A Guest in the House of Israel: Post-Holocaust Church Theology. - book reviews

Christian Century, July 13, 1994 by Richard V. Pierard

By Clark M.. Williamson. Westminster/John Knox, 344 pp., $19.99.

CLARK WILLIAMSON, who teaches at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, has long been active in Jewish-Christian dialogues. In his half-dozen books and innumerable articles he has challenged Christians to rethink their relationship with their Jewish neighbors. This thoughtful book, based on extensive research in biblical and theological literature, represents the summation of a lifetime of work.

The author argues that in light of the Holocaust a searching reappraisal of Christian attitudes toward Judaism is imperative. He sets out to unravel the anti-Jewish strand in Christian theology (that which led to the "teaching of contempt" for Jews and Judaism) and to restate its central themes in such a way as to bring the church to self-understanding and self-criticism. He insists that both Jewish and Christian communities worship and are in covenant with the "God of Israel." Following Irving Greenberg, he asserts: "No statement, theological or otherwise, should be made that would not be credible in the presence of the burning children." This criterion requires that our doctrines, traditions and presentations of the Christian story be rethought in light of the Shoah.

Williamson argues that the engine powering. anti-Judaism is "supersessionism," the idea that Christians have displaced Jews as the covenant people of God. He shows how recent confessional statements have modified the church's understanding of its relationship to Jews. Williamson concludes by reviewing the scholarship on Jesus and Paul and creatively reconstructing the doctrines of covenant, scriptural authority, Christology, God and the church.

The book sparkles with insights. For example, it points out that Jewish persistence through centuries of Christian persecution is one of the most profound witnesses of faith ever made. If any religion is undeserving of its election, Christianity is as good a candidate for the honor as any. Williamson observes that for Christians to claim that they are worthy of the covenant with God and Jews unworthy is to give allegiance to "works-righteousness" and downplay the role of grace. How do we become "unworthy" of God's grace?

Though Williamson's efforts to promote reconciliation between the two faiths are laudable, they may not have much impact, particularly in the evangelical community, where his message is most needed. He reminds those of us who have access to this large segment of American Christianity that we need to keep stressing the wrongfulness of teaching anti-Judaism and to demand repentance and correction. However, many people are not about to surrender their belief in the uniqueness of Christ, the exclusivity of the gospel message and an accurate, authoritative Bible. These are "truth claims" and must be taken seriously. Many evangelical readers of the book will feel that Williamson has given away too much. But his challenge is compelling. We must not abandon the quest.