Jewish Israel has announced a "retraction" by David Wilder who wrote a widely disseminated and wildly pro-Christian blogpost recently that got him into trouble.
Jewish Israel writes: "We hope that those publications and blogs which are carrying David Wilder's original CUFI article will take note and replace the post with his thoughtful retraction."
Since this includes us, we thought a response was due. I find no "retraction" here. What I do find is an admission of guilt in one instance after being backed into a corner and hit over the head with hard evidence; silence about the rest; and a promise to continue on the same course, all prettied up with flowery phrases to distract from the essence of the controversy. Maybe if we strip it down to some key statements, we can uncover the real truth in this matter.
"... I knew, prior to publication, that there would be those who opposed the entire concept of Jews and Christians working together. ...some of those reactions to my article were accurate, and my own personal assessment, was wrong. ...What are the conclusions...? Are all non-Jews subversively trying to convert us, or have us believe their beliefs? No. Are all non-Jews using love of Israel as a ‘front’ to reach a defined goal? No. Must Jews cut off all contacts with Christians? No. I still believe that there are many thousands of people, who truly love Israel and the Jewish people, as we are - without any hidden agendas."
Nope. No "retraction" here. And why the subtle switch from the term non-Jew to "Christian?"
Are all non-Jews subversively trying to convert us, or have us believe their beliefs? No. Are all non-Jews using love of Israel as a ‘front’ to reach a defined goal? No. Must Jews cut off all contacts with Christians? No.
Speaking of which. We have to be very careful in our use of language these days. I do not believe there there is any such term in Hebrew as non-Jew. There are Jews and there are Gentiles. Do you refer to the animals as non-humans? or to the French as non-Italians? No one uses language like this, defining someone as what they are not. I would suggest that there is a hidden agenda in promoting this "non"-term. Many of the Christians consider themselves to be descendants of the "lost" ten tribes of Israel and therefore Israelites as opposed to Jews, i.e. non-Jewish, but still entitled to a shared inheritance with us. They would have no problem being called a non-Jew, but a very great problem being called a Gentile, which is what they are!
Anyway, you can read it here and decide for yourself. But David Wilder gets no kudos from me. I daresay he is not going to go to Itamar and Har Bracha and Psagot and Shiloh, all places who regularly welcome his "former friend" Tommy Waller and crew, to personally undo any damage he has caused and make sure all good Jews understand what kind of war we are fighting. Oh no. Chaval!
