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Circumcision & Norway; Antisemitism rising in Germany


Circumcision being performed

COGwriter

A political party in Norway proposed banning male circumcision for boys under age 16. But a Jewish leader there is hopeful that he can change that:

May 10, 2017

It is not in the Jewish community’s interest for the Israeli government to get involved after Norway’s Progress Party voted last week in favor of a ban on circumcision of boys under the age of 16, Chief Rabbi of Oslo Joav Melchior said on Wednesday.

“Having had extensive conversations with the Progress Party and the government here in Norway, we are working with all involved to resolve this potentially worrying situation,” he said in a statement to The Jerusalem Post.

“As it stands, the idea of a ban was mooted at the Progress Party’s Conference and we hope it will never progress into a fully fledged policy,” said Melchior, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Conference of European Rabbis, with which he said the community is working closely on the issue.

“While we must not be complacent, we do not feel that there is a risk of legislation at this time,” he added. “It was only two years ago that all political parties vowed to protect brit mila, and we urge the Progress Party not to court popularity with discriminatory policy.”

The Progress Party is a junior partner in Norway’s governing coalition.

Melchior’s statement comes after Rabbi Menachem Margolin, general director of the European Jewish Association, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett calling on them to urgently establish a joint working team for representatives of both government offices and Jewish organizations in Europe, in order to prevent the spread of anti-Jewish legislation.

This call also followed a unanimous vote by the Parliament of Wallonia in Belgium’s French-speaking region last Friday to ban religious slaughter. … “The anti-Jewish legislation pushed forward by certain parties in Belgium and Norway does not comply with their attempt to be democratic and progressive societies,” Neguise remarked. http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Oslo-chief-rabbi-Israel-shouldnt-intervene-in-Norway-circumcision-debate-490315

May 9, 2017

European Jews are on alert after a political party in Norway voted to propose a bill in parliament to ban ritual circumcision of children under the age of 16.

The Progress Party vote came one day after the environment committee of Belgium’s Parliament of Wallonia voted in favor of banning ritual slaughter, which would pose a threat to both Jewish kosher slaughter and circumcision, the Jerusalem Post reported.

The supporters of the Norwegian bill contend circumcision constitutes mental and physical harm to children and a serious violation of children’s rights. http://www.wnd.com/2017/05/move-to-ban-male-circumcision-alarms-jewish-leaders/

There is a rise in antisemitic matters across Europe.

But before going further, perhaps it should be noted that even the US Center(s) for Disease Control now endorses male circumcision:

December 2, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials on Tuesday released a draft of long-awaited federal guidelines on circumcision, saying medical evidence supports having the procedure done and health insurers should pay for it.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines stop short of telling parent to get their newborn sons circumcised. That is a personal decision that may involve religious or cultural preferences, said the CDC’s Dr. Jonathan Mermin.

But “the scientific evidence is clear that the benefits outweigh the risks,” added Mermin, who oversees the agency’s programs on HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

These are the first federal guidelines on circumcision, a brief medical procedure that involves cutting away the foreskin around the tip of the penis. Germs can grow underneath the foreskin, and CDC officials say the procedure can lower a male’s risk of sexually-transmitted diseases, penile cancer and even urinary tract infections.

The CDC started working on the guidelines about seven years ago, when a cluster of influential studies in Africa indicated circumcision might help stop spread of the AIDS virus.

“The benefits of male circumcision have become more and more clear over the last 10 years,” said Dr. Aaron Tobian, a Johns Hopkins University researcher involved in one of the African studies. …

In the new guidelines, the CDC says there is now strong evidence that male circumcision can:

-Cut a man’s risk of getting HIV from an infected female partner by 50 to 60 percent.

-Reduce their risk of genital herpes and certain strains of human papillomavirus by 30 percent or more.

-Lower the odds of urinary tract infections during infancy, and cancer of the penis in adulthood.

Studies have not shown that circumcision will reduce an HIV-infected man’s chances of spreading the AIDS virus to women. And research has not found circumcision to be a help in stopping spread of HIV during gay sex.

The guidelines say circumcision is safer for newborns and infants than for older males, noting the complication rate rises from 0.5 percent in newborns to 9 percent in children ages 1 to 9, according to the CDC. Minor bleeding and pain are the most common problems, experts say. http://www.aol.com/article/2014/12/02/cdc-says-circumcision-benefits-outweigh-the-risks/21001823/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D574260

The Bible has advocated male circumcision for thousands of years, and it suggests it specifically for newborn infants (see also Health Benefits of Circumcision). We in the Continuing Church of God, recommend, but do not require, that male infants be circumcised when they are eight days old (Leviticus 12:3).

But it is not just in Belgium and Norway that there is antisemitism. France and other parts of Europe also have big problems with this (see, for example, Antisemitism has caused Jewish immigration from Western Europe to Israel to hit an all-time high).

Furthermore, notice a disturbing trend in Germany:

Study: 40% of Germans hold modern antisemitic views

Ahead of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s visit to Israel on Saturday, a German government study revealed that nearly 33 million Germans, 40% of the population of 82 million, are infected with contemporary antisemitism – hatred of the Jewish state.

