Is it possible to practice Judaism and Christianity simultaneously?

Question

There is this organization called "Jews for Jesus" who claim to be of both religions. I thought that the Jewish community believed that the Messiah has not yet come. Christians believe the exact opposite. How can you claim to be both?

Answer 1

I'm Jewish and have done a lot of research and homework on various religions, and this is what I know:

Jews for Jesus, also sometimes known as Messianic Judiasm, is NOT a sect of Judiasm. Rather it is a segment of Christianity that seeks a deeper understanding of the Old Testament (I got this from asking a local congregation's leader). They often incorporate more of the traditions of cultural Judiasm as well, but from a religious standpoint, they are very much Christians.

There are bigger differences between Christianity and Judaism, Jesus and the New Testament are just the most visible. There is a dramatic difference in the way they foster a relationship with God.

First of all, Jews take the "One God" very literally and clearly cannot reconcile with worshipping Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Jews feel this is a direct violation of old testament edicts.

Also Judiasm encourages questions. The ultimate goal of a deeply religious Jew is to have the time to study and question. Biblical scholars constantly try to determine how to interpret the scriptures and variations are encouraged, as is freedom of thought. Forgiveness is to be had merely by the asking. Overall Judiasm is not very judgemental or self-rightous.

You are a Jew if you were born a Jew regardless of how involved you are in ritual, tradition or ceremony. You are still a Jew even if you never set foot in a synagoge. Jews don't prostelitize and will discourage those interested in converting. To convert you have to possess a genuine desire and a willingness to learn. You have to convince a board of 3 rabbies you are serious and study for a long time first.

Jews don't believe in Hell, and really don't see heaven in the same light as Christianity. Therefore there is no FEAR doctrine - follow the rules or be doomed.

Christianity varies considerably by sect. Some are VERY judgemental. They will say only God has the right to judge, but in truth the humans do the judging. Many will excommunicate those not living by rigid doctrines. Questioning the doctrine or a specific sects interpretation of the bible is usually discouraged, and sometimes punished. The leaders at the top want you to accept their interpretation as the one "truth."

They believe that one must be saved to get into heaven. They also believe they have a doctrine to spread the word and save as many as possible.

Messianic Judiasm is actually a way of drawing in Jews to Christianity, though again...most are were not ever Jews.

Modern Christianity bears little resemblence ot the life of early Christians. Rome intervened a few hundred years after the fact, when the Christian Emperor recognized he could unit his very diverse empire under one religion and control it better. So he changed the rules and doctrine to create a broader appeal to Romans, Greeks and Pagans. Eventually rules governing chastity and even the concept that Mary the mother was a virgin, and Mary Magdelene a whore, came late to the party.

So...there are many philsophical differences that extend far beyond whether or not Jesus is the son of God and/or should be revered and worshiped.

Answer 2

No, it is not possible, in spite of organizations such as "Jews for Jesus" claims.

The reason is quite simple.

Both religions have fundamentals and those fundamentals clash with each other. For example, Christianity says that a certain man was the son of G-d in the literal sense. This is a fundamental part of Christianty. Judaism says that such a belief is pagan and violates a fundamental tenet of Judaism. Therefore, it is impossible to follow both religions.

The truth of the matter is that Jews for Jesus and the so labeled "Messianic Jews" have FUNDAMENTAL Christian beliefs at their core. Not Jewish. Anything they do that is "Jewish" is thus "window dressing". So, the reality is that they are really a strange form of Protestant Christianity.

Answer 3

I know people who do both. They go to Shabbat on Friday's then church on Sunday's. They make it work. With Judaism it's more of a cultural thing for them, where as they believe the Christian doctrine over rides the Jewish one because they believe Jesus is the Messiah. But yea, they do it all the time and they do not have problems with it.

Answer 4

Practice? sure.

Be in any real sense? NO!

Those who try to do things in accordance with jewish law and still be christian are still christian. If they are born jewish and turn their backs on their religion and heritage then they are apostates and not part of the Jewish community. as such, they have no real jewish identity to "be."

jews for jesus is a Baptist shadow organization to lure Jews away from Judiasm. A belief in jesus is contrary to one of the central tenets of Judaism so the two cannot really coexist in one person.

