SOUTHERN BAPTIST PRAYER GUIDES:

ON JUDAISM

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Quotation:

Jewish Prayer Guide:

The SBC have passed many resolutions acknowledging that an evangelical outreach to Jews is a part of their Great Commission mandate. At the SBC meeting in 1996-JUN, a resolution on this topic passed by an overwhelming majority. It urged the membership to "direct our energies and resources toward the proclamation of the Gospel to the Jews." It criticized "an organized effort on the part of some either to deny that Jewish people need to come to their Messiah, Jesus, to be saved or to claim, for whatever reason, that Christians have neither the right nor obligation to proclaim the gospel to Jewish people." _1,2

These policies are derived from a historical theological belief called "supercessionism" (a.k.a. replacement theology, displacement theololgy, etc), This is the concept "that Christianity replaced Judaism and that God no longer has a covenant with the Jewish people." ₃ It relegates Judaism to an inferior position and "regards the Christian Church as the 'true' or 'spiritual' Israel." This concept was first developed by Justin Martyr (circa 100 to 165 CE) and Irenaeus of Lyon (circa 130 to 200 CE). It was largely accepted within the church by the 4th century. It has since been abandoned by more liberal Christian faith groups, who feel that God's covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) are still in force. This is called "two-covenant" theology. One logical consequence of this belief system is that the Jews already have a route to salvation, as explained in the Hebrew Scriptures and guaranteed by God's eternal covenants. Thus, Jews do not need to be converted to Christianity in order to be saved.

R. Albert Mohler, Jr. emphasized that the SBC is determined to not follow the direction of more "liberal denominations [which have] declared a moratorium on witnessing to Jewish persons...This is not a case of religious imperialism or intolerance. Jewish persons--and all other persons--should know this: The greatest act of respect, love, and honor a Christian can extend to a non-Christian is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ." ₄

Don Kammerdiener, executive vice president of the International Mission Board defended the guide, saying that "Jesus stated clearly that his followers were to begin their witness to him in Jerusalem, the heartland of the Jews. Obedient Christians have no choice except to invite Jews and all other peoples to come to faith in Christ." ₅

Jewish groups do not share this view. They regard the covenants and promises made by G-d in the Torah to be firm, permanent and still valid today. It is their belief that the Torah talks about salvation and forgiveness for sins for the Jewish people through rituals and other acts. Observant Jews observe the Days of Awe when they pray to God for forgiveness for their sins during the previous year. The Days start with Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year, and the anniversary of creation. They end ten days later with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement -- the most sacred day of the Jewish year. Eight days before Rosh Hashanah on 1999-SEP-11, the SBC's International Mission Board announced on its website the distribution of a prayer booklet to "guide Southern Baptists as they intercede with God on behalf of his chosen people." _6,7 The guide said, in part, "As Jewish people attempt to purge themselves of spiritually crippling attitudes, pray that they will find the spiritual wholeness available through the Messiah.'' The Messiah mentioned in the pamphlet refers to Jesus Christ, not the Messiah that Jews anticipate will arrive in the future.

Randy Sprinkle, director of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board's prayer strategy office commented: "God calls on his children to reflect his deep heart love for his chosen people, the Jews. Evangelical Christians are responding by harmonizing their hearts with his so his love can be reflected toward Jewish people...Intercessory prayer is an act of love. Christian intercessors are people of love. They love the Jewish people, even scattered across the earth as they are, because God first loved the Jewish people."

Responses to the Jewish prayer guide:

At the core of the friction over the Jewish prayer guide is a difference in belief about salvation:

Some responses to the Jewish prayer guide:

References:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. "Southern Baptist focus on evangelization of Jewish people drawing media attention," The Louisiana Baptist Message, at: http://www.lacollege.edu/baptist/message/6.27.96/
2. Christine Wicker, "Southern Baptist convention vows to convert Jews," Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, 1996-JUN-14
3. "Saving our souls," The Southern Shofar, Birmingham, AL, at: http://www.bham.net/shofar/1996/0796/ss0796.html
4. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., "Against the Stream: The Southern Baptist Resolutions," "Fidelitas: Commentary on theology and culture," at: http://www.sbts.edu/fmohler.html 
5. "Southern Baptist prayer campaign aims to convert Jews," Washington Post, 1999-SEP-9, at: http://www.seattletimes.com/news/nation-world/ 
6. Mark Kelly, "Call to pray for Jews mirrors God's heart, prayer leader says," at: http://www.sbc.net/Articles/1999/09/03/BPA2.asp 
7. According to the SBC website, one can order a Jewish prayer guide from the International Mission Board's resource center at resource.center@imb.org  or call toll free at 1-800-866-3621
8. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., "Do Jews really need Christ? Controversy over Jewish Evangelism" "Fidelitas: Commentary on theology and culture," at: http://www.sbts.edu/fmohler.html 
9. "Jews offended at Southern Baptist Convention's prayer for Jewish conversion," The Pluralism Project, at: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/html/news17.html The article originated at the Tampa Tribune, 1999-SEP-10, Nation/world section, Page 2.
10. Julia Lieblich, "Proselytizing: Christian critics call for limits on Southern Baptist tactics," Associated Press, 1999-OCT-30, at: http://www.ardmoreite.com/stories/103199/new_bap.shtml
11. "Outreach to Jews defended on CNN 'Larry King Live,' " Maranatha Christian Journal, 2000-JAN-13, at: http://www.mcjonline.com/news/00/20000113b.htm 

Copyright © 2000 to 2006 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2000-JAN-7
Latest update: 2006-MAR-15
Author: B.A. Robinson