Jews, Israel, Zionism...Cause or Cure?

Daphne Anson has posted here about a terrible article available here. Said article accuses the Jews of gassing the Syrians to provoke war. Daphne recalls what happened when the Black Death ravaged Europe.

Her linked article on the Black Death suggests that Jews were singled out because they were not suffering to the same extent. The reason being the benign effect of the Levitical hygiene laws. According to the book 'None of these Diseases' by S.I. McMillen M.D. (and since updated), it was the application of the Levitical principle of quarantine that brought the disease under control. The mob blamed the Jews, but there were cooler heads in the Church (only they had the power and the knowledge) who reasoned it out and enforced the Levitical rules. Grimly ironic that the Jews were blamed for being the cause when, in fact, they had the cure.

It behooves Christians to remember what St. Paul had to say about the Jews. 

Romans 9:
1I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,^a my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

For Christ read Anointed or Messiah. It all means the same.

In other words, Paul is saying that without the Jews we Gentile Christians would have nothing.

Whenever rogue clerics and others tell us that Israel, the Jews or Zionism is the cause of all evils, we need to remember the Word of God, which we would not have were it not for the Jews.

Paul again: http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-10.htm
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

The Jews are no more or less responsible for the evils of this sinful world than anyone else. They are not the Cause...

But they still have the Cure .

 

St. Paul, Sinatra and the Sex Pistols.

Philippians 4:8 - 9.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you .

Below on the left, is the old smoothie singing 'My Way'. I hate the song and I am no fan of Sinatra. He makes it seem noble. People have it played at funerals! It sells people the acceptability of the lie that we can do it our way.

Using Paul's checklist, it gets a half a mark on superficial musicality and for technical quality (excellence?). It's the spoonful of sugar that hides the poison - and that's not lovely or excellent.

On the right are Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols with their version. It starts with a painful spoof of Sinatra's style  and then morphs into an arrogant punk-rock version.

It certainly doesn't get any marks for beauty or excellence unless you like punk rock. However, it takes the gloves off; it strips off the veneer. It revels in its arrogance and pride. 

It actually tells the truth. This is what the lyrics of 'My Way' really mean. You wouldn't have this at a funeral unless you intended to defy God.

Paradoxically, it scores full marks on truth. And telling the truth is honourable and just, which is commendable. That makes it praiseworthy and to some degree even excellent.

Odd, isn't it? Such an unacceptable source can reveal a truth and such an acceptable source, at least  to many, is an outright lie.

Sadly, neither of these men, as far as we can tell, can be said to have done it Christ's Way.

St Paul again:

2 Timothy 4:6 - 8
⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Think about these things.