This past Tuesday was Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. I am proud of our church for hosting a commemoration of that day sponsored by the Georgetown Ministerial Alliance and Havurah Shalom, a local Jewish congregation. A little over 450 people from our community attended.
We viewed the film, "Nicholas Winton: The Power of Good," an award-winning documentary that describes how Winton, a Christian from London, led an effort to rescue 669 Jewish children from Czechoslovakia at the advent of WWII. Winton has been described as a British "Schindler." The story was both touching and inspiring.
Following the movie a local resident who was rescued from Hungary as a child told her story. I believe she was 2 years old when she was smuggled into a convent. She was reunited with her mother after the war ended 4 years later. She had no other relatives survive. All were killed during the Holocaust.
I want to write more about the experience in another post, but for now I have to admit it was a little disorienting to see a Jewish woman standing in a Church of Christ pulpit! I wonder how many of the people there knew how unlikely a scene that was. But no one seemed to mind. In fact, our willingness to host such an event was welcomed by our members who attended and made a positive impression on others who were there.
But I can see how it might be troubling to some. How could we parnter with people who don't believe Jesus is the Son of God? Isn't that a dangerous compromise? Obviously, to me, it was not.
I do indeed believe that Jesus is the only way to God. For that reason, I do not consider those who have rejected Jesus to be saved. I don't mean to sound judgmental; I'm just saying what I believe the Bible teaches to be true. I'm perfectly content to leave the judging part to God. But even though I don't feel a spiritual connection, I do think I can still be nice. In fact, it makes sense to me that we are more likely to be a positive influence upon others if we treat them with respect, honor and love.
Honestly, did the "you think you are the only ones going to heaven" spirit really serve us very well?
Good post! I wish you could have heard Patrick Mead at DT this past weekend. Off the charts!
ReplyDeleteDU
You said, "I do think I can still be nice." I fully agree...we can be kind without compromising our convictions.
ReplyDeleteI too, believe that the only way to the Father is through His son, Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteHowever, after studying the books of Gen/Ex/Lev/Num/Deut, I question whether or not the people of Israel have a "special pass" of sorts. This is in complete contradiction to my previous statement, I know.
I ponder God's promise to Abraham concerning this nation. Is there a remnant that will restore that nation to the Promised Land and eventually restore their fellowship w/ God?
There is so much prophesy concerning this nation.
I've only dabbled in this part of history, so I could be COMPLETELY out of the ballpark on this. Just wondering...
--TP
Tonya-
ReplyDeleteI have found the book of Romans to be especially informative here. In a nutshell, I hear Paul saying, especially in chapters 9-11, that we, i.e. Christians, are the new Israel. The promise to Abraham still stands, that the righteous shall be saved by faith, not works (Chpt. 4).