Messianic Jews.....?

Question

This is just my lack of knowledge here (raised a protestant), so these may be crazy questions. Also, I know I'm asking a lot, so I've numbered them in case you only want to answer one or two. Thanks so much for your input - these questions have been bugging me for quite some time.

1) Do you still practice Judaism (sacrements, holidays, etc.) just like you did before your conversion? Any that you had to omit?
2) Do you think there are Jewish traditions that Christians should celebrate?
3) Do you celebrate "Christian" holidays now?
4) Do you go to church or a synagogue? If synagogue, would you welcome other Christians to worship with you?
5) It took me a while to realize that being Jewish is not just about your religion, but about your bloodline. Have you always thought of them as one, and if so, was this a difficult part of your conversion?
6) What are your thoughts about the belief that you are "God's chosen people?

I appreciate your answers, but I'm even more confused than when I started. I don't understand how you can say you can't be Jewish and believe in Christ. God's promise was to Abraham and his descendants - that's bloodline to me. I can fully understand how you can be of the bloodline of Abraham, yet believe that Christ was the Messiah - wouldn't you still be a Jew, yet not practicing the religion - aka Messianic Jew?

Answer 1

With a full blooded Jewish mom I could take out Isreali citizenship just by declaring it, and I am regarded as one of "God's chosen people".

But I found THE WAY, and I have become God's adopted child.

The only Jewish thing about me are my Jewish relatives.

In fairly recent history, Nazi death camps murdered people with even one % Jewish blood, including my full blooded Jewish parents (mom's parents).

If Nazis came back, they would make it their business to kill ME! They did not accept Christianity as a defense against Jewish blood!!!

Answer 2

From the Jewish community's viewpoint, these people are Jews by birth only. They are no longer considered JewISH, may not participate in any rituals or functions, etc. they are basically heretics. If they do tshuva (repentence) and return, they will be welcomed back, however.

Messianic "Judaism" is a deceitful movement, founded by fundamentalist Christians in an attempt to make their surroundings, prayer services, etc. be more appealing looking/sounding to uneducated Jews. These Christians (mainly Baptists) have spent over 1 BILLION dollars over the past decade in programs specifically targeting Jews for conversion to their idolatry.

The only thing "Jewish" about it is the fake Jewish clothes they wear, and how they do their buildings up to look like synagogues instead of churches. It is a CHRISTIAN organization, and it always has been.

None of the leadership in these organizations had Jews on their boards of directors or really anywhere else for years and years - it was all Fundamentalist Christians - and it's only recently that more Jews are really unfortunately falling for these guys and becoming members of their movement.

Most Jews do not fall for it unless they are uneducated about Judaism, and the criteria that the Messiah must meet, and all his circumstances of birth, etc. (which have nothing to do with being born of a virgin and a God, nor being a virgin human blood sacrifice for sin).

On the other hand, sometimes people born into Jewish families simply do not have Jewish souls, and they just go home to where their souls belong - Christianity, Islam, whatever. Just like there are those born into non-Jewish families who one day find they have a Jewish soul that has loudly awakened and THEY must also go home where their soul belongs, and they convert to Judaism.

For any "Messianic" Jews who are actually JEWS, and not non-Jews in Jewish drag, and who are uneducated in Judaism and the Messiah, please see the following links. It is absolutely nothing like what Christianity has, which you may not be aware of.


http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philoso...

http://www.messiahtruth.com/response.htm...

http://ohr.edu/ask/ask00j.htm

http://shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/html/fa...

http://www.beingjewish.com/toshuv/whynot...

http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=1...

http://www.jewsforjudaism.com

Answer 3

The people who are answering you are not Messianic Jews; that is why you are getting weird answers.

I'm not a Messianic Jew either, but I know a few, so I'll attempt to answer.

Most celebrate the same Jewish holidays as other Jewish people do, and they also observe the Christian holidays as well.

They usually have their own churches. Messianic Jews sometime go to traditional synagogues, but they are usually not welcome there since most other types of Judaism think that becoming a Christian means betraying your Jewish roots, and they are also afraid that the Messianic Jews will try to convert people.

If you have any other questions, try asking these people:

Answer 4

I agree with L'Chaim. Seems wrong to me that some would tell someone who is Jewish by race, that they are no longer a Jew because of their religious beliefs. I can't think of any other race in the world that forces a religion upon your conscience at birth.

I have always understood Jews who believe in Christ to be Christians, just like the rest of us....the chosen ones. (And just like many of the apostles who were Jewish!) After all, Paul made it clear that "not all who are descended from Israel are Israel." In other words, it is the "children of the promise" who are God's children...that promise comes only through Christ, the Messiah....

