The Return:

Dave Moody is back blogging at blog 126. Dave is a Presbyterian Pastor in Southern Illinois; his postings always have a poetical tone to them. Yet, they are solidly concrete in the biblical faith and overflowing with a sense of the Christian's call to proclaim that Jesus came to redeem. See his Profile.

The demonic quality of hatred of the Jewish people

The dishonesty of my denomination as it confronts and deals with the inescapable fact that God both chose the Jewish people as his, and upheld them in their journey of blessing the nations, is shocking. From the Jewish people came my Savior.

When the Samaritan woman at the well remarked on the controversy between the Jewish people and the Samaritans over the right place to worship (John 4:20), Jesus not only clarified that true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and truth, he also stated that, “Salvation is from the Jews.”

After all of the atrocities of this past century there are still people who name the name of Christ, yet continue to listen to the broken words of those who despise the Jewish people and nation. I have watched this scenario play out with horror. Not only are some in leadership in the PCUSA attempting to deny the nation of Israel the right to defend their nation against terrorism, they use deceptive tactics against them.

The recent substitution by the Office of of Interfaith Relations of one form of the paper, “Vigilance against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias,” for another form is a sign of how relentlessly some are pursuing their prey. But unlike the Hound of heaven, who pursued to his own death the sheep of his pasture, these particular individuals seem to be seeking self-preservation. 'Stay within the circle' appears to be the watchword. (See C. S. Lewis)

Moreover, the circle is so tight that those within cannot see that their present tactic has all the earmarks of a lie. (They not only added to the document, as they said, but they also changed what they said. Therefore it is a lie.) And if they fail to see the lie it is a lie coming from a hard heart.

I am ending this posting with the end of a letter that Professor Franklin H. Little wrote to the Dean of a seminary who refused to attend a conference on the Holocaust promoted by the National Council of Churches and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Dean’s refusal was based on his denial of the particularity of the Jewish people. This section of the letter may offend many. But perhaps it is time to offend. And be aware that this was written in 1970.

“The truth is that Christendom is sick, sick with so wicked a malaise that the baptized destroyed 6, 000, 000 Jews in Hitler’s Europe, so sick that many ‘Christian’ leaders were prepared to look on from the balcony while Nasser tried to carry out his threat of a Second Holocaust in June, 1967.

My earnest plea is that before you join the Neo-Nazis, Communists, and black ethnics (not to mention the American Radical Right!) in automatically considering the essential affinity of Judaism and Christianity ‘patently Zionist,’ you examine your own theological commitments. The Jews are not Cherokees, and the wrong done them by the faithless baptized is not the same thing as the white man’s injustice to the American Indians. There is a demonic quality to hatred of the Jews which makes it more than human cruelty: it is blasphemy. By the same token, the guilt of Christians and the obligation to repent and right the ancient wrong is far heavier upon us.”

May God have mercy on the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Seeing the Presbyterian Church (USA) through Jewish eyes

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs has posted a press release, JCPA Joins Jewish Agencies Expressing Profound Hurt by Presbyterian Church Actions. The Press Release is a joint statement of:

"More than a dozen national Jewish agencies, including the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, have issued a statement strongly criticizing a Presbyterian Church (USA) document that replaces a PCUSA critique of anti-Jewish bias, issued just one month prior. The revised document, according to the Jewish statement, “is infused with the very bias that the original statement condemned.” The Jewish agencies note “with profound hurt” that the “new season of mutual understanding and dialogue” called for by the 2006 Presbyterian General Assembly “has indeed not yet arrived.” The 2008 Presbyterian Church General Assembly opens in San Jose, California. JCPA Associate Executive Director Ethan Felson, who will be in attendance, called the revision of the PCUSA document 'a very troubling development that we know is similarly discouraging to our many friends in the church.'" More

Also the Union for Reformed Judaism and other Jewish organizations have sent a letter to Stated Clerk Kirkpatrick:

"Dear Reverend Kirkpatrick-

Candor compels us to respond immediately and clearly to the “expanded” and “revised” publication of “Vigilance against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias,” and to tell you as plainly as we know how that the new statement marks a new low-point in Presbyterian-Jewish relations.

