A small meditation

Posted on May 26, 2008

I still love the old hymns that I learnt in my Christian days and my favourite remains that great Blake hymn:

Jerusalem

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England’s green and pleasant land.

I particularly love the incredible imagery of the 3rd verse, which is in part derived from the book of Ezekiel.

What the poem tells me is how intertwined Christianity is with Judaism. I sometimes refer to Christianity as a Jewish sect for that reason. The hymn is a great English patriotic poem but what is its criterion for excellence, what is its aspiration? It is: Jerusalem. I will never understand how any sincere Christian can sing in his church of Jerusalem and read in his Bible of all the central events in his faith that took place there and not be unreservedly pro-Israel. It seems to me that Israel and Jerusalen are as central to the Christian faith as they are to the Jewish faith. And it is a wonderful legacy that Christians have received from the old faith. So to my mind, Christians who are not pro-Israel have lost the faith. If your Bible tells you that Israel is the promised land of the Jews, how can you deny it and still be a Christian?

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4 Responses to “A small meditation”

regularron on May 26th, 2008 10:52 am

I think the question should be, why are so many Catholics/Christians having issues with Israel, and not the Jews themselfs? Easy. Because, the NEW TESTAMENT, is the New Covenet. And the real Israel is the Church. This was the thinking for some 1,900 years. And not untill the late 19th century did the Calivnist, and Fundementalist start to really take Genesis in the literal sense. And of course that Sci-Fi thinking that we would be “Raptured”.

If you are a Christian, then Christ Jesus, is God made flesh. The Holy Trinity. God the father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit. Doesn’t get much simpler than that.

And for “protecting” the Jews,sure, I believe in protecting any of Gods children. But there must be a give and take. But it doesn’t help “Jews” when you read stories of them buring copies of the New Testatment.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/20/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-New-Testament-Burned.php

And there’s more of that. It’s just hardly ever reported. Sure, I’ll protect them, when they start understanding, that Christ Jesus, is “the way to the father”. And the OLD COVENT, was replaced when God sent the Son.
Jay on May 26th, 2008 12:37 pm

I understand the word “rapture” isn’t mentioned in the Bible, but there are references that back this belief up. My question to Ron is…why is the concept of the rapture anymore “Sci-Fi” than most other miracles in the Bible?
Jay on May 26th, 2008 12:38 pm

How is the rapture anymore “Sci-Fi” than God made flesh?
The Machine on May 26th, 2008 10:14 pm

Romans 10:12

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Genesis 49:28

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.

Genesis 12

1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.

3 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.”

Psalm 115:12

The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

Isaiah 19:24

In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land.

Zechariah 8:13

And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

Luke 2:34

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

Many Jews have indeed rejected Christ, obviously.

BUT — Israel is God’s judgement and not ours.

Acts 26:23

…that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Romans 3:29

Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,

Galatians 2:14
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?