Answer 5

Judaism is NOT a bloodline!!! This is a lie Messianics tell you to try to get you to convert!!! IT IS NOT A RACE OR BLOODLINE. You cannot be Jewish and believe in J*sus because it is CONTRADICTORY to the RELIGION of Judaism (since that's what Judaism is, a religion.) I do not use caps lock to shout but to emphasize certain words. If you would like to learn about Messianicism, I suggest you do some learning on the Jewish religion first, and then maybe you will understand why Messianics are **not** Jews.

Peace

Answer 6

In my opinion, the answer to the questions depends on the individual. I recently discoverd that my entire family on my mothers side was 100% Jewish until that is my great grandmother intentionally married a man because he was not Jewish! I am now 26 years old. All my life my family lied about our ancestory. Apparently, my ancestors decided to "hide" the fact that they were Jewish from the rest of the world and to their own descendants! My mother knew of this because her mother was Jewish. Everyone was until my Great Grandmother married my Great Grandfather. However, my grandma, God rest her soul, required my mother not inform me of this. So, my mom never told me until a few months ago! I am hurt, angry and feel that in a sense religion has been "taken" from me. In 4th grade I was sent to a Lutheran private school and was abused. My mom removed me and to this day curses religion. So, here I am, trying, praying to God to "help" me. I have faith. I was "temporarily" raised Christian though was not permitted to read The Old Testament. So, guess what I am reading now. The Old Testament. I feel that I fall somewhere between Jews and Messianic Jews. I believe and worship God as my Lord and believe that Jesus Christ is my savior but not my Lord. I recently have decided to celebrate both Christian and Jewish holidays. I suppose Religion is what you make it. All I know is I have faith, I pray and I AM NOT ASHAMED OF MY JEWISH ANCESTORS. However, I am ashamed that my family chose to hide the truth. I forgive them but I feel betrayed. So, I leave you with this thought. Jewish people and Christians must not attack Messianic Jews. My gosh, think of the Nazis. Everyone, stick together please!!!

Answer 7

Umm.. to echo what's already been said, "Messianic Jews" are **not** Jewish. Period.

This is taken from the reference section of this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews_for_Jesus

1. “"We believe that Jewishness is a birthright. It is inherited from our parents. Our people are not of one culture; we have diverse cultural expressions (Ashkenazi/Sephardi, Georgian/Russian, Ethiopian, Persian, etc.). Our people are not of one religion. While Judaism might be the traditional religion for many Jewish people, Jews are still considered Jewish even though they might be atheists or even if they embrace other beliefs. Those who say that Jews who believe in Jesus are errant Jews or misguided Jews are entitled to their opinions. But they are not entitled to negate our Jewishness. We are Jews by birth and that cannot change."
2. "There is virtual unanimity across all denominations [of Judaism] that Jews for Jesus are not Jewish." (Kaplan, Dana Evan. The Cambridge Companion to American Judaism, Cambridge University Press, Aug 15, 2005, pp. 139-140).
3. "For most American Jews, it is acceptable to blend some degree of foreign spiritual elements with Judaism. The one exception is Christianity, which is perceived to be incompatible with any form of Jewishness. Jews for Jesus and other Messianic Jewish groups are thus seen as antithetical to Judaism and are completely rejected by the majority of Jews". (Kaplan, Dana Evan. The Cambridge Companion to American Judaism, Cambridge University Press, Aug 15, 2005, p. 9).
4. Jewish groups:
o "To make the record clear, Jews for Jesus is a Christian missionary organization – period." Jews for Jesus: Jewish or Christian? You Decide, Jews for Judaism website, retrieved September 11, 2006.
o "Messianic Jewish organizations, such as Jews for Jesus, often refer to their faith as fulfilled Judaism, in that they believe Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies. Although Messianic Judaism claims to be Jewish, and many adherents observe Jewish holidays, most Jews regard Messianic Judaism as deceptive at best, fraudulent at worst. They charge that Messianic Judaism is actually Christianity presenting itself as Judaism." (Balmer, Randall. Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism, Baylor University Press, Nov 2004, p. 448).

Answer 8

Jesus only established one God ordained organization on theis earth when He left, and that is the Church. It is not of this world, it is a heavenly kingdom. When anyone comes by faith to Jesus Christ they become part of His body and all other religions must go. Judaism is not part of Christianity and must be let go. Read the epistles of Paul who wrote the book of Galations to tell Jewish people to come out of their Judaism. Peter was a Jew but when he became a Christian he stopped practicing Judaism and gae his life to Christ. Both jews and Christians will tell you to pick you side and quit fence sitting. Are you a Christian? Then be one.