While we received what now seems to have been a draft of the statement with optimism and appreciation for its clear awareness of the sensitivities in the Jewish community, the revised statement that was just released is deeply troubling theologically, politically, and personally. The revised statement, which is currently prominently displayed on your website, does more to excuse anti-Semitism and foster anti-Jewish motifs then it does to dispel them. And to speak frankly, the revised statement leaves us with a deep suspicion regarding the motivations behind replacing the initial statement – which the Jewish community warmly welcomed – with a document which you surely knew would cause deep angst. Friends, or even dialogue partners, do not engage in actions that can so easily and plausibly be seen as "bait and switch" tactics." More

Hat Tip to Will Spotts

Not just a broken confession of sin but a disappearing one!

In May of this year, the Office of Interfaith Relations, Presbyterian Church (USA), placed on their web site a paper, “Vigilance against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias.” The paper was highly praised by many including the Jewish Community. Now the original paper has been edited in the extreme. The Presbyterian Office of Interfaith Relations is no longer confessing the sin of anti-Semitism for the Church. The statement has been removed.

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs has produced a paper combining the original paper with both the deleted and added material. However it is not on the web yet. In the mean time here is the original found at Jewish Christian Relations , and here is the new version found on the PCUSA web site, "Vigilance against Anti-Jewish Bias in the Pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian Peace.”

This newly revised document is changed in many ways. An attitude of humility in the face of past wrongs has turned to arrogance. As stated above, this sentence, “However, we are aware and do confess that anti-Jewish attitudes can be found among us,” has been removed. Instead the paper refers to Israel as “oppressors.”1

Additionally, this redone paper softens its original accusation that liberation theology has contributed to anti-semitism. Instead using a distinction between anti-semitism and anti-Judaism the authors attempt to avoid attributing any complicity in anti-semitism to those who advocate entirely for Palestine. Yet those who advocate entirely for the Palestinians, while failing to uphold the rights of Israel, are those who use liberation theology. It is a complete circle.

It is as though a liberation theologian came upon the original paper, “Vigilance against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias,” took out a pair of scissors and started hacking away at it.

After cutting out any confession of the sin of anti-semitism she added all of the material that has already appeared in so many other Presbyterian papers such as a call for ”an end to the Israel occupation of Palestinian territories,” and the need to “speak out against the placement of the separation barrier…”

Looking around for someone to blame for the prevailing anti-semitism in the Presbyterian Church she added “On the other hand, anti-Jewish’ attitudes and actions are deeply rooted in the teaching of contempt for the Jews, which has its antecedents in a strong strand of Christian theology in which the Jews are replaced and superseded by Christians."

Perhaps this hacking liberationist does not realize that those who believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father also believe that God does not revoke his promises to the Jews. But it is the liberationist who has forgotten the Jewish people and their story.

Liberation theology and this redone paper equate the Exodus story with the promise of land to all people. It isn’t that liberation theology eliminates the Jewish people from that promise but rather such theology turns it into a material promise for all rather than a particular promise given historically to Israel. The author destroys Israel’s particular history and misses the true meaning of the Exodus for Christians, which is a metaphor for their new life in Christ.

This isn’t to say that other peoples should not have land nor that land isn’t God’s gift to them but the liberation theologian eliminates the particularity of the Jewish people.

But I digress. How utterly unthinkable, that Church Officials should place a paper on their web site urging others to avoid anti-semitism, collecting the praise of both Christians and Jews alike, and then, in reality, switching papers, only giving their latter edition which is anti-Semitic the same name as the first faithful, truthful and humbly written paper. How will the Jewish people ever trust the Presbyterian Church (USA) again?



1 For instance this quote in the new version, "Polemic that identifies today’s oppressors with Jewish authorities in the time of Jesus is especially problematic, and clouds an accurate understanding of the current situation."

