Is Christianity Anti-Semitic?
Many Jewish people view Christianity as being latently, if not overtly, anti-Semitic in nature. Yeshua (Jesus) and His followers are portrayed as creating a splinter faction that would later make a complete break from "real" Judaism. The resultant byproduct - the Christian Church - is seen as an exclusively Gentile affair with a certain animosity towards its Jewish roots.
Christian leaders throughout the centuries - men as influential as Martin Luther - are quoted making some particularly scathing anti-Jewish comments. Events such as the Spanish Inquisition, when the entire Jewish community of Spain was forced to either convert, leave, or face execution, are given as examples of Christianity's low view of the Jewish people.
But are these accusations true and fair? Did Yeshua intend to create an anti-Jewish movement? Is the Church a Gentile-only institution? Are the anti-Semitic statements and actions of some Christians the exception or the rule?
The Christian faith and the teachings of the New Testament, when truly understood, show nothing less than a deep affection for the Jewish people and an appreciation of Christianity's Jewish roots. Christianity is inexorably linked with Judaism, and its heartfelt longing is for the Jews to share in all the blessings, peace, and joy which Yeshua came to bring. There are four simple proofs we can offer to demonstrate the very "pro-Semitic" nature of Christianity:
1. Yeshua, our Saviour and Lord, is a Jew. Yeshua was born a Jew. He lived a Jew. He died a Jew. He rose from the dead a Jew. (See His genealogy in Matthew ch. 1 and Luke ch. 3).
2. Yeshua did not come to earth to create a new religion. Yeshua came to fulfil the religion that God had established at Mount Sinai: Biblical Judaism. Yeshua (and Yeshua alone) met all of the legal, moral, and sacrificial requirements of the Torah. As Yeshua Himself said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17).
3. The first followers of Yeshua were all Jews, including Cephas (Peter), the early leader of Christianity. The Christian message was first announced and received within the Jewish synagogues of Israel and the Diaspora. (See Acts 1:8).
4. Shaul (Paul), "the apostle to the Gentiles," never forgot his Jewish background and was greatly burdened for his Jewish kin. He writes: "I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites" (Romans 9:3,4).
Despite Christianity's rich Jewish roots and love for Israel, there certainly have been many professing Christians who have acted or spoken disparagingly against the Jewish people. However, there is no excuse for this, and we would never wish to white-wash their misdeeds! Christians are to live by the Law of love, not hate.
It is very likely that much of the anti-Semitism carried out "in the name of Christ" was wrought by people who were not genuinely committed to Yeshua and His way. By the time of the Spanish Inquisition, the Roman Catholic Christianity of the day had become thoroughly corrupt and unbiblical. Nevertheless, even true Christians fall far short of God's perfect standards and have their own areas of personal weakness and ignorance.
Christianity, at its heart, is not anti-Semitic. It is very much Jewish! This in itself can be very offensive to many Jews today who have rejected Yeshua as their Messiah and who would like to distance themselves from the Christian faith. However, until the Jewish people are willing to consider the genuine "Jewishness" of Christianity and the real concern of Yeshua and His followers for Israel, there will continue to be misunderstanding and miscommunication.
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