You must try harder to be called antisemitic. At least that’s what a popular pastor has asserted, among other things. Joel Webbon, who regularly posts on a social media platform, claims that if Christians aren’t being called Nazis, antisemites, racists, misogynists and bigots, they are not trying hard enough.
To be fair, he’s not advocating Nazism as we understand it; he was likely reacting to the mislabeling of Donald Trump supporters by various Democrats. He’s affirming that unless you’re advocating for the right politics and being called a Nazi, you’re not trying hard enough.
I have issues regarding the other labels. He is prone to attract attention and inflame arguments. But I want to specifically address the “antisemite” statement.
He asserted that: “If you’re not being called antisemitic you are probably not pushing against Zionism, which is not biblical, not true to God’s word, hard enough.”
Webbon’s view is that National ethnic Israel is redundant, and the church is the means which God will use to usher in His kingdom. In other words, the church wins on earth, and then Christ returns. I don’t see how postmillennialists arrive at this conclusion without inserting their theology into eschatological passages such as Zechariah 14 and Rev 13:7.
Opposing God
But where Webbon opposes Zionism, he’s at odds with God’s clear promises to redeem a future National Israel. If he’s pushing against Zionism, he’s also pushing against God. Read Jeremiah 31: 31-37, Ezekiel 36 and Amos 9:14-15, and other passages. God will restore and redeem Israel for His name’s sake (Ezek 36:22).
For more, see Perry Trotter’s “Learning about Evangelical Zionism” and also his book “Israel in the Biblical Worldview.”
J. C. Ryle and the Bonar brothers expected a future restoration of Israel in their land. Moreover, Barry Horner (Future Israel) noted that Jonathan Edwards (a postmillennialist) foresaw a Jewish return to the land (see Appendix A).
The boast about seeking to be called antisemitic for supposedly standing on God’s word against Zionism doesn’t wash on another level. I’m aware of pastors and theologians, who don’t subscribe to Zionism, yet harbor a gracious attitude towards Israel and the Jews. Sadly, people like Webbon have done much to inflame violence against the Jews and Israel.
One more thing
Some Christians question the Holocaust numbers. An excuse I’ve seen is that there’s nothing inherently antisemitic about it. Sorry, don’t buy it. It smells ripe.
If you don’t habitually question other genocide numbers, you might have a heart attitude. Pastor Scott Christensen had an appropriate response:
The Holocaust is one of the most studied events in history. There are still 1000’s of survivors alive today who can testify to its horrors. We have boatloads of firsthand documentation of what happened, and yet the deniers will deny. Truth matters not to those with an agenda (emphasis mine).
Don’t be proud to be called an antisemite: it doesn’t sit well on a Christian. This is an area where the church has historically done much damage, and it needs to reform and repent.
For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye Zech 2:8
Maranatha!
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