Warns Church to Act Against Anti-semitism

The Christian church is called upon to “eradicate anti-Semitism” forever in an article in the current issue of Advance, national organ of the Congregational and Christian Churches of America. The article emphasizes that Christians betray Christ and Christianity when they practice anti-Semitism and that “to be anti-Semitic is also to be anti-Christian.”

“What the church must do is not to explain to Jews that anti-Semitism has no place in its principles; for such an explanation, literally true enough it is, sounds unpleasantly like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals, in view of centuries of practice,” the article declares.

“What the church must do is to explain to Christians that they betray their leader whenever they indulge, or condone, or fail to combat manifestations of hostility toward Jews. The duty of the church is clear. The commandment that we love one another applies in respect to every human being. Christ left no doubt on that point; and no person can read his recorded sayings without realizing that to be a Christian, a follower of the principles taught by Christ, means first and foremost the practice of brotherly love toward all mankind. The church must teach and emphasize and reiterate that commandment or fail in its primary duty.

“Finally, let it not be thought that condescending kindness is sufficient. Only love is the fulfillment of the law. Unless the church recognizes and accomplishes her fundamental task of aiding mankind to develop these spiritual fruits, the first of which is love, she will die of inner decay; for the church is not necessary to God, but God, whose nature is love, is indispensable to the church. Let the church as an organization, and every Christian as a person, endeavor now … to eradicate (anti-Semitism) forever; since to be anti-Semitic is also to be anti-Christian.”