If Jesus's raison d'etre was to be crucified in order to be resurrected, why then the animosity toward...?

Question

Since Jesus's alleged virgin birth, his heretical ministry, his performed miracles all leading ultimately to his condemnation, crucifiction, and glorious resurrection were predestined by God's plan for him, why then the venomous antisemitism which has evolved (as exemplified recently in the behavior of Mel Gibson, for instance) when, in fact, the Jewish leaders, the Romans, even Pontius Pilate, had no free will in the affair and were only playing their designated roles in the requisite scenario preordained by God?? Why should blame of any kind be assigned to those who were only doing their duties as demanded of them by God? Very likely there would be no Christianity had not Christ been the martyr for the cause (as the story is told...). Yes??

I regret having spelled crucifixion incorrectly; that must have been a "Freudian slip"! Isn't there an ongoing philosophical debate re: predestination versus free will?

Answer 1

I know a bunch of gay people who are wondering the same thing...

You can't make any sense out of it.... in the end, they make it up as they go along.

If you ask me - the most inflammatory part of the whole damn broken ideology is the intense egotism that is displayed by the picking and choosing of which concepts will be rubber stamped for approval. The Holy Bible (in its hundreds of different forms and versions) presents numerous ideas and perspectives on every issue... but somehow it always boils down to "And that is why I'm going to Heaven and you're not." (To them I say - give Matthew 21:31 another glance.)

I've never been able to convince a fundie that Jesus was the original hippie liberal...

I've never been able to convince myself that he wasn't.

In defense of Christians everywhere - these hateful words do not come from their book - they come from Mel Gibson, Ted Haggert and Rupert Murdoch.... there are a handful of grumpy old white men who stir the pot for their own financial gain.

Christians are simply being herded by the wrong shepards sometimes.

PS - I gave the question more focus than usual because I absolutely love your vocabulary! It's so refreshing to see some intelligence on the site...

Answer 2

If you're going to play the destiny card, then you're saying that everyone who has died and gone to hell or heaven was pre-destined to be there, which means none of us ultimately have any choice or free will, and all of creation is simply a robotic carnival orchestrated by God. You totally remove the chance of salvation for everyone single person through all time, because by pre-destiny, their path in life isn't up to them, which probably means there is no damnation because how can God ultimately condemn people who had no choice of rejection or acceptance of Him in the first place?

Jesus' mission, His raison d'etre, was crucifixion. He became a man and lived like us in every way. He died for us because He chose to, because He loves us. Each person that was present during that day had the same choice to accept Christ's teachings and follow Him. Whether they are in heaven or hell I don't know, but they still had free choice, just as we do. Nothing is prewritten except God's plan. The choice then, is will you be part of it?

Answer 3

Well argued.
Jesus' reason for coming was to announce the impending arrival of the Kingdom of God. The Jewish leadership feared this would cause a popular revolt leading to a vicious Roman response. The Romans i.e. Pilate was a political coward who allowed himself to be governed rather than to govern.

Answer 4

There is no excuse for animosity towards anyone.

Your characterization of Jesus, and your idea of predestination is a bit off, though.

God simply took into account all the free will choices of all the various players in the drama of redemption. Then he chose to place his son on on earth during that time in history.

Satan did what he chose to do. The Jews did what they chose to do. So did Judas, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees. So did Pontius Pilate and the Romans.

God never forced anyone to do anything against their will, and knowing in advance what someone will do, does not negate the freedom of their choices.

You refer to Jesus as a heretic, probably as an intended slight, but I doubt that one who perfectly fulfilled all the writings of the prophets and of the psalms, who also perfectly kept the old law, and was able to truthfully explain all of it, would qualify.

Apparent heretic, perhaps.

Anti semitism is a much more complex issue, and while never justified, can be traced to a number of different issues, in a number of different places, throughout a number of different eras.

Answer 5

anti-semitism is caused by a lack of knowledge about the sons of Cain. They ran the Sanhedrin not the Jews. They claimed to be of Judah but were not the progeny of Judah. They all had free will. God's will and plan prevailed because when a person is against God their free will is easily conformed to the will of God by presenting a vulnerability the wicked cannot pass up.

Christ presented Himself as vulnerable as it was the hour of darkness, a time when Satan was allowed to influence the wicked to a great extent. Satan is controlled by God in this way, God arranges controlled vulnerabilities, opportunities which Satan and those under his sway cannot ignore.

Our brother Judah and his descendants are to be honored in the heart of every Christian and knowledge of those sons of Cain who only claim to be Jews is easily found in scripture. See Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 and John 8:44 and other places.

Answer 6

Mel Gibson is a product of his nut job father drilling crap into his head.I don't think he believes it,I think he was bombed and was just prattiling.Don't you realize Evangelical Christians are the biggest supporters of Jews and Israel?(with the exception of Jimmy Carter).God struggled for thousands of years to keep Israel on the right track.Read Exodus through II Chronicles.Finally after sending them into captivity in Assyria and Babylon,they come back broken of their Idol worship,but then get very hardhearted,to the point where the Saducee party doesn't even believe in the supernatural.These are the ones most responsible for the crucifixtion.God has always dealt in long time periods.(A day with the Lord is like a thousand years etc)Even in Abraham's time he sent Israel to Egypt and gave the inhabitants of Canaan 450 years to stop their evil practices.It's not just that Christ was killed,the important thing is He was resurrected.And starting with the 12 apostles and Paul they all believed it and preached it even though it cost them their lives.

Answer 7

Those who preach anti-Smeitism--or any other form of racism and bigotry--are not real Christians (the same can be said for their counterparts that use other religions in an attempt to justify their hatred--because none of the great religions teach or countenance hatred and bigotry).

Bigots--of whaatever stripe--seek to dominate and bully others--and are motivated by greed, power, hate--or a combination. Religion is jjust a useful excuse for them--and when its not available, they simply invent another excuse.

Answer 8

Because the bible must be fulfilled, we don't have to be players in the game. Pontious Pilate could have chosen to free Jesus, but Jesus knew he wouldn't. Pontious could have made another decision, but ultimately it played out just the way God ordained for it to. His ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We will understand it better by and by. Jesus had to resurrect himself, otherwise, how can we expect him to raise us from the dead when he call us if he couldn't raise himself!? He has conquered death, hell and the grave!

Answer 9

Jesus' crucifiers had free will. They had no power over him "except that wich the father gives them" It is mans fallen nature that caused this to happen, not the will of god.

Answer 10

Yes