Some Republicans immediately sounded alarm bells over free speech concerns. Others were critical of the bill's adoption of an anti-Semitism definition from an intergovernmental organization, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
More specifically, some – like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Georgia) – said the bill criminalizes the gospel. New York attorney Ron Coleman called it "lazy lawmaking" in an American Family Radio interview Thursday. And Congressmen Thomas Massie and Chip Roy spoke out against the bill, which now advances to the Senate.
Conservative critics are off the mark, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York), the bill's leading sponsor, said on Washington Watch Thursday.
"It's long overdue, obviously, in terms of the White House response. I don't think there's any question that President [Joe] Biden and Sen. [Chuck] Schumer and other leading Democrats have been more concerned about their electoral prospects and the impact that these protests are having among the Democratic base," Lawler told show host Tony Perkins. "But these protests are so overwhelmingly anti-Semitic and need to be rooted out at every turn.
"This is not a function of free speech," he continued. "It's not a function of protesting against decisions made by the Israeli government or the United States government which are constitutionally protected. This is anti-Semitic hate at its worst – people calling for death to Jews, death to Israel, death to America, death to Zionists; calling for Jews to go back to Poland, calling for the eradication of the state of Israel."
The IHRA, of which the U.S. is a member, adopted this definition of anti-Semitism in 2016:
"Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities …"
Lawler defends use of that definition.
"This is a definition going back to the Obama administration and continuing through President Trump and now President Biden that is widely accepted. Nearly every Jewish organization in America agrees with this definition, and it is one that identifies for the Department of Education, a very clear, concise definition, and allows them to go after Title XI violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act," the New York lawmaker added.
The IHRA definition is already in use by the State Department, and former President Donald Trump issued an executive order citing the definition in 2019.
What the Bible really says about Christ's death
Among the anti-Semitism examples listed by the IHRA – and, by extension, included in the bill's language – is "claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel."
That's got a lot of Christians worked up, but it shouldn't, Travis Weber, the Family Research Council's Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, told Perkins.
"It does not criminalize the gospel. There are references to how language is used with claims that the Jews killed Jesus, but even that has to be attached to the state of Israel," Weber said. "It's a very specific, narrow issue; plus, even in our laws, just because you have a reference to this does not mean this resolution can override our First Amendment rights. It's just not there."
In fact, the "Jews killed Jesus" representation in the Bible can be debated several different ways, according to Weber. For starters, he said, "Jesus laid down his life."
While Christ walked willingly to the cross as part of God's plan for salvation, clearly there were instruments of his earthly death along the way.
Jewish leaders were no doubt angry with Jesus, but "Jesus was handed over to [Roman Gov.] Pontious Pilate by certain leaders and was put to death by the Roman government," Weber said. "We know from reading the Word that Jesus laid it down as a sacrifice for all, as Romans 5:12 tells us. Our sin put him on the cross.
"This legislation is not an issue," Weber stated.
Did House reps pass a bill for show?
Another criticism of the bill is that lawmakers were simply reacting to the news of the day.
Weber said Christians need to slow down and consider the spiritual climate of the day before assessing the bill.
"Take a look at the times we're in. There was Oct. 7 [when Hamas attacked and brutally murdered Israeli citizens]. Then we've got the U.S. abstaining on (U.N.) Security Council votes against Israel. [Then] Iran attacks Israel," he listed.
"We're in times in which Israel is in the crosshairs. We need to be discerning as believers, to pause and ask the Lord, 'What's going on here?' before we jump to what is around us and what people are saying on social media," Weber advised.
