Because Jews are considered, "The Chosen People" by G-d, do you think this puts Christians in a position...

Question

where they must "prove their faith" and that somehow, Jews have an "automatic IN" with G-d?

Just a curious question as I have noticed that "some" Christians seem to have a belief that because Jews are considered, "The Chosen People" then all others are somehow "inferior" in some way.

Personally, being Jewish myself, I believe we are all equal in the eyes of G-d, regardless of our beliefs, but I'm curious to know how others perceive this concept.

For Fraylover...Jews do not ever write or type the word G-d, because it is considered offensive to G-d if and when the word's final disposition is it's destruction. In other words, in the Torah, the word for G-d is not written out fully. It is usually represented by two letter "Yuds", even though the fully written name would be Yud-Hay-Vav-Hay (plus vowels)...the two yuds look like two apostrophes, but it's pronounced "Ad-nai". Sooner or later, that written word will meet it's final end on paper or parchment...the paper will decompose or it will be torn or shredded, or burnt...So, to avoid destroying G-d's name in any way, we don't write it fully, but we understand what the word is. That is one of the ways we show our respect for G-d's name.

Answer 1

In a college religion course I am currently taking, I was told that Jews do not necessary consider their "Chosen People" position as a status above everyone else, but rather a position that requires them to have more responsibility to show love, kindness, etc. to others. This also ties into the persecution Jews have experienced throughout history. I don't exactly remember who was the theologian that proposed this idea, but we had just finished Elie Wiesel's "Night", the author's memoir's of the Holocaust.

Answer 2

The poster above really doesn't know what he is talking about. Yahweh isn't a name at all. It's an attempt to fill out the Tetragrammaton YHVH. You will not find it ANYWHERE in Jewish writings - only in Christian translations. The purpose of writing L-rd or G-d arose in writing. It is considered very disrespectful to write the full word on paper where it might be thrown away. Tanakhs are handled with special respect - I can't recall the custom for disposal off the top of my head. There is disagreement as to whether that custom is really necessary online because the words are only virtual, but definitely if written on paper. Letting the titles be destroyed casually would be *greatly* disrespectful. Hopefully some of Jewish contacts will answer this and elaborate more fully. HaShem is used in writing because it is a reference to the name or title, not the name or title itself.

Answer 3

The idea that anyone is the "Chosen People" displays ignorance and intolerance, the ingredients of discrimination. The Israelites claimed that title to simply elevate themselves above their neighbors in their own eyes. Most civilizations try to make this claim to gain support of their people to try to conquer others or other not so divinely installed reasons. The Incas called themselves the "Children of the Sun", the Egyptians called themselves "Osiris' People" and the Classical Greeks all believed they were descended from Zeus. Even the modern United States' "manifest destiny" is a form of this. Religions claiming equality for all are especially full of hypocrisy if they are claiming to be "chosen by God."

Answer 4

That seems like a common misconception that people might conclude based on what the are taught and in how they interpret information biblical or non biblical jewish but there is not one single race or nationaly that has a free ticket to heaven because god is a just and fair God. All people make mistakes and sin because it's in our nature so no one is exzempt from Gods judgment based. The "chosen people" that you are speaking of are thouse who have excepted christ as the pesonal savior, are reborn again, and ask for his forgiveness. We are in the beginning all chosen people some of which are left behind due to the fall from his grace. I hope this is helpful to you and i'm aware that some of my statements may be bious seeing that i'm a baptist and all religions have their on set of belief of which i do respect. - God bless you love - Avi, 16

Answer 5

first of all. the bible says that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This puts us all on the same playing field, in hell.

thus God created a plan for salvation for everyone, jew and gentile alike.

Read the second book of acts: This explains what is needed for either jew or gentile to escape hell.

There is another point when the holyghost fell on gentiles. they were then commanded (that word is used specifically) by either peter or paul to be baptized.

After the judgement, there will be a "reminent of isreal". but dont count on being part of it. God gave us the gift in acts chapter 2 to be saved. anyone that does not do this, which is available to everyone in the world, rejects God.

sorry to be a little rough with my words, but that is just how it is. bibically speaking

Answer 6

Jewish people have to enter the same way everybody else does. We are all equal in that respect. God just chose to reveal Himself to the Jewish people first. That makes them true legitimate children of God. Christians are adopted into Gods family as heirs of the promise. Christian, Jew, Zoroastrinism, Hindu, Shintoism, Islam...whatever the case may be, we all have to enter through the same gate.
Christ Jesus is that gate. God Bless You....Peace.

Answer 7

Whilst I have no idea why you censored the word 'God', but I'm not sure you are correct in assuming that everyone agrees with the statement 'Jews are considered, "The Chosen People" by G-d'

What about the 3 billion or so hindu, buddhist, and muslim people in the world? Not sure if they would agree that Jews are 'the chosen people'.

Answer 8

Bible teaches that there is no partiality with God for all have sinned and fell short of his glory (Rom. 3:23; see context from Romans 2:17-3:23).

Also Bible teaches that just because you part of a "chosen" Nation, that doesn't mean you, individually, are chosen.

"In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring" (Rom. 9:8).

"What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works" (Rom. 9:30-32)

This means...there is no automatic IN with God. It is only by faith--and not by works--we prove to be child of God.

Answer 9

No I don't feel inferior or feel that I have to prove my faith.
God chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Jesus Christ would be born – the Savior from sin and death (John 3:16). God first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Genesis chapter 3). God later confirmed that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason why God chose Israel to be His chosen people. God did not have to have a “chosen people,” but He decided to do it that way. Jesus had to come from some nation of people, and God chose Israel.

Answer 10

Being a former Jew myself I can say that no man is more special than the next. Jews are not superior to anyone and their status as being "chosen" was based on God's promise to Abraham. Christians who feel they are superior because of Jesus is deluded. They are no better than anyone else and over confidence will be your downfall. One more thing....Jews did not kill Jesus. So to the one that said they lost their status when they killed Jesus...get your head out of your a**