Needing answers to some questions for Christians...?

Question

The Jewish religion is based off of The Tanakh, the Ten Commandments, the 613 Mitzvot, and ideas all from hundreds of years before the existence of Christ. Like the people that lived before him, we do not believe in the necessity of Christ to communicate with God or go to heaven. Why are Jews persecuted and disliked so much for this belief? How was Jesus the Messiah if there is still pain and suffering in the world (much of it endured by Jews, inflicted by Christians)? If Jesus was perfect and Jesus was Jewish, isn't Judaism the way to go? Following this thought, if Jesus is perfect, God is perfect, and The Holy Ghost is perfect, then aren't 2 of those 3 superfluous? Is Jesus the Son of God or is he God? (I'd been told both.) And I have more but not enought room...so maybe later. I mean no disrespect just trying to understand some things. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to respond.

Please don't think I blame any individuals for what has happened to my people. I know that the vast majority of people living today do not agree with it. I'm not talking about only the Holocaust, I'm talking about medieval times when Christian rulers treated Jews as suspicious and even traitorous persons, confining them to only money-lending occupations. I'm talking about the time of the Crusades, when many were killed by crusaders on their way through what is now Germany to Israel. I'm talking about when Jews were burned alive in their synagogues because they were blamed for the bubonic plague (Black Death). Again, let me stress that I don't blame people living today. They obviously had no control over what happened. I can't even be that upset because it hasn't happened to me only ancestors..I guess what I'm trying to ask is: How can so many people follow a belief system that has (in one way or another) caused so much pain, suffering, and death?

Superfluous means "unnecessary"...sorry for the confusion!

Hellion210 said: "if i tell you a story and you tell it to someone else, well, in a few hours the story isnt quite the same" I believe this is true (like that one 'telephone' game) so please don't tell me that something is true because the Bible says it is. I want answers based on what each individual here personally thinks...please break away from "The Bible says:" because I could just read the Bible as a textbook if I wanted thost kind of answers. Thank you anyway to those who have used The Bible previously.

Chaz said: "Jesus was "Jewish" in the sense that he was an Israelite." But, correct me if I'm wrong, I thought Mary was Jewish, I thought he went to Jerusalem at the age of 12 for his Bar Mitzvah...this makes him Jewish, not an Israelite.

Answer 1

i was raised as a catholic and went to a catholic school for 9 years, and i've thought a lot about these issues. the idea of the trinity is kinda like this:

theres god, the almighty, which i'm sure you understand the concept of. then jesus, who was the essence of god in the form of a a man, who had the understanding of god in its truest form, but was still a human being. this idea is basically that our sins needed to be redeemed by a man, god couldnt do it for us. so, god sent us a human who was connected to god on a level that nobody else could be, and that man made the decision to sacrifice himself for our sins... more or less. and finally, the holy spirit/ghost, thats the essence of god sent out many times among the ages to intervene in human life in place of god.

i know, weird idea. lol.

and you're right, jesus was a jew, so how do we know that he meant to create a new religion? maybe he just wanted all the jews of his era to be better ppl so he was doing things in a way that he thought was better?

when things all boil down, i feel that in most religions today, theres way too much emphasis on religion by the books. ppl concern themselves with what things are word for word true, or going to church/temple, the ritualistic things. but, if there was more of a concern on how to be a good person from day to day, we'd all be better off.

and nobody ever takes time to think that the bible was written down for the first time a few hundred years after jesus died, and many of the stories in it take place long before jesus was born. the first thing the bible teaches is that man is flawed. so we're supposed to believe that these stories never changed even a little for the course of hundreds of years of flawed humans telling them to each other??? no way. if i tell you a story and you tell it to someone else, well, in a few hours the story isnt quite the same.

but, in much the same way you dont blame our ancestors for doing what they did, we really cant either. i mean, yeah it was wrong, and we all wish it never happened, but that doesnt mean that we abandon the good ideas and intentions that started the religion. i guess i dont really consider it necessary to belong to any faith to be a good person, or to go to heaven, or whatever you believe will happen in the end. just be a good person as best you can. if we focused on that, we'd be ok.

Answer 2

Lots of good questions here. I'll take them as they come.

Q: The Jewish religion is based off of The Tanakh, the Ten Commandments, the 613 Mitzvot, and ideas all from hundreds of years before the existence of Christ. Like the people that lived before him, we do not believe in the necessity of Christ to communicate with God or go to heaven. Why are Jews persecuted and disliked so much for this belief?

