“Devaluing Life: Lessons from History and the Church’s Call to Act”

In a poignant reflection from the Toronto Holocaust Museum, Chris Byberg highlights the dangers of devaluing life, drawing parallels to historical events and the rise of antisemitism. He emphasizes the church's critical role in combating hate by preaching the gospel.

Transcript

Hi everybody. It's Chris Byber, the director of the National House of Prayer, and I'm coming to you today from the Toronto Holocaust Museum. We have been spending a couple days here, Marilyn and I, in Toronto at the Simeon Initiative Summit. And this is a a summit with pastors and rabbis across the nation talking about anti-semitism. It's an interesting thing about anti-semitism. One of the things we learned and we picked up earlier today in some of our discussions, two things I want to talk to you about. The first thing is, you know, before uh Hitler started to exterminate the Jews, they actually started to exterminate vulnerable people. And they started to

put into categories lives that were worth living. And that that to me speaks about um medical assistance and dying. And so this is why it's important we stay on this vigil and continue to pray, continue to engage. Again, the Carney uh government is looks like it wants to still pursue the expansion of Maine. So, I just want to say just look at history. Remember what history has done in our past and when they go after vulnerable people making it a scientific and this is the this is what they used back in the prior to the Second World War. They said it's scientific for us to do this. You know, this is where eugenics came from. It was a science that they created

that it was okay to exterminate people, certain types of people, and it even got to the point where it was exterminating Jews. So, if you're ever in Toronto, I would suggest you come to this museum. It's in it's on Baths and Shepherd area. Uh really, really worthwhile, important. Bring your bring your grandchildren, bring your children. This is worthwhile to take a look at. Number two, one of the things that struck me most so far in this comp conference and we're only halfway through. Um, one rabbi said this. It is imperative that the church preach the gospel because if the when the church is preaching the gospel, it slows the rise of anti-semitism. What a

great connection. Did you understand that? It slows the rise of anti-semitism when the church does its job that we preach the gospel. We preach the good news. So I want to encourage you, you know, get out there, spread the love of Jesus, spread the love of God, be the ministry, be the hands and feet of Jesus. I'm Chris Byberg, the director of the National House of Prayer, and we will see you next time. Bye for now. [Music]