Comments on: In ‘reconciliation,’ we face hatred together

By: Ian Poole

Ian Poole — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 23:22:53 +0000

I’m not sure if you think I’m merely asking rhetorically, but I would like to know: Would the author of this article be so kind as to explain the Jewish understanding of Jesus and the meaning of His crucifixion? Is He considered a ‘false Messiah’? Maimonides’ curse on Jesus that his ‘bones be ground to dust’ is out-of date too, wouldn’t you say?

By: Ian Poole

Ian Poole — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 22:20:19 +0000

Obadiah is directed against the Edomites for assisting the Babylonians in the plundering of Judea. Romans is written to the Gentiles. To expand on your quotation, “…if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.” And “…how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!” And “…they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.”
What means this “if they do not persist in unbelief”? What means this “grafted into their own…tree”? What means this “faith”? Paul again: “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” There is a group called ‘Jews for Jesus’. It doesn’t seem anti-Semitic to me.
I’d like to know how those of our Jewish friends who don’t accept Jesus as the Messiah explain our story of Jesus’ life and crucifixion. Are we considered idolators for daring to claim a “Son of God”. I know it’s a failing in Islam, called “shirk”. Is it the same thing called “shituf” in Hebrew? We’re not even supposed to be called ‘Rabbi’.
My concern stems from Paul’s concern: “As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake” (Rom 11:28). What is our gospel? That Jesus is the Christ. Can the Jewish religion come to terms with that fact or are we wrong to claim it? That’s the crux (sorry) of the argument for me, whether we’re wrong to claim that Jesus is the Christ?
That said, I encourage you to read Lawrence Kushner’s book about midrash on Jacob’s dream, or the story about Hillel and the would-be converts. Spinoza and Einstein are good too.

By: Chris Dow

Chris Dow — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 15:24:59 +0000

‘The pride of your heart has deceived you’ (Obadiah 3)
‘Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you,’ (Obadiah 10)

‘God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.’ (Romans 11:2)
‘But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.’ (Romans 11:17-18)

By: Chris Dow

Chris Dow — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 15:18:30 +0000

In reply to Laura Edwards. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this, Laura.

By: Chris Dow

Chris Dow — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 15:16:25 +0000

In reply to Paul Peters Derry. I respectfully disagree, Paul. You're quite right that this has taken a while and that there were difficult moments in the last three years, including some incendiary letters to the editor in the AJ. But the good thing about the slow process in this case is that it allowed time for the new prayer of reconciliation to be drafted. If the old prayer had been expunged immediately in 2016, this would never have happened. Furthermore, simply deleting the old prayer would be no cause for celebration because, as you say, its so overdue. But with the new prayer we witnessed a wonderful celebration at GS 2019 and an outpouring of heartfelt appreciation from the Jewish community, including this article from Rabbi Stein. So although the process was slow and difficult, it was surely worth it.

By: Ian Poole

Ian Poole — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 18:20:00 +0000

“…if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
That’s from 2 Corinthians.
“…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
That’s from Philippians.
“Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
And that’s from 1 John.
So is your argument coming from God or from men? We should not be ashamed to proclaim the Word. Enough of this mealy-mouthed Anglicanism.

By: Laura Edwards

Laura Edwards — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 18:36:54 +0000

As a practicing Anglican and member of Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver, I stopped in on that summer day during the 2019 General Synod. I was there to deliver the alter linens which I volunteer to launder and iron.
It was awesome to see such a large group of Leaders at our church, discussing historical changes for the Anglican Church that would affect the world.
I had no idea at that time, that there was discussion and voting happening, in respect to the prayer for conversion of the Jews. Theres is no word to describe the necessity to remove this anti semite prayer from our prayer book.
The joy and relief I feel that the prayer would be changed to focus upon reconciliation with Jews, was overwhelming.
It was my Jewish sister who was spending several months in Israel supporting her daughter, my niece, with the birth of her second baby son, who brought this historic good news to my attention.
I am grateful and proud of the collaborative work that was done at the Synod, and in my home church.
Having spent two thirds of my life with a blended family of Jews and Christians, both sides active and true to their faith, I am deeply grateful for the world, and my own family.
I think it is poignant that my sister shared the news with me from Jerusalem, after she learned about it when reading the news from a Vancouver Jewish news article.
God Bless us all.

By: Paul Peters Derry

Paul Peters Derry — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:53:09 +0000

I see all of this as both an important step, and also a reminder of the need for General
Synod to update its governance structure and process. It’s shameful how majority support was achieved but still missed in the mark in 2016. If we’re going to repent of our sin of antisemitism – and I believe we should – it should not take 6-9 years to do that. Or at least not to take the important first step. As another very faithful Jew once said, “Go and sin no more!” not “Go and sin no more… no, wait another three years to make sure your resolve is strong enough.”

By: Gordon Maitland

Gordon Maitland — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 01:44:48 +0000

Rabbi, your kind and gracious words in this article are deeply appreciated. Your presentation at General Synod was moving and engaging and went a long way to ensuring the near unanimous vote in favour of the new prayer. It was an honour to have met you on that occasion.

Gordon+