Isn't Messianic Judaism the way to go, since it carries on the Jewish traditions & accepts Jesus as Messiah?

Question

Please advise.

Answer 1

Jewish tradition is unfortunately confused with what is may be referred to as Torah ("Biblically required") Judaism, but more well known as Orthodox judaism. In simple terms, being traditional implies nothing more than keeping the practices. At times you may find traditional Jews maintaining a somewhat more stringent level of observance, though still far from true observance.
Perhaps it can be illustrated as such: no one looks at the law as "tradition," hence traditional Jews do not feel so much bound or required to do any of their practices. Lack of requirement, more or less completely removes the essence of Judaism: G-d's word, i.e. what he wants you to do, not choose how to follow it on your own. Again, this would be like saying you don't believe in theft unless it is more thant $5000. That's picking and choosing, as well as playing around with the law. Now, traditional Jews, messianic or not, are commonly very much unaware of any necessity or requirement and what exactly Jew law dictates, so please don't go blaming them for not doing about what they don't know.

Messianic Jews are composed of Jews who may keep Jewish traditions and are convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. This is not in agreement with Messianic requirements at all. Perhaps not all, but all as far as the ones I know, are really run by Christian Missionaries. Since unknowledgeable Jews may not give up their practices so simply, they propose a Judaism with Jesus in it, and the aim is really at believing in Jesus and following Christianity.

Would Jesus have been the Messiah, all Jews would have followed him. In fact, there wouldn't be any doubt about the matter at all, between anyone in the world. The fact that he dead is, perhaps, the greatest indication that he is not he Messiah at all. Recall, belief in Jesus is the basis of Christianity, you can't follow Islam and Judaism beliefs just as much as Judaism and Jesus. For other select points (requirements): The Jews haven't all been gathered to Israel yet and Jesus had nothing to do with any returning at all, Jesus did not resurrect the dead, nor was he even from the house of David, as according to Matthew, Joseph was, yet he did not have sexual relations with Mary and tribal geneology in Judaism follows the father.

So to conclude, not only is Messianic Judaism not the best way to go, it is neither Judasim, nor Chrisianity, nor Messianic. For more in depth on this topic, I refer you the source I list, you need more I can direct you to alternative sources in the future.

Answer 2

Judaism does not accept Jesus as the promised messiah. (Messianic Judaism is an invention of Christian fundamentalist and not a recognized branch of Judaism.)

There are two descriptions of the messiah in the Jewish Tanak. One is a military leader like King David, and the other is a "suffering servant." Both are human beings. Neither is divine like Jesus.

Jews are monotheists. They do not accept many gods, gods that come in several forms or gods that can be worshipped as statues.

Jews respect the teachings of Jesus as a rabbi but they do not worship him. That would be contrary to the Jewish tradition and scriptures.

At the Council of Nicaea in 325C.C., it was decided that God was in three persons. Then, and perhaps more, today, many Christians disagree with this creed that was mandated by the Emperor Constantine.

Answer 3

There are some traditions that the New Covenant canceled out. For example Simon Peter received a vision that animals, which were previously understood as unclean. I don't know if "Messianic Jews" accept this or not. However, from my expierence, messianic jews don't actually accept any traditions from the Old which Christians do. Again, I'm speaking in very general terms theres alot of inadequate doctrine in 99% of churches anyway.

Answer 4

One of the major reasons why Judaism and Christianity are incompatible is because of what some sects of Christianity believe happened when Jesus Christ was forsaken.

A lot of Anti-Semitism stems from the belief that Jewish people in the court of Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus Christ to death by crucifixion. Some Christians believe that because of this, Jewish people forsake their own God, and in turn, their God forsake them. This is why and how the Gospel of Christianity was able to make it to the gentiles all over the world.

Judaism is a religion, but it is strongly seeded in the belief that the Jewish creed of people is the chosen race of humanity by God. Its not simply a matter of becoming a believer of Messianic Judaism, becuase Judaism is about more than belief, it is about bloodline.

Answer 5

I did some quick research on Messianic Judaism, and, although what I read was slightly confusing, it seems that it pretty much is close to what Bible-based Christianity is all about. 2nd Timothy 3:15-16 should give us some tips:

"15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Therefore, if God inspired the scriptures, should they not be what we use to discern what we should believe in? Compare what Messianic Judaism believes to what is recorded in the Word.

God, in His patience, decided to let the rest of the world have a chance at salvation after the Jews rejected Jesus (well, most of them, anyways). He opened the door for Gentiles (non-Jews) to share in His gift of salvation. However, He still accepts Jews who have decided to follow Jesus. The Law's purpose was to show the reality of our sinfulness and how we can't ever be "good enough" for salvation; when Jesus came He was the way for us to be saved.

Answer 6

Many Jews who've located that Y'shua is their Messiah convey on with they have been taught in Judaism on the grounds that that's what they recognise & Y'shua used to be & is a Jew. This is a ways larger than Jews going over to J4J & taking over christian approaches, throwing off the Feasts & gala's & the Sabbath & wasting their Jewish identification. What must be taking place is that Jews who uncover that Y'shua is the Messiah must dispense with all Judaism & christianity to comply with YHVH ELOAH & His TORAH simplest. Maybe there must be anything like a "Messianic Karaite" motion for desire of a larger word or rationalization.

Answer 7

You would love this guy named Ray Vanderlaan. He teaches at Focus on the Family sometimes. He has tapes out that you can order through Focus on the Family. He isn't Jewish but he is a Christian who spent a lot of time in Israel and learned all about their traditions. it is truly amazing to hear him speak because of the understanding he has of that culture. He can explain so much more about the things Jesus said and did and so many of the supposedly 'contradictory' passages in the Bible are easily understood in context with the culture.
Anyway, if you really want to explore that idea, he is a great person to listen to.
God bless

Answer 8

"Acepting jesus as messiah" is directly contrary to any Jewish traditon, so anything that calls itself "messianic judaism " has absolutely nothing at all to do with Judaism. It is just some made-up Christian nonsense intended only to convert Jews, so as such "messianic judaism" is a highly mendacious "religion" because it pretends to be something that it is self-evidently not.

it is NOT Judaism, it is Christianity. So its a lie.

Answer 9

I think the fact that you still follow jewish traditions isn't a bad thing by any means, but I think Jesus taught that many of them are unneeded, but I don't think He said that following them still was by any means a bad thing. Just looking around the world at all the different Christians, there are so many variations on how God is worshipped, yet all part of the Christian church, so who's to say that one thing is more right than another, at least as far as customs.

Answer 10

I was fortunate enough to attend a Satyr (sp?) for Passover. It was a beautiful and enriching experience. I think any religion with such deep, meaningful rituals and ceremonies should definetly be given credence! It's wonderful that they acknowledge the history of Judaism and celebrate the Old Holy Days. It is good to know where you come from! You will have a deeper appreciation of where you are now. :-)