Pot Shot Series: Objection 1: The Holocaust – Argument 2July 26th, 2010 If you have not done so, you might want to read the Introduction to this series. The Holocaust: Argument 2 – Blaming Jesus and Christianity Recently I was on a busy street corner in Toronto, handing out my literature, when a Jewish man came up to me and asked if I believed that 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust. I told him that, as I have family members who died in the camps, I believed in it of course. He then said that I should therefore be ashamed of myself and walked away. I called out to him to offer a response, but of course he didn’t want one. This was what I call a pot-shot: an objection that is thrown into your face and, before you have a chance to respond, the objector runs away, probably thinking that they have done something clever. But they haven’t really. There are really two different ways in which this particular objection is used. One is to use the Holocaust as a proof that God does not exist. The argument goes like this: if there were a loving and good God, he would not have allowed the Holocaust to occur. The other use of this objection is to blame Jesus and Christianity for the event and therefore denigrate both. Both of these arguments are answerable, of course. Argument 1: see Pot Shot Series: Objection 1: The Holocaust – Argument 1 Argument 2: The Holocaust denigrates Jesus and Christianity There are a number of problems with this objection. First of all, the argument infers that Jesus – whose life example and teachings we must remember are the basis of Christian belief – would have supported the agenda and goals of the Holocaust. This is to misunderstand the teachings of Jesus and his heart-felt love and care for his people, Israel. Not the teaching of Jesus Jesus said he came to “seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10)” The understanding is that many Jewish people had strayed from the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Jesus came to bring them back to God. He loved the Jewish people (as typified by his love of one young Jewish leader in Mark 10:21) and indeed all of mankind (John 3:16). He wept for the Jewish people (Luke 19:41) and was expectant that one day the Jewish people would recognize him for who he is (Matthew 23:39; Luke 13:35). Although as Christians we do believe that the vast majority of Israel has remained in sin by rejecting Jesus as Messiah and Lord, Jesus himself said, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)” The Messiah will come again at a future time and he will come in judgment of all those who have rejected him, both Jew and Gentile. Until then, however judgment is withheld for both Jew and Gentile. Historically some Christians have blamed the Jews for the death of Jesus and have used that reasoning as an excuse to persecute the Jews. Yet according to Jesus’ own words; “No one takes it [Jesus’ life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. (John 10:18)” If he lays his life down, then nobody can be accused of taking it. What sent Jesus to the cross was the sin of mankind, and as Jesus’ disciple Paul says, “We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23; cf Ecclesiastes 7:20)” The teachings of the disciples, like Paul, support this same notion. Paul proclaimed to the believers in Rome that, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen. [The Israelites] (Romans 9:2-3)” For these reasons we can see that hatred of Jews is not a teaching of Jesus or his disciples and therefore cannot be acceptable to a true believer in Christ. This leads us to the other problem with this argument. The objection assumes that the perpetrators of the Holocaust understood the teachings of Jesus upon which Christianity is based. Perpetrators were not Christ followers The reason for this is understandable. Many of the soldiers in the concentration camp considered themselves to be Christians and even would shout out to the line heading to the gas chamber that they were being slaughtered because they killed Jesus. Clearly, in light of the above, these men and women did not have a true understanding of the Christian teaching about the Jewish people. It must also be understood, that the Nazi perpetrators that masterminded the Holocaust, were not Christians at all and planned to eliminate the Christian church as soon as possible. (for a good article on this click here.) But for the common soldier like the ones mentioned above, even if some of them were Christians in the truest sense of the word, they were still ignorant of the true teaching of Jesus. This does not excuse their actions, but their actions do not reflect on the truth of Christ’s teaching and true Christian belief. It also has to be remembered that true faith in Jesus – true Christianity – is predicated entirely on faith in Him and in the Word of God. As such, believers are compelled by the very Word to love all people, including the Jewish people. And though there are some who consider themselves Christian because they go to church, or give to the church, or obey certain commandments, yet they are not truly Christians if they haven’t entered into a proper relationship with Christ. Conclusion The upshot of all this is that though some horrible things have been done in the name of Jesus, they shouldn’t be a reason for rejecting the Gospel message – the good news that the Messiah has come to Jews and Gentiles. Many horrible things have been done in the name of Peace, Liberty, Love and a myriad of other seemingly good causes. When exploring the Christian message, we must look to Jesus’ teaching and the whole of the Word of God. Jesus would never have condoned the Holocaust or any other horrible act towards the Jewish people (or any people) based on hatred and prejudice. Jesus would not condone it, nor should any Christian. The Holocaust was a terrible event, as were the Inquisition. During both, there was suffering by both Jews and Chrsitians. But in the end, they have nothing to do with Jesus and his claims. Check it out for yourself! Contributed by Daniel Muller, General Director of New Covenant Forum. Posted in Blog, Evangelism, Jesus and Jews, Jewish Objections to Jesus, Jews and Jesus, Pot-shot Objections, This, That, The Other Thing, Uncategorized 3 Responses to “Pot Shot Series: Objection 1: The Holocaust – Argument 2”Leave a Reply |
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The scriptures, even the Hebrew scriptures, are vehemently anti-Jewish and are to blame for so much evil perpretrated on the Jews, your bogus claims not withstanding.
