“I see no reason why one should consider it being hostile to Jews to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.”
I can appreciate your point of view, that you believe that you are doing a kindness - the ultimate kindness - by introducing a non-believer to “the way.” But can you understand and appreciate that Jews have a different history, a different set of experiences, in this matter? For Jews in the past (not now), failing to believe in Jesus as the savior of the world was not terribly different from someone today being ruled by Moslems and denying the correctness of Islam. It was convert or be effectively a slave, or die (oh, yeah, I almost forgot - sometimes there was the “kind” option of expulsion, where you got to leave the place you and your family called home, perhaps for hundreds of years, at a moment’s notice - and don’t bother taking the product of a lifetime’s work with you, it isn’t going anywhere).
You see, Jews have an inherent problem with Christians trying to convert us, because it was handled in such a G-d-awful way (pun intended) for such a long period of time over such a wide geographical area. We’re a bit skittish. Read “The Anguish of the Jews - 23 Centuries of Anti-Semitism” by Edward Flannery (a R.C. priest who died in 1998) for some background. No, not all anti-Semitism was Christian in origin, but Flannery had a lot of criticism for the Church. He was VERY clear in concluding that the Holocaust would never have been possible without the pre-condition of many centuries of Christian anti-Semitism having already existed...and that particular form of anti-Semitism has, at its root, the refusal of Jews to convert to Christianity.
No, I am NOT saying that someone like you is an anti-Semite. I don’t know you, and I would never make that accusation. However, I just ask you to understand why Jews - who do, after all, have a different perspective on things - aren’t real excited when the topic arises.
Rather than “Preach the gospel to them, try to convince them that Jesus is not only their messiah but the messiah of the world.” - maybe, instead, just leave us alone to believe and act as we’d like to, so long as we don’t affect your right to believe and worship as you see fit. We’ve already rejected the message, with our property, our blood and our very lives for nearly 2,000 years - so please take the hint.
I’m genuinely happy that you understand that a coerced conversion is meaningless (I wish the Moslems would understand that), and that you wish people to show love & respect to Jews - sincerely, thank you. Let’s just agree to disagree on this particular matter, and let G-d sort it out.
RE: instead, just leave us alone to believe and act as we’d like to, so long as we don’t affect your right to believe and worship as you see fit.
I’m glad that you understand my point of view, but yes, I have to disagree with your above statement.
You see, Jesus Christ left a message to His followers to preach the gospel to all nations. In fact, it was His last message before He departed.
Therefore, devout Christians consider it their duty to share this message ( they call it the good news ) to their friends, neighbors and anyone (both Jews and gentiles ).
I appreciate that you do not like to be “preached at” that is your prerogative, and I can understand the sad And awful history that makes Jews skittish about Christians doing so. I can even understand how some Christians can be quite annoying when they do this.
to that, I advise my Christian friends to be TACTFUL and not in-your-face.
But please understand when someone out of obedience to what he believes is his duty, does what he does.
A good news is to be shared, not kept inside. If you do not consider this worthy of acceptance, you are under no obligation to accept it.
Just understand that Christians do this out of obedience to Jesus’ command and commission.
They do it not because they are required to do it, but because it is out of love for their fellowmen. The example of Jesus’ followers is simply to share the message, whether the listener accepts it or not is really up to them.
All we ask is for your understanding as to why we evangelize.
And no, your acceptance or non-acceptance won’t affect our right to believe and worship as we see fit.
That is why America, a traditionally Christian country has always been the most welcoming of the Jews.