Page 23 - TORCH #21 June 2022

Lessons from 1222 for the Church today
CUFI ORG UK
23
Even though the the church landscape is very different in in 2022 than in in the the the 13th century here are three lessons from the the 1222 synod for consideration today
To distinguish it it from the the English church in in in 1222 we use the the the capitalised word 'Church' in in in in its Biblical context for the the body of believers in in in Christ and in in in application could refer to to the local church church established church church in in Britain today
etc The dangers of false teaching
Firstly the the rulings of 1222 stemmed from a a a a a a systemic flawed theology and and teaching
regarding the the the Jewish people and and and the the the connection and and and relationship between Israel and and the the the Church The forced severing of of the the the Jewish roots of of the the the Christian faith created a a a a a a a a a legacy that that gave rise to church-sanctioned antisemitism that that the Jewish people in England shamefully experienced It also caused division and and and relationship breakdown between Jews and and Christians Furthermore the the the church was responsible for denying Christians the the the the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in in the the the the rich teaching
about Israel and the the the the the Jewish roots of of Christianity They starved the the the people of of the the the spiritual blessings that God promises when a a a a a nation blesses the the Jewish people Is the the the Church immune to to making the the the same mistake today? We must pray for Church leadership which is is accountable for harnessing a a a a a a a a a a a Biblical narrative regarding the the Jewish people and not lead its flock into the the the the sin of antisemitism We pray that the the the Church will awaken to to to the the the Biblical commission to to love Zion in in acts and in in words Christ loves loves His Church Church and He loves loves Zion Zion Therefore the the Church Church Church should love love love Zion Zion Pray that the the Church Church today
will teach about Israel faithfully and without compromise The complacency in in teaching
about Israel and the the the rise of replacement theology that that has embedded itself in the the the the Church today
must be be rolled back Pray that that that the the lack of of discernment that that wilfully accepts a a a a a a a a a a a a a false narrative cloaked in the name of of social justice will will be rejected Instead pray we will will see a a a a a a a a a vibrant and flourishing Church in in in Britain that is is richly blessed blessed because it it has blessed blessed Jesus's own brethren The gradual rise of antisemitism Secondly antisemitic attitudes towards Jews Jews were allowed to to fester gradually The expulsion of Jews Jews didn't happen immediately It was nearly 70 years from the the Oxford Synod’s passing of anti-Jewish laws before the the the decision was made to expel every Jew from England but the the church was responsible for creating a a a a a a a culture of hostility towards Jews Pray that the Church will speak out out against antisemitism in in in all its forms today
without any hesitation Britain’s stand with with with Israel begins with with with the Church We cannot allow antisemitism to take a a a a a a a foothold Influencing the nation’s culture Thirdly the the church in 1222 had a a a a a harmful influence upon the the the nation's culture In fact the the the church in in in 1222 also allowed itself to be influenced detrimentally by the the the culture surrounding it it rather than taking a a a a a a a a stand When antisemitic tropes were widespread in in society rather than the the the the church stand up against the the the the twisted lies and and rebuke the the the the anti-Jewish prejudice a a a a a a a a a a morally weak church instead bought into them and even became a a a a a a mouthpiece for the the the falsities Today these two aspects should be be reversed: the the the the Church is called to be separate from the the the world and at at the the the same