No. And I did not say that they did. I said that laying blame for the death of Christ on an entire people (when the allegiance to Him of so many of those very people was the reason for the Sanhedrin’s fear of Him) is ludicrous.
And I said that, the idea that, because Moses thought of the Jews whom he led out of bondage as one people, we can lump all Jews together in any other situation, is borderline irrational.
I don’t even know you, so would never attempt to describe you. But you have given everyone reading this thread sufficient evidence to make their own determinations regarding a few of your assertions.
As for your implicit assertion that the Bible itself, if read through discerning eyes, might be interpreted as inciting anti-Semitism … you consistently seek out passages in which certain Jews (politically motivated, and holding powerful leadership positions which were placed in jeopardy as a result of Christ’s teachings, and Paul’s later apostolic message) attempt to silence their voices. And you footnote those selected passages that refer to a small number of specific Jews with ‘always wanting to KILL someone’.
Those who lift arbitrary scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments with the predetermined intent of proving that a certain race of people were bloodthirsty killers at least appear to have an agenda to fulfill. The Bible is a (the ultimate) teaching source – not a propaganda manual. Christ believed in exposing wrong, but doing so in a fair-minded spirit of gentleness and humility.
I am going to be off-line for the next few days, and this thread will no doubt be stale by the time I return. May we all, in our own ways, spend time in personal reflection about the events of that Good Friday almost two thousand years ago. His love has endured through the millennia, no matter how differently His people may accept and reflect it.
On this I think we agree:
… He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross … Col 2:13-15
Best wishes to you and yours for a blessed Easter …
~ joanie
As to this...with the predetermined intent of proving that a certain race of people were bloodthirsty killers ..., I feel it is a bit over the top.
By reading the OT one finds just the opposite: When GOD told them to kill off ALL their opposition, they failed to do so. If they would have OBEYED, they would be living safe in their land today (IMHO).
No doubt your church will have a greater attendance Easter than normal so I pray that the ears of your guests will be open to the Gospel and hearts will be turned to Christ.
Even though we tend to see the Word a bit differently, we can still tell the simple message of Christ to others.
May GOD bring more workers into the field, for it IS ready to harvest.....
Elsie