Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
It surprised me, many years ago, when I learned of the strong historical animosity held by high officials in the Roman Catholic Church toward the Jews. The Vatican refused to even recognize Israel as a legitimate state among the nations of the earth until several decades after the nation of Israel came into existence again in 1948. But in time, the Lord helped me to understand the fundamental reason for this hatred; to wit, the two religions are so much alike that it provokes the younger of them to jealousy.
From my observation, it seems that knowledge of the Bible is unnecessary in order to be either a devout, practicing member of the Roman Catholic religion or a devout, practicing member of Judaism. All that is required for the members of those religions is to know when and how to perform their religious rites and when and how to observe the “holy days” of their respective religious calendars. I have met several adult Roman Catholics, faithful to their religion, who had never even owned a Bible. The first Bible one catholic woman ever owned was the one that I required of her, as a student of mine, to purchase for my Old Testament class. Likewise, I have known adult practicing Jews who had virtually no knowledge of their Scriptures. I cannot forget the time I asked a Jewish friend of mine how Jewish rabbis managed, after the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, to deal with the issue of God’s commandment for all adult males to present themselves before Him three times a year in Jerusalem. He looked at me with a blank stare and said, “God said that?” He was a practicing Jew, but the Scriptures were virtually unknown to him.
Any time there is an unreasonable hatred in one person or one group toward another, look first for the similarities between them. There, more often than you would think, will you find the true reason for the animosity.