Christian antisemitism is an oxymoron…and historically the church’s greatest sin! Christian antisemitism is simply an abomination…and to be honest--an embarrassment to my life as a Christian! However, no matter how difficult the fact of ‘Christian antisemitism’ may be---as followers of Christ, we must first face it, repent, allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts—and then ‘act’. One small step that our church does toward accomplishing the objective of ‘to act’ is to reach out to a couple of local Rabbis at synagogues near us with Christian love. A Chinese proverb declares, “A long journey begins with the first step.”
   Now, back to more difficult facts!
   Arguably…some of the greatest ‘Christian antisemitic’ statements made in antiquity were made by a preacher named John Chrysostom (344-407AD). However, before revealing his venom, I would like to offer a silver-lining. Once again using “The Anguish of the Jews”, author Edward Flannery writes, “…apparently some of his (Chrysostom) flock were frequenting synagogues and Jewish homes…”* After reading this, it gave me hope because--if true--this is evidence there were authentic followers of Christ in antiquity whom did not bow-the-knee to the plague of “Christian antisemitism”!
  Oftentimes when reading about ‘Christian antisemitism’ it can become overwhelming because not only is it difficult for any real Christian to accept the horror of its very existence, but that horror is exponentially magnified when it’s presented in such a manner as to cause us to think that it infects Christians everywhere, from the past to the present!! However, from Flannery’s previous statement regarding Christians “frequenting Jewish synagogues” in Chrysostom’s day, we now know that ‘like’ God reminded the prophet Elijah: “I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal” (Rom11:4; 1Kgs19:18); so too, Flannery’s words on the Christians and Jews, encourage us to know that  God always has a remnant of His own who will stand against the evil in their day, including the evil of ‘Christian antisemitism’! Amen & Amen!
  Moving forward. After Chrysostom finds out about the actions of his members “frequenting Jewish synagogues”…he snaps! Chrysostom’s nickname was “Golden-mouth” which refers to his incredible speaking gift. Chrysostom also has a planning gift. So, to his shame, he turns his spirit, soul, mind, gifts, and energies to literally create a series of sermons, even breaking down each sermon into categories, to more effectively articulate his attack on the Jews!
  So….brace yourself, and buckle your seatbelt of horror!!
 
1.‘Accusations’.
“Of their rapine, their cupidity, their deception of the poor, of thieveries, and huckstering?” How can Christians dare “have the slightest converse” with Jews, “most miserable of all men”! Men who are “…lustful, rapacious, greedy, perfidious bandits.” Are they not “inveterate murderers, destroyers, men possessed by the devil” whom “debauchery and drunkenness have given them the manners of the pigs and the lusty goat. They know only one thing, so satisfy their gullets, get drunk, to kill and main one another.” Indeed, “they have surpassed the ferocity of wild beasts, for they murder their offspring and immolate them to the devil.” “They are impure and impious…”
 
2.The Synagogue. Flannery writes, “Not only is it a house of prostitution, but a cavern of brigands, a “repair of wild beasts”, a place of “shame and ridicule”, the “domicile of the devil, as is also the soul of the Jews”. Indeed Jews worship the devil; their rites are “criminal and impure;” their religion is “a disease”. Their synagogue, again is “an assembly of criminals…a den of thieves…a cavern of devils, an abyss of perdition.”
 
  Flannery continues.
3.“Why are the Jews degenerate?” “Because of their “odious assassination of Christ.” “This supreme crime lies at the roots of their degradation and woes.” “And for this decide, Chrysostom declares, there is “no expiation possible, no indulgence, no pardon.” “Vengeance is without end. Jews, moreover, will always remain without temple or nation. The rejection and dispersion of the Jews was the work of God, not the emperors: “It was done by the wrath of God and His absolute abandon of you”. “Thus will Jews live “under the yoke of servitude without end.” “God hates the Jews and always hated the Jews, and on Judgment Day He will say to Judaizers, “Depart from Me, for you have had intercourse with my murderers.” “It is the duty of Christians to hate the Jews: “He who can never love Christ enough will never be done fighting against those (Jews) who hate Him.” “Flee, then, their assemblies, flee their houses, and far from venerating the synagogue because of the books it contains hold it in hatred and aversion for the same reason.” “Chrysostom himself gives the example: “…I hate the synagogue precisely because it has the law and prophets.” “I hate the Jews also because they outrage the law…” *
  Remember, these statements represent only the ‘highlights’--maybe a better word is ‘highlows’---of his sermon series!!!
  So…what does God think about Chrysostom’s diatribe?
 
1.I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2.God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew…
                                   -Rom11:1-2 (NAS)
 
11.I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
12.Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
                                               Rom11:11-12
 
For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God.
                                                                       -2Sam7:24 (NAS)
 
3.For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
4.who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises
                                               -Rom9:3.4 (KJV)
 
Scatter & Regather
1.“So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you,
2.and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons,
3.then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.
4.“If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back.
5.“The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.
6.“Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
                       -Deut30:1-6 (NAS)
 
   The all-encompassing question is: Did Pastor John Chrysostom read any of these passages? Or, the literally hundreds of other passages just like them?
 
