OPINION:
Antisemitism, which has been an unfortunate worldwide dilemma for centuries, is blatant discrimination and hostility toward the Jewish people. But generational antisemitism is far more subtle and far more dangerous than anyone might imagine.
If God’s people fail to repent and renounce it, it will once again become a major epidemic and have end-time consequences for the Church and the world.
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Antisemitism refers to spiritual influences in the generational bloodline, through parents and grandparents (see Genesis 12:3; Exodus 20:5). That can actually cause someone to become antisemitic, and a person can be affected or influenced by generational antisemitism without having acted upon it.
It is part of the devil’s trickery and deception through the generational bloodline influence. It’s part of the generational inheritance that is spiritually conveyed to us as the result of sin.
Generational antisemitism can exert its influence through your generational bloodline until you pray and repent for it to be removed. It can manifest in the form of a cold love, a stony heart, or indifference and can stir up subtle antisemitic feelings and thoughts against Israel or toward the Jewish people.
Without repentance, generational antisemitism knows no boundaries. It is inherited through the actions and the words of those around you in subtle ways. Sometimes, it takes the mighty power of the Holy Spirit to transform the mindsets of even the strongest church leaders.
Tod McDowell’s transformation
Tod McDowell is one such leader who, years ago, came into a knowledge and deep repentance of replacement theology. The executive director for Caleb Global — a non-profit ministry that aims to ignite revival in Israel, the Middle East, and the world — Mr. McDowell discovered his own generational influences of replacement theology and the generational antisemitism that he wasn’t even aware of.
Breaking from Replacement Theology
In 2007, Mr. McDowell came into direct personal contact with Don Finto and his teachings about Israel and the Church, which transformed his thinking about replacement theology. In humility, his transformation led him to give up a thriving career at Youth With a Mission (YWAM), where he had begun to climb the organization’s leadership ladder.
Mr. Finto’s teaching of the truth of Romans 11 and how the nations will be blessed when Israel comes into its fullness in God’s kingdom seared Mr. McDowell’s soul.
“Don came and was a scholarly gentleman, respectful, and a clear teacher. My heart was opened,” Mr. McDowell said. “When he began talking about that, the Holy Spirit just spoke to me and said, ‘Tod, this is the key to global revival. There is going to be greater riches for the whole world when the Jewish people’s fullness comes in.’”
Immediately Mr. McDowell asked Mr. Finto to pray for him, and Mr. McDowell fell to the ground, weeping.
“I just felt this travail for the Jewish people,” Mr. McDowell said. “In that moment, I heard God say, ‘Tod, you are married to the Jewish people, and your destiny is connected to Israel. However, it took me a couple of years to unravel the replacement theology. I had studied it, but it was more complex than I realized. There is a lot of pride connected to replacement theology. I just renounced it, and the Lord awakened my heart to His heart for Israel, His plan that is connected to all nations and particularly the church.”
Breaking away from Generational Antisemitism
Later on, a meeting I had with Tod at Caleb Global in 2013 and helped bring him into a deeper place of repentance on this journey in relation to his personal connection with the Jewish people.
“Grant told us the Holy Spirit seems to be freeing people of the negative influences of generational antisemitism, something they don’t even know they were associated with in their ancestral line,” Mr. McDowell said. “Grant gave this Word and I was confused because I said I didn’t know of any antisemitism in my family’s history. I started grieving and weeping, and I got delivered. It was crazy because several of us got delivered. What he shared brought such a shock and freedom to me.”
The prophetic word I shared on the Caleb Campus on the subtleties of generational antisemitism with their leadership gave clarity to Tod and the others, especially as the Holy Spirit’s presence fell in such a significant manner on the entire group. It confirmed this word and convicted them of past generational sins in their bloodline. Mr. McDowell said he was surprised to discover his own Eastern European roots and the residual curses still at play that needed repentance and renunciation, which he wasn’t even aware of until the Holy Spirit began to unveil it.
“That’s why I love The Romans 911 message,” Mr. McDowell said. “Because it exposes these subtle roots and the residual influences of generational antisemitism that the whole Church needs to get free of, and especially today as antisemitism rises once again, the Church must not be silent and rid itself of anything that can hinder its love and connection to the people of Israel.”
That day was also highly significant to me because of the way the Holy Spirit fell into the room, confirming the Word, especially as I began to write my first book about this message. But if these beautiful saints at Caleb Global, who already have a commission from the Heart of the Father to bring this message of reconciliation between Israel and the Church, then the whole of the Church needs the same repentance and must now become aware of these residual curses that are still holding the Body back from its end-time roles to move toward the last great awakening.
Mr. McDowell’s incredible journey is chronicled in all three books on “The Reconnection: The Ezekiel Generation,” “Romans 911” and “The Romans 911 Study Guide,” as well as in “The Romans 911 Project video teaching course.” Mr. McDowell teaches around the world, sharing God’s Heart and purpose for Israel’s connection to the Gentile church and the nations.
Mr. McDowell said he encounters generational antisemitism a great deal when he travels. To steer people in the church away from it, Mr. McDowell said he doesn’t focus his message on Israel itself, but on the God of Israel and the Jewish people.
“I want to see the missional revival culture church really get this,” Mr. McDowell said. “Many of them actually don’t get it because they are repulsed by Zionism or traditional Zionist teachings. But the message isn’t about Israel; it’s about God’s Heart, His Word, and His ways. … If you really want to know God and have intimacy, this is a big part of His Heart.”
Mr. McDowell said if the church really wants to see the nations blessed, then it must now reconnect with Jewish believers and continue to pray for Israel. God now looks to restore the former glory for the future glory.
“When you bless Israel, there is a blessing that comes,” Mr. McDowell said. “The greater the riches will be when you help the Jewish people come into their fullness. Those who want to see revival are missing a huge key to it by missing Israel.”
To watch Tod’s interview with Grant click here into the R911 Project TALKS page and scroll down to the Tod McDowell interviews in Season 1.
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Author and speaker Grant Berry is the founder of Reconnecting Ministries and author / Producer of The Romans 911 Project.
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