Messianic Jews.... A few questions...Need Not be a MJ...PLEASE?

Question

My husband converted to Messianic Judaism after we separated. We are still very close. I think the religion is the only healthy thing he has aver done. But I feel stupid when I ask questions. I left him because of his arrogance:

What is a Messianic Jew?
Do they celebrate Christmas or Hannuka?

I was a little confusing with the structure of the "?" and I apologize. SOmeone told me it is a cult? I am a barefoot Southern Baptist and tend to be a little frightened of other religions. :))

Answer 1

Wow! I'm having a hard time with these answers. I'm sorry, but most of the answers here are pretty ignorant with little research.

I'm sorry to hear about your split with your husband. I'm going through the same thing myself. My husband left me in January for another woman in January, 2007.

I grew up Southern Baptist, but didn't know my Bible well. I was constantly searching for a home church, but was never satisfied - the problem was within me, but it took many more years to figure that out. When he left me, I sought God with my entire heart, mind, and soul. But I felt so empty at church - in a non-denominational mega church - one of several I've attended. But I was at this church for several years and on my way to membership. But it wasn't enough. I wanted to really know God and to do that I figured I needed to know my Bible more. I was on the search for knowledge - enough knowledge that would explain God and my purpose in life. I wasn't finding it where I was. So, where was I to look?

I'm sorry to hear of your husband's arrogance. One of the answers determined that all Messianic are arrogant or something. But I believe it is more accurate to say all Messianic are human. Because I know arrogant Catholics, Muslims, Mormons, Baptists, Lutherans, Atheists, and well - gee it goes across the board really.

The bottom line is:

Christians believe Jesus was sent to this earth to live as a man and die for all sins. If you believe that and accept the free gift that Jesus (Yeshua is his Hebrew name) died for your sins, you are Christian. Thus, Messianic are Christians.

Messianic/Messianic Believers/Messianic Jewish - who cares! Honestly, under the Christian religion there are several denominations. Under the Jewish religion, there are several sects. Messianic are Christians ----but have sects (like Jews). Why??? To give us a headache of course! No, no, no! Because first there are three different levels of how strict they follow the Bible.

Here's a general conservative view: If it doesn't hold up to the Bible it isn't true. Some Christians separate "the God of the Old Testament" and "the God of the New Testament." Quite frankly, there is only one God, and if you want to tell me he simply changed his mind on what laws to follow and not to follow, what other things will he change his mind about? That leaves me pretty unsure about my salvation and I'd be afraid that God would change the rules there. So, as a Messianic, I believe in ONE GOD. And I believe in the entire Bible (Old and New Testament). If the original scriptures were good enough for Jesus, then they are good enough for me. What right do I have to toss them away like used tissues?

Don't take my word for it. The Hebrew way of thinking is to prove it. So, prove it to yourself. Read about it. Go to the library. Read online. But don't believe everything you read. In the end, you have to make your own decision. And I can gaur you will find negative things, even things that say Messianic are a cult. If you search Mother Theresa, you'll read about some awful things that we know are just not true as well.

I recommend starting with a book called RESTORATION by D. Thomas Lancaster. It is not the author's intent to convert you, but to open your eyes. I can't say I agree with him 100%, but it's the best book that I've ever read on the subject. I was captivated by every chapter and hard time putting it down. Chapter 12 was very amusing, but proves a very good point.


Let me quote the back of the book:
TORAH IS FOR CHRISTIANS
Biblical Christianity was originally a sect of Judaism that believed in Jesus and revered the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) as the core of her scriptures. Restoration is a riveting argument for a return to that original, biblical expression of faith in Jesus.
Discover for yourself the profound beauty of Torah life, the celebration of the biblical Sabbath, and the appreciation of God's holy feast days. your eyes will be opened to another dimension of the faith that is beginning to reemerge among Christians worldwide.
Lancaster answers common theological objections to the Torah, while demonstrating that Christians are already keeping more of God's Law than they realize. This thought provoking, theological boat-rocker is a fun-to-read, inspiring journey into the world of the Bible.


