有件令人驚訝但千真萬確的事：現在仍有一些「基督徒」很明顯的對猶太人有偏見。每一年我都會收到三、四封這些反猶太團體寄來的郵件。他們寄來的資料往往是一大本書，充滿了報告、論文、事實和數據──都是用來說服我相信猶太人有陰謀要奪取全世界。這些郵件令我生厭；他們這麼做不僅可憎，也是有罪的。

        耶穌是猶太人，我愛祂；我也愛祂肉身的同胞。這就是我的家人和我花了七年時間在以色列生活、工作的原因。我們非常尊敬門徒和使徒保羅（他們都是猶太人）──到一個地步，我遵守使徒的教訓，並以他們對耶穌言行的詮釋為我生命的基礎。更重要的是（或者說，更基本的是），我推崇摩西和眾先知。我們所謂的「舊」約正是我信仰的基石。把舊約從我身上拿去就等於是將我連根拔起。如果你只注意新約，你可能會活一段時間，就像聖誕節時你家裡的聖誕樹可以活一、兩星期，但最後樹幹一定會變枯黃。

        耶穌在路加福音十六章說了一個財主和拉撒路的故事。祂藉亞伯拉罕的口說，如果「摩西和先知」不能使人相信天堂和地獄的真實性，那麼，就算一個從死裡復活的人也辦不到。耶穌的生平和事工是舊約的實現。你或許可以試著將耶穌從舊約中排除，但你絕不能從耶穌身上把舊約拿開。就像愛情和婚姻，二者是不可分的。但你千萬別說耶穌與舊約的關係是「離婚」。沒錯，舊約是純猶太的，但新約也是！

        親愛的主，您在十五章裡一再說到尋找失喪者。求您幫助我們協助您去尋找那失喪的人，將寶貴的人帶回到您面前。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        It’s amazing but true: there still are “Christians” who have a distinct prejudice against (if not an out-and-out hatred for) Jews. Three or four times a year, I receive mail from these anti-Semites. Usually their letters are more like tomes – overstuffed manila envelopes with articles, essays, facts and figures, all designed and tailored to make me believe there is a Jewish conspiracy to take over the world. It is hateful and disgusting. What’s more, it’s sinful.

        Jesus was a Jew, and I love Him; I also love His people. That’s one reason why my family and I gave seven years of our lives to living and working in Israel.. I also have the highest respect for the disciples and the Apostle Paul (all Jews) – so much so, that I follow their teaching and base my life on their interpretation of the words of Jesus. On top of that (or should I say, “foundational to that”), is my high view of Moses and the prophets. The “Old” Testament, as we call it, is the very root system of my Christian faith. Take the Old Testament away from me and you’ve uprooted me – focus only on the New Testament and you may appear alive for awhile, just like your Christmas tree appears to be living for a week or so in your house at Christmas-time, but eventually my branches will turn brown.

        In Luke 16, Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus. He quotes Abraham as saying that if “Moses and the prophets” can’t convince a person of the reality of Heaven and Hell, then the resurrection won’t do it either. Jesus’ life and ministry was a fulfillment of the Old Testament. You can try to take Jesus out of the Old Testament – but you cannot take the Testament out of Jesus. Like love and marriage, they are inseparable. But don’t call it a “mixed” marriage. Sure, the Old Testament id Jewish, but so is the New!

        Dear Lord, in our reading in Luke 15, You spoke again and again of finding that which was lost. Help us to help You look for the lost, bringing a precious person to You today.