Executive Committee Condemns Attack on the US Capitol
This month has been a time of reflection and concern for all of us in the leadership of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations in the aftermath of the disturbing, violent attacks on America’s Capitol. Over the course of the last year, America has been torn apart by tensions that have left our nation and our community divided. Given these challenges, most of us have avoided debates that would turn spiritual brothers and sisters into political adversaries. But we are now seeing the consequences of the dangerous idea that Yeshua belongs exclusively to any single political party or agenda.
On January 6th, we saw the effect of inflammatory voices that bound up impassioned politics with religion, fusing our symbols and even our Messiah to political agendas that challenged the very foundations of our democracy. A mob that included people who advertised their faith in Yeshua descended with terrible intent on elected officials in the Capitol to enforce their will. This attack was illegal, shameful, and resulted in the needless loss of human life, which in itself violates the highest priority of Torah. We stand behind the call for vigorous prosecution of those who participated in the riot. We lament the physical and psychological terrors suffered by members of Congress, Capitol staff, police, and first responders. We earnestly pray for their full recovery from physical and emotional injuries.
We are deeply offended that rioters who claimed to be Christian appeared with neo-Nazis and other hate groups who openly displayed anti-Semitic symbols and slogans. In so doing, they participated in the mainstreaming of anti-Semitism. What used to slink in the shadows now marches in the open. We join the broader Jewish community in condemning this evil.
This riot will stand in our memories as a violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election, even after all established legal and procedural remedies had been exhausted. The actions of those who stormed the Capitol should in no way be justified or minimized. Even before the riot, spiritual leaders made prophecies that did not come true, and shared elaborate conspiracy theories that echo centuries-old blood libels against the Jewish people. Their rhetoric included irresponsible talk of violent resistance and suggestions that those who fail to support overturning the election are heretics, lacking in faith, or traitors to the cause of our Messiah. We reject such rhetoric completely.
Yeshua’s followers have often stood on both sides of our political fences. Some within our community are disappointed by the political direction that our country has taken, while others embrace it. We respect the diversity of viewpoints that has always served to strengthen our Union. We support everyone’s First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. These rights serve as the very cornerstone of the American republic, which has allowed for the flourishing of the Messianic Jewish community. But these rights must be exercised peacefully, whether in service of protesting racism or supporting a candidate. This principle is rooted in the Torah and upheld by Yeshua’s insistence on the priority of the instruction “to love our neighbor as ourselves.”
As Yohanan reminds us, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20-21 NIV).
During these days of tension and division, may we find a way to reflect Messiah’s love within our own lives and congregations, and to the world around us.
This statement was revised on January 19th by the UMJC Executive Committee in order to clarify our January 13th post. It is in no way meant to imply support or condemnation of any political candidate or party. We want to emphasize that no political view can justify this riot, nor the loss of life and the suffering caused by it.