“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3, NKJV).
The above biblical passage represents both a blessing and warning. It introduces the starting point of God’s relationship with Abraham and the nation of Israel. Today God’s words should be read in light of recent events.
Recently, entrepreneurial genius Elon Musk stood with cultural commentator Ben Shapiro at the site of a Nazi death chamber that murdered 1.1 million Jews and other marked people. In Poland, the Auschwitz death site has a memorial where a yearly service is held to remind people of what took place during World War II, when antisemitism was rampant.
My father came from Poland, and I’ve ministered there. I honor the Polish people for their commitment to fight against hatred for the Jewish people as well as communicate to the world the message that this barbaric behavior and the attitude undergirding it must be wiped from the face of the earth.
An Awakening
After the horrific Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 of last year, God-fearing people have risen to speak up for the Jews and show their solidarity and identification with Jewish men, women and children worldwide. Scores have taken a position of humble repentance for past sins as we see in the Bible, exemplified by Moses, Daniel, Nehemiah and others.
Here in the Nashville area, one of my dear friends, Don Finto, is a highly respected statesman who has taken the initiative to help us express our alignment with the above developments. We all have an opportunity at this critical time, and I’d like to tell you how to take part.
I have united with leaders and godly people in signing a statement of solidarity with the Jewish people. I’d like to ask you to not only read this statement, but follow through with Don’s encouragement to sign your name, letting the world know where you stand in renouncing antisemitism, expressing love for God’s chosen people plus invite others in your locality to join with scores doing something specific to make a difference.
Letter of Explanation
Here’s the initial letter I received:
Dear Larry,
A group of Christian leaders in the Nashville area sent this letter to our local Jewish community and it was extremely well received. We would encourage other communities to send this letter or a similar one out in their area.
Christian pastors, leaders, influencers and neighbors throughout the Nashville area have signed the following letter in a coordinated action with one another to support the Jewish community since the atrocities of Oct. 7 and the resulting rising antisemitism.
Sincerely, Don Finto, Emeritus Pastor of Belmont Church
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Here’s the Deal: In your sphere of influence (pastor, ministry director, small group or Bible study leader), you can take initiative and be a catalyst to help those you serve to take part in tangibly expressing love and solidarity with Jewish rabbis and God’s chosen people in your locality. Print the solidarity statement and take time in your gathering or service to explain this initiative and encourage everyone to sign it. Then forward copies to your local Jewish synagogue. Of course, accompany this effort with intercessory prayer for Israel at this pivotal time. Thank you.
Solidarity Statement
To Our Jewish Friends and Neighbors:
The events of Oct. 7 were barbaric, and the growing antisemitism that has arisen in an insane turn of news events is stunning. Jewish people are being demonized at levels we have not seen since the 1930s.
As leaders and members in the church, we feel the heart of Daniel when he confessed the sins of his forefathers. Daniel took upon himself the sins of his people, even though he was not personally guilty of those sins. He read from Jeremiah about what God was doing in his day, then prayed, “We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked … we have turned away from your commands” (Dan. 9:5, NIV).
In like manner, we want to acknowledge the sins of our Christian forefathers and take them upon ourselves. The church has sinned against you. The church exiled you, confiscated your wealth and even killed you during the Inquisition in Spain in 1492. Many in the church turned away as you were killed in the gas chambers of Germany, Austria and Poland in the last century. Even now, you are being reviled and persecuted, often feeling unsafe in our schools and universities in the United States of America. We are appalled at all of this and are determined to stand with you and to do everything within our power to protect you from such horrific acts in the future.
If the church, through the centuries, had simply obeyed our own Scripture, there would have been no Inquisition in 1492 and there would have been many more Dietrich Bonhoeffers and Corrie ten Booms during the Holocaust.
We grieve over this, wanting you to know there are a growing number of us who are committed to stand with you during this moment in time. In heart and soul, we love you rooted in the common faith of your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel. We commit to standing with you and walking beside you through these uncertain and difficult days.
We, the undersigned, want you to know of our unwavering support at this pivotal time. We love and pray with you!
Sincerely,
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