Any Messianic Jews out there?

Question

Could you explain what you do the same as other Jews and what you do differently? And , is your family traceable back to the Messianic Jews of Jesus' time, or were you a convert?
Thanks. I have no idea about this subject and would like to know more.

Answer 1

I posted this in response to a similar question. It gives a lot of information.

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. Most have always been Christian and religiously they are closer to a fundamentalist version of Christianity than Judaism. It is the traditions, the rituals, music and culture of Eastern European Jews that they embrace.

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.

But Messianic Judaism is not Judaism, because the acceptance of Jesus as the Christ violates the old testament prophecies as to the coming of the messiah (Jews do not believe Jesus fulfilledthe prophecy) and since the old testament is clear there is to be one and only one God, worshipping Jesus is a direct contradiction to this, the most important law of the old testament.

Answer 2

its a convergance that started int he 80's in mid america; some Jews became Christinas, and some Christians thoguht it was not wise to forget their basic Jewish holidays and wanted to learn more about the same holidays the Jesus himself actually honored, so the two got together and made several foraml meetings to educated one another, and volia', the rest is history. It now is more of a Jewish twist with a Christian dialog and of course the Christian Salvation but much heavier Jewish bokks and Jewish flavor, since it is after all, still the Jewish faith.

Answer 3

http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_messianicjews.htm?terms=messianic+jews

here's a neat link. it's concise enough for the answers page, i think

I'm technically a convert as i was raised christian. however, my grandmother was Jewish. we found a messianic temple here in saint louis that welcomed my brother and i in. once a jew, always a jew, they said! i was already kosher, so i'm finding few problems with the religion. i have been searching for some time, and feel this may be my place.