“This dream has haunted me for decades. There are some things time does not erase…facing the past is the only way forward…God help us Christians who did nothing to intervene.” (A Christian witness)
FACING THE PAST: “Years ago, my husband and I stood in front of Castle Church, Wittenberg, Germany, in front of the door where Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses “with hammer strokes which echoed throughout all of Europe” (Luther Memorial of Saxony-Anhalt). This act of defiance against the Catholic Church became the symbol of the Reformation of October, 1517. The movement brought reform from abuses caused by the Roman Catholic Church and ended in the establishment of many Protestant/Reformed churches. Mark Batterson, Christian Post columnist, author of the book, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity was part of a group of Christian leaders that gathered in Wittenberg, Germany, in 2008, to discuss the state of Christianity. The question came up: “Do we need another Reformation?” His short answer was “yes”.
It was obvious then, as it is today, that the “Church” veered off the Biblical pathway.
Its treatment of the Jewish people was tragic and should not be justified nor forgotten.
I never thought I would call myself a reformer, but reform is definitely in order.
Sing A Little Louder
A recently produced short film clip on You-Tube entitled: Sing A Little Louder left me shocked all over again. I had known about the betrayal, but watching the film drove the sadness and embarrassment of the transgression home again. When my husband and I arrived in Israel in 1985, a few German Christians living in Israel, shared with us that when the Jewish people were herded to Auschwitz in cattle cars, instead of going to their aid, their churches “just sang louder”. It is hard to believe, but factual. Understandably, a number of those still living, are haunted by the memories of those years. As the cries of the Jewish people from the cattle cars were drowned out by “hymns to God”, each Christian distanced themselves from the reality of “…cattle cars stuffed with human cargo that became rolling death wagons” (Aish.com) right out their back door! Researcher, Penny Lea, says “G-d forgive all of us who called ourselves Christians, yet did nothing to intervene.”
Unfortunately, many Christians today still ignore the plight of the Jewish people. How many stand up for Israel’s right for secure borders and the welfare of the Jewish nation today? The number is relatively small in relation to the mass numbers of Christians who “turned their head away” from their Jewish neighbors in many villages and cities in Europe. To some extent today, many are practicing the same error again– turning a blind eye to Israel’s restoration.
MOMENT OF TRUTH: Everyone of the worshippers believed in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, as recited in the Nicene Creed, every Sunday morning. However, when the test came during the crisis, most distanced themselves from the death trains. A cattle car journey, to Auschwitz, lasted three to four days. Every Sunday right “on time” it passed a number of churches. All the congregations could hear the sound of the wheels, the whistle blowing and then…the singing began…as if they thought they were offering worship songs to God! No one ran to offer help.
The same practice of being stone deaf to Israel’s plight against terror, has permeated too many modern-day churches, as Israel faces huge Islamic nations threatening their day-to-day existence. The film mentioned, was produced to bring attention to the plight of persecuted Christians as many brothers and sisters are dying in Iraq, Syria and Iran; however, I shall not forget the evocative question one pastor wrote to me. He said, “I wonder sometimes whether the Christian Church is experiencing persecution in so many places because they are reaping what they sowed to the Jewish people during 20 centuries of ignoring the plight of the Jewish people.” I am not saying he is correct, but his question troubles me. As my friend, General Shimon Erem, a decorated Israeli General once told me, “I once proclaimed in a Catholic university assembly, “the Church ended up “defying Jesus” and His words of “love thy neighbor” (Mark 12:31). He said “the mouths dropped open”, shock set into the students listening, but they soon learned what they had never before been told.”
Sadly, when much of the Church laid aside the Old Testament, and proclaimed we are only a “New Testament” church, the disconnect from Israel really took hold. Jesus taught only from the Hebrew Scriptures (the Torah) but the Church forefathers said it was “old” and no longer relevant. They quickly saw themselves as the “New Israel” and the pointing of the finger began: “You Jews killed Christ!” While much revelation has come into Christianity over the past one-quarter century, how long must we wait for a heartfelt sorrow and repentant Church to emerge who will address its wrongdoing against the Jewish people? The cords of Christian anti-Semitism have kept the “Church” bound up too long. Yes…it was Christian communities who betrayed the Jewish people, in so many places, when they needed our help so desperately. Those who did help, names we know, have been greatly honored by the Jewish people, on the Avenue of the Righteous and in Jerusalem at the Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial. These are those who kept a true Christian witness, but sadly, so few.
