Yerushalayim shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before
all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it.
Jeremiah 33: 9a
AN APOLOGY TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
BY YOUR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS
INTRODUCTION
The words of this booklet, written with love, are a long over due Christian apology from the grass roots to the Jewish people. There are many Christians all over the world who will want to stand with you in these difficult times. For too many years there has been a lack of compassion, little support from the Church and a long, long SILENCE. On behalf of other Christians who feel this is the truth, we are profoundly sorry and at the same time deeply grateful for the heritage received from God's Chosen People.
THE TIME HAS COME for an apology to be expressed by the rank and file in the Church for all the wrongs you have suffered during the last two thousand years of your amazing history. These words of heartfelt contrition are written to you for all the evil, cruel hurt, pain and bitter hatred endured for centuries. Your treatment has been vile leading to exile, injury and death, even genocide. Sadly, much of this persecution can be attributed to the Church - but it is not of our sovereign God, according to the Old Testament promises to Israel.
LORD, in Your mercy forgive us, we pray.
People of Israel and all Jewish people everywhere, we are sorry and ask for your forgiveness. We abjectly plead your forgiveness.
At the same time there are many in the Church supremely grateful to the Jewish people. Why this enormous gratitude?
You have given us so much-- the Holy Scriptures, the Jewish teaching of the Patriarchs and Prophets, the Law given by God to Moses, the wisdom of the books of Proverbs and the Psalms. Yes, so much and all written by Jews inspired by the Lord God, Who loves all mankind, both Jew and Gentile. Thank you!
Also, it must be added that without you, the Hebrews, there would be no
N.T., a written and living word meaning everything to us; our salvation from
sin through the blood of a Jew, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Truly, you are God's representatives, chosen to declare His salvation and
His praise to all mankind - a special people and always will be. It is for
this very reason you have been so hated, abused and persecuted. All the promises
made to Abraham by our faithful God will be fulfilled. Many already have
been; and you, the people of Israel, have been restored most significantly
to your own land. But what have the nations done to the land of Israel? Yes,
divided it - the land God calls, My land! Joel 3: 2
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12: 3
As Jacob bowed to his twin brother, these words express an apology to you, the Jewish people; as if kneeling in prayer and repentance before you, the Chosen people whom God has always loved.
I will be your God and you shall be My people. Leviticus 26: 12
I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. Exodus 29: 45
This apology, written in acrostic form, is the fruit of God's awakening call - initiating a love and support for the Jewish people that took place over forty years ago. In fact, a shaking call that could never be forgotten! Only in 2003 has that vision been fully understood and in the following acrostic poems finally expressed.
Ruth Bailes 9/04
To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose. Ecclesiastes 3: 1
My sacrifice (the sacrifice acceptable) to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart (broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent), such O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51; 17