The report, which was published on April 24, details in a section titled “Agreement to Israel-related antisemitism” that 40% of Germans who were polled showed approval for the following statement: “Based on Israel’s policies, I can understand people having something against the Jews.”

The federal government’s antisemitism report found that the proportion of Germans who agreed with the antisemitic statement increased from 28% in 2014 to 40% in 2016. The poll was commissioned by the Social Democratic Party think tank the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

Dr. Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, spoke to the Die Welt newspaper in late April, saying, “We already notice that in German society solidarity with Israel has declined. The fact alone that the word ‘Israel-critic’ can be established here shows this. We are also more frequently confronted with Israel-related antisemitism.” 05/06/17 http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Study-40-percent-of-Germans-hold-modern-antisemitic-views-489919

Rising antisemitism in Europe, and especially in Germany, is disturbing, though consistent with various historical positions.

For example, this year will mark what is considered to be the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther. Yet, he and certain other ‘reformers’ were antisemitic.

Martin Luther wrote in the 16th century:

My heart is fuller of these thoughts than my tongue can tell. I have come to the conclusion that the Jews will always curse and blaspheme God as all the prophets have predicted. He who neither reads nor understands this, as yet knows no theology, in my opinion. And so I presume the men of Cologne cannot understand the Scripture, because it is necessary that such things take place to fulfill prophecy. If they are trying to stop the Jews blaspheming, they are working to prove the Bible and God liars (“Martin Luther’s to George Spalatin,” from Luther’s Correspondence and Other Contemporan, Letters, trans. by P. Smith (1913), Vol. 1, pp. 28-29).

Furthermore he wrote:

I had made up my mind to write no more either about the Jews or against them. But since I learned that those miserable and accursed people do not cease to lure to themselves even us, that is, the Christians, I have published this little book, so that I might be found among those who opposed such poisonous activities of the Jews and who warned the Christians to be on their guard against them…They are so blind and stupid that they see neither the words found in Genesis 17 nor the whole of Scripture, which mightily and explicitly condemns this lie…They are real liars and bloodhounds who have not only continually perverted and falsified all of Scripture with their mendacious glosses from the beginning until the present day. Their heart’s most ardent sighing and yearning and hoping is set on the day on which they can deal with us Gentiles as they did with the Gentiles in Persia at the time of Esther…The worse a Jew is, the more arrogant he is, solely because he is a Jew — that is, a person descended from Abraham’s seed, circumcised, and under the law of Moses. David and other pious Jews were not as conceited as the present-day, incorrigible Jews…I wanted to present this to us Germans so that we might see what rascals the blind Jews are and how powerfully the truth of God in our midst stands with us and against them (Medieval Sourcebook: Martin Luther (1483-1546): On the Jews and Their Lies, 1543)

Martin Luther advised his followers:

…to burn down Jewish schools and synagogues, and to throw pitch and sulphur into the flames; to destroy their homes; to confiscate their ready money in gold and silver; to take from them their sacred books, even the whole Bible; and if that did not help matters, to hunt them of the country like mad dogs (Luther’s Works, vol. Xx, pp. 2230-2632 as quoted in Stoddard JL. Rebuilding a Lost Faith, 1922, p.99).

Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss in sulphur and pitch (Martin Luther (1483-1546): On the Jews and Their Lies, 1543 as quoted from Luther’s Works, Volume 47: The Christian in Society IV, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971). pp 268­293).

Leaders esteemed by the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and Protestants have all advocated horrible antisemitism.

Antisemitism was part of the reason for the infamous Spanish Inquisition–which targeted not only Jews, but Christians with ‘Jewish practices,’ as well as others who would not profess total loyalty to the Church of Rome–and Protestants had their antisemitism then as well (see The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions).

The holocaust in World War II proved that antisemitism was still massively deadly, centuries later.

Persecutions are not over.

Another ‘inquisition’ is prophesied by the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3; see also Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?).

28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land…32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time (Daniel 11:28, 32-35).

The persecutions above are by one called the King of the North (Daniel 11:40; 7:25a). The King of the North will NOT like the message that the Philadelphians are proclaiming at least of part of which will likely be the Continuing Church of God identifying him to the world as the prophesied King of the North. “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery” –like the inquisitors of old, he will try to get people to betray others. In this case, he is looking for those that know something about the Church of God, but fell away (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:3; see, also, The Falling Away: The Bible and WCG Teachings).

While it is apparently the Philadelphia Christians that are targeted for this particular persecution, it is likely that some Laodicean and other Christians will be affected at least to some degree. The Laodiceans will mainly misunderstand what is happening and not realize that their persecution is coming! This is also consistent with the persecution, accomplishments, and problems in Matthew 24:9-20 that will mainly affect the Philadelphians, but will lead to problems then for the Laodiceans in Matthew 24:21-22.

The 19th century Methodist theologian Adam Clarke, in his commentary, identifies the people in Daniel 11:32 as follows:

But the people that do know their God
The genuine Christians.

