By Charles Gardner, UK Correspondent
Freshly revived from another invigorating experience at Keswick — the Galilee of England as I coined it last year — I am stirred anew by the glorious Gospel which alone can heal our sick society.
Repeatedly urged to drink of the living waters Jesus promised to those who are spiritually thirsty, I know of no other Christian convention that is more Christ-centred.
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And yet there was something missing. As is the case across much of the UK’s evangelical world, our Lord has been largely cut off from his Hebraic roots, and I heard no calls to stand with the Jewish people in their hour of need.
As a volunteer for CMJ (the Church’s Ministry among the Jewish people), I visited their stand on a regular basis and found myself particularly distressed as I surveyed the extensive camp publisher’s outlets alongside us displaying thousands of books on how to live the Christian life while totally ignoring Israel. I couldn’t spot a single title on mission to the very people who first brought us the Gospel. Why is this?
As Joseph Steinberg challenged in his August column for Evangelicals Now (titled From a Jewish Perspective), the Church is walking with a limp that she has come to accept as normal — busy enough preaching to their fellow Gentiles with one foot but disconnected from any call to serve the Jewish people with the other.
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The verse from Romans 10:14 — “How shall they call on the one they have not believed in?” — was prominently displayed throughout the camp, spelling out the urgency of sharing the Gospel with a lost world. But the context of that Scripture is our call to the Jewish world as it falls bang in the middle of St Paul’s stirring challenge to the Gentiles in Rome to be mindful of their roots which, if cut off, would deprive them of the nourishing sap that keeps them alive (Romans 11:17).
Yes, that’s how serious it is. The Church that persists in being thus disconnected will surely die. Stripping away the Jewishness of Jesus is a dangerous path that ultimately leads us to presenting “another Jesus” — not the Jewish Messiah who came to his own (John 1:11).
The Bible (including the New Testament) clearly foretells of a latter-day return of the Jews to their ancient homeland, now fulfilled, followed by a spiritual revival, which we are also beginning to see. There are now an estimated one million Jewish followers of Jesus, a significant sign of the times in which we are living.
For as Christ’s return draws near, his ancient people will increasingly recognise “the one they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10, Romans 11:26, Revelation 1:7), and Gentile believers will no doubt play an important role in that wonderful outcome if they have understood the prophecy of Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news… who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”
If that isn’t enough of an incentive to share good news with Israel, we should also be responding to their present suffering. Back in their own land, where they should be safe, they are living with constant trauma and terror.
Following the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust at the hands of Hamas on October 7 2023, antisemitism has spread across the globe like wildfire, leaving Jewish communities in Britain, Australia and other previously safe havens living in fear.
On our way back from Keswick, while visiting friends in Morecambe Bay, we had a wonderful opportunity of expressing our support to a large family of Orthodox Jews from Manchester.
Upon seeing them enjoying themselves in a local park, our feisty host boldly introduced us. We simply told them that we love them, that we are praying for them, and even writing about God’s great plans for them. I was surprised to hear that they had seen my articles (on www.israeltoday.co.il), so we were also greatly encouraged.
It was one of those God moments which profoundly moved me, and I believe they too were touched by the Lord. How great is their need, and how great is our calling.
Do we want to bless the world with the Gospel to maximum effect? As Joseph Steinberg said: “The church must stop treating Jewish mission as a niche concern for enthusiasts and agencies.” For as St Paul put it, Jewish restoration to their Lord will be “life from the dead” (Romans 11:15).
Standing with the Jews at this time will be costly, but it’s part of our sacrifice in taking up the cross as we follow Jesus, the Jew. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer paid with his life when he stood up to Hitler on behalf of God’s chosen, “the apple of his eye”. (Zechariah 2:8)
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