Posted on 02/25/2004 12:20:14 PM PST by Pikamax
'Jews Killed Jesus' Billboard Causing Controversy Pastor Refuses To Remove Or Change Saying On Outdoor Marquee
POSTED: 9:41 am MST February 25, 2004 UPDATED: 12:44 pm MST February 25, 2004
DENVER -- A billboard unveiled on Ash Wednesday, the same day that a controversial movie depicting the last hours of Jesus Christ premiered, is sparking criticism from people of all faiths.
The large-size outdoor marquee, which sits on the property of the Lovingway United Pentecostal Church at Colorado and Mississippi, says, "Jews Killed The Lord Jesus" and the word "Settled!"
The Anti-Defamation League asked for the marquee to be changed because it is anti-Semitic, but the church only amended the billboard slightly by removing the word "settled" and attributing the line to biblical Scriptures.
That, however, is still not appeasing critics.
"Immediately, I picked up the phone and called the pastor and had a spirited but good and respectful discussion with him in which I tried to explain to him that that kind of message is divisive and exactly the kind of message which has fueled anti-Semitism for thousands of years," said Bruce Debosky, the Mountain States Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League.
Jewish leaders say that like Mel Gibson's new movie "The Passion of the Christ" -- which opened Wednesday morning -- the passage will stir up anti-Semitic attitudes and will cause some people to lash out at Jews.
The Colorado Council of Churches also tried to get Pastor Maurice Gordon to change the sign but he refused and wouldn't even answer the phone or answer the door, 7NEWS reported.
Rev. Jim Ryan, a spokesman for the council, was quick to point out that it is a small minority who feel this way about Jews and that most Christians don't share that sentiment. Although the "Jews Killed the Lord Jesus" line comes from First Thessalonians, second chapter, verses 14 and 15, many Christian scholars interpret that passage to mean that when Paul refers to the Jews, he is referring to certain Jews who opposed Jesus' teachings and does not mean all Jews.
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"It is ironic that a church named 'Lovingway' would advance such an attitude of hurtfulness," Ryan said. "Christ gave his life for all people. To blame a particular group of people, then or now, is a misuse of the Gospel of love and grace. The Colorado Council of Churches wishes to make it clear that this one congregation does not speak for the vast majority of the Christian community. In fact, we stand in direct opposition to the message on this sign and its implications."
"We also call upon the leaders of other Christian groups in Denver to reaffirm the statements they have made: that all of mankind shares responsibility for Jesus' death, and that blame should not be placed collectively on the Jews of the time or the Jews of today," DeBoskey said. "We fervently hope that Jews and Christians can use this time as an opportunity for dialogue and learning, not blame and divisiveness."
Gibson's film has been criticized because it depicts the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as reluctant to crucify Jesus, placing the blame more on the Jewish high priest Caiaphas. Some people fear that the extreme violence and brutality inflicted on Jesus in the movie could foster unwarranted resentment toward Jews.
The $25 million movie, although intense and graphically violent, is being praised by Christian leaders for bringing the Passion story to a large national audience.
Gibson financed the movie by himself because no Hollywood studio was willing to invest. Gibson, a devout Catholic, belongs to a traditionalist sect that rejects Vatican II changes in 1965 as too liberal, changes that include a law that condemned the medieval thinking that Jews were cursed by God.
That so-called "blood libel" is in the Gospel according to Matthew, when Caiaphas says, "His blood be on us and our children," for allowing the crucifixion to happen.
Gibson says his movie is not anti-Semitic. The movie is rated R and presented with English subtitles.
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*(I sure don't want to be punished for slavery, genocide of the Indians, and I don't know what other sins of my ancestors, nation or race, which occurred much more recently than 33 AD.)
I really hope you're wrong, I hope that the pastor uses the Jews of ancient Palestine as a mirror for ourselves, and what would we do in the same situation? Would you stand against an enraged crowd, possibly alone, or slink back to the shadows in shame and watch a good man be tortured and killed?
Then again he might be an idiot after all, but I still hope.
a Christian pastor puts up a billboard like this in order to accomplish........what?
To get on television, which is almost as good as heaven, apparently.
Caiaphas didn't actually say this...the bible states 'the crowd' said it....however it was Caiaphas and those Jewish religious leaders acting in concert agitated the crowd to do so..
It is important to remember that Jesus laid down his life willingly...that he did so in obedience to God the Father
Jesus knew that he had to come to earth be born a human being live a perfect life in order to be that perfect sacrifice 'the law of God' demanded
Jesus also said that anytime he would ask...His Father in Heaven would send a legion of His angels to come to earth and fight for Jesus...
A legion of Angels could have not only wasted the Romans off the face of the earth in ten seconds or less they could have wiped the face of the earth off the earth...in under ten seconds...
Jesus volunteered knowing in advance full well what He would have to suffer for our sins... and did it anyway...The Romans...Some of the Jewish Religious leaders and all who sinned are guilty...
To blame Jews for killing Jesus is unfair...for it was also Jews who gave us the Lord...and who formed the early church and wrote the New Testament...It was Jewish Christians who were almost all murdered ...bringing the gospel of the risen Christ to all of mankind....us gentiles...
Fothis we are deeply intdebted to the Jews and Israel..and why many of us also support Israel and as the Lord commanded us to "Pray for the Peace of Israel"
imo
How about "He Died For All of Us"..."Moron" across the street?
Either that or the billboard was paid for by Abe Foxman.
I would imagine this pastor will be right in the center of that group.
If it's a marquee, that means it has movable letters.
And THAT means that all some Denver freepers have to do is drive to this church in the dead of night and rearrange the letters to say...something else.
"Fun with Anagrams", anyone? I'll go get my Scrabble tiles.
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:22-23).
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