As anti-Semitic incidents have recently increased in Germany and other European countries, regional union presidents of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany have released a statement in which they distance themselves from the current rise of anti-Semitism “in the strongest possible terms.”

“We continue to recognize that hatred and hostility in many variations have taken a public place in our society. We live in a media age in which the spread of inhuman ideologies is easier than ever before,” said the two Adventist Church presidents in Germany, Johannes Naether (North German Union) and Werner Dullinger (South German Union), in the statement. The statement continues: “When fellow human beings are devalued because of their origin, religion, gender, or for other reasons, we raise our voices against this.”

The statement refers to the “golden rule” from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which expresses His attitude and applies in our dealings with one another. “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them!” (Matt. 7:12). There is, therefore, no place for anti-Semitism and misanthropy in Christian life. “The great ethnic and cultural diversity is part of our self-image as a global church,” the statement reads.

According to the Christian view of humanity, every person, regardless of their characteristics, is made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26), whose life and integrity must be respected and protected. “Translating this image of human beings into the present is a task that we share with all those who are committed to humanity,” the statement adds.

The statement concludes by emphasizing the desire for peace and the obligation to be ambassadors of Christ’s love in a world that urgently needs both. In addition, reference is made to the previous statement against anti-Semitism by Seventh-day Adventists from German-speaking countries, which was adopted in 2012.

The original version of this story was posted by the Adventistischer Pressedienst.