Answer 9

1. Messianic "Jews" are Christians. There is no conversion necessary.
2. All people should practice the 7 Noahide Laws. The 613 Commandments are for Jews only.
5. Judaism is NOT about bloodline! Anyone can convert to Judaism.

The Chosen People
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Appreciating an often-misunderstood idea.
The Jewish nation is often referred to as "the Chosen People."
Many people (including Jews) are uncomfortable with this idea. They perceive the concept of a "Chosen People" as racist and mindful of the Nazi concept of a supreme "Aryan" nation. It appears to contradict the accepted Western ideal of all people being equal before God.
Is the Jewish concept of choseness racist?
When the Torah refers to the Jewish people as "chosen," it is not in any way asserting that Jews are racially superior. Americans, Russians, Europeans, Asians and Ethiopians are all part of the Jewish people. It is impossible to define choseness as anything related to race, since Jews are racially diverse.
Yet while the term "Chosen People" (Am Nivchar) does not mean racially superior, choseness does imply a special uniqueness.
What is this uniqueness?
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. If others would have (and they were offered the choice), they too would have joined in this special covenant which was sealed upon the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
If a privilege is offered to everyone willing to pay the necessary price, nobody can protest that those willing to make the extra effort are being shown favoritism. For example: It is reasonable that an employee who agrees to work overtime, attend training seminars, and manage special projects, should be entitled to a performance bonus -- particularly if each employee was given the same opportunity.
The essence of being chosen means responsibility. It is a responsibility to change the world -- not by converting everyone to Judaism, but by living as a model community upheld by ethics, morals and beliefs of one God. In that way, we can influence the rest of mankind, a "light unto the nations" (Isaiah 42:6).
Judaism is Universal
Further, Judaism is not exclusionary. A human being need not to be Jewish to reach a high spiritual level. Enoch "walked with God," and Noah had quite a high level of relationship, though neither were Jewish. Our tradition is that all of the 70 nations must function together and play an integral part in that "being" called humanity.
According to Judaism (Talmud - Sanhedrin 58b), any person can achieve a place in the World to Come by faithfully observing the seven basic laws of humanity. These seven laws are named the "Laws of Noah," since all humans are descended from Noah:
1) Do not murder.
2) Do not steal.
3) Do not worship false gods.
4) Do not be sexually immoral.
5) Do not eat the limb of an animal before it is killed.
6) Do not curse God.
7) Set up courts and bring offenders to justice.
Torah is for all humanity. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, he specifically asked God to heed the prayer of non-Jews who come to the Temple (1-Kings 8:41-43). The Temple was the universal center of spirituality, which the prophet Isaiah referred to as a "house of prayer for all nations." Non-Jews were welcome to bring offerings to the Temple as well. In fact, the service in the Holy Temple during the week of Sukkot featured a total of 70 bull offerings, corresponding to each of the 70 nations of the world. In fact, the Talmud says that if the Romans would have realized how much they were benefiting from the Temple, they never would have destroyed it!
Most other religions say that non-believers are condemned to eternal damnation. Even the calendar systems of Christianity and Islam reflect an exclusionary philosophy; each begins with the birth of their respective religion. The Jewish calendar, on the other hand, begins with the creation of Adam, the first man, teaching us the intrinsic value of every human, even though the Jewish religion was not yet born.
For this reason, Jews do not proselytize in search of converts. One can still merit a place in heaven, no conversion necessary.
Conversion
An important component of Judaism's non-exclusionary approach is that any person -- regardless of national or racial background -- can choose to accept the Torah and become part of the Jewish nation. Indeed, some of the greatest names in Jewish history - Ruth, the ancestor of King David, and Onkelos the Talmudic Sage -- were converts to Judaism.
According to the Code of Jewish Law (the "Shulchan Aruch"), there are three requirements for a valid conversion (paralleling the Jewish experience at Mount Sinai):
1) Mitzvot - The convert must believe in God and the divinity of the Torah, as well as accept to observe all 613 mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah. This includes observance of Shabbat, Kashrut, etc., as detailed in the Code of Jewish Law, the authoritative source for Jewish observance.
2) Milah - Male converts must undergo circumcision by a qualified "Mohel."
3) Mikveh - All converts must immerse in the Mikveh, a ritual bath linked to a reservoir of rain water.
All of the above must be done before a halachically-valid rabbinical court of three Jewish men who themselves believe in God, accept the divinity of the Torah, and observe the mitzvot.
Author Biography:
Rabbi Shraga Simmons spent his childhood trekking through snow in Buffalo, New York. He has worked in the fields of journalism and public relations, and is now the Co-editor of Aish.com in Jerusalem.
http://tinyurl.com/y2tymh
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