A: I don't know that you can pin persecution of Jews down to this point. This question is kinda vague so I'll just say that people get persecuted for all kinds of crazy reasons.

Q: How was Jesus the Messiah if there is still pain and suffering in the world (much of it endured by Jews, inflicted by Christians)?

A: This is a point where Jews and Christians differ, the real question being 'What is the purpose of the Messiah?' Christians look at the writings of the prophets and believe that Jesus fits the bill on all counts. Jews are waiting for something different. Christians understand his purpose not to be to come to earth and create a Utopian society, and reign physically as king in Jerusalem for a thousand years, but to bring about a better covenant that opens up God's plan to Jews and Gentiles alike. We believe Jesus sacrificied himself that all might live and the interpretation of 'What is the Messiah and what is his purpose?' is where our two beliefs take different paths. For more on how Christians view the setting aside of the old covenant and the beginning of the new you would want to consult Hebrews 11.

Q: If Jesus was perfect and Jesus was Jewish, isn't Judaism the way to go?

A: Again, Judaism is what Christians consider the Old Law. While many of the points made in the Old Law are still carried over to the New because they were reiterated, several have been done away with.

Q: Following this thought, if Jesus is perfect, God is perfect, and The Holy Ghost is perfect, then aren't 2 of those 3 superfluous?

A: True they are all perfect but again we go back to the purpose of Jesus coming to earth in the first place. to bring Salvation to all, not just Jews.

Q:Is Jesus the Son of God or is he God? (I'd been told both.)

A: John 1 states in so much language that Jesus and God were together in the beginning as was the plan for salvation. The reason you have heard both answers on this point is because many Christians differ in their studies and perspections as to whether or not its one guy with split personalities or three separate beings. My understanding is that they are all their own individual selves.

It sounds like you have an earnest desire to find out for yourself what is true and what isn't. The question you need to be asking is more simple than these. The question you must ask is the same as first century Jews which is 'Was Jesus the Messiah?' and you are looking for your yes or no answer. To answer this question you will want to study the prophets and decide for yourself if Jesus matches up.

Most of the online resources I've seen on prophecy are just nonsense so I would recommend inquiring with www.jewsforjesus.org they will be able to speak from your reference point. Chances are there is someone in your community who can help you in deciding yes or no for yourself.

Answer 3

The problem Christians have is that there are the many different prophecies of the messiah and Jesus met those, and the Jewish people say he didn't. I completely disagree with the statement that there is pain and suffering in the world that the Jews suffered with and Christians inflicted. People using Christianity as a reason for doing bad actions does not represent Christianity. Just because the Nazi's may have said they were Christian, their actions do not show being Christian, so don't apply them into a group with me. I don't kill people just because of their beliefs, or any reason.
Christians believe they can talk to God directly also, since Jesus is God. They are the same thing. Jesus saves our souls, and on the second coming, he will save the world from suffering.
God is Jesus and God is the Holy Ghost. He is all three in one. They are not superflous, they are are same thing, just different faces. Are you not your back? Your back doesn't have your face, but it is you. Therefore, is it superfluous.
Why don't you read the Bible and other teachings and you'll get answers instead of blatantly attacking with no support.

Answer 4

If you think about the questions you're asking, most of the answers you seek will be found.

However, there is still suffering because we are allowed by the grace of God to have our free will.

Jesus was King of the Jews, however many Jews did not accept Jesus, therefor there are those who do and those who don't, those who do are now called Christians. There is a sect called Jews for Jesus, which I know almost nothing about, however they are people who accept Jesus but did not give up Judaism - I guess the traditions etc.

I don't understand what you mean in the section where you say "aren't 2 of those 3 superfluous" - please re-phrase that question.

Jesus is the son of God - He said so and so did the Holy Spirit on Christ's baptism.

Also, if you want to look anything up: www.biblegateway.com is a good site to use.

