Posted on 02/25/2004 12:20:14 PM PST by Pikamax
'Jews Killed Jesus' Billboard Causing Controversy Pastor Refuses To Remove Or Change Saying On Outdoor Marquee
POSTED: 9:41 am MST February 25, 2004 UPDATED: 12:44 pm MST February 25, 2004
DENVER -- A billboard unveiled on Ash Wednesday, the same day that a controversial movie depicting the last hours of Jesus Christ premiered, is sparking criticism from people of all faiths.
The large-size outdoor marquee, which sits on the property of the Lovingway United Pentecostal Church at Colorado and Mississippi, says, "Jews Killed The Lord Jesus" and the word "Settled!"
The Anti-Defamation League asked for the marquee to be changed because it is anti-Semitic, but the church only amended the billboard slightly by removing the word "settled" and attributing the line to biblical Scriptures.
That, however, is still not appeasing critics.
"Immediately, I picked up the phone and called the pastor and had a spirited but good and respectful discussion with him in which I tried to explain to him that that kind of message is divisive and exactly the kind of message which has fueled anti-Semitism for thousands of years," said Bruce Debosky, the Mountain States Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League.
Jewish leaders say that like Mel Gibson's new movie "The Passion of the Christ" -- which opened Wednesday morning -- the passage will stir up anti-Semitic attitudes and will cause some people to lash out at Jews.
The Colorado Council of Churches also tried to get Pastor Maurice Gordon to change the sign but he refused and wouldn't even answer the phone or answer the door, 7NEWS reported.
Rev. Jim Ryan, a spokesman for the council, was quick to point out that it is a small minority who feel this way about Jews and that most Christians don't share that sentiment. Although the "Jews Killed the Lord Jesus" line comes from First Thessalonians, second chapter, verses 14 and 15, many Christian scholars interpret that passage to mean that when Paul refers to the Jews, he is referring to certain Jews who opposed Jesus' teachings and does not mean all Jews.
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Movie Review Commentary: 'Passion' Violence Is Not For Kids Surveys: Too Graphic? | Plan To Take Your Kids? Movie Clips, Interview Clips, Slideshow Movie Trailer
"It is ironic that a church named 'Lovingway' would advance such an attitude of hurtfulness," Ryan said. "Christ gave his life for all people. To blame a particular group of people, then or now, is a misuse of the Gospel of love and grace. The Colorado Council of Churches wishes to make it clear that this one congregation does not speak for the vast majority of the Christian community. In fact, we stand in direct opposition to the message on this sign and its implications."
"We also call upon the leaders of other Christian groups in Denver to reaffirm the statements they have made: that all of mankind shares responsibility for Jesus' death, and that blame should not be placed collectively on the Jews of the time or the Jews of today," DeBoskey said. "We fervently hope that Jews and Christians can use this time as an opportunity for dialogue and learning, not blame and divisiveness."
Gibson's film has been criticized because it depicts the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as reluctant to crucify Jesus, placing the blame more on the Jewish high priest Caiaphas. Some people fear that the extreme violence and brutality inflicted on Jesus in the movie could foster unwarranted resentment toward Jews.
The $25 million movie, although intense and graphically violent, is being praised by Christian leaders for bringing the Passion story to a large national audience.
Gibson financed the movie by himself because no Hollywood studio was willing to invest. Gibson, a devout Catholic, belongs to a traditionalist sect that rejects Vatican II changes in 1965 as too liberal, changes that include a law that condemned the medieval thinking that Jews were cursed by God.
That so-called "blood libel" is in the Gospel according to Matthew, when Caiaphas says, "His blood be on us and our children," for allowing the crucifixion to happen.
Gibson says his movie is not anti-Semitic. The movie is rated R and presented with English subtitles.
Previous Stories:
I was not thinking that they had become "Christians" ( a term not yet in existence at the time), but rather that they had stopped being Jewish, since they believed that the Messiah had arrived.
The logic that I missed was that a Jew (at that time), who believed that the Messiah had arrived, did not stop being Jewish. Rather he was a Jew who was witnessing a prophecy fulfilled. It was only later when the Jewish leaders decided that Jesus was not, in fact, the Messiah, that a departure between the Disciples and Jewish Church/Synagogue developed.
Parental Discretion is Recommended!
Misleading article. When you quote quotes you don't leave them out. The sign says '"Jews Killed The Lord Jesus"'
Sorry, pod'nah. I've run into administrators like this before, who pull idiotic stunts like this. They are probably trying to promote a struggling ministry through their own efforts and latching on to the controversy over "The Passion." Whatever the excuse—and I'm going to be contacting them—it will be pretty lame.
It's like any other group, you have the sensible, wise, levelheaded and professional, then you have the few idiots with no sense whatsoever. I'd be really curious as to how big this particular outfit is, as well as their effectiveness in the local community. Probably real poor. I have a close email friend in the area who should know the local deal.
Nevertheless, I'm going to make sure they don't profit off of this, at the expense of others. A few Free Republic Christians challenging them on their motives and re-evaluating their priorities should resolve this nonsense.
I'll CC you and the rest of the crew in the regular mail.
"Roast barf" here...Do I have to tell you that we were in college when we did that?!
It started out as a simple coke deal; and then words were exchanged... guns were drawn... and the whole sorry mess just bobsledded south from there.
There. "Settled!," as the popular saying (apparently) goes. Now we can all move forward, and get along with the rest of our lives. :)
Mel Gibson disagrees. That's his hand putting the nails in during the crucifixion scene.
Jesus was a jew.
I'm considering it.
Except they didn't. The Roman Governor, Pilate, declared Jesus innocent.
Silk 2 jewels sold here!
5 teeth 4 just 111!
Ltd stds
That probably won't work as a clever message, though. ;^)
Exactly, and my own doctrinal position on this whole issue. Debating who "killed Jesus," whether Roman or Jew, is superficial and short-sighted, as they were just tools in the execution of a much wider plan for the salvation of the Gentile world—and inevitably, the House of Israel.
We are, and always have been, in their debt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.