Back to Shoah | Facts & History | The Jewish Enlightenment
Defying DefinitionsSomeone once said that nobody can define what a Jew is, but everybody can identify the Jews. The difficulties in definition are immense: in fact one of the crimes of Hitler and the Third Reich was in trying to define the Jews strictly as a Race, according to genetic features, facial features and coloring, instead of considering a more in-depth approach. But if the Third Reich found it cumbersome to define who was Jewish and who was not , the Jews have had their own difficulties: In Israel today, the ultra-Orthodox Jews and Chasidim would deny membership in that group to Reform and Liberal Jews---denying the right of rabbis in that group to perform marriage, burial and so forth. Some claim that a Jew even born a Jew and raised a Jew is not a Jew if he accepts and believes in Jesus Christ the Messiah, and others (Messianic Christians) claim he is even more a Jew.Traditionally, one is considered a Jew in rabbinical circles if the Mother was a Jew, but some have more liberal approaches. Some define Jewishness in terms of race, some in terms of nationality and some in terms of religion and faith. Still others consider it a more complex definition than to focus on any one factor. Still, as the centuries have passed, there has always been a group defined as the Jews, a Biblical nation, which even though dispersed for 2000 years into many nations, remained a definite and very real people, with centuries old culture, worship form, genetics(for many), traditions, values and family life. BIBLICAL DEFINITIONSDebate remains in theological circles over first mention of the Jews. Some trace the Jews all the way back to Adam, many certainly to Seth, the 3rd child of Adam and Eve, for it is from Seth that the Semitic line begins which will bear Messiah. Others yet point to the time of Noah, when Noah's sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth go out to inhabit the earth, and Shem becomes the head of the Semitic line.The Name Hebrew is also sometimes identified with the name of Eber which is mentioned very early. (*)Another line of thinking holds that it is Abraham who is most rightly the 'Father of the Jews' and of Faith, for it is Abraham to whom the land and seed is promised, "as many as the stars and the sand and for whom the sacrifice is made. (Genesis 15) This definition takes into account the essential nature not just of the flesh, but of a people set apart, sanctified, called and chosen by God to live in Covenant with Him. Probably the wisest position is to acknowledge that all of the above positions have merit, and contribute to the answer of who the Jews are and when they began. From the time of Abraham on, the definitions are quite clear: they move as a people, breathe as a people, worship as a people, war as a people and are governed by the God of Israel in a unique and holy manner. Called, the Children of Israel, the Jews, Judah and Israel, the 12 tribes, Hebrews and the Chosen, God deals with them more wondrously and more severely than the other peoples of the earth. They are also the only people to survive clearly defined after 2000 years and return to a land, a language and a God worshiped since the beginning.These definitions and introductions are criticla to understanding why the definition of who the Jews are, finds itself at the center of many heretical positions: to cease to define the Jews as the same people over time, is to enter into seriously Dangerous Doctrines, and negate the sovereign plan of God for the World since the foundation of the world. TO BE CONTINUED.... |
. . . . . . . . Dangerous Doctrines The Identity Heresies and the Problem with IsraelMany White Aryan Groups and Armstongists are known for what many call "White Identity doctrines. IN White Identity doctrines, there is an attempt denigrate the importance and significance of the Jewish race and replace it with the white race, most often defined as a form of Christianity. Emphasis is often placed on Jesus being more 'Aramaic' instead of Jewish. The Church is seen as 'replacing' almost totally the Jewish people as Israel, and is often referred to as The New Israel A great deal of emphasis in this heresy is placed upon the Kingdom years in the Old Testament, when Judah under Rehoboam divided from Jeroboam and Israel. Ten tribes went north to Israel and 2 stayed near Jerusalem, the remnant of the whole body of Israel. Identity theorists and Armstrongists do extensive word searches claiming that the twelve tribes at this point ceased to be part and parcel with Judah. Judah, they claim are the 'Jews' (that is correctly where the word derives from) but the northern tribes become defined separately from them as Israel. There are several major problems with this line of thinking. First, the distinctions are very blurred regarding the rubric "Jews" both before and after: the 12 tribes are referred to as Israel, Hebrews, Tribes of Israel and Jews, not separately, but inter-changeably. Second, the division between the kingdoms in the Post-davidic years was never pleasing to the Lord. The Northern tribe gave themselves over to division and idolatry, and serious disloyalty to Judah, making alliances with her enemies. There was nothing good or holy in this division: God decries it throughout the prophets. The "Sins of Jeroboam, Son of Nebat" are referred to often indicating the rebellion as an unholy thing not pleasing to the Lord. The great desire of God was the unity and wholeness of the twelve tribes, but before that was to happen, Israel was divided, carried captive and slaughtered. At the return, all twelve tribes from the north and the south are returned as one body, with Judah at the head. This was important because of the Messianic line which was to come out of Judah, and to fulfill prophecies that the sceptre would not depart from Judah until Shiloh come." Thirdly, while British-Israelism and other identity doctrines talk about where the northern tribes migrated, and intermingling with Anglo-Saxons and the like, there is no evidence of a pervasive nature to demonstrate this. As Ezra and Nehemiah and the High Priest Joshua heralded the Return, the nation of Israel back in the land continued in a National Identity well into the first century a.d. By the advent of Christ's birth
Warning Signs of Identity/Israelite Heresies |