RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Now, Religion in the News, a report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media. This week’s item is from Virtueonline.org, June 15, 2006, with a headline: Episcopal Church General Convention Regards Bible As Anti-Semitic. The following are excerpts: The 75th general convention of the Episcopal church today passed a resolution, essentially condemning the Bible as an anti-Jewish document. Not only does the resolution aim to address perceptions of anti-Jewish prejudice in the Bible and Episcopal liturgy, but it suggests that such prejudice is actually expressed in Christian scriptures as liturgical text. Originated in the committee on prayer book, liturgy and music, resolution C001 directs the standing commission on liturgy and music to collect and develop materials to assist members of the church to address anti-Jewish prejudice expressed in and stirred by portions of Christian Scriptures and liturgical text. With suggestions for preaching congregational education and elocutionary use and to report to the 76th general convention. Both houses of the Episcopal church convention passed the resolution, including a 68 % approval in the house of deputies on Thursday. The Reverend Ruth A. Myers, of the diocese of Chicago, secretary of the Committee on Prayer Book Liturgy and Music, explained to the house of deputies why her committee had expanded the wording in the language to include, not only prejudice in liturgical text, but also in Christian Scriptures. We did have a question about whether Scripture itself uses anti-Jewish prejudice, Myers said. Referring specifically to the gospel account of the crucifixion, she added, that scriptural text has, in fact, stirred anti-Jewish prejudice and resulted in significant violence toward Jewish people.
Tom:
Dave, I believe this would come as a shock to the Jewish prophets, to the Jewish writers of the Pentateuch, the Old Testament, as well as the writers of the New Testament. Perhaps one writer, Luke may have been a Gentile, what do you think, I’m not sure about that.
Dave:
I’m not sure.
Tom:
But anyway, all the rest were Jewish, they were hearing from God, they were doing what God said, communicating His commandments, His laws, His teachings, presenting this to the Jewish people for their salvation, yet it is anti-Semitic? These people need to get another line of work.
Dave:
I would say they do, Tom. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3, Verse 16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God. Okay. Then, Peter, in 2 Peter Chapter 1---he’s referring to the Scriptures and he says, Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. So now we are going to have to say that God is anti-Semitic, in spite of the fact---
Tom:
That He chose these people.
Dave:
Right, chose these people, He loves them, 203 times He is called the God of Israel. What is going on? Well, Tom, obviously, they don’t believe the Bible is inspired of God. They couldn’t possibly, otherwise they wouldn’t say, God, you are anti-Semitic, you inspired the prophets to say this and it’s not good, it’s against your people Israel. So, it’s---what is it?
Tom:
Theatre of the absurd is what it is, Dave.
Dave:
Right, but it shows that they don’t really believe, and you said they need to get a new profession. Yeah, what’s the point of preaching from a book that you think needs to be revised and updated? Then it can’t be the Word of God. So, it’s rather a shocking reminder, Tom, and yet on the other hand it’s ironic because the Presbyterian church, as we have mentioned on this program, and I think maybe, the Episcopalian church, I’m not certain altogether. But some of the churches are joining, and are they anti-Semitic? They are trying to destroy Israel, because there has been a boycott, and they boycott any company that does business with Israel. We’re going to get rid of their stocks, we’re going to cause their stocks to lose value, and so forth. This is what we did to get rid of apartheid in South Africa, so we’re going to do that to Israel and they’ve got apartheid over there, there are mistreating these Palestinians, and so forth. So Tom, they don’t know which way they are going. Well then, what would they say? We’re not anti-Semitic, we’re just anti-Israel! We don’t believe that that country belongs to them as they are displacing the Palestinians. We’ve gone through that in the past, Tom, it’s a total fraud. Well, you say, how can you fathom this, Tom? I mean, the more I think about what’s happening in the church and the world, it’s a theatre of the absurd, it’s getting worse and worse. Because we do not, I’m using “we” editorially, Christians, who call themselves Christians today do not abide by the Bible. How is that possible? Where did they find out about Jesus? Where did they find out about God? Where did they find out about salvation? From the Bible! But now we’re going to judge the Bible by our own standards and we’re going to re-phrase it, or just cross out what parts we don’t like.
Tom:
Sure, it’s cafeteria mentality, Dave. You pick a little of this, a little of that, does this work into my view or how I feel about these things today, and maybe it will change, but we don’t want to offend, let’s be tolerant about that, and so on. But as you say, Dave, there’s an irony here, this is anti-Semitic just what these people are doing, yet they are crying out against the anti-Semitism, it’s unbelievable!
Dave:
Tom, we did have a question about whether Scripture itself uses anti-Jewish prejudice, this is Meyer’s set. And referring specifically to the gospel account of the crucifixion, she added, “That scriptural text has, in fact, stirred anti-Jewish prejudice and resulted in significant violence towards Jewish people. Well, it’s only the truth, Tom, and it’s not---it’s no worse than what God Himself says through His prophets in the Old Testament. Over and over and over God says: I warned you, don’t do this; I sent my prophets pleading with you to repent. And Israel would not repent. Is it anti-Semitic that God scattered the Jews, and He has punished them and judged them because of their sin? No, the fact is that it was the Jews who hated Christ, wanted Him crucified. It was the Romans who did it, because the Jews didn’t have the authority. So, it’s Jew and Gentile together who rejected Christ, crucified Him, and it’s the same today. So, if that would arouse anti-Semitism? I don’t think so, Tom, I think it’s an excuse. But anyway, it’s the Word of God, so we take it for what it says.
