Why are seemingly minor jokes about Jews and Jewish-ness so concerning?
The following is an edited transcription of the audio. Why are you so concerned with seemingly minor jokes about Jews and Jewish-ness? I’m glad you said seemingly. Jokes do seem minor, but what they betray of the human heart is not minor. And what they can cause in another human heart is not minor. Coming from the biblical perspective we see that the Jewish people hold a place in God’s ultimate economy that is unique. In Romans 9-11 especially Paul is vigilant to say to Gentiles (that is, everyone who is not a Jew), “Beware of belittling or putting down the Jewish people. Don’t say, for example, ‘The branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in’–that is, ‘Jewish people have been rejected by the Messiah so these Gentiles could be included in the Messiah.’ That’s true,” Paul says, “but you stand fast only through faith. Therefore fear, lest pride arise in your heart and you exalt yourself over another ethnic group, especially the Jewish people.” Then he says, “Those branches a
