Why do Christians insist that we are God's chosen people this is not our (Jewish) philosophy?

Question

G-d offered his word, Torah, to 72 nations and all of them turned it down for various reasons. We, Jews, blindly accepted the Torah from Moses’ hand. We accepted that God would lead us, show us the way, and protect us. We are a people of faith. In fact, faith becomes the defining factor. Why?-Because we chose God.

In the NT Christians believe that we were chosen. But we accepted G-d without knowing His rules, before He uttered His laws we cried out, "You are Lord our G-d father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." So, Christians were do you get your information that we are the Chosen ones, when in fact, we chose G-d, because we chose holiness.

The reason to why I say this is because I have noticed that alot of people use this racist idelogy against the Jews.

I agree with יששכר no where in the original Hebrew translation would you find this. In fact, I dare you to show me the exact passage in the Hebrew language where it is mentioned.

Our sages point out that, "all human beings are God's people, as it says that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Further, the great prophet Malachi said, "Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?" (Malachi 2:10) In fact, the Talmud also states that Adam was created from the dust of all four corners of the earth (so to speak) so that no one nation could claim the distinction of being better.
Historically, however, the world slipped away from its relationship with God, and eventually the entire world was idolaters. Abraham re-discovered the idea of one God, and chose to accept the challenge to change the world through an understanding of monotheism and morality. Through his dedication and willingness to give up everything for God, he was chosen - and his descendents after him - to become the teachers of morality.
In other words, Abraham chose God, and thus God chose Abraham."

Rabbi S. Simmons (Orthodox)

Thus, it goes to what I said before we chose G-d

Our sages point out that, "all human beings are God's people, as it says that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Further, the great prophet Malachi said, "Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?" (Malachi 2:10) In fact, the Talmud also states that Adam was created from the dust of all four corners of the earth (so to speak) so that no one nation could claim the distinction of being better.
Historically, however, the world slipped away from its relationship with God, and eventually the entire world was idolaters. Abraham re-discovered the idea of one God, and chose to accept the challenge to change the world through an understanding of monotheism and morality. Through his dedication and willingness to give up everything for God, he was chosen - and his descendents after him - to become the teachers of morality.
In other words, Abraham chose God, and thus God chose Abraham."

Rabbi S. Simmons (Orthodox)

Thus, it goes to what I said before we chose G-d

Historically, it goes back to Abraham. Abraham lived in a world steeped in idolatry, which he concluded was contradicted by the reality of design in nature.

So Abraham came to a belief in God, and took upon himself the mission of teaching others of the monotheistic ideal. Abraham was even willing to suffer persecution for his beliefs. After years of enormous effort, dedication and a willingness to accept the responsibility to be God's representative in this world, God chose Abraham and his descendents to be the teachers of this monotheistic message.

In other words it is not so much that God chose the Jews; it is more accurate that the Jews (through Abraham) chose God.
Choseness was not part of God's "original plan." Initially all of humanity was to serve the role of God's messengers, but after the fall of Adam, humanity lost that privilege, and it was open for grabs. Only Abraham chose to take the mantel.

Answer 1

Some people take it to the point that makes the Jews look like they're superior (not trying to be mean in what I said there), but when I read up about Judaism you'll see that 'chosen' means like 'you shall be a light unto the nations'. Since G-d gave you His Word, He wanted you guys to take it out into the world and make it known to those who didn't wanna hear about it at first, or who thirst to hear it.

Answer 2

I think there are many passages in the bible where Judah and Ephraim (i.e. the northern kingdom) and their people are called God's chosen people. I'm not going to list references but I think you'll probably find 100s.

You perhaps are basing your studies on the Talmud and not the Torah. Or a secular Jew?

Some christians have believed in "replacement theology", i.e. that Israel was replaced with the Church since the Jewish Establishment rejected Christ, and then led the people away.

However, this doesn't seem very biblical to me - many of the prophecies in the New Testament indicate that at Christ's 2nd coming he will return to deliver the Jews from a huge assailant murderous army, then they will accept him; he will come in full power. St Paul was baffled with the rejection of Christ by many Jews, see Romans 9-11, but said that they were acting out of legalism and lacked faith, and so missed it as previous generations of Jews had (many of the prophets were rejected and killed, and the Israelis often ignored God according to the historical and prophetic books in the Torah/"Old Testament").

Answer 3

The important thing about the Jews is that they lived in a harsh, ecologically impoverished habitat near the junction of three continents (though one of them is obviously just "pretend", i.e. Europe). This meant they developed an "us and them" approach to the Universe, separating God and humanity and both of those from nature, leading to a particular attitude. Their faith was then modified by someone claiming to be the Messiah and by the appearance of Paul, making it evangelistic. This enabled it to go to Africa, Asia and Europe, then spread across the whole planet and subdue it. Therefore, the Jews are very important. They were in exactly the right place and the right kind of place for their spirituality to influence the world hugely. Having said that, the historical state of Israel existed for just a few decades in an area which has belonged to and been occupied by a huge diversity of cultures and peoples over millennia. The Jews have no more right to it than the English have to live in southern Scandinavia, where our ancestors lived at the time the Jews lived in Israel. The rapture is simply about not involving oneself in the evil machinations of the world system. It has nothing to do with people shooting up into space.

Answer 4

I'd always been taught that G-d offered the Torah to the whole world and we were the ones who "chose" to follow it. I'd always assumed that's where they got their idea, but then I read their Bible and it says a lot of weird stuff in there...I have no idea where they get that idea from. I'm starting to think it's just another thing they want to use against us to be able to call us elitist.

Teacher: I humbly ask you to answer my question regarding a program I am in over the summer having to do with avodah zarah.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070506125738AABu1ZP&r=w

Thank you

Answer 5

God chose the Jewish race as the seed that Christ would come through. And yes the Jew did in fact accept the God of Abraham as their God. But no you didn't choose God before He chose you. Isn't it written even in the OT that God said " it is I who chose you ,even before the foundation of the world" ? So how is it possible that the jew accepted God before God chose them. For to do so is to take away the honor that God bestows upon all those who go the extra miles to serve Him.
The honor He bestows upon FIRST the jew (because of all that they will have suffered for God. And then the Gentile.

Answer 6

I'm not sure. but I think it has to do with the covenant God made with Abraham after Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son when God asked him to. I think this was the defining moment that made the descendents of Abraham God's chosen people. I could be wrong, I'm no expert.

Answer 7

Dozens of prophesies pointed to the Messiah. When, where, how, why and to what extent he would come.

When he did, he showed by example and fulfillment of other prophecies that he was the Messiah. The jewish nation, as a whole, rejected him for not liberating them politically from Rome.

At his death, in fulfillment of everything as the theme of the Bible, he fulfilled the purpose of the Mosaic Law and established a new covenant that included both jews and gentiles.

Answer 8

Sorry, but I worked for a Jewish congregation for many years and they considered themselves God's chosen people.

And if you read Torah and Haftarah you will see the nation of Israel referred to as G-d's chosen bride, his vineyard, etc.

You are the only Jew I have encountered who believes that you chose G-d and it is all about your will, not the will of G-d.

Answer 9

"Chosen" is one of those words that people will define in many different ways, and is not really an exact translation of any Hebrew word used in the Bible.

Answer 10

Thanks for the education.

When I was a christian, I was told Jews were the "chosen" people who rejected God's blessings and the Christ...

...sorry, it's just what they drilled into me.