From: Donna.D'Iorio@f7022.n124.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Donna D'Iorio)
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: Anti-Semitism charges
Date: 6 Sep 92 16:06:00 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/7022 - MAXUS World H, Dallas TX


    In response to Tom Albrecht:
TA>From: tom@tredysvr.Tredydev.Unisys.COM (Tom Albrecht)
TA>Date: 27 Aug 92 14:58:31 GMT
TA>Organization: Unisys, Applied Technology, Malvern, PA

TA>Rabid MJs in this newsgroup apparently are using the word "anti-Semite"
TA>much the same way radical homosexuals use the word "homophobic."  Their
TA>intention is not to enlighten and encourage discussion, but to crush
TA>dissent at all costs.  It is a political tactic unbecoming a Christian.

    It's a matter of sight-lines, Tom. Your viewing from a perspective
that regards the traditional stance of the Church toward Jews as normal
and above reproach. If anyone has responded here too harshly to you, it
is because your own posts on the subject have been unbearably arrogant.
Perhaps if you canned your attitude and showed any sign of openly
considering the evidence put before you, then answers to you would not
be at hurricane gale. Remember--we've been hearing the traditional
perspective for centuries. What you are saying is hardly new to anyone
here.

TA>Scriptures.  As I said in the past, the charge of anti-Semitism is raise
TA>entirely because some MJs and I disagree over the matters like whether t
TA>original church should have retained a Jewish distinctive, and over the
TA>future of the nation of Israel, strictly theological issues.

    This is not the issue--that the church "should" have retained a
Jewish distinctive.  It is more to the point to discuss what motivation
lay behind the purging of all Jewish roots from the faith in those
founding centuries. The things that Justin Martyr or the Nicene council
or Augustine had to say regarding the Jews certainly did not jive with
apostolic teaching.  Does church tradition count for more than what the
scripture actually teaches?
    Anti-Judaic, anti-semitic perspective is embedded within the very
fiber of the theologies these men ran with and which the church as ever
since failed to recognize as utterly non-scriptural.  Now there is no
way that I can discuss these things with you without acknowledging the
anti-semitism contained in their theologies, which has been passed down
generation to generation.  The same goes for the future of Israel.

TA>But quickly another oldtimer who loves to use the "A" word warned Donna
TA>my anti-Semitism.  Donna responded by jumping on the namecalling bandwag

    Look. I don't need anyone pointing out the anti-semitic theologies
to me.  I recognize them on my own and came to do that entirely
independent of Messianic input.  I sat in churches for ten years
listening to subconscious Christian anti-semitism preaching...until
it began to effect me like a physical blow to the gut. I ended my
silence and began to confront.  No matter how gently it is put to the
offender, it is recieved as a slap in the face and name calling. It is
something no one likes to think themselves guilty of. How forcefully it
must be confronted depends on how entrenched in arrogance the offender
is himself.  I don't confront everyone in the same way. It depends on
them.
    You want to stop discussion?  Fine.  But you cannot dismiss the
aspect of Christian anti-semitism embedded in traditional theologies as
inconsequential. It is not.
    Donna D'Iorio

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