Do you love Israel and the Jewish people? Do you have questions about my Jewish Savior? I invite your questions and comments. Please write to me at CROSSTALK, P.O. Box 2528, Cedar Hill, Texas, 75106. I have some FREE literature about the Jewish origins of the Christian Church for you. My e-mail address is randy@crosstalk.org.
Recently, I reminded my readers that Abraham took his son to Mt. Moriah. This is also where Jesus ministered and is home to the Western Wall of our ancient Temple in Israel. Like Abraham, I believe we are all on a journey of faith. Would you like to visit Mt. Moriah to pray at that same wall? May I send you a FREE brochure about our Fall 2001 Holy land tour? You are invited to join me on a unique journey of faith in Israel. If you have longed to visit Israel where the Bible comes alive, then join the tour I will be leading from October 23-November 1, 2001. For more details, call at 1-800-688-3422. I really want to hear from you.
Copyright Randy Weiss
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Randy Weiss, Ph.D., is a Jewish believer in Jesus serving in ministry since 1973. He is a member of the Board of Directors of WME and a contributing editor to World Evangelism. He hosts CrossTalk, a weekly TV program and teaches about the Jewish festivals, Israel, and the Jewish origins of the Church. Dr. Weiss is Dean of Jewish Studies at Columbia Evangelical Seminary and an adjunct faculty member of Global University. Randy is married with 6 children and 3 grandchildren.
If you are interested in visiting Israel, join Randy on his upcoming Holy Land tour October 23, 2001. Call 1-800-688-3422 for a tour brochure. If you would like a FREE copy of this entire series about the Temple Mount, please contact Randy at CrossTalk, P.O. Box 2528, Cedar Hill, Texas 75106-2528. Send e-mail to him at randy@crosstalk.org. Please send him your comments on this article and remember to pray for the ministry of Dr. Weiss.