Congratulations to some in my family

This is a post to congratulate a Son-in-law and a Daughter-in-law as well as a few other people.

Juana, my son Stephen's wife, just became an American citizen two and a half weeks ago. She has lived most of her life in the United States and her parents are already citizens but she waited.

We attempted to go to the swearing in ceremony and failed. It was suppose to be very early in the morning. When we arrived there was a huge line of people all around the block. We looked and looked for Juana and Stephen but didn't find them. We didn't know we were suppose to go straight in and Stephen was saving a seat for us. (Sorry about that.)

But one of the wonderful things about that morning was walking by all of those people from so many countries who were gaining their citizenship that day. There were about 1800 people who became citizens.

Juana is a wonderful Daughter-in-law who sits quietly doing crossword puzzles while we all make so much noise. And she paints beautiful Aztec designs on her walls. Congratulations Juana.

This is my Son-In-Law Derek McHenry who graduated about two years ago from Capital Christian Center Bible College and then became, along ,with my daughter Jenny, a member of a PCUSA, at Peace Presbyterian Church. This isn't to congratulate him on either of those moves although I encouraged the latter, but on becoming, last Sunday, an Elder. We used to work together at Apologetics Resource Center and I know he is going to be a very faithful Elder.

Derek has worked for many years in several Sacramento libraries and is the supervisor at the one where he now works. He is also the father of six of my grandchildren and soon to be a grandfather. He is also a poet. Here is one of his poems:

Paradox

That the Infinite would clothe Himself

in the finite;

Deity taking on a gown of flesh

that can hunger, sweat, bleed

and die.

0 what perfect divine madness,

that the Potter should become

the clay,

the Shepherd

a sheep,

the Master

a slave,

all to save a mad world from itself.

In His divine insanity,

He turned His wrath from us

and the Judge received

His own sword’s blow.

The All-wise became foolish,

exchanging heavenly joy for earthly agony.

All for the love of you and…me.

-

This next picture is my Granddaughter Melissa with her tummy growing larger with a child. That will be my first great grandchild. (I swiped the picture off of her blog )Libellus Stellatus, where she has just posted some more of her art work including some submissions to the State Fair .

Sharing the African American's Joy for just a weekend: Please!

Thabiti Anyabwile at Pure Church has posted an article, "Seven Reasons Conservative Whites and White Evangelicals Should Stop and Enjoy Obama's Nomination ." I hope many of my friends including members of the Consistory will read this article. In fact, since all of the members of the consistory are very reformed and the blog I am featuring belongs to an African American (very) Reformed Pastor I keep hoping for some exchanges of comments.

The Article begins:

"A dear, dear friend gave me a ride to O'Hare airport this past week. He's a white brother, a precious saint, who takes great interest in the history of the Civil Rights Movement. I'm thinking he's read more and thought more about that history than I have. He from time to time asks me what I think about this or that aspect of African American history, culture, current events, etc.On the ride to the airport he asked me, "When reflecting on the significance of Barack Obama's run for president, how do you feel when your white brothers immediately start talking about abortion? Does that anger you? Do you feel like they just missed the point of your reflections altogether?"I thought for a moment. I don't think it angers me or frustrates me much. I think I'm mostly saddened by it. I'm saddened that for those moments brothers and sisters in Christ cannot or will not enter into my experience for a little while... just a little while... without asserting their own agenda. I generally think that a great opportunity is missed, an opportunity to see the world in wide screen rather than full screen, to get more into view instead of having the screen filled with a more limited picture. It's a loss for me and them."

And goes on:

"1. Rejoice with those who rejoice. A significant part of the Christian world is rejoicing in a landmark achievement. Obviously, not all the reasons for rejoicing are reasons everyone can share. "

And:

"2. Mourn with those who mourn. For most African Americans Christians, this is bitter sweet on at least two levels. First, there are the same laments that you have regarding Sen. Obama's position on moral issues like gay rights and abortion. Those positions are not widely shared among African-American Christians and cause something of a real dilemma for Bible-believing African Americans."

