Bad News Promotes Good News in Israel
Thousands Respond to Media Evangelism Campaign in Israel
Since April, IRR/TV Ministries has been working with Messianic congregations in Israel to present the Good News of Jesus Christ to the non-religious in Israel. Last week, factions of the Ultra Orthodox Haredim, including the ant-missionary organization, Yad L’achem went on the rampage against this unprecedented missionary effort.
One event that made national headlines in Israel, as well as the international press was the burning of New Testaments by radical youth. The Bibles had been distributed amongst Ethiopian immigrants by Messianic Jews who are working closely with IRR/TV. When the deputy mayor for the town caught wind of this, he drove around the neighbourhood broadcasting a demand through a loudspeaker that the New Testaments be handed over to radical Orthodox youth who then burned them in the parking lot of a local synagogue. For most Jewish people, this would be considered a barbaric act to burn books; one that was perpetrated upon them by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Although missionary activity may raise mixed emotions in the Holy Land, these crude actions do not represent mainstream Israeli sentiment.
The good news is that this event has been in every newspaper and news broadcast in Israel and it has the whole nation talking about Jesus. Bad press will always attract curiosity, resulting in a greater number of people checking our what we have to say and being exposed to the Gospel. We have seen it time and time again in Megacity campaigns in Russia.
But one can understand why some Israeli citizens do not welcome Christian or Messianic Missionary work in their midst – some would see it as an attempt to eradicate Judaism by assimilating Jews into Christianity. Many who persecuted Jews in the past laid claim to the title of “Christian”, perhaps wearing the badge, but not walking in the ways of Jesus. That is unfortunate, but as a result, the mere mention of Jesus raises the ire of some without knowing who Jesus was – a Torah observant Jew who called his own people to repentance, but sadly, his own accepted him not.
From my personal observation, most Messianic Jews have not assimilated into mainstream western Christianity, but become all the more Jewish when they receive their Messiah. both in spirit and in practice.
Should we be discouraged by opposition? No way! Jesus said to go Ye into all the world; not just where it is comfortable, not just where we are welcome or where governments will allow. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples in all nations.
Romans 1:16 tell us, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I invite you to listen to the current episode of our weekly 15 minute Please pray for this mission, that many would come so a saving knowledge of the Messiah of Israel.
Dennis
