A Day to Remember

In Israel today begins Yom HaShoah the day in which the Holocaust (Hitler’s Final Solution to the  “Jewish Problem” — their complete extermination) is remembered. For non-Dispensational Christians it might seem a bit odd to take note of this event never mind spend time thinking of its significance. After all these things happened nearly 80 years ago now, and (we are told) the world has changed. For those things which have changed and have made life a little better for many people we should be thankful, not to the scientists or to our governments but to God.

We may hear words like bigotry and racism used to describe the reasons for Hitler’s Final Solution or the Holocaust. In some circles we may even hear the problem blamed on nationalism after all Nazi is a representation of the principles of National Socialism. It should never be forgotten, however, that it was not only Jews that were targeted by the Murder Squads. The ultimate aim was to bring the German people to realize their full potential by selective breeding so while it is true that 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazi regime in order to cleanse the world of Jewish influence, the aim was to remove any influence which might be detrimental to their ultimate goal.

Unlike the Spanish Inquisition which was aimed at forcible conversion of the Jews to Christianity, “The Final Solution” included Communists, Gypsies, and (bringing the point back to us) Christians who either refused to go along with government plans or protested against them. Those supporting or harboring Jewish people or those holding to the same beliefs immediately became suspects — a part of the problem for eventual removal. As you have read through the paragraphs above, I hope you have noticed the way those being described are viewed as less than image-bearers of God.

Sadly, in the descriptions above both the Nazis and their “problems” can be looked upon as categories of people which we can, by “objective” discussion, view from an increasingly distant stance until we cease to remember that these are God’s image-bearers we are discussing. Our Christian perspective should not allow us to be happy about this and it is interesting that the Jewish remembrance focuses on the survivors not the victims. It is easy to remember that it was the Jewish people who were responsible for the death of the Lord and Savior, ours and theirs, and to feel righteous about the fact that they have suffered as they ought.

It is quite another thing to remember that had they not fulfilled the role they chose we would not have gained any benefit from Jesus’ life here on earth. “… the Son of Man is going as it has been determined;” he said, “but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” (Luke 22: 22). We should remember that, disaster though it must have seemed, the betrayal and his death was a part of God’s plan of salvation. How then should we view those who put him to death “by the hands of wicked men?” Surely it’s as those who are in need of redemption even as the rest of us. Interestingly the first ones to whom the gospel was sent were those in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria — those very same people. Hatred of the Jewish people does not seem to be justified by the attitude of God towards them. In fact, as Paul says, the promises of God to the fathers are irrevocable so let us not forget that he blesses those who bless Abraham and his descendants and those who curse them are cursed in their turn.

There is a new mankind to be revealed in its time but that is not the product of evolution but the regenerating power of God!