My dear friends. This is not the normal kind of post that I put on this site. However, I think that there are some forces working underhandedly in the world. These forces would strip us of our Christian rights to worship and also to possess a Holy Bible. They know that a straight out attack on Christianity has never worked in the past, and have moved to more subtle approaches. One of which is a progressive warming of the waters to a slow boil. If you have heard of the analogy that a frog will jump from a boiling pot of water, but he will stay an die in a pot that is slowly heated until it boils him alive. This is the tactic I am speaking of. The changing of a definition. Making it unbinding so no one will care how it is worded. Then later accept the poorly written definition as an accepted policy. Now make the policy a law. This is what is happening right before your eyes.
There is a bill that is silently making its way through Congress. It has already passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting its vote in the Senate. If this bill is passed, it will potentially change the face of Christianity in the US and consequently in the world. This has been a slow multistep progression to silence Christianity in the US and to make the Bible illegal in the US. It made a non-binding definition that was made in Bucharest, Romania a policy of the US State Department. Now this legislation will arm the federal government against Christians in the US.
HR 6090 “Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023” made the State Departments “Defining of Antisemitism” policy, which is based on the Bucharest, May 2016, unbinding definition of antisemitism, into a criminal offense. This is declared in Sec. 4 Definitions of ZHR 6090. Where it reads,
“For purposes of this Act, the term “definition of antisemitism”—
(1) means the definition of antisemitism adopted on May 26, 2016, by the IHRA, of which the United States is a member, which definition has been adopted by the Department of State; and
(2) includes the “[c]ontemporary examples of antisemitism” identified in the IHRA definition.” (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6090/text)
I am not anti-Semitic, and I think that the Jews should be free of oppression, and allowed to live free of harm, just like any other people. I believe that God has not abandoned them and that he is working actively in the life of Israel to restore his people and blesses those who bless them, and curses those who curse them. However, in this referred to definition, the US Congress makes Christians into criminals, and so opens the door for corporate persecution of Christians in the US and in the world.
The referred to definition in HR 6090 is the one adopted by the US State Department that includes the following line in it’s definition.
Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis. (US Department of State) Defining Antisemitism https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/)
That would make such scripture and the preaching here on a hate crime. This sharing or maybe even just having a Bible that reads the following from Acts and 1 Thessalonians could put you in danger of the government.
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (Acts 4:10).
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15).
I know that there are some Arians who use these verses to bring violence against the Jewish people. It is wrong and should be stood up against. However, this bill and definition also says that the Jewish people should not be held accountable for the actions of one or even a few Jewish people or activists, so the Christians should not be held accountable for a few cultic followers or activists.
The thing about this bill is that in it’s definition, it refers to a definition that is outside of the bill itself. It is even a definition that is not under the scrutiny of any US legislation. So as the international community may change the definition, the definition would automatically be changed in the US legal system. How foolish is this? On the face this legislation is something that most lawmakers would want to sign their name to. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with a bill that stands up for the oppressed and the needy, the wrongly accused through history. Every Jewish and Christian legislature would love to have their name on this document. However, would they have done the homework and looked at the source of the definition, then the Christian representative would have seen that in voting for this, they vote away their own freedom of religion, and the freedom of speech would be stripped from every pulpit in America.
I say that if such a bill is to be passed there should be some changes first. (1) The applicable definition should be fully defined within the bill itself, and not refer to an outside document, especial not an international document. (2) Provisions should be given to protect other religious texts and speech that also allow protection for the Jewish community.
Please contact your US Senator to at least have them do the research into the definition of the bill and to see it they would still support such a piece of legislation. There are ways to protect the Jewish members of our society against Antisemitism without criminalizing other religious groups. I just do not fee this bill is what it claims itself to be.
Once again I believe and affirm that the descendants of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and King David are the blessed and chosen people of God, and that they should be protected.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
Let us find a good way to bless the people of God. Let us help Israel have true peace. Pray for the peace of Israel. Stand in defense of Israel. Share the hope in Jesus Christ with Israel.
The Way of Christ Ministries 