Oh, and Messianic Believers celebrate Chanukah (or Hanukah or Hanukkah). Who really knows, since there were no vowels originally in Hebrew. God commanded us to do the feasts, because they help bring us closer to knowing him. Every feast comes with a story - a story to remember who he is and where we came from. Yes, we. We are Jews and Gentiles who believe that Jesus died for our sins and that we have eternal salvation. Pessach (Passover) is a great example. It never said only the Jews were released. They went out in multitudes. Jews and Gentiles went out together. And when Jesus was about, just where did those Gentiles go to church anyway? There were no churches, so they went to the synagogue.

Even looking at our history books are insightful! But remember that history was usually written by the winners. Here's what I've discovered (in brief): Jews were being treated terribly and were being persecuted. Jews worshiped on Saturdays. So, if you were a believer and didn't want to die a horrible death or be tortured, you changed your Sabbath to Sunday. Then the Muslims came about and because Saturday and Sunday were taken, they took Friday. And in the midst of that came Constantine - the first Christian Ruler. hahahaha Can't think of a bigger joke we have taught our children to be a fact. Constantine was no Christian, he was a politician. He made his country bigger, upon penalty of death, by putting everyone under one religion. So, the Orthodox Church was born. Ah, but that had disagreements. Maybe because the scriptures were now rewritten in Greek and there were more than one translation? So, now we have the Easter Greek Orthodox and the Western Greek Orthodox Churches. Oh, but then came Rome! Now we have the Roman Catholic Church. But the Pagans were having so much fun with all their "holidays". So, the "Church" said, we have "holidays", too. We're fun, too. So, all these "Holy Feasts" got all changed around to compete with the pagans.

Okay, so I know I've offended more then one person. It's easy to do on such a hot topic and it is not my intent. This is my own research, which happens to be agreed by many scholars out there. Never heard it put quite that way? Well, try broadening your research. It's out there and free for the taking.

The point is each of you need to seek God out for yourself. Read the Bible - because it's what we have. And pray about the conclusions you draw. Remind yourself that devotions are merely someone else's opinions and you should just read your own Bible and pray that you will draw the conclusions that God wants you to get out of it. That's what I did. Guess I'm a true Bible Thumper now.

Sorry to be so long-winded. It is a subject I've become very passionate about. Bless you on this journey and praying you find truth and peace.

Shalom Aleichem,
Maris

Answer 2

I would like answer to this quoted question of yours?

What is a Messianic Jew?
Do they celebrate Christmas or Hannuka?

Messianic Jews are Torah observant Jews who believe Yeshua as their Jewish Messiah. After they have received the Blood Atonement of Yeshua, they continue their Halakh of the Torah led by the Ruach HaKodesh. They are circumcised Jews in Covenant Avraham males are circumcised on the eight day after birth, keep Kosher, observed the Shabbat keep the Biblical feast, Chanukah, purim.

What they do not observe?

Most of them do not celebrate christmas and easter - which are origin of pagan.

Do not worship on Sundays

Believe in the Shema - Oneness Echad

Answer 3

If you want an accurate answer, then you need to ignore the first few. They are clueless and do not even know what a 'messianic jew' actually is.

'messianic jews' are Christians. It's as simple as that. They follow the same beliefs as any other Christian congregation. These groups were initially set up primarily by Baptists with the express intention of converting 'real' Jews.

Nobody can be BOTH Jewish AND Christian. To believe that Jesus was the messiah, and that he was G-d incarnate here on earth, are purely Christian beliefs. And these beliefs are HERESY in Judaism.

Only Judaism gets to define Jewish identity. Could you be both Muslim and Catholic?
No.

Could you be both Hindu and Protestant?
No.

Could you be both vegetarian and a meat eater?
No.

Well, same logic: nobody can be both Jewish and Christian.

I would advise you not to challenge your ex husband on his beliefs for the simple reason that 'messianics' are INCREDIBLY arrogant and narrow minded. They actually think that they understand the Jewish bible (Tanakh) better than Jewish people can, which is absurd and very insulting to Jews!