May God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ have mercy!!!
 
 
*“The Anguish of the Jews”, Andrew Flannery, pgs51-52
 
 
Quotebit
The Bible is the only book where the author must be present to understand it!
                                   -Jeremiah Ferguson, son of Pastor Collin Ferguson

     I believe one of the reasons the Church has not been as effective in doing the Great Commission is because we have not done it in THE WAY that Jesus commanded(Mat28:18-20)---to the Jew first (Rom1:16). Christian apathy has resulted in most churches having no relationship or connection with the Jews nor Israel. Just ask yourself the following question, does the pastor of your church preach about God’s “forever” calling upon Israel(2Sam7:24)? If not, why not? How is this evil even possible when the order of the Great Commission demands the gospel to go to the Jew FIRST?!?!
  However, I also believe that neglecting to take the gospel to the Jew FIRST is sin, and all sin, especially impenitent sin darkens (Lu11:34-35), obstructing further understanding, spiraling downward into further sin…and so on---aka lasciviousness (Gal5:19). Therefore, a consequence of the sin of neglecting to take the gospel to the Jew first has led downward into the sin of ‘Christian antisemitism’; and to say that its’ effect on both the Jew and Church has been, and is horrific…is vastly understated!!!
 
  Now…back to the topic at hand!
 
  Let’s continue from the last tidbit with author Edward Flannery quoting two more “Christians” who possessed antisemitic views. On page 50 of his book ‘The Anguish of the Jews’, he writes, “St Gregory of Nyssa (331-396AD), with wanton eloquence, describes the Jews as “slayers of the Lord, murderers of the prophets, enemies of God, haters of God, adversaries of grace, enemies of their fathers’ faith, advocates of the devil, brood of vipers, slanderers, scoffers, men of darkened minds, leaven of the Pharisees, congregation of demons, sinners, wicked men, stoners, and haters of good.”
 “St Gregory makes it abundantly clear that this century has added a new note of contempt to the Christian image of the Jew. St Jerome (340-420AD) meanwhile still exemplifies the strange ambivalence that marked the Christian attitude at this time: while continuing his personal relations with rabbis and even seeking lessons in Hebrew from them, he upbraids Jews in his writings as serpents, haters of all men, Judases. Their Psalms and prayers, he states, are the “braying of donkeys” and “they curse Christians in their synagogues.””
  Let’s examine the words of these two Christian “saints”. After reading his statement, the similarities of words used make it obvious that St Gregory takes some of his views from Jesus in Matthew 23. However, remember that all error possesses a modicum of truth; for even when the devil lies, he must use truth. If we look at Matthew 23, the context is a rebuke of the Pharisees and Sadducees for their hypocrisy. For example, in Matthew 23:29, Jesus calls the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites; in Matthew 23:30,31 He reminds them of their being sons of those who murdered the prophets. In Matthew 23:33, He calls them serpents and vipers; in verse 34, He again reminds them of their murderous ways, along with those whom they beat and persecuted in their synagogues. I repeat, both St Gregory and St Jerome use some of Jesus words in Matthew 23—to attempt to support their antisemitism.
  However, what both “saints” miss is that after Jesus harshly rebukes the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-36, He turns the context to the purpose of His rebuke in verses 37-39…which is Israel. In other words, in these three short verses, in the same context of His rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus laments over ‘Jerusalem’, by which he means ‘Israel’. In other words, Jesus uses a word picture of a hen gathering her chicks to herself to remind Israel—including these scribes and Pharisees—that although they are all guilty of murdering the prophets—like He sovereignly put away David’s sin with Bathsheba, He will also put away Israel’s sin! When? When they say “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”(23:39 taken from Ps118:26). And Why? Because of His ‘forever’ covenant with the Jew(Jer31:34-37)!
  David’s prayer in 2Samuel 7:22-24 perfectly illustrates God’s unique calling upon Israel, while simultaneously revealing the errors of Gregory and Jerome:
22.Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23.And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24.For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
 
  First, David establishes his prayer upon the very Sovereignty of God in verse 22. In other words, David is declaring that everything I’m about to pray has its’ origin in:
a.The Greatness of God; which itself originates in…
b.The uniqueness of God, Who alone rules, having no equal!
  Second, and most profound, are verses 23 and 24, where the Bible declares 5 different times:
              1.“whom God went to redeem to be his people”
              2.“to make him a name”
              3.“whom thou redeemedst to Thee from Egypt”
              4.“Thou hast confirmed to Thyself your people Israel”
              5.“to be a people unto thee forever”
These incredible…marvelous…unbelievable statements teach that God links Israel as a people with “HIMSELF” i.e.the very NATURE of God!!!
 In other words, God declares because there is no other God beside Him; and because He is the only Sovereign—He made Israel His own! In other words again, in the same way ‘as’ there is no other God—the Sovereign God reserved Israel for Himself!
  God has never made a statement like this about another people! This revelation alone destroys antisemitism…by offering God’s strong opinion on His people…Israel!!!
 
  On the contrary, where antisemitism exists, the Bible offers the reason:
“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint…” (Pro29:18NIV)…and I repeat, “casting off restraint” was the error of Gregory and Jerome.
 
