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Is There Antisemitism in Your Theology?
“Their rotten and unbending stiff-neckedness deserves that they be oppressed unendingly and without measure or end and that they die in their misery without the pity of anyone.” Can you imagine a pastor saying this from their platform today? What if one of the modern leaders of the Christian community wrote a book and said this? Worse yet, what if a sentiment like this informed the theologies of a majority of Christians for centuries? Shockingly, the author of this quote was John Calvin, the famous 16th century reformer. And the people he is so wincingly attacking are the Jewish people. For many followers of Jesus, this type of glaring antisemitism comes as an alarming surprise. How could one of the most respected theologians in Christian tradition spout off something so toxic? (The Kings Collective) READ MORE>>>>> |
The basis of Christian antisemitism begins with the simple idea that the gentile-majority Church has “replaced” the Jewish people as God’s redemptive people. This is, aptly, called Replacement Theology. If I polled 100 pastors today and asked them if they believed this, 90 of them would say “no way.” Since World War II and the reestablishment of the State of Israel, it’s become harder to accept that one group of people simply “replaced” another. Unfortunately, Replacement Theology has spawned numerous offshoots. All are equally as destructive and unbiblical. |
3 Things You Should Know about Ezra
The book of Ezra, along with the book of Nehemiah, spans about one hundred years of Israel’s history, from the time of Cyrus’ edict in 538 BC that allowed the Jews to return to their homeland of Jerusalem and Judah, to the time of Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem in 433–432 BC. Events cluster around two main periods within this one-hundred-year span—538–515 BC (Ezra 1–6) and 458–433 BC (Ezra 7–Neh. 13). The former period centers on the rebuilding of the temple. The latter period centers on the reformation of the people by way of the Law under Ezra’s leadership and the rebuilding of the wall under Nehemiah’s leadership. These times continued moving the covenant story forward and prepared the world for the arrival of the Promised One, Jesus Christ. When you think about the book of Ezra, here are three things you should know.
(Sarah Ivill; Ligonier) READ MORE>>>>>
The book of Ezra, along with the book of Nehemiah, spans about one hundred years of Israel’s history, from the time of Cyrus’ edict in 538 BC that allowed the Jews to return to their homeland of Jerusalem and Judah, to the time of Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem in 433–432 BC. Events cluster around two main periods within this one-hundred-year span—538–515 BC (Ezra 1–6) and 458–433 BC (Ezra 7–Neh. 13). The former period centers on the rebuilding of the temple. The latter period centers on the reformation of the people by way of the Law under Ezra’s leadership and the rebuilding of the wall under Nehemiah’s leadership. These times continued moving the covenant story forward and prepared the world for the arrival of the Promised One, Jesus Christ. When you think about the book of Ezra, here are three things you should know.
(Sarah Ivill; Ligonier) READ MORE>>>>>