TikTok Theology (Advent 11, 2023)

I’m starting to get really annoyed at the appropriation by TikTok theologians of the Jewish Jesus who fulfilled Scripture.  If I’ve seen it once, I’ve seen it a dozen times or more the claim that Jesus was simply Palestinian (with no mention that He was a Jew or the Son of God).

The word Palestine, they claim, has been used to refer to the territory surrounding Bethlehem since 5 the century BC when Greek writer Herodotus used the word.  (A Greek writer.) They say the origin of the word itself comes from Philistine (you know, like shepherd David used a sling and 3 smooth stones, one of which landed in the head of the Philistine and killed Goliath, the evil giant). 

And since Jesus was born in the “land of the Philistines”, they argue, He must be Palestinian.  Nope.

By that line of anachronistic thought, anyone born during the Roman occupation at Jesus’ birth must be Italian.

Let’s just state this clearly.  Whether one wants to use shorthand “Palestine” to refer to Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria, it does not matter.  Jesus was not Palestinian. He was a Jew born in Judea.

The world’s oldest land dispute originated in Genesis 13:14-15 when God promised it to Abram and affirmed it in Genesis 17. 

“The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. (Genesis 17:8-9)

Questions for further thought:

Have Jewish people historically lived at peace with Christians?  Ignore the viral TikTok narrative reels of Orthodox priests supposedly spitting on everyone in sight.  I’ve been to Israel.  Walked the streets and far from being spat upon, I was welcomed.  The Jews know their Holy Land is holy to Christians, too, and that true, biblical Christians are their great friends.

Why would Jews feel as though true Christians are their great friends, but true Muslims are not?

Why might other religious groups than Jews or Christians want to claim the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, as their own? 

What distinguishes the Jews of today’s Jerusalem from the Jews of Jesus’ Jerusalem?  Neither group (as a whole) believes in Jesus.  Some Jews from Jesus’ Jerusalem (Peter, Matthew, James, etc.) would come to see Jesus as their Messiah after His death/resurrection.  What about today’s Jews?  Jews for Jesus has a strong presence there believing that an ingathering is coming. Are today’s Jews beyond the reach of God?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to see those from Your ancestral home through Your eyes.  Help us to speak tenderly to open the eyes of the spiritually blinded so they may see Your grace in offering salvation first to the Jew and then, importantly, for the world.  Please, Lord, give us open hearts to welcome Your people who are yet to be redeemed whether from Arab communities, Gentile communities or Jewish ones.  Grant us wisdom by which to speak, grace to offer mercy to people who need both Your message and mercy.  I pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, Lord.  For only You can give that.  Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.