Answer 5

First I want to make it clear that I am no religious expert, maybe one day soon. I am a disciple of Christ or Christian. Jews are persecuted for thier belief for the same reasons many people are persecuted for their beliefs, IGNORANCE and HATE. Satan hates the Jews above all peoples because they are God's chosen people. One day Jesus will end all suffering but it was promised that the world would get worse before His return. The book of Daniel, chaptes 7 and 8 gives some glimpses of this. A true Christian is known by the love they show because God is Love. Those who persecuted the Jews were not Christians but murderers, liers, rapists, and ignorant brutes. Even if you don't believe in Him, you might agree that according to his teachings, none of those traits apply to Him. In Judaism alone there is nothing that meets Gods standards of a perfect human sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind. Read Isaiah chapter 53. Superfluous?!! Can you set a limit on Jehovah. I mean this is the same God that created a perfectly ordered universe and sustains it. Is it so hard to belive that the perfect God could have a perfect son and a perfect spirit, which come from the same source, God Himself. However, Jesus said himself while he was on earth, only God was perfect, because he had taken on the sinful flesh of man. He said this becuase even though he came from the perfect God and had no sin he took on the sinful flesh of man in order to fulfill God's requirement for a living human sacrifice to redeem man back to our true state in God. .Jesus is the son of God and has been given authority by God to do judgement over all. As a monarch is honored for his position so is his son the prince but the king is still the ultimate ruler.

Answer 6

[QUOTE]Like the people that lived before him, we do not believe in the necessity of Christ to communicate with God or go to heaven. Why are Jews persecuted and disliked so much for this belief? How was Jesus the Messiah if there is still pain and suffering in the world[/QUOTE]
Sorry if someone else has said this previously but I reallly didn't wanna read through all the long answers!
It seems to me that the Jewish people didn't understand what the messiah's purpose was to be. Pain and suffering will be felt until Satan is done away with, which was not in his purpose. The prophecy said “and I will conclude with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant; 32 not one like the covenant that I concluded with their forefathers
He was to do away with the atonement sacrifices and such.
As for suffering... new testament prophecy says that that will be ended sometime in the future, but it is not for us to know when.

Answer 7

wow, this is definitely a loaded question. I'm not even sure where to begin. To answer your first question, I didn't realize Jews were persecuted for that belief only. I personally have never persecuted anyone for their beliefs, and if Jews are, I don't think it is just for one belief. Most likely is just a collection of ideas that another group doesn't agree with. Jesus was the Messiah because it plainly states in the Bible that God sent His Son to the earth as Messiah; it's not fair to say much of the persecution of Jews is inflicted by Christians. And no, having three titles for Christ is not superfluous. For example, a man can be a father, husband, and boss. Is it superfluous for him to have three titles? Each name of Christ represents a different aspect of Him, just as any human might. I hope I made myself clear.

Answer 8

In the old days it was extremely difficult to convert into Judaism. Still is in the strict orthodox circles. This is because the Jews were chosen as a race by G-d. Some Christians may have predjudice against Jews, thinking them arrogant for considering themselves chosen, but that attitude is not condoned by any legitimate religion. The Bible acknowledges Jews as G-d's chosen so all Christians are obliged to accept it. For themselves they believe that Chirst is the son of G-d with the power to extend this gift to all people regardless of race. Many Jews at the time of Jesus did not want to accept this. Modern Jews can accept Jesus for Christians but not as a neccesity for themsleves and most Christians are enlightented enough to respect that.

As far as why they had to start their own religion, there were several reasons. The Jews did not accept them so they had to. Christ established an early church of sorts or at least the sacramental acts such as Babtism and then gave authority to his apostles to lead the group. This established the early church. Much of it was based on Judaism but some groups have gone very far from their roots.

Answer 9

Jesus is the messiah because he gave salvation to all through His death and ressurection on the cross. Also, His death and ressurection allow us to all communicate to God individually (He is our mediator). This is the new covenant that He promised.

There will always be pain and suffering on Earth because humans are so evil, and because of the curse we recieved in the garden of Eden. The messiah does not bring freedom from all pain and suffering, but freedom from sin. Freedom from pain and suffering is what we will exerience in Heaven.

Jesus was "Jewish" in the sense that he was an Israelite.

We Christians believe in the Holy Trinity. The best way i can explain this is that God has 3 forms: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. (Kind of like how water has 3 forms: liquid, ice, and vapor)


If you've still got questions, just e-mail me and i'll try my best to answer. =)

Answer 10

It is excellent to see that you are a logical person. My Father was raised in a Jewish family. He became convinced that all of the Hebrew scriptures with prophecies pertaining to the Messiah actually were fulfilled by Jesus. I know several interesting prophecies if you are interested in knowing more. It is true that there is still pain and suffering in the world. Jesus himself explained that he did not come to establish his kingdom while he was on earth, but later when he was in heaven. And a prophecy in Daniel (a book which Jews also use) shows that the Messiah would arrive in 29 CE, the year Jesus was baptized. It is too late for that prophecy to be fulfilled if it was not Jesus. Which would mean that the very scriptures Jews use would be unreliable