Statement of Repentance and Contrition
Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter, never gave up telling the devastating account of the Holocaust before he died. In one passage of his book, Night, he summed up his feelings upon arrival in Auschwitz.
“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky…Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.”
Even though the historical Church missed the mark, especially when the cattle cars passed their churches…we dare not miss our opportunities today to be a blessing. Currently, Replacement Theology still sits proudly in many pews and some choirs hum the songs of the BDS movement, with loud and odious tunes. May our Christian clergy be willing to make a Statement of Repentance publicly to the Jewish people. Martin Niemoller did. As a Protestant pastor, Niemoller opposed the Nazis. In his book, Of Guilt and Hope, he wrote: “Thus, whenever I chance to meet a Jew known to me…as a Christian, I cannot but tell him: ‘Dear Friend, I stand in front of you, but we cannot get together, for there is guilt between us. I have sinned and my people have sinned against thy people and against thyself.” Our brother, Niemoller, humbled himself, and reached out with the healing balm of Christ’s unconditional love to preserve his conscience before God. Rabbi Ari Enkin once said “…the same source of pain can also be the source for cure.” After living in Israel, over thirty years, the only true way to approach the Jewish people, in order to bring about healing and restoration to the injuries that were caused by people of our faith, is through unconditional love.
We have to remember that when wrong is committed, someone has to bear the consequences. Today’s church trend is toward non-offensive sermons and it could be that this message will upset some; however, a day of reckoning for Christian anti-Semitic wrongdoing, is coming. Harmful rhetoric from Christian church pulpits and General Assemblies, will have to be answered. Jesus made it clear regarding His future judgment of the nations. (Matthew 25:31-46). At that time, there will be an assessment of how humanity dealt with the treatment of His brothers, the Jews. Perhaps it will be only then, for some, that they really grasp what the Christian “Church” has done? Some will say, “I didn’t have anything to do with how the Jews were treated!” or “It wasn’t true Christians who turned on the Jews!” Still others will state, “We are tired of hearing about what happened to the Jews, just leave the subject alone!” But I think it is time we face the past and verbally express our guilty actions as Brother Niemoller did! Many of us long for spiritual revival. I believe true reconciliation with our Jewish brethren is important. Without a reformed movement within the true Body of Christ across the world, of sincere sorrow and remorse for past wrongs committed to the Jewish people, it is very distressing to think we can represent Christ in a proper way to them.
“After 1945, the silence of Church leadership and the widespread complicity of ‘ordinary Christians’ compelled leaders of churches to address issues of guilt and complicity during the Holocaust (a process that still is not finished) …The population of Germany in 1933 was around 60 million. Almost all Germans were Christian, belonging either to the Roman Catholic or Protestant churches…anti-Jewish Nazi ideology converged with anti-Semitism that was historically widespread throughout Europe at the time and had deep roots in Christian history…” (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). Did the Christians in the past not know their conduct was wrong? Were there no feelings of guilt? Did no one confessing Christ know they were betraying the Jews when they cooperated with the Nazis? Could so many forget the teachings of Jesus? “…love thy neighbor…” (Mark 12:31) Some even watched as the Jews dug their own graves and clapped their hands when they were shot!” We must ask ourselves today, how can any true follower of Jesus ever stand and look a Jewish person in the eye without being ashamed of the past? The name of Jesus was tarnished and our work must repair the damage.
The “Church” has held a bloodstained record which involves the Crusades, Pogroms, Inquisitions and the Holocaust. How can we be certain the “Church” will not be tested again? If repentance does not take place, it “could” happen all over again. A change of heart from Christians all over the world must be seen by the Chosen People in order for Christianity to regain its credibility. Reformation in the Church is desperately needed and a change of heart is in order.
No true believer can sweep under the rug the breach of brotherhood and shameful actions committed toward our Jewish brothers. We must clean deep–below the surface. Rabbi Yitzhak, an Orthodox Jewish friend, wrote me a note not long ago and signed it, “Your Brother Yitzhak”. In early Christianity, the terminology “brethren” was used only among the Jewish people. It was not a term used by gentiles as there was no religious institution called the “Church”. We have to face the past as it was those who confessed Christ as Lord that violated the trust between brothers. Shaul (Paul) ordered Titus to “set in order the things that are lacking” (Titus 1:5) in the congregation of Crete. We would do well to continue to set in order our meetings where repentance and remorse come forth and are prayed through—for the apathy shown while six million died.