Shall be strong
Shall be strengthened by his grace and Spirit (Clarke A. The Adam Clarke Commentary, Daniel Chapter 11.)

Notice also a Catholic rendering of Daniel 11:34:

And when they shall have fallen they shall be relieved with a small help: and many shall be joined to them deceitfully. (Douay Rheims)

Those associated with the ‘synagogue of Satan’ (Revelation 3:9), will apparently betray and assist in this persecution (see also What is the Synagogue of Satan?) which is consistent with Daniel 11:32. Daniel 8:24 shows that this same leader persecutes “the holy people,” thus that is further proof that Christians in the end time are who are being persecuted.

This will be a type of inquisition with infiltrators!

In the past, as the article Persecutions by Church and State helps document, Christians were persecuted because they:

In the future, according to Catholic teachings, they ALSO will be persecuted for:

Christians have been persecuted for holding doctrines that we in the Continuing Church of God hold and are clearly expected to be persecuted in the future for holding Continuing Church of God doctrines. And many have called these “Jewish” doctrines.

The old Radio Church of God realized that Daniel 11:32-35 was talking about what happens to the faithful just before ‘the end’ (the start of the Great Tribulation). Notice the following:

A Prophecy for Today

Daniel prophesied: “The people that do KNOW their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Dan. 11:32). Such a statement could refer only to God’s people. Now notice what follows: “And they THAT UNDERSTAND among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days” (verse 33). …

This prophecy concerns GOD’S CHURCH. Continuing “Now when they [God’s people] shall fall, they shall be holpen [helped] with a little help: BUT MANY SHALL CLEAVE TO THEM WITH FLATTERIES” (verse 34). Here is the point that most people have missed. Many individuals who assemble with us on God’s Sabbath, or in God’s Feasts, are prophesied to cleave to us with flatteries!

Other translations make this even clearer. The Moffatt Translation states: “Many shall join them under FALSE PRETENSE.” Yes, some do JOIN THEMSELVES to God’s Church, with false pretenses, claiming to be true brethren, claiming to obey God, claiming to have God’s Holy Spirit, and yet they are not a part of the body of Christ. God has not JOINED them to His Church!

In “The Complete Bible”, AN AMERICAN TRANSLATION by Gordon-Goodspeed we read: “Many shall attach themselves in HYPOCRISY.” These people who attach themselves to God’s Church assemble under false pretense. They are inwardly hypocritical, and flatter or deceive others.

If you have the idea that all who come to God’s Church are truly converted Christians, this scripture ought to dispel this delusion! There are some among us who are not converted. They are not a real spiritually LIVING part of the body of Christ. They are not letting Christ do His work in them. They have not truly and completely surrendered their lives to Christ in full repentance.

Notice that this prophecy continues right up to the time of the end (verse 35), to the return of Jesus Christ. Here is a prophecy which concerns us today! (Neff L. Beware of False Brethren! Good News, January 1960)

Even the Catholic saint Jerome understood that these passages in Daniel 11 were referring to the persecution of God’s people as his commentary on them included the following:

But these events were typically prefigured under Antiochus Epiphanes, so that this abominable king who persecuted God’s people foreshadows the Antichrist, who is to persecute the people of Christ. (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). This text was transcribed by Roger Pearse, Ipswich, UK, 2004. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/pearse/morefathers/files/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 06/05/11)

This King of the North seems to be the same one that certain Catholic “prophecies” call the Great Monarch who will rule a revised Roman Empire.

The fact that there is rising acceptance of antisemitic feelings in many parts of Europe is setting the stage for his rise as well as end-time persecutions.

Several items of possibly related interest may include:

Health Benefits of Circumcision Various studies show health benefits for male circumcision. Have Christians observed circumcision throughout history?
Which Laws were Superceded? Which Remain? What about the Ten Commandments? What about the 613 regulations (called 613 Mitzvot) in the Old Testament? Which were ‘done away’? Here is a link to a sermon: Messianic Jewish Beliefs.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2017, 2018, or 2019? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Will the Great Tribulation Start in 2017?
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam.
God’s Grace is For All Is being Jewish a hindrance to salvation? What about not being a descendant of Israel? What does the Bible really teach? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Race and Grace; Do you view race as God does?
The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? What is the origin of this in France? What is prophesied to happen to them? A two-part sermon related to history and prophecy is available online: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben and France and Prophecy.
When was the Exodus? Some deny it happened. Was Ramses II the pharaoh then? When did the Exodus occur?
John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople and Anti-Semite This late fourth/early fifth century Bishop of Constantinople is considered to be a ‘saint’ and ‘doctor’ by the Church of Rome, Church of England, and the Eastern Orthodox, but he did not teach Christ’s love.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. Armstrong This article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the genuine Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example? Here is a related sermon video: Martin Luther and Herbert Armstrong: Reformers with Differences.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots.  They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
The Spanish Inquisition and Early Protestant Persecutions Was the Church of Rome really responsible for this? What happened?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 10th, 2017 at 3:00 pm and is filed under Doctrine, Religious News.



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