How Come I Don't Know These Things?

With the internet at our finger tips we can find out just about anything, making any one of us an expert these days. Yet, if you don't know where to look, your information may not be incorrect, or at best be incomplete. 

For example: When I was in school preparing to go into the ministry I studied  the Church Fathers on how they formulated their doctrine and how it influenced the church. However I never studied the anti-semitic attitudes of these leaders, in fact until recently it was not information I really cared about.  Check it out for yourself, and see how uninformed you might be. 

http://www.yashanet.com/library/fathers.htm

I just didn't know, but that shouldn't be an excuse.

I never realized that even Martin Luther had an axe to grind with the Jews. Check out this link and see for yourself how this kind of  information can bring insight into why the Jews are hated and blamed for the death of Christ. 

http://www.nobeliefs.com/luther.htm

I just didn't know, but that shouldn't be an excuse.

Theologically I didn't know:

I didn't know that the New Covenant was given to Israel, in keeping with all God's promises to the Jews. This covenant is another reason why the world hates the Jews.  I thought people hated the Jews because the Jews controlled so many industries, and have an influence in the world more than any other people group. Not true. The reason there is so much anti-semitism, is because the Jews have being given the covenant that brings the Messiah and salvation to the world. Check out Revelation 12, and the women that is referenced here is Israel:

17Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Here is why this hatred is so intense, and you can see it has nothing to do with financial or political influence,  it has to do with a spiritual hatred of God by Satan because God created a way out of Satan's control.  

Jeremiah 31:31-34 The New Covenant 31“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,  32not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.  33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  34And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ or they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

 I didn't know that God was fulfilling His promises to Israel first before it developed into full redemption for the whole world.  That's why Paul said in Romans 1:16 that the gospel is first to the Jew first, and then the Gentiles.

Information can be incomplete.  But why?  Because the information I received did not point me in the right direction. This is a critical point, leaders are called to lead, guide and direct people to the truth, not their truth, but God's truth. 

The information that I received from my former pastors, and my seminary professors never pointed me in the direction proving that the Jews played a huge role in the world getting the gospel of salvation.  To my shame for not getting the right information, and to their shame, because they didn't provide it. 

Its no wonder the world hates the Jews,  but it's surprising when the Church does, by not providing the truth about the Jewish people and the salvation that has come through them to us all.  

Keeping it honest and truthful....K

Comments

[Ron Sawtell]

Very true Larry!!!