“Joe K, what makes you say that it is "Arab land"? And, in any case, what bits of it is Israel occupying?”

“' Joe K, being anti-Zionist or anti-Israel is being anti-semitic, as it opposes the right of the Jewish people to live in their historic homeland -
Ian M, England

Nope, Ian, because 'anti-semitic', in the sense that you want to apply it, implies that anyone who opposes Israel's occupation of Arab land and killing of thousands of Palestinians does so because, bluntly, they hate Jews. Does that include Jews who oppose occupation as well? Are you going to come right out and say that that's *really* why the Reverend Nick interrupted the talk?”

“Joe K, being anti-Zionist or anti-Israel is being anti-semitic, as it opposes the right of the Jewish people to live in their historic homeland. It's also anti-semitic as the lack of homeland resulted in numerous persecutions of Jewish people living in other countries. The Jewish people and the land of Israel have been linked for thousands of years - you can't separate the them. There is a technical sense in which many middle-eastern people are called semitic, but in general use anti-semitism always refers to the Jewish people.”

“Joe K, being anti-Zionist or anti-Israel is being anti-semitic, as it opposes the right of the Jewish people to live in their historic homeland. It's also anti-semitic as the lack of homeland resulted in numerous persecutions of Jewish people living in other countries. The Jewish people and the land of Israel have been linked for thousands of years - you can't separate the them. There is a technical sense in which many middle-eastern people are called semitic, but in general use anti-semitism always refers to the Jewish people.”

“I'm sure the curate would argue that he was being, not 'anti-semitic', but anti-Zionist. And jews aren't the only semitic group in that part of the world. Are the IDF being 'anti-semitic' to the Palestinians?”

“By the way, how can the Dean of the Church of England Cathedral say in the newspaper on 9th and 11th September, "The Chapter in no way endorses Mr Silver's views". The Dean should not deny the 'One New Man' teaching clearly set out in Ephesians Chapter 2 Verses 11-18 of The New Testament, which is the solution to anti-Semitism. Neither should the Dean charge Christians, both Jew and Gentile, £800 to worship Jesus Christ at our Cathedral.”

“So when a 'Messianic Jew', who is a Jew who has received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, tries to explain the source of anti-semitism to the Clergy of Gloucestershire we see the unfortunate result in our newspapers on 16th Sept.
Before the event titled, 'One New Man', I saw two press articles where the Dean of the Cathedral and a Mayor in Gloucestershire were speaking against the visit of the Jew from Israel. The visitor immediatly had my sympathy!
Upon arrival at the Cathedral a Black Pastor gave me a place of honour at the front. The Jewish visitor was also sat in the congregation worshipping Jesus Christ. About 20 minutes before the visiting Jew spoke and during the worship of God the Church of England Curate stood facing the congregation. He said about, "Israeli soldiers shooting from a watchtower...a teenager". Then he was shouting at the Jewish man and the congregation, "Murderers". I, and many of the hundreds of Christians crowding the Nave, saw this as an act of anti-Semitism. Then some Christians from the audience (not the stewards) took direct action to stop this 'Blasphemy' during the worship of Jesus Christ. -Who is Himself a Jew.
In European history, too many Christians have sat back and done nothing about Jews being publicly defamed. The result is a fact of history. So why is it now becoming OK in our society to publicly call the Jews, "Murderers", but not any other minority group? The Curate should apologise to the Messianic Jew and debate at the allocated time for discussion. Not during the worship.”

“Hear ye! Hear ye! All ye off the 'Anglican communion' and Brits who have deviated from God! God says repent from your anti-Semitism, unbelief in Him and His Holy Word (AS IT IS WRITTEN in the Bible) and stop allowing sin (eg homosexuality etc) to be practised in church. Love sinners but NOT SIN. Harry Potter witchcraft should also not be shown in church! Repent and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you and who suffered and died for your sins Mr Hebden and all who have yet to believe. Also please read your English Bible properly..yes the one that many English people died to have it translated so that you can understand it in your own English tongue.”

“When Jesus threw out the moneychangers in the Temple, notice who and what He removed: He threw out the profiteers and their paraphernalia of unjust gain. They had misused the Temple.
Notice what Jesus said at the time; "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." (Mark 11:17)

Most importantly, notice who the Man was who cleansed. He was the very Son of God manifest in the flesh, into whose hands all judgment will ultimately fall, and before whom all will stand. Jesus had absolute right to do what He did.
Therefore please compare; within the Cathedral last Monday evening was worship and praise to the One True God, Preaching, and Prayer by people (though each one imperfect) who love God and their Saviour, the Lamb of God. All of that is a right use of a place of Christian worship. To liken Monday¿s disruption of the service (at least as I understood a recent post to imply) to the day Jesus cleansed the Temple is quite invalid, out of context and an insult to scripture.

Nevertheless , given that a comparison has been made, perhaps Mr. Hebden would honour the Cathedral with a protest in October at the showing of the Harry Potter film, which some would see as the misuse of a place of Christian worship, as was the filming some time back.
Now that he has demonstrated his passion to champion the cause of those he sees as downtrodden and oppressed, he might then proceed to the Iranian Embassy to protest the imprisonment of two beautiful young Christian women simply for their unwillingness to renounce their faith in Christ Jesus. Or maybe he could lobby against the persecution of his fellow Christians in China, or the slaughter of those in Darfur, or the cruel oppression of women by the Taliban. Did he protest at Hamas throwing their Fatah political opponents from the top of buildings, or other cruelties too gruesome to detail, or the persecution and murder of Christian booksellers in Gaza, or the torture and murder of Christians in North Korea? If the answer is a definite ¿Yes, of course¿, then I wish him well.

In fairness, I absolutely defend his right to have his say over the matter he brought up Monday evening, or anything else, but not in the manner and when he did. The time for that was during the afternoon forum held for the very purpose. Many other clergy holding different views to those of David Silver could have attended, and shared their understanding of what the Bible says, but they did not.
I find it regrettable that the Dean (so I understand anyway) instructed them to stay away. I have to wonder therefore whether he truly believes in freedom of thought and expression. I do thank God for the many of his Anglican forebears and other doctrinally sound ministers who understood scripture and would support Mr. Silver¿s position, but the Dean seemingly does not even want it heard.

If Mr. Hebden is not willing to be even handed in his protests in this suffering world, then I am compelled to see him not so much a Minister of God¿s grace in salvation through Christ, but a political activist with a particular agenda, and Bible believing Christians, Jewish believers in Messiah, and the nation of Israel are his special targets. Sadly he is doing it all from his position within the professing Church.
My understanding is that in parts of the world where Christians are persecuted, there is little anti Zionism, anti Israel sentiment, or anti-Semitism among them. But here in the ¿West¿ these ugly things are rising fast. I have looked at this for years, and what is happening is not based on any apparent ¿justice¿, straight logic, or even common sense; it is spiritual, and the Bible reveals its source. I hope that Mr. Hebden and others will eventually see this for themselves. I know that he is in the prayers of many.”

“I guess it would be a waste of time asking just which bit of my comment offends, TiG..?”