Answer 5

Jews for Jesus is part of the Messianic community. Messianic congregations believe in Jesus as Messiah, but worship on Saturday, keep Jewish feasts, and follow a modified Jewish liturgy. Their worship music is modal (in natural minor most of the time),and they do a lot of dancing that is similar to Israeli folk dancing.

I am an associate member (a member also of a Christian church) of a Messianic congregation and am very proud of it.

Answer 6

What is Messianic Judaism?
Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish people from all walks of life, who believe that Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew) is the promised Jewish Messiah and Savior for Israel and the world. Messianic Jews have not stopped being Jewish. On the contrary, we have continued to remain strongly Jewish in our identity, lifestyle and belief that Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah and the fulfillment of true Biblical Judaism.

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What is the difference between Messianic Judaism and Rabbinic Judaism?
Rabbinic Judaism is a Judaism centered around the teachings and writings of Rabbis. Its formation began over 1,900 years ago when the second temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. Before then, “Judaism,” or the faith of the Jewish people, was centered around the Temple and the sacrificial system according to the Torah (the Law or the five books of Moses). After the destruction of the temple the Rabbis reorganized Judaism, adding many new laws, rules and traditions. Today, their writings and commentaries (the Talmud, etc) form the foundation of Rabbinic Judaism.

Rabbinic Judaism consists of several branches: Orthodox (very traditional), Chasidic (Ultra-Orthodox), Reform (liberal) Conservative, and Reconstructionist. Some within Rabbinic Judaism are still looking for the Messiah, but they are the exceptions.

Messianic Judaism differs in that we rely totally on the Scriptures. Our faith is the Judaism of the Bible (Biblical Judaism) and is centered around the Messiah and the worldwide salvation He brings. We in Messianic Judaism believe that Yeshua is the promised Messiah and that we don’t have to go through the Sages or the Rabbis to know God. We have access to God because of the great atoning work of the Messiah Yeshua, who has fulfilled us as Jewish believers and therefore has fulfilled our Judaism (Matthew 5:17).

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What is the difference between Messianic Judaism and Gentile Christianity?
Gentile Christianity is the faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as expressed by Gentile followers of Him. Gentile Christianity today numbers over one billion people in the world, with innumerable denominations and doctrines, all centered around Yeshua as Savior. For most of the first century A.D. this faith in Yeshua was predominantly Jewish. As more and more Gentiles came into the Messianic Faith, However, some did not understand its Jewish roots and God’s eternal covenant with Israel. A “de-Judaizing” process set in, a separation from the Jewish roots of the faith and from the Jewish people. This separation eventually led to the formation of a second wing of this faith in Yeshua composed of Gentile believers i.e. “Christianity.”

While we feel we are one in the Spirit with true Gentile believers, Messianic Jews have our own expression of faith in Yeshua the Messiah. Messianic Judaism holds that it is Jewish to believe in Yeshua and is a return to the Jewish roots of the faith. We observe the Biblical feasts and holidays, while at the same time maintaining that the only way to be saved and truly born again of God’s Spirit is through the great atoning work of the Messiah Yeshua (Romans 11:24-25).

Answer 7

Christianity already incorporates all of Judaism, it just chooses to emphasize and concentrate on it's addition/"improvement" to the story = Jesus. The Hebrew (Old) Testament is a critical part of Christianity. It not only lays the foundation of Christianity, but also provides an invaluable lens of interpretation.

Now, when ask about "practicing" each faith, then it gets sticky, because so many practice differently (even within their own group).

Answer 8

Your commentary than begs to ask: Was Jesus the Messiah? It's pretty clear that he didn't meet all the criteria laid out in the bible to be the Messiah or all the Jews would have converted. It's also evident that if Jesus were in fact the Messiah we'd have ceased to exist upon his FIRST coming...in other words the damned would be in Hell (if there is one) and the "believers" would have ascended to Heaven (if there is one). Jesus failed to even absolve Humanity of sin because it's still around for all to see today...PEACE! Check out www.uua.org

Answer 9

I think so, there are Jews who have accepted Jesus as the Messiah.There are Messianic Services, where Jesus us accepted as the Son of God, but worship includes the Jewish traditions.

Answer 10

Groups can call themselves anything they want. Jews for Jesus is just a bunch of fence sitters who were Jewish but don't want to commit to being Christians