Good afternoon, The People of Israel did evil in God’s sight. They forgot their God and worshiped the Baal gods and Asherah goddesses. God’s hot anger blazed against Israel. Judges 3:7
The “evil in God’s sight” seems to be a rote saying of the wrongs committed by the kings and by the people. There are many examples of the same language in Judges, I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles. It seems to be part of their history. Of course, there are a few good rulers, but God did not want Israel to have kings, but they wanted to be like other nations that were around them.
I am reading Benjamin Goossen’s , Chosen Nation. In Mennonite history there is a stream where it becomes more important to be part of the German ethnic vision rather than of the Mennonite faith. Many Mennonites became Nazis, and many Russian Mennonites who fled Russia after World War I become soldiers in the Nazi regime.
When I first read this I had to stop. This is part of my history. I could not believe it. Then MCC helped some of these ” Mennonites ” to Paraguay and Canada. I believe this kind of action by Mennonites is wrong, and dare I say evil.
But I am also a sinner in need of God’s grace. Have I stood up for the “least of these” in all situations ? No, I have not always done the right thing.
I will finish Goossen’s book. I wrote him an email, and asked him what we should do with this history. He teaches history at Harvard. He is a Mennonite from Kansas. Grace and peace
Fred
Soaring like Vultures lifted up by unseen Hands Trust, silent enters my fears Monica Pieper Landoni 2021
