"Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen." Acts 28.28 In the book "Joshua", Joseph Girzone pictures what it might be like if Jesus came today into a middle American town. The story takes place in a town in upstate NY and Jesus, named Joshua, is an unassuming semi-itinerant carpenter. The town is all astir after Joshua heals a little girl. He also carves an exquisite statue of Moses for the local Jewish congregation. The overriding theme is that Joshua meets his most serious adversaries among the Christians while the local Jewish community welcomes him with open arms. Girzone is at pains to point out that we, the church, have become the stiff necked Pharisees while our Jewish brethren have learned, through centuries of persecution, the message of love, tolerance and compassion. Paul in Romans issues a strong warning against Gentile Christians regarding their attitude towards Jews. He writes: "Do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.[a] 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And even those of Israel,[b] if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree." Romans 11: 18 - 24
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:54:56 +0000
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