Never say “we’ve done enough.” While we cannot repent for the individual sin of others, in the faith, we can work toward changing history in our lifetimes. We must work toward reconnecting to the Jewish people, and forsaking apathetic attitudes toward Israel today. We can advocate for Israel and shake off passivity!
Jewish people normally see all Christians, whatever branch of Christianity we adhere to, as a part of “them” (those who betrayed them.) We may argue that “those” Christians were not “born-again”, but it does not change the facts of history that great disloyalty was perpetrated in the Name of Christ. The injury inflicted upon the soul of the Jewish people, must continue to be healed and we can give the healing balm of God’s Love to them. Now is the time of our opportunity.
I have always held the position that if we are ever to be living examples of Christ, then the brazen arrogance of in-the-face statements to the Jewish people such as, “You are blind!” or “Why can’t you see Jesus?” or still yet, “It’s sad you cannot see our Jesus!” are lacking in wisdom and understanding. However, humbly acknowledging to them that what was done to them in the past, was wrong in the eyes of the Almighty, and telling them that we will never leave them again is a first step in setting things “in order”–things we all can do or they will never even hear our voice.
According to Dr. Brad Young, “…Although Jesus was Jewish, His theology is sometimes treated as if He were Christian….Jesus never attended a church. He never celebrated Christmas. He never wore new clothes on Easter Sunday. His cultural orientation was rooted deeply in the faith experience of His People…His theology was Jewish to the core. The tragic history of the relationship between Judaism and Christianity makes it extremely difficult to hear His forceful voice…As Christians we have been taught wrong prejudices about Jews and Judaism. Hatred of the Jewish people has erected a barrier, separating Jesus from His theology…” We would do well to heed Dr. Young’s cry for reform among all who follow Jesus (whether we call ourselves disciples, followers, the Bride or part of the Church or independent from it). Trust must be rebuilt and we need to consider the repair work still unfinished.
Silence should no longer be an option. Penny Lea clearly stated: “As…Christians, we have become so comfortable in our lovely buildings and padded pews. We have beautiful fellowship halls for our many banquets. We have the latest sound equipment for our praise and worship…we gather together each week and shut ourselves inside our buildings. We raise our voices as loud as we can, all in the name of God.” I wonder if our songs still do not sometimes drown out the cries and ignore the tears of mothers, fathers and innocent young Israeli children, whose families in Israel are being torn apart nearly every day, through terror attacks. Committed in the name of Allah, the dagger of Islamic ideology, is plunged into the Jewish heart and kills…and yet…the Jewish people go on saving lives of even the most wicked terrorists–in order to preserve life. Because our ancestors raised the knife of betrayal to God’s Chosen People, when we were needed, it is time we rise up to seek our brother Jacob’s welfare.
Perhaps Reformation will come once we catch the burden to pray for Israel, when we act upon the stirring in our hearts to visit Israel and educate ourselves about God’s Chosen People. May the possibility of lovingly speaking with our Pastor about God’s plans and purposes for the Jewish people stir him to learn more, and working to mobilize our churches to pray and support ministries like CFI bring untold blessings to many believers. Volunteering short or long term in Israel and advocating for Israel will help us leave a good witness. Also, when the Holy Spirit moves us to speak to the Jewish people about how deeply sorrowful it makes us to learn about the actions of the historical, and sometimes present, rages against Israel, more healing will come. We should be moving to “change history” and build relationships that have never before existed. Every Christian carries this obligatory responsibility.
Recently Arutz Sheva reported that the “Catholic pope gave the ‘sign of peace’ to the grand imam of Cairo, who has yet been unwilling to denounce ISIS…this message of reconciliation comes during the Al-Sisi government” reign. If the Pope has reached out his hand to Islam, should we not – followers of Christ – reach out our hands to Israel and the Jewish people in true reconciliation and peace between brothers?
We must continue to repair the damage of history! One of the first questions we were asked when we moved to Israel in 1985 was, “Why are you any different than the rest of your people? Why should you love us…you follow Christ too?” Our generation can still change history and perhaps we shall see Reformation come. When God looks at the record books, He may say “Look! It is recorded in the books! This is what you did for My People. Well done!” I believe we must face the past and produce acts of repentance, showing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives toward Israel, and accept the lessons learned! Facing our past is the only way forward to Reformation!
by Sharon Sanders