 
Quotebit
"Pray until you can pray; pray to be helped to pray and do not give up praying because you cannot pray. For it is when you think you cannot pray that is when you are praying."  
-Charles Spurgeon

   Today I get into the nitty-gritty of some of the examples of ‘Christian antisemitism.’ At this point, I can only report on what happened, not why it happened. I want to begin with a quote recorded by Dennis Prager and Joseph Telushkin on page 120 of their book ‘Why The Jews’ which so tragically sums-up ‘Christian’ antisemitism that I wept when I first read it:
“Thus Montesquieu in his essay, ‘The Spirit of Laws’, powerfully denounced ‘Christian anti-semitism’ by condemning the Portuguese Inquisition* through the mouth of a persecuted Jew: “You put us to death, who believe only what you believe, because we do not believe all that you believe. We follow a religion, which you yourselves know to have been formerly dear to God. We think that God loves it still, and you think that He loves it no more; and because you judge this, you make those suffer by sword and fire, who hold an error so pardonable as to believe that God loves what he once loved.””
  
  I have only one response: May God have mercy!!!
 
   Author Edward Flannery says there is debate over the degree of antisemitism prior to the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine who converted to Christianity in 329AD. However, before Constantine’s death in 337AD, ‘Christian’ antisemitism was on the rise.  
   Edward Flannery quotes several church leaders, “In the first half of the fourth century, Eusebius of Caesarea (340AD) in two massive volumes presented a review of Jewish history founded on the distinction between “Hebrews” and “Jews.” The Hebrews were considered primitive Christians, thus the patriarchs; the Jews, a less worthy people from the Law of Moses was a necessity. Hilary of Poiters (367AD) similarly reinterpreted Jewish history for the purpose of proving Jews a perpetually perverse people, despised by God.” “St Ephraim(373AD)…. inserted contemptuous references to Judaism in his liturgical hymns calling the Synagogue, for example, a “harlot.”  “St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386AD) an ardent preacher, denounced the Jews from the pulpit and wrote offensively of the Jewish partriarchate, which he considered a shameful institution. And St. Epiphanius (310-403AD), one of the great early heresiologists, in his analysis of Judaeo-Christian heresies did not hide his feeling for one group, the Herodians, who are the “real Jews because they are indolent and dishonest.” (pg49)**
    The first question I have for these ‘Christian leaders’ is…what is the source of your condemnation and hatred? Did you have negative experiences with the Jews in your area? If so, my second question is how are you as Christians to handle such difficult people? Even our enemies? The answer is easy but not simple.  Jesus declared in Matthew 5:44,45: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45.That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…” Verse 45 elucidates everything. The text declares to be a child of our Father, we must do verse 44, or we cannot be a child of God!!! In addition, Romans 2:4 declares “…the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” The Greek word for “goodness” is kindness. In other words, to win the lost to Christ we must often endure their abuse, yet still show them kindness, for the Holy Spirit to lead them to repentance! Did these ‘Christians’ even bother to read these Matthew and Romans Scripture passages?
   As Christians, we are supposed to read the Bible and apply it to our lives. I would like to conclude by asking the aforementioned ‘supposed Christians’ ***a few more questions about the following passages:
 
1.“Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles” (Ps25:22). Did you either pray or act on these words from God?
 
2.“For the LORD’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.”  (Deut32:9,10)
God calls His people (Israel/Jews) “His portion”; “His inheritance”; and the “apple of His eye”…and YOU attack them?!?!
 
3.“O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.” (Ps115:9) God promises to be Israel’s “help and their shield”. I wonder how you will answer to God for this?

4.In Psalms 83, Israel’s enemies declared: “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.”
 
Asaph responded in prayer:
13.O my God, scatter them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind!
14.As a fire burns a forest and as a flame sets mountains ablaze,
15.chase them with your fierce storm; terrify them with your tempest.
16.Utterly disgrace them until they submit to your name, O Lord.
17.Let them be ashamed and terrified forever. Let them die in disgrace.
18.Then they will learn that you alone are called the Lord, that you alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth.
 
I repeat, may God have mercy upon ‘supposed Christian’*** antisemites’!!!
 
*Spain instituted the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 before decreeing the expulsion of all Jews from Spain in 1492. Tens of thousands of Spanish Jews fled Spain, including to Portugal, where King John II granted them asylum in return for payment. However, the asylum was withdrawn after eight months, with the Portuguese government decreeing the enslavement of all Jews who had not left Portugal. Marcus, Jacob (1938). The Jew in the Medieval World: A Source Book, 315-1791. p. 61.
 
**Edward H. Flannery (August 20, 1912 – October 19, 1998) was an American priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, and the author of The Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-Three Centuries of Antisemitism, first published in 1965. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Flannery)
 
***I use the word “Christian” loosely because I do question the salvation of these early so-called Christians for some of the things they did and said.

Quotebit
Jesus called Peter a “rock” long before he was stable and mature. He leads us by calling out of us His identity for us, and unique purpose in us, not by calling out our failures. – unknown.  (Rom4:17)