The Real Reason Liberal Jews Fear Evangelical Christians

The debate in the Jewish world over whether an alliance with conservative Christians is desirable or wise reveals a complete disregard for the nature of political alliances in any political system throughout history. The debate is conducted at a childish level that would cause embarrassment in any other context. As such, there is an air of unreality about it that belies the reputation of the Jewish people for being clever.

Political alliances are not and have never been about whether allies love each other; rather, the nature of such associations is expressed in the well known maxim of Lord Palmerston, a 19th century British prime minister: Britain does not have permanent friends or permanent enemies, Britain has permanent interests.

Alliances are groupings based on mutual interests and needs that can best be met, or perhaps only be met, by associating with parties whose help is sought to meet those interests. A pertinent example is the de facto alliance between the secular Left and extremist Islam today — ideologically the two are poles apart, and extremist Muslims would have no hesitation in physically eradicating such people from any society they controlled. But the two perceive each other as useful (which of course brings to mind Lenin’s description of Western liberals and socialists who often allied themselves with Communists as “useful idiots”).

It is perfectly true that conservative American Christians and Jews who care about the Torah of Moses share many interests, values and morals. But then, religious — even extremist — Muslims and Jews also have much in common. Indeed, as Jews we probably have even more in common with our Ishmaelite cousins. Yet both Muslims and Christians think that as “non-believers” we are headed to Hell, and both groups would like to convert us.

Conservative Christians, however, are our allies in the current struggle for the land of Israel and the Muslims are our adversaries who wish to see the Jewish presence there — if not the Jews themselves — terminated. Whether conservative Christians want to convert us is politically irrelevant.

When Israel was founded, the Soviet Union was one of its important allies in the political arena and through its Czech puppet supplied the newborn state with the weapons it needed for survival in the 1948 war. After Russia’s interest — the expulsion of the British from the area — was met, the Soviets turned against Israel.

The same thing happened with France, which at one time was one of Israel’s key allies, supplying its air force and helping in the construction of its nuclear facilities. But with the ascent of Charles de Gaulle and a changed perception of French interests, France became Israel’s main European enemy. This is the nature of politics, and always has been.

There is, of course, one partial exception to the above rule, and that is the alliance between the United States and Israel. While it too is based on mutual interests, there is something else present. Walter Laqueur, the widely respected historian of Israel and Zionism, once said in a talk to a Jewish university group in London that his conclusion, after studying the American-Israeli relationship, was that beneath the standard politics there was a genuine American commitment to Israel that went far beyond mere political self-interest and that was nearly a moral commitment in itself.

To anyone who rationally looks at the world and what is happening in it, there is no doubt that conservative Christians — mostly but not exclusively American — are just about the only non-Jewish group allied with Israel in the struggle against the Palestinians and Muslims in general. Their reasons and interests are up-front and well known. It is said that Jews fear these allies because they wish to Christianize America. This is peculiar: America was always a Christian country, and in its heartland very much still is. Indeed, America is the only Christian country left in the Western world. There is not a single truly Christian country in Europe. (The UK is so secular that Christian Africa has been trying to convert it back to Christianity.)

No matter how successful conservative Christians are in Christianizing contemporary America, the country will remain considerably more secular than was the case until well into the 1970`s. In any case, the strong Christian cultural influence on American life during the first 200 years of the nation’s existence hardly impeded the development of Jewish life in the U.S.

It is not at all strange that allies of the present could be adversaries in the future and vice versa. You meet each crisis as it comes, if it comes. What is it that many Jews really fear from the perceived power of the Christian Right? They fear for the secular leftist causes, beliefs, practices and values that they espouse and hold dear. But then, Torah Judaism is even stronger in its opposition to what these secular Jews believe and how they define themselves.

It is said that Jews fear conservative Christians because they wish to convert us. Indeed they do. But so what? Secularists, especially leftists and liberals, also seek to convert the Jews — to their ideology, world outlook, lifestyle, values, and morals. Many on the Left, going back to Karl Marx, see the very existence of the Jews, especially Torah-observant Jews, as a problem — and the cause of many if not all of the evils in the world.