If your husband tries to get you more involved with the messianic group, then you would be well advised to steer well clear. They are a cult, and there are documented cases of the way they sometimes pressure people.

'messianic jew' = Christian

'completed jew' = Christian

'fulfilled jew' = Christian

Jewish = Jewish

EDIT TO ASKER

- THE answerer beneath my post has totally misunderstood. The reason why all Jews are troubled about 'messianic jews' is because they are actively doing missionary work and are not just misrepresenting Judaism, but also ENCOURAGING anti Jewish feeling by claiming over and over that as Jews we deliberately rejected Jesus and that we are therefore no just damned for all eternity but also 'ignorant' and 'misguided', to say the least.

Now I don't care about getting 'best answer' but one thing I will say openly: I am really fed up of people asking questions that are essentially about Judaism - only to then ignore EVERY answer from a Jew and give the best response to a Christian!

Christianity does not get to define who is Jewish. Christians do not get to say to us, as the person posting below me has: 'oh, it's fine, so what if a person is Jewish and believes in Jesus, it's perfectly all right'.

She doesn't get to make that call - belief in Jesus as messiah is OUTLAWED in Judaism. Does that make it clear, if I use that word? Belief in a man as being part divine is HERESY in Judaism.

Only Judaism gets to define Jewish belief and Jewish identity. I don't get to define it. My fellow Jews don't get to define it. Christianity doesn't get to define it. 'messianics' certainly don't get to define it. Torah, alone, defines it.

Answer 4

Messianic Jews are JEWISH! I am one, and I am Jewish by blood. We as MJ's blend Jewishness and Christianity. Our services consist of Liturgy, Prayer, Praise and Worship, Torah Services, and Sermons. We believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as our Messiah. Not all MJ's are Jewish, but we accept Jews or Christians.

Answer 5

A messianic Jew is a Jewish person who believes that Jesus Christ is the true Jewish Messiah. They are still culturally "Jewish", but believe in Jesus Christ and Christianity. And yes, they still celebrate Channukah, but I don't think that most celebrate Christmas. Plus, remember that the first beleivers in Jesus were Jews, and Jesus was a Jew.

And it is too bad that he is arrogant, that does not seem to in keeping with the teachings of his Messiah.

Answer 6

It's a bit of an oxymoron. If you are a Jew, by definition you reject Jesus. In this case, it's an attempt to merge the two religions and make it easier for Jews to convert to Christianity. I'm a bit surprised that they don't have Moslems for Jesus or Hindus for Jesus as well!

Answer 7

Messianic Judaism IS Xianity.
They believe in J*sus and they celebrate all the Xian holidays.

Answer 8

A messianic jew is a jew who believes in Jesus,
cause the real jews believe that jesus was just a good man and keep bringing lambs and stuff for the forgivness of sins
messianic jews believe jesus was god and that he died for their sins and so they dont kill lambs anymore
i believe they keep christmas cause thats about the birth of jesus and stuff or probably they keep both or a mixture :)

Answer 9

Primarily, "Messianic Jews" are NOT JEWISH WHATSOEVER.
these people are not considered Jewish by *ANY* authentically Jewish group. (and if you can get all jewish groups to agree on something, its probably pretty signifigant)

these groups are an extension of the EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN church. designed to deceptively convert less-educated Jews through lies and untruths.

it is *ABSOLUTELY* impossible to believe in Jesus as the messiah or more divine than other humans, or anything like that, and be Jewish.

this would be equivalent to a person who claimed they were christian, but did not belive that Jesus was the son of God, Messiah, or ever even existed.

Judaism is NOT purely a race. it is a family. and one who belives in things such as that are fundamental to christianity, such as Jesus, remove themselves from this family.

Answer 10

Jews do not recognize Messianic Jews. They call them a type of Christian.
If your husband was a Jew who became an MJ, good for him.
If your husband was a Christian who became an MJ, that is rather redundant.

Answer 11

The ones I know avoid "Christmas" like the plague. (one of the things about them I admire) It is a purely heathen festival, and Almighty YHVH made it pretty clear how He felt about heathen festivals. Hanukkah would be allowed, since the