In fact, the new covenant was made only with the houses of Israel and Judah (see Jer 31) and your religion claims to have it for yourselves.
In response to Wounded Ego’s comments, I want to thank W.E. for them. There are really two issues brought up here and the first brings up an excellent point. Many people talk about the anti-Semitism of the New Testament. This is the first time I’ve heard such a pronouncement about the Hebrew Scriptures.
I believe, however, that this assertion dissolves, W.E. when you consider what is really being said here. According to your argument, if, as a Canadian citizen, I criticize – perhaps even vehemently – some law that the government of Canada enacts and that I think would be harmful to the nation, I would be considered anti-Canadian. But in fact, I am just expressing my concern for my country and the people who dwell in it. It would be out of my love for this country that I respond.
That is what the writers of the Hebrew Scriptures did, especially the prophets. They knew what God had said to Israel about what was right and what was wrong and about the consequences of doing each. They were concerned for their people Israel, just as God was (and is) concerned for them. And so they criticized their nation’s wrongdoings; out of love, not out of hate.
This is true of the New Testament writers as well. They were all Jewish, and they all cared for their Jewish people. The apostle Paul actually said that he would be willing to be cut off from God for the sake of his people, Israel (Romans 9:3-4). This is much like what Moses said to the Lord when they had trangressed against God with the golden calf (Exodus 32:31-32).
God has said what is wrong and what is right. To warn the people of their sinful ways, and to show others the consequence of that sinfulness by chronicling God’s interaction with a wayward people is an act of love, not an act of hate.
To your second point W.E., I would just say that whereas the New Covenant is refered to in Jeremiah 31:31-34 as being with Israel and Judah, there is ample evidence that the Gentile world would enter into this covenant as well. This is nothing new. The covenant with Moses was not exclusively for Jews, but God repeatedly speaks of the Law being for Israel and for the stranger in their midst. It is for this reason that we can see faithful people like Uriah the Hittite (note he is still called a Hittite), Rahab the Canaanite and Ruth the Moabite as part of the covenant community of Israel.
We also have to remember that their is a promise that the nations will come to see the light and become part of God’s people (e.g. Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 9:1-3, 42:6, 49:6, 52:1, 62:2; Daniel 7:14; Obadiah 1:15-17; Micah 4:1-2; Zechariah 2:10-12, 9:9-11; Acts 10:44-48, 11:1-18; Revelation 21:24 just many among many more passages relating to the Gentile inclusion in the covenantal relationship with God).
I am not clear, W.E., what you mean when you say, “your religion claims to have it [the new covenant] for yourselves. The New Covenant belongs to God and like all the other covenants, it is ultimately intended for all those who would enter into it, Jew or Gentile. However even the apostle Paul – the so called Apostle to the Gentiles – talked about the fact that the Gospel was for the Jew first, and then for the Gentile (Romans 1:16).
Entering into that New Covenant comes through faith in the Messiah Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as an atoning sacrifice – one that covers our sins, and brings us to a restored relationship with God – for the whole world (John 3:16). It is not for Jew, or Roman, or Greek, or Americans, or Canadians but it is for all those who will recognize Christ, God incarnate, as Saviour and Lord.