Today it is leftists and liberals, not conservative Christians, who threaten the existence of the Jews as a people and who stand in opposition to various aspects of Judaism. Here in the UK, shechita and Jewish education are not under attack by fundamentalist Christians, but by secular leftists.

Furthermore, because we accept the help of conservative Christians in one sphere, it doesn’t mean we can’t oppose them when it comes to specific policies that threaten Jewish interests in other areas. You cannot do this with a good many leftists and liberals, whose opposition to Judaism, like that of fundamentalist Muslims, is existential and total.

As touched on above, the reason many Jews are reluctant to acknowledge or accept any alliance with conservative Christians — when clearly it is secular liberals who are the greater threat, both immediate and long term — is that such an alliance exposes a major fault line among those who call themselves Jews, a fault line many Jews prefer to pretend does not exist.

Namely, it makes salient the division between secular and Reform Jews on the one hand, and Torah-observant Jews on the other. It reveals to one and all that there is not one Jewish people, but at least two, and that these two peoples are often highly antagonistic to one another, each with a different conception of what “Jewish” means. Each has different interests, and these interests frequently clash.

Life would be so much easier for many Jews if conservative Christians were open, rabid anti-Semites. Unfortunately for such Jews, these are found largely on the Left.

Levi Sokolic is an anthropologist and IT consultant living in the UK. His doctoral thesis examined the adaptation of Orthodox Jewish society to the social and cultural changes of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Much interesting discourse on this thread.

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The Nature Of Bruce ~

The true name of Adonai was used a LOT before Jewish scribes wrote it OUT of Tanakh! As best can be determined, it was "written out" 7000 times in the Tanakh alone. To call on His name was literal. It didn't mean to use one of His many titles! His chosen people KNEW his true name at one time! Not the abreviation for it which is YHVH.

In truth, it's politically correct to NOT use His name, which is as best can be determined thousands of years later is Yahoveh (pronounced "Ya-Hoe-Vay"). Nowhere in Tanakh or B'rit Hadashah (New Testament) can it be found where we are told not to use His great name, especially to give Him credit or call on Him in time of need. It's only in rabbinical commentary where it was taught to be an irreverence to use His name at all. It was a largely successful attempt to turn Adonai's plan for His people into religious legalism.

The command to NOT speak His name was an effort to not profane His name with one's mouth. It's ironic that many profane inwardly in their hearts, where only Adonai can discern.

The last thing I want to do is offend Jewish people, but the fact is that this stems from Sh'Mot (Exodus) 20:7 where Moses writes - "You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly."

It didn't help that tetragrammation of the vowel sounds of Adonai's name left us guessing today, but a command to not speak, or write the name of the Lord (except in a manner which which dishonors Him) is an unfounded myth, written nowhere in Tanakh, or the New Testament, or any translation thereof.

How can anybody read the Scriptures and not be left with the impression that Adonai wants to know us PERSONALLY!? He was pretty "personable" to Moshe and Avraham! He was said to be "Abraham's Friend!" But alas, the same "spirit" which murders Prophets of Adonai has decreed that we aren't to utter His great and Holy name for any reason, EVER.

"Every January they have a big pro-life rally in a hotel ballroom, big name speakers and workshops. Take a survey and you'll find out that a high percentage of the attendees are not registered to vote. Suggest to the leaders of the pro-life movement that voter registration be done at the pro-life rally and they are near unanimously opposed. They oppose any action beyond whining and puffing up their own chests about how pure they are that they don't get their hands dirty with things like politics."

I've managed 2 congressional campaigns, Bill Federer (1998) and Todd Akin (2000). I have found the reverse to be true.

The most active, reliable supporters we had were the pro-life organizations such as Missouri Right to Life and National Right to Life.

When you get their endorsement you also get a group of dedicated people who put a tremendous amount of volunteer time into the campaign, including signing up new voters.

These people are at the heart of any good conservative grassroots campaign. They make things happen. They roll up their sleeves and work harder than just about anyone else.

How hard would you work to save a life?

Without any doubt i know they need jesus Christ. He is the solution for all of us. God calls us all to Christ, we often don't recognize the calling and try to salve it with materialism or false religions, or obsessive behaviours, or simple denial.

For 25 years I was an agnostic and confident I was correct. I was never more wrong.

