Originally posted by Aaron:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Joseph_Botwinick:
...I don't think we have to be dishonest and anti-semitic in our remarks to make that balance.
I don't think anyone here has expressed a dishonest or antisemitic sentiment.</font>[/QUOTE]To say that Israel and the Jews are exclusively unique in their spirit of Anti-Christ when that spirit is rampant all over the world and right here in America, is dishonest and anti-semitic. To state that Judaism was the original anti-Christ when Adam and Eve rejected Christ long before Judaism was even established as a religion or Israel was even established as a nation, is dishonest and antisemitic. And, to state that Hitler, Stalin, et al. was God's judgment against Israel for their unbelief when Hitler was in Germany, Poland and European Countries, and Stalin was in Russia and they certainly persecuted not only Jews, but Christians and other diverse groups of people is dishonest and anti-semitic, Go back and read the whole thread and you will understand what I am talking about.
Israel is not perfect by a long shot. But to single them out for condemnation as the foremost evil in the world or as Anti-Christs when there is just as much evil and spirit of anti-Christ right here in America, is anti-Semitic.
I think the response should be equal and opposite to the error of the other extreme. "Unbelieving Jews are still the chosen people," should be countered with, "No, they are anti-Christ."[/QUOTE]
In broad general terms, I agree with you here. But I still maintain that they should not be held as the exclusively unique anti-Christs in the world and that is exactly what Tim did in his earlier posts. Go back and read them. That is anti-Semitic.
No one says that Greeks or Chinese or Native Americans, etc. are the chosen people, (well, Joseph Smith tried to say that about the Indians, but that's another story...) so there is no need to counter with a statement as strong as anti-Christ.[/QUOTE]
I agree.
Pagans oppose God out of fear, ignorance and superstition, and, generally speaking, they are not anti-Christ.[/QUOTE]
They have the spirit of Anti-Christ or else they would not oppose or reject Christ. As far as I am concerned, anyone who is not for Christ is Anti-Christ. Your making excuses for lost people to make them better than Jewish people is starting to show where your heart is.
The biggest part of Christians are those who are not Jewish. The Jews (generally speaking) are enlightened and still reject Him.[/QUOTE]
This is true, just like the vast majority of Pagans, Muslims, Secular Humanists, and people all over the world of all different nationalities and religions who reject Christ. This is not an exclusively Jewish problem. It is a human problem. To say otherwise is dishonest and anti-semitic.
Worse than reject, still seek to kill Him.[/QUOTE]
This is an anti-semitic lie. They do not seek to kill him because they wrongly believe that he is already dead, just like the Muslims, the atheists, the Secular Humanists, and people of all different Non-Christian religions from all over the world do. Being anti-Christ is not a problem that is exclusive to the Jews. It is a human problem. It is sin.
They are anit-Christ in their doctrines, and have passages devoted to blaspheming Him. Truly, the first general persecution of the Church was not Roman.[/QUOTE]
So is every other non-Christian religion in the world. And yes, I do believe the first person to activley persecute the early Church was who? Oh yeah, the Apostle Paul. He didn't turn out too bad did he? Also, if my memory serves me correct, the Jews sought to persecute Christians and Jesus himself in Roman Courts. Now who was it that ordered the death sentence for Jesus? Was it Ciaphas? no? How about Annas? No? I believe it was Pilate. He was a Roman, right? Or are you going to show me some magical proof that he was Jewish also? Further, I have no doubt had Jesus or the Apostles been in America that the same outcome would have occurred eventually with our Anti-Christ society and their boldness for Christ in public places clashing head on. You think the spirit of Anti-Christ is exclusive to Israel? You better think again.
That's not to say that Caesars and Popes are not anti-Christ. They certainly were anti-Christ in the same vein as the Jews. Notice that Psalm 2 said The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed."
But generally speaking, pagans are not anit-Christ in the same manner as the Jews.
Let me cut to the chase. No doubt some ignoramus will align me with Hitler. What we call Jews or Israel today are not true Jews. This is not about nationality or race. This is about a religion which preaches that Christ has not come, and that Jesus of Nazareth was a bastard, liar and blasphemer. Paul said this emphatically:
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:28-29
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I don't know Aaron. I know that we have locked horns in the past and have also had friendly conversations. I still consider you a friend, but yes, on the other hand, if you think that the spirit of Anti-Christ is exclusive to Israel and the Jews, I would have to say you are anti-Semitic and I hope you repent of your hatred for an entire nation and race of people. It really isn't becoming of a Christian.
Joseph Botwinick