Chapter 9
Why should Hebrew Christians unite? By the Chairman, Reverend A. R. Koldell, for the 1903 Collection, from minutes of the first Hebrew Christian Conference of the United States, held at Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, July 28-30, 1903. In Christ beloved, it causes me great pleasure to address this large audience tonight on
the subject, Why Hebrew Christians Should Unite. It is true that in comparison with the multitude of Gentile Christians present, the number of Hebrew Christians in this conference seems quite small, but this little company grows in my mind into a great host when I think of the longings and aspirations of the great body of Hebrew believers in this and other lands, crystallized in this little company
here present. Brethren, a great multitude of Hebrew believers in this and other lands are praying during these days for God's guidance and Spirit upon our deliberations. They know how much the usefulness of blessedness of a future alliance is conditioned by the kind of a foundation we lay for it at this conference.
They know the great difficulties in the way. They know the differences between the different evangelical churches through whose instrumentalities we have been brought to Christ. And they know the affection and loyalty with which most of us are clinging to the denominations among whom we have found the Messiah.
We all know the discouragements we shall have to meet, with both from within and from without, but the fact that so many of our brethren are praying and longing for a closer union between us, and that so many Gentile Christians from different denominations are attending our sessions, and that many others are praying for our success, is an indication that God's time has come and that we must go forward.
Allow me therefore to point out a few thoughts on the subject. 1. Because of our own need, we cannot afford to forget the rock from which we are hewn. We have indeed given our people's unbelief, but we cannot give up our people. We have joined the Church of the Firstborn, composed of individuals, called out of all
nations to be a people unto His name, but we have not and dare not give up our nationality. Our nation stands unique in God's plan of the ages. God has not dealt so with any nation. Of all the nations, ours is the only one that owes its birth to a miracle. To them pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law,
and the service of God, and the promises, whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. Romans 9. Israel is the everlasting nation.
Isaiah 44. It is prefigured by the burning bush which was never consumed. Israel's call and election are not of works or merit, but of grace, and God's calling are without repentance. Salvation is of the Jews.
They were the seed-sowers at the beginning, and they shall be the sheaf-gatherers at the end of this dispensation. Zachary 8. Isaiah 66. We are Christians indeed, followers of the Lamb, but we live not under the law, but under
grace. If Israel is ever to claim God's glorious promises, it will have to do so by faith, but He has given us the faith. Do you wonder, then, that Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, calls the believing Jews the Israel of God?
Galatians 6.16. We must stand together as the Israel of God. We ought to unite because our nation needs it. The national movements among our people are inaugurated by men who are blind leaders of the blind.
Whilst God is able to make even the wrath of men to praise Him, yet we know that when the blind leads the blind, both fall into the ditch. As disunited individuals, our influence for good is like an atom lost in the breeze, but united into one living, loving, shining mass, our impact will not fail to make the desired impression on our people.
Our people needs this union. 3. The church needs it. Unbelieving Israel's sojourn among the Christian nations has ripened many grave problems whose solution has proved quite unpleasant to Jew and Gentile alike.
There is a curse resting upon our people because of their unbelief. Isaiah 43.27.28. Malachi 2. By God's grace, Israel is a blessing, but despising this grace, it becomes a curse to the nations.
Zechariah 8.13. Since they cried out at cavalry, his blood be upon us and our children, they have become the tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast. They cause irritation wherever they settle for any length of time. They seem to become distressing to the nations as an unassimilated foreign element in an
organic body. Policemen and politicians having tried all kinds of nostrums and the church, alas, too frequently taking refuge to guacary, have only aggravated the trouble. False love based upon the denial of the truth as it is in Jesus will as little turn Israel's curse into a blessing as Christless hatred.
We, the men of Israel, who were once blind, but now see. We who were sick and are now healed. Yea, we who were dead and are now alive, we must point the nation and the church to the fountain of healing and life even for Israel and its troubles. We ourselves have drank from that fountain.
We have tasted that power and that life. Move together, brethren, from the east and the west, from the north and the south. You need not give up your denominational badges as long as your denominations stand for the living and saving Christ. We do not stand as members of denominations here, but as members of one nation, sick and
foot sore, wandering and bleeding, Christless and dying. Let us cry with united agony a voice to him, Come, Lord Jesus, come and save thine inheritance and to his blood-bolted church. Come to the rescue of our perishing brethren. They need your sympathy, your prayers, your love, your testimony.
In blessing them ye shall be blessed. And to our brethren, the Jews, let us cry, Israel, thou destroyest thyself, but in Jesus is thy salvation. Yes, this alliance of redeemed and consecrated Israelites must come to pass. We ourselves need it.
The Jews need it. The church needs it. And God will bless it. Amen. End of Why Hebrew Christians Should Unite by Rev. A.R. Koldo
