Part 38 (2/2)
1953 ”The General a.s.sembly view with concern the renewed outbreaks of anti-Semitism in various countries, renew their condemnation of this evil thing and call upon their faithful people to be on the alert to oppose any signs of it in this country.” [632]
1957 ”The General a.s.sembly express their concern that the threats of annihilation directed against the State of Israel still continue. They express profound sympathy with the State of Israel in the crisis with which she is confronted and earnestly hope that the United Nations will now direct all possible efforts towards a just and lasting settlement between Israel and the Arab States, so that Israel's future will no longer be in jeopardy.” [633]
1962 ”The General a.s.sembly, in view of the horrors recalled by the Eichmann trial, remind the Church - especially the youth of the Church - of the deadly danger of Anti-Semitism, which has in the past so cruelly wounded the brotherhood of the human family.” [634]
Many Protestant Churches in the United States publicly registered their opposition to anti-Semitism. We only quote the following Resolution, adopted by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, on June 5, 1964:
”The General Board of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., recognizing the ever-present danger of anti-Semitism, renews the call to the Churches and the community to recognize (in the words of the First a.s.sembly of the World Council of Churches) 'anti-Semitism, no matter what its origin, as absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith'. <297> The spiritual heritage of Jews and Christians should draw us to each other in obedience to the one Father and in continuing dialogue; the historic schism in our relations carries with it the need for constant vigilance lest dialogue deteriorate into conflict.
We confess that sometimes as Christians we have given away to anti-Semitism.
We have even used the events of the Crucifixion to condemn the Jewish people, whereas (in the words of the Third a.s.sembly of the World Council of Churches) 'the historic events which led to the Crucifixion should not be presented as to fasten upon the Jewish people of today responsibilities which belong to our corporate humanity and not to one race or community'.
The General Board urges that the members of its const.i.tuent communions seek that true dialogue with the religious bodies of the Jewish community through which differences in faith can be explored within the mutual life of the one family of G.o.d - separated, but seeking from G.o.d the gift of renewed unity - knowing that in the meantime G.o.d can help us to find our G.o.d-given unity in the common service of human need.” [634]
In 1948, the World Council of Churches held its first a.s.sembly, at Amsterdam.
147 Churches in forty-four countries were represented by 351 official delegates.
A report on ”The Christian Approach to the Jews” was heard by a.s.sembly, and its deliberations were commended to all member Churches ”for their serious consideration and appropriate action”. We quote the following:
Introduction ... We cannot forget that we meet in a land from which 110,000 Jews were taken to be murdered. Nor can we forget that we meet only five years after the extermination of 6 million Jews. To the Jews our G.o.d has bound us in a special solidarity linking our destinies together in His design. We call upon all our Churches to make this concern their own as we share with them the results of our too brief wrestling with it.”...
3. Barriers to be Overcome ”...We must acknowledge in all humility that too often we have failed to manifest Christian love towards our Jewish neighbours, or even a resolute will for common social justice. We have failed to fight with all our strength the age-old disorder of man which anti-Semitism represents. <298> The Churches in the past have helped to foster an image of the Jews as the sole enemies of Christ, which has contributed to anti-Semitism in the secular world.
In many lands virulent anti-Semitism still threatens and in other lands the Jews are subjected to many indignities.
We call upon all the Churches we represent to denounce anti-Semitism, no matter what its origin, as absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith. Anti-Semitism is sin against G.o.d and man...”. [635]
In 1961, the World Council of Churches held its third a.s.sembly, at New Delhi.
200 Churches were represented by more than a thousand official partic.i.p.ants.
The following Resolution on Anti-Semitism was adopted:
”The Third a.s.sembly recalls the following words which were addressed to the Churches by the First a.s.sembly of the World Council of Churches in 1948: 'We call upon all the Churches we represent to denounce anti-Semitism, no matter what its origin, as absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith. Anti-Semitism is sin against G.o.d and man.
Only as we give convincing evidence to our Jewish neighbours that we seek for them the common rights and dignities which G.o.d wills for his children, can we come to such a meeting with them as would make it possible to share with them the best which G.o.d has given us in Christ.'
The a.s.sembly renews this plea in view of the fact that situations continue to exist in which the Jews are subject to discrimination and even persecution.
The a.s.sembly urges its member Churches to do all in their power to resist every form of anti-Semitism.
In Christian teaching the historic events which led to the Crucifixion should not be so represented as to fasten upon the Jewish people of today responsibi- lities which belong to our corporate humanity and not to one race or community.
Jews were the first to accept Jesus and Jews are not the only ones who do not yet recognize him.” [636]
In 1964, a Consultation on ”The Church and the Jewish People” under the auspices of the Lutheran World Federation was held at Legumkloster, Denmark.
The following statement was adopted:
III. The Church and Anti-Semitism <299>
”Anti-Semitism is an estrangement of man from his fellowmen. As such it stems from human prejudice and is a denial of the dignity and equality of men. But Anti-Semitism is primarily a denial of the image of G.o.d in the Jew; it represents a demonic form of rebellion against the G.o.d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and a rejection of Jesus the Jew, directed upon His people.
'Christian' anti-Semitism is spiritual suicide.
This phenomenon presents a unique question to the Christian Church, especially in light of the long terrible history of Christian culpability for anti- Semitism. No Christian can exempt himself from involvement in this guilt. As Lutherans, we confess our own peculiar guilt, and we lament with shame the responsibility which our Church and her people bear for this sin. We can only ask G.o.d's pardon and that of the Jewish people.
There is no ultimate defeat of anti-Semitism short of a return to the living G.o.d in the power of His grace and through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ our Lord.
At the same time, we must pledge ourselves to work in concert with others at practical measures for overcoming manifestations of this evil within and without the Church and for reconciling Christians with Jews.
Towards this end, we urge the Lutheran World Federation and its member Churches: 1. To examine their publications for possible anti-Semitic references, and to remove and oppose false generalisations about Jews. Especially reprehensible are the notions that Jews, rather than all mankind, are responsible for the death of Jesus Christ, and that G.o.d has for this reason rejected His covenant people.
Such examination and reformation must also be directed to pastoral practice and preaching references. This is our simple duty under the commandment common to Jews and Christians: 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour'.
2. To oppose and work to prevent all national and international manifestations of anti-Semitism, and in all our work acknowledge our great debt of grat.i.tude to those Jewish people who have been instruments of the Holy Spirit in giving us the Old and New Testaments and in bringing into the world Jesus Christ our Lord.
3. To call upon our congregations and people to know and to love their Jewish neighbours as themselves; to fight against discrimination or persecution of Jews in their communities; to develop mutual understanding; and to make common cause with the Jewish people in matters of spiritual and social concern, especially in fostering human rights...” [637]
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