I am a scientist/engineer, business owner, husband, father and otherwise very successful. but almost 2 years ago I discovered there is a God and He created a tool for connecting us to Him. That "tool" is Jesus Christ.

Once you turn that tool on (accept Jesus), you will find your worldview greatly enhanced and many things come into perspective. You will also discover a new "energy" or new type of "passion" that enlightens thought and motivates actions. You will discover the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is real. Jesus is the only way. There is no doubt. none.

You do have a point...however Jews have been in diaspora since AD 70, until 1947, never in power...so hard to make a comparison with the dozens of countries led by Christians during that same time period.

As to your point about during the original conquest of Palestine (ca. 1500 to 1000 BC) "I believe the peoples of that land had a choice to live in peace with the Jewish people..."

Sorry, that's wrong. The Torah makes clear that the people in Canaan were to be utterly anihilated, men, women, children, even animals (at times)--and not allowed to make peace. The first Hebrew King Saul was severely judged for NOT carrying out utter destruction, as it was specifically commanded by God, for example.

This has been a great problem to ethicists since, Jewish and Christian. The best explanation (confirmed over and over by archeology) is that the Canaanite peoples were SOOOO perverse, violent, and and frankly evil (child sacrifice, for example was routine...and that's not the 10th of it....) they needed to be judged by God, and the Jewish people were the instrument.

As a Christian, I firmly believe there is no corner on the market for sin... "There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins." (Eccl. 7:20)

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;..."

As far as I know evangelism is not part of Judaism. I don't know of any historical accounts where Jews used force to confiscate the lands of another people - other than of course at the command of God when they entered Canaan.

Here's a notable exception:

“Herod was of the line of rulers who had been installed by the Jews to rule Idumea (Edom) after its conquest and forced conversion to Judaism under the Macchabees.”
http://cc.usu.edu/~fath6/Romanrule.htm

The "Chosen People" were supposed to inform the world of God's presence through the example of their holiness. Pre-and post circa 30 A.D. members of this community, whether calling themselves Jews or Christians, have fallen woefully short of that standard. For that reason God sends us the Prophets to raise holy hell with the rest of us.

I wish you'd send some of your pragmatic pro-lifers to IL to convert the pro-lifers here. Yes, they have a lot of energy and are very dedicated. But here, their energy is all directed towards waste-of-time activities.... mostly preaching to the choir .... but never getting the choir to come out and vote.

The exception is '94 when the Moral Majority/Christian Coalition working outside the pro-life movement did sucessfully convince the pro-lifers to come out and vote. It is really frustrating that I knock door-to-door; see a pro-life bumper sticker in the driveway; See a well worn Bible on the coffee table; Pat Robertson on TV; and have to spend an hour of my valuable time trying to convince them that they should register to vote... and then vote.

It is notoriuos among Springfield legislators that a pro-life group hires a lobbyist. But 1/3 of the names in their newsletter are not registered to vote and half the names of supporters inthe newsletter who are registered are not dependable voters... and these are the pro-lifers recognized in the newsletter for their dedication to the cause.

It is a shame, but what you say is very true all over the nation.

Many Christians have been indoctrinated by the main stream institutions to believe that "tolerance" is the supreme value and that "peace-at-any-cost" is a supreme objectvie.

As such they are absolutely fearful of sharing their beliefs with others for fear of being labeled as intolerant, war-mongering, racist/bigot/homophobe etc etc...

They cower.

Some feel like they should be doing something so they spend all of their time preaching to the choir since they know they will not meet opposition.

Getting Christians to rise up and take back our culture is mandatory if we are to protect our liberties and freedom.

No atheist ever created a free state.

Protestant Christians are responsiblwe for the existence of most free nations today and wholly responsible for the freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of conscience that is the essence of our US Constitution. The US Constitution and the Bill of Rights were exist ONLY because of protestant christians (in particular one Baptist preacher named John Leland) and has since formed the model for so many new democracies (Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Japan, Poland, Korea....)

US Christians must rise up and take action to reclaim our culture with Christ at the heart of the values system (not materialism, not hip-hop, not homosexualism, not socialism...)

Christ Brings Division
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." -- Matthew 10:34-38

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