Hi Christians, I got a question for you. (Jesus Christ, reject)

[sushannah]

I believe there are alot of misconceptions about what happened in Israel during the time of the death of Jesus. One of those misconceptions is that the Jewish people are responsible for it. Sure the High Priest and and the temple functionaries were corrupt, these were the Sadducees. They had alot to lose so they did what they did and they alone are responsible for it. The penalty for breaking Jewish religious law was stoning, crucifiction was done by the Roman authorities and it was not done to people breaking religious law. It was done to individuals views as a threat to the Roman government. A Messiah who rules in Israel would have been viewed as a challenge to the Roman rulers and this was why Jesus was killed - his entry into the city earlier was viewed as him claiming Messiahship. Putting all this aside, what I really wanted to know was your own beliefs that are important to you. How you came by those beliefs, and if there is a scriptural background for those beliefs. I am interested in knowing if you as a Christian believe in replacement theology, or if maybe your particular denomination believes in it. I already know that this type of theology is rooted in anti-semitism no matter how it is explained. I only want to know if most Christians believe in it.

[michel]

Originally Posted by sushannah

I believe there are alot of misconceptions about what happened in Israel during the time of the death of Jesus. One of those misconceptions is that the Jewish people are responsible for it. Sure the High Priest and and the temple functionaries were corrupt, these were the Sadducees. They had alot to lose so they did what they did and they alone are responsible for it. The penalty for breaking Jewish religious law was stoning, crucifiction was done by the Roman authorities and it was not done to people breaking religious law. It was done to individuals views as a threat to the Roman government. A Messiah who rules in Israel would have been viewed as a challenge to the Roman rulers and this was why Jesus was killed - his entry into the city earlier was viewed as him claiming Messiahship. Putting all this aside, what I really wanted to know was your own beliefs that are important to you. How you came by those beliefs, and if there is a scriptural background for those beliefs. I am interested in knowing if you as a Christian believe in replacement theology, or if maybe your particular denomination believes in it. I already know that this type of theology is rooted in anti-semitism no matter how it is explained. I only want to know if most Christians believe in it.

I don't believe in replacement theology; and I don't even believe that God would punish a whole nation in perpetuity for whatever happened.

I have never understood anti-Semitism, and I have a great deal of time for the Jewish people, who have always been very hard working, family orientated, and brought great wealth to different parts of the world.

There used to be a saying "Wherever there are Jewish people, there is money to be made" - some may see that in a negative way, but I see it as a compliment.

My wife has worked for two separate Jewish firms when she was younger; they were the most caring employers (genuinely interested in the welfare of their employees), unlike most other employers, who just saw workers as a necessary evil.

[sushannah]

Well, not many takers for this thread. I will still check later to see if anyone else replies. Again, thanks in advance.

[Scuba Pete]

Christianity is not a rejection of the Isrealites, as much as it is an inclusion of the spiritual isrealites as well. The Messiah beat the army of darkness and now asks only two things of us: Love God and Love Everyone Else.

[michel]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

Christianity is not a rejection of the Isrealites, as much as it is an inclusion of the spiritual isrealites as well. The Messiah beat the army of darkness and now asks only two things of us: Love God and Love Everyone Else.

Amen!

[sushannah]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

Christianity is not a rejection of the Isrealites, as much as it is an inclusion of the spiritual isrealites as well. The Messiah beat the army of darkness and now asks only two things of us: Love God and Love Everyone Else.

I also don't believe anyone is rejected by G-d. When the Messiah comes to rule he will be King of the Jews and Non-Jews alike. The Messiah is for the Jewish people and the whole world.

What is the army of darkness?

[James the Persian]

Well, we certainly don't believe that God rejects anyone, as others have stated here. We do refer to the Church as Israel, but there's nothing anti-Semitic in that. We believe that the Church is the vessel of salvation and as such She is like an expanded Israel. All people are welcome, Jew or Gentile, and there is no reason to villify (in fact it is undoubtedly wrong) an entire people for the actions of a few of their compatriots. Christ forgave those who killed Him. If we can't even accept that their descendants are free of any guilt after that then we aren't exactly acting in a Christlike manner are we? I certainly would never agree that the Church replaced Israel. But I would say that She contains those Jews who did not reject Christ and, as I am an Orthodox Christian, rejection of Christ for me entails rejection (at least partial) of God. The Church is (and should be for obvious reasons) at odds with the religion of Judaism, but Judaism and the Jews should never be confused and thus the Jewish people should never be discriminated against. And they aren't by us - not only do we have a rather famous priest of Jewish origin but the Serbs have been honoured by Israel for their actions to save Jews in WWII, I personally know several old Romanians who hid Jews from the Nazis and in Siret (where my wife is from) the huge Jewish graveyard is tended by Orthodox Christians (because the Jewish community was all but wiped out in the holocaust) and people pray and light candles at the Rabbis' graves, which shows how highly they are regarded.

James

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by sushannah

I also don't believe anyone is rejected by G-d. When the Messiah comes to rule he will be King of the Jews and Non-Jews alike. The Messiah is for the Jewish people and the whole world.

Yes, he is.

Originally Posted by sushannah

What is the army of darkness?

Anyone who sets themselves up against the truth and love.

[sushannah]

Originally Posted by searcher63

This post is not a slam on Jewish people in any way. However it must be noted that for centuries before Christ the Nation of Isreal was looking for the Messiah. They even knew the time period to start looking closely for him. (Remember many thought John the Baptist might be the Messiah?) So, then Jesus comes on the scene at the exact right moment in time. He performs miracles that could not be duplicated by ANYONE before or since, and the Jewish religious leaders of the day deny all that and seek a way to kill him!
Why?
Because they saw the power of the man and knew that the more that followed him....the less THEY would be followed and revered!!! So GOD had NO choice but to reject the nation as a whole...not individuals perhaps, but the nation as his chosen people. That fact was born out when at the moment of Jesus death and he cried out" ABBA FATHER!" the curtain seperating the HOLY from the MOST HOLY at the temple was torn in two....BY INVISIBLE HANDS!
[But again, lovingly GOD does not reject individuals for the sin of a nation. Jews who reject what ancient isreal did to the Messiah (and granted there are probably not many)]
and turn to Christ as his follower will be shown the mercy of GOD as any other nationality would.

I am curious to know if you even know any Jewish People?
Most Jewish People do not believe Jesus was the Messiah because all the scriptures pertaining to the Messiah were not fulfilled by him. Usually when Jewish persons, like myself, ask questions to Christians to try to find some real answers, they don't get much of a response. The topic quickly turns to the Jewish people being responsible for Jesus death.

[Songofmorning]

Hi sushannah! I am a firm believer in Christ and I'm sorry that the Christians you have encountered haven't been able to have a productive conversation with you. I'm new here and I'll try through the Bible and the revelation of God to answer any questions you have without accusing only the Jewish nation for the death of Christ because believe it or not the whole world, every single person who ever lived or will live was responsible for Christ's death not just the Jews.