Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity

I am reading a book by Abraham Joshua Heschel, "Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity".  The book is excellent, and the third of Rabbi Heschel's books that I have bought and read.

Heschel is an interesting character.  Perhaps "was" would be a better word, because he died in 1972, but reading his books makes me like "is" is better, as his writings are so full of life.

He was a Jewish theologian, and he had a special talent for appealing to Christians as much as to Jews, and had many Christian admirers, including Pope Paul VI, who told him that he hoped Catholics would read his books, as it would help them to be better Catholics.



It seemed Reinhold Niebuhr also loved him, and he asked Heschel to deliver the eulogy at his funeral.

Although English was not Heschel's native language (or even his second or third language), still I find it very helpful to have a dictionary open (and perhaps a Bible), when I read his books.

One point I want to share is that reading Rabbi Heschel's works, has made me to face some issues that I was not really aware of.  First, I find that I had been somewhat prejudiced against Jews.  Not openly or dramatically so, but because of the terrible situation going on in Palestine, and also because of the number of non religious Jews I have met, some of whom have been less than admirable in some traits, I had developed somewhat of a prejudice, and had not understood the beauty of the Jewish traditions, and the meaning of being Jewish.  His books have helped me understand better, particularly the book, "God in Search of Man".  This has helped me to have a broader view of not only Judaism, but of humanity in general, and to put the Jews who are less than good examples of God's calling in perspective with the many who have been called Christians, who have been just as bad, or worse.

Second main point that stands out to me is the idea of salvation, and of a relationship with God.  Due to my background and training (not sure what to call it, perhaps "non-traditional, non-denominational, unchurched Christianity based on evangelical principles?), I had been going by the idea that only professing Christians, who had consciously invited Jesus into their lives, could have a relationship with God, as  Jesus was the bridge, or mediator between God and man.

However, it doesn't take long reading Heschel's work to be faced with two clear observations:  1.  He is very Jewish.  2.  He has a strong relationship with God.  I can either ignore those points, or I can try to understand how they can work together.  I find that CS Lewis offers an explanation in "Mere Christianity":  "Here is another thing that used to puzzle me.  Is it not frightfully unfair that this new life should be confined to people who have heard of Christ and been able to believe in Him?  But the truth is God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are.  We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him."

This point is very important to me, as I live in Japan.  Japan has a very special culture and population.  The people tend to be very kind and considerate, as a product of their upbringing and culture.  They tend to have some beliefs in the spirit world and in prayer, although they will mostly claim to not be religious.  However, they are not Christian.  There is no way that all or most of the kind, loving Japanese people alive today will become Christian before they die.  That brings me face to face with questions about life, death, Heaven, Hell, religion and humanity.  I find that the opening of my perspective brought on by reading Rabbi Heschel's books has been very helpful for me to get past some obstacles in dealing with these issues.