So please read starting here Pure Church.

An Overture and a Report: A Hand in A Glove

The Committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations have an Overture and a Report listed which at first I thought were rather contradictory. But the more I study them I see that they fit like a hand into a glove. The overture is 07-03 On Investigating the Actions and Conduct of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church from the Presbytery of Peace River, the other, the Report, 07-info, is the World Alliance of Reformed Churches Report to the PC(USA), 2006–2007, Report of the General Secretary.

After reading both report and overture, and doing some research on the information given by the General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, I am convinced that the leaders of the WARC would happily rid themselves of anyone who believed that Jesus Christ was the only Lord and that the Church's main calling was to proclaim his life, death and resurrection.

The Overture is an attempt to get the “Executive Office,” of WARC to investigate the EPC with the unsubstantiated accusation that they "are actively pursuing a strategy to persuade" PCUSA churches to disaffiliate from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and be dismissed to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

The EPC is in correspondence with the Presbyterian Church (USA) since they are both members of WARC. It would, undoubtedly, be easier for Presbyteries and Synods to keep the property of churches leaving for the EPC if that Reformed denomination was not in correspondence with PCUSA.

At the same time in the Report from the General Secretary of WARC, he “highlights some of the work” that has been done through the “Geneva offices and networks.” He mentions several small conferences in different areas of the world. One was near Manila in the Philippines and was focused on “global empire,” corresponding to the Accra confession.

They produced a document entitled An Ecumenical Faith Stance against Global Empire for a Liberated Earth Community.

This is a very long document but it should be read by all Presbyterians. It is extremely political with very slanted biases and even blatant historical mistakes, such as the claim that the United States not only bombed Japan with the atomic bomb but also Korea. The poverty, hunger and refugee problem in North Korea is blamed on the USA. The authors write:

“North Korea’s economy, already weakened by the ravages of neoliberal globalization, has been pushed to the brink by the US trade embargo and economic sanctions. As a result millions suffer from hunger and malnutrition, leading to a scandalously high incidence of child mortality and a massive flood of economic refugees.”

But I am concerned with this document's diatribe toward all of historical Western Christianity. The authors of the document write:

“Western Christianity has been closely related to empire since the Roman days and has thus spread throughout the world. [So undoubtedly the Christianity of Africa and South America is Western Christianity!?] It is now being used to provide ideological legitimization for today’s empire. Globalized Christendom and the “crusades” it embarks upon today are symbiotically intertwined with global capital and the power of the global empire. In its triumphalistic [sic] pursuits, it discounts if not condemns all other religious faiths and cultures. The indigenous religions of many communities are destroyed and Islam is vilified.

The convergence of Christian religion with Western modernity has destroyed the religious and cultural life of peoples and their communities throughout the world. The powers and principalities of the global market and empire are being baptised by these theological distortions of “Christianity”, which promote religious conflicts and bigotry globally.”

Once again as in the Communiqué from the Workshop on Spirituality of Resistance, Liberation and Transformation, also aided by WARC, Christianity is disparaged. The saints through the ages, who have ministered the word of God to those who were dying without Christ, are made to seem evil. (Of course some missionaries committed grave errors, we are all sinners, but the story of missions is not so simplistic.)

If the General Assembly sends with a yes Overture 07-03 to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and if WARC removes the Evangelical Presbyterian Church from their organization it will have nothing to do with any wrong done by the EPC. It will instead be because any church that proclaims the unique Lordship of Jesus Christ can find no resting place in worldly organizations. But they can find that place in Jesus Christ.

Jesus, as he visited and taught in the home of his friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, explained that in setting at his feet and listening to his words Mary had “chosen the good part.” (10: 42) Those who listen to Jesus Christ as he makes himself known and is known in the Old and New Testaments have chosen the good part. They are safe in the care of Jesus Christ, rejected perhaps by the world, they are enclosed in the love of God.