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Book Review
Not On This Mountain - An Alternative
Christian Perspective
J.W.Deenick. Pleasant Word a Division of
WinePress Publishing 2003, 235p
Review by R. Hoekzema
Deenick is known as someone who has some capacity for engaging in
polemics. This book keeps that reputation alive. He also loves to throw
in some literary morsels of the idiom kind that clang with this so very
Jewish treatise, expressions like ‘down under’, ‘beat about the bush’
and ‘fair dinkum’. He does seem to assume that his readers are
reasonably informed on what he and others refer to as the ‘Jewish
question’, the future of Zionism and its aim of creating a nation-state
for Jews. For personal reasons, which he explains, the author has
carried the ‘Jewish question’ with him all his life and it, among other
things, continues to upset him.
The material he presents has the evidence of having been thoroughly
researched, as the bibliography also indicates. It can be overwhelming
at times as he introduces a wide range of views, many nuances and
various shades of meaning. What is perhaps more baffling to some is the
existence of a great diversity or rather divisiveness among the Jews.
Deenick strongly debunks any idea of a unity among Jews. After all, he
says, ethnicity has little, if any, significance within the kingdom of
God and vast numbers of Jews are totally irreligious. There are Jews and
there are Jews and the twain, and more, don’t meet.
The author briefly examines the gamut of Jewish life, as in Judaism,
anti-Semitism, Jewish Reform and his special focus – Zionism, from a
cultural, political and religious perspective. Immediately, one becomes
aware that Deenick is – in his own words – unrepentantly anti-Zionistic.
In unwrapping Zionism, he shows it up for what it really is – nothing
less than an elitist, ethnic and political nationalism, and that he
says, is folly. In adding that it is something that is moving against
the tide of history, something that the new world has well and truly
cast out, he also says it has no future.
Deenick leaves some vexing questions as just that. Yet, in answer to
anyone still wondering about the validity of the Jewish claims that they
are still God’s peculiar people, and that their trekking back to
Jerusalem as God’s city where according to them it ultimately will all
end in their favour, he leaves you in no doubt as to his view on that.
He is explicit, and clearly intent on helping his readers arrive at a
mature understanding of this from the Scriptural perspective. He very
strongly disagrees when it comes to the Jews’ understanding of God’s Old
Testament promises standing forever. Instead, he interprets them on the
basis of a New Testament or rather an eschatological understanding of
prophecy.
In reviewing the present situation, especially from a Zionistic,
political view, Deenick does not advocate another dispersion. He says
that from a Christian perspective, the Christian solution is “for Israel
to be transformed from a Zionist country into a modern state, a place
where an egalitarian, democratic, multi-racial, multi-religious, and
multi-cultural community develops in freedom.” Enlarging on democracy,
he advocates that it is viable as long as its beliefs and practices are
based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Readers will appreciate Deenick’s brief but insightful overview of the
religious and political developments in Jewish history of the last 50-60
years. It is enlightening to read of some of the distinctions of the
various groupings among Jews. In spite of his criticisms, but giving
valid reasons, Deenick appeals to all Christians to love and respect the
Jews as well as the Palestinians, giving the latter priority in the
present circumstances. Then, he says, the Christians will surely be
accused of anti-semitism, but that cannot be helped. And it should not
upset them very much because that is, to use one of Deenick’s favourite
Latin phrases, living coram deo, in the sight of God. Available from the
Resource Centre, I warmly recommend this book as one that will help you
- as it did me - clear away any clouds in your mind on the ‘Jewish
question’.
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