By Tom Brennan
Anti-Semitism is increasing all over the world, and not all of it is aimed at Israel. Neo-Nazi movements in places like Greece and Ukraine threaten Jews just because they are Jewish. If we are truly Christians, we must have zero-tolerance for Anti-Semitism in any size, shape or form. Silence is approval. The question is how do we respond as the Messiah wants? The world of social media offers us opportunities and no excuses.
What is Anti-Semitism? The most general description is the active hatred of Jews. It is rarely based on personal experience but is rather an environmental situation. Prejudiced people grow up in families and social circles that have a negative attitude towards Jewish people. If confronted with a simple “why”, they will be answerless. Perhaps the Christian explanation is an example of generational sin. The prejudice is inherited but can be ended by a full examination of Scripture. Nowhere is anyone instructed to hate the Jewish people. In fact, the Almighty promises to “bless all who bless you and curse all those who curse you.” I rest my case.
Anti-Semitism is often used by political movements to focus attention away from internal issues and corruption by aiming antagonism at a historically popular target: Jews. It can be as subtle as a joke, a remark or as violent as a riot. Today’s social media holds the ability to make a derogatory post go viral; it can also make a well versed reply even more effective.
Today any person, group, government whether genuine or fraudulent can have a professional looking website, produce online publications, post and spew hatred. They also can be overwhelmed by responses that drown out the noise and insert a moment that will drive the poster to re-think their position.
Here are some simple but essential steps to using social media to confront Anti-Semitism. When using the internet for news or your own social media communications and you come across a blatantly offensive site or page do a critical examination. Who is the author, where are they located and what do the comments say? Here is where you have an opportunity to make a difference and be an influence. Think through your post or comment. Spell check and check for grammar. Be positive and ask questions. Draw them out. Make them prove their remarks with evidence. Cite your evidence with Chapter, verse, link etc. Last but not least, speak kindly but firmly and be ready for negative comments.
It’s probably a good idea here to make some suggestions about using social media. Social media is less social and more commercial. Yes, they do sell your information; they are not charitable organizations and they do sell stock. It’s best to consider them as platforms for exchanging information among people in a global community who allegedly share the same interests. Recent disclosures about security monitoring and gathering of data on just about anyone makes it clear that anything on the web is available to anyone, honest or not. Play it safe with your identity and be a minimalist.
Let foolish remarks stand for themselves. Do not invest time in effort in debates that will have no effect. Select your posts to comment on. How many “likes”, followers and so on does the page owner have? Will the counter message you deliver go anywhere. Influencing some who can move that message into other areas by sharing is a way to overwhelm Anti-Semitism. Beware of repeating rumors, the Bible expects two reliable witnesses. Bear no false witness. The end never justifies the means. Take and hold the high ground and keep it. We serve a King Who demands clean hand and clean hearts, especially in the digital world. Be ready for rejection. Remember He said “if they hate Me, they will also hate you.” But remember Who said this we are privileged to serve.
Finally, Anti-Semitism is unchristian behavior. Confronting it is. Support for our Jewish brothers and sisters and for Israel has .never been more important and we can all do our part, we really are obliged to be involved. Some of the most violent and virulent Anti-Semites masqueraded as Christians. The harm they did is felt today when many claim that more wars and violence has taken place because of religion. Confronting un-Christian behavior such as Anti-Semitism has to be done in a Christian way, because that’s our standard and we must adhere to it at all times.
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Napoleon says
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Tom Brennan says
Dear Napoleon,,
many thanks for your comments ! We are in a battle and the enemy will use all their resources, physical and electronic. On the right hand side of the screen just opposite this article is a block with donation options. Thank you and please remember to share this news resource with friends and associates.
Sincerely,
Tom