Is it possible to become part of a Messianic Jewish Congregation if you are not Jewish?

Question

Just to explain: I'm a "gentile", but interested in Jewish roots in Christianity, and how the Christian church has been tainted by man-made rules/rituals.
I still believe in Jesus, so is it possible for a non-Jew to attend Messianic Jewish church (or is it Synagogue?) and become a "Messianic Jew", or would I have to go through the whole conversion process into Judaism to do that?

(Please: Serious answers only. I know that not everyone on here believes in anything religious, but please respect everyone's religious opinion and only respond if you know the answer to this. No snide remarks or rude comments, thanks.)

Yes (Hetty): Messianic Jews are still Jewish ethnically/culturally/etc. but believe in Yehoshua (Christian Jesus) as THE Messiah, as opposed to regular Jews who are still waiting for the Messiah to arrive.

Answer 1

It rather depends on the Messianic Synagogue in question. There has been a recent move in the UMJC (Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations) to want to maintain their legitimacy by having only Jewish members. As a result many congregations have dropped out of the UMJC. Similarly the MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America) only permits Gentiles to be "associate members". Of course, this sort of racism is completely unknown in Orthodox Judaism. Once you have converted there is no difference between you and anyone that was born Jewish. You can read more about racism in Messianic Judaism here:
http://www.anti-racism.supanet.com/idx/m_idx.htm

But don't get the idea that all Messianic Congregations are that way. A great many of them have equal membership and participation for both Jews and Gentiles. And more recently there have even been ordinary Gentile Christian groups that have realized the errors of traditional Christianity and have given up on all those things and started praticing Messianic Judaism as a congregation - keeping Torah, keeping Sabbath, keeping the Feasts, etc.

So, play it by ear. Attend services and see what the congregation is like. But just because you are treated in a certain way at one congregation - don't get the idea that all Messianic Congregations are going to be that way. In my local metro area there are about a dozen Messianic congregations of one type or another, but I've never heard of any of them turning away Gentiles. It is going to depend on where you live as to how your local congregation is.

From where you are coming from I would strongly recommend you get involved with First Fruits of Zion:
http://ffoz.org/
And read the articles at Tim Hegg's Torah Resource:
http://TorahResource.com/

To find Messianic congregations in your area see the list here:
http://yashanet.com/messcon1.htm

Answer 2

Yes, from what I've heard, in many cases, the majority makeup of "messianic congregations" are gentile.

For the record, the only groups who recognize "Messianic Judaism" as a Judaism are some (but not most) Christian groups and the Messianic Jews themselves.
Not a single group within Judaism, be it Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform recognize it as a Judaism.

The reason for this is simple. When one examines the fundamental beliefs of "Messianic Judaism" one will realize that it is pretty much identical to Protestant Christianity. That puts it at odds with the fundamentals of Judaism. Thus, it doesn't matter whether the members are Jewish (mostly) or that they have the trappings of a synagogue, at essense they are not a Judaism, but a weird form of Protestant Christianity.

So, if that is what you are looking for... then I guess it fits the bill. But I would suspect that as a Christian, you'd probably be more comfortable with a church that is honest enough to call itself a church.

Answer 3

Many people, Christians and some Jews as well, erroneously believe that just as one can be Black and Christian, just as one can be Oriental and Christian, one can also be Jewish and Christian. It is not true. The Jews are not a race. There is no genetic code passed from either mother or father to the child that makes that child a Jew. Even if all, or some, of the genetic code in a child could be proved to be of Jewish Origin, that would not make the child a Jew. Jewish law determines who is a Jew, and Jewish law is quite clear. If a person's mother is a Jew, and that person has not converted to another faith, then that person will be considered fully Jewish, so long as that person wishes to identify solely as a Jew. Although one cannot convert to become a member of a race, for example one cannot convert to become an Oriental or an African-American, one who converts to Judaism does, indeed, become fully a Jew. Similarly, if one converts from Judaism to another faith, one is no longer a Jew.
So the answer to your question is YES; you may join whichever congregation you wish to join.

Answer 4

If you go to a Jewish Rabbi to convert, they are suppose to turn your away three times, as a guage of your sincerity. If you go to a Messianic Jewish Congregation and they do the same, then probably they will follow the same concepts as a Rabbi would in converting you to Judaism. That means at least a year of study, a trip to a mikvah and if you are not circumcised and male, a circumcision. However, if the Messianic Jewish Congregation quickly welcomes you with open arms and your "conversion" is done in a matter of weeks, then it is like a Christian church. If that is the case, then it is just another Christian church with trappings that make it appear Jewish.

Answer 5

Yes to your question...They follow the Jewish Tradition and the Christian. A Gentile is an unbeliever, regardless of race. Messianic Jews keep the original traditions of the early church. They do have a Rabbi or "teacher". It is another Christian denomination and are for the most part "Spirit Filled". In conclusion they are Christians.

Answer 6

Im sorry, im a little not so smart, but so is Messianic Jews like Christians, but still follow Jewish culture?

-hetty♥

Answer 7

Yes, you may attend. You can be a "Messianic Gentile." I know some gentile Christians who attend Messianic synagogues.

Answer 8

My father belongs to such a congregation in Ohio, and he is a former Catholic and Lutheran with no Jewish blood.

Answer 9

I am sure you could join their church and go to their meetings.