The Movement Defined. What these brethren preach and agitate for is, that it is incumbent on Hebrew Christians, in order to keep up their "national continuity," not only to identify themselves with their unbelieving Jewish brethren, in their national aspirations—as expressed, for instance, in Zionism and other movements which aim at creating and fostering "the national idea" and regaining possession of Palestine—but to observe the "national" rites and customs of the Jews, such as the keeping of the Sabbath, circumcision, and other observances, some of which have not even their origin in the law of Moses, but are part of that unbearable yoke which was laid on the neck of our people by the Rabbis. The following are a few utterances of the champions of this movement. One of them, writing rather grandly on a proposed "World-wide Hebrew Christian Congress," with a view to the establishment of a "Hebrew Church," and "to formulate a definite plan as to which form of church government or ritual the Hebrew Church is to assume," proceeds: "Whatever is likely to be adopted by Congress as a basis for the formation of such a Church, it is bound to include the retention of Circumcision, the Festivals—such as the Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, Purim, Chanucah—as well as part of the Synagogue liturgy in a modified form." And again:— "It will be readily seen how a Hebrew Christian movement which will hold fast to the Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, Chanucah, and Purim; which will include in its liturgy a good deal of the traditional Synagogue prayer; which will be favourably rather than unfavourably disposed towards every ceremony that has entwined itself in the Hebrew consciousness; . . . which insists on circumcision; which attaches itself to the Hebrew consciousness and holds by the historical and Biblical continuity of Israel's Mission—can never be labelled by the Hebrew nation as a proselytising society organised by Gentile Christians, whose object is to absorb and to denationalise the Jewish people."1 And another 2 concludes an article on "Jewish Christianity" as follows: "In conclusion, allow me to say that I fully endorse what may be termed the 'Minimum programme,' as suggested by our much-honoured and widely-known Brother Ch. Th. Lucky, namely: That Hebrew Christians should observe Circumcision, the Sabbath, the Jewish Festivals, and that every effort should be made to revive the Hebrew language. "Finally, I take the liberty of bringing before the notice of Hebrew Christians the following suggestions as a possible platform for Hebrew Christian activities: "1. Hebrew Christians should seek to develop a close attachment to Zionism, and if the Zionists refuse to accept our co-operation we then should put forth Zionistic efforts on our own lines. "2. We should retain, as far as possible, Jewish modes of worship, and a sympathetic appreciation of the Jewish national consciousness, even when manifested in a way that does not appeal to our modern ideas. "3. We should encourage a hearty fraternal relationship with all Gentile Christian denominations, but on the basis of complete independence. "4. We should put forth every effort to regain all assimilated Christians of Jewish descent. "5. We should not permit any intolerant dogmatic principles to constitute the basis for fellowship; every Jew that is not against Jesus should be considered one of us. "6. We should show to our unconverted brethren that we are not 'Meshumadim' (renegades), but, on the contrary, genuine, patriotic Jews, true sons and daughters of Israel." This is the "Minimum programme." The "Maximum" includes joining in all the forms and ceremonies of the Christ-rejecting synagogue, to wear phylacteries and the talith (or prayer-shawl), to use the Jewish liturgy, just as the other Jews do, only to smuggle in now and then the Name of Jesus into those prayers! Footnotes: |
||||||