A Word from Pastor Nathan

On Saturday afternoon and well into the night, I watched as the hostage situation unfolded at the Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. My heart sank as another instance of anti-Jewish hatred took place in our country that takes pride in religious freedom. Thankfully, the four hostages survived, but my heart grieves that a holy and sacred space now bears the residue of violence.

When I was growing up, I wasn’t taught about anti-Semitism or anti-Jewish actions other than the holocaust. The churches of my upbringing didn’t explain how the bible contains anti-Jewish sentiments (most especially in the gospel of John). No one dared utter that Jesus’ pathway to God was through Judaism.

In the popular and comically irreverent musical Avenue Q, the characters of Kate, Gary, and Princeton discuss Jesus’ race. Kate says Jesus was white, Gary says Jesus was black, and finally, Princeton interrupts and announces, “Jesus was Jewish.” This dialogue is met with much laughter for many reasons, but I think the primary one is that we don’t typically picture Jesus as Jewish. It wasn’t until seminary that professors taught me to be curious about Jesus as a Jew and decenter viewing Jesus through the lens of twenty-first century American Christianity.

Rabbi Lauren Werber, who leads Temple B’nai Abraham in Elyria, still remembers our presence with her congregation in October 2018 following the violence at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. In March 2019, Rabbi Werber attended the service of my installation. I’m thrilled that we have such an abiding relationship as colleagues. We started a conversation about hosting a dialogue—via Zoom—of our respective faith traditions. One of the best ways to combat hatred is to foster understanding, and from understanding, appreciation, and from appreciation, love.

We are a Christian congregation. As Disciples of Christ, we believe that Jesus is the Christ and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the whole wide world. This belief that gives us unity within our denomination does not preclude us from an inter-faith witness. We can stand within our tradition as we are curious about a faith with which we share a common heritage. After all, Jesus was Jewish.

Shalom, salaam, and peace abundant,