I went to ‘The Sunday Thing’ this evening. It is basically a bible study that was set up due to a lack of knowledge of the Jewish history, mainly in the Old Testament. So a few friends got together and started looking. Once they finished that, they did Church History and know they are looking at are, and if so why, the Jews are so important.
This evenings particular study was led by Dave Blower on the split between The Jews and the Jews who followed Jesus. It was really interesting. Splitting it into 3 sections Dave looked at the Jews view of the new Gentile converts (context), the history of what happened next and some ideas and thoughts.
The Jews view of Gentile was an embracing one. If you read Acts 15 and Romans 9 - 11 you see that, after a bit of discussion, they excepted Gentiles without having to circumcise them (I am so glad for this) and that they share the same roots. An olive branch been grafted onto an olive tree is the example given by Paul.
Interestingly, when you graft a green apple tree branch onto a red apple tree the ‘green branch’ still produces green apples while the rest of the tree produces red. How much can this be said for the Jews and Gentiles?
It then goes all a bit pair shaped. After 2 wars that the Jews who followed Jesus didn’t get involved with their fellow Jews in uprising against the oppressors (ie Rome) they was a bit of tension. Then the biggest blow was when Emperor of the Roman Empire Constantine became a Christian. I’ve heard this described as “the worst thing to happen to the Church.” The reason for this is that he made it the state religion. This meant than many people stopped doing the pagan stuff and did the Christian stuff.
The main issue was that the Jews were seen as trouble makers and it was bad for the Emperor to be seen in league with them. So he cut all ties with the Jewish roots. All the festivals where moved to inline with common pagan ones. Christmas moved to the festival celebrating Mithras. Easter moved in line with the festival celebrating the goddess of fertility (hence the eggs and stuff). Sunday ‘Sabbath’ moved in line with the celebration on the Sun God.
Basically, all ties with the Jews were severed. Its as though the Gentile believers cut of their Jewish roots, and grafted on Pagan ones (i know this doesn’t actually work, but run with the metaphor) This is a shame really, as we have lost our heritage. I’m not saying we all turn Jewish but I think we should at least learn, understand and appreciate the traditions of our Church fathers.
One other thing that came up was that Jews think that Christians hate them. How lame, and untrue is this. One of the main reasons was in a our rhetoric. When we say ‘The Jews plotted to kill Jesus’ the Jews as a whole didn’t, just the leaders did. It is an inaccurate description of what happened. One that can be easily avoided and rectified.
In conclusion, it was really interesting. I have wanted to know more about Jewish tradition and such but, after Dave’s talk, I now have more motivation to do so.
What will it change in us as a Church if we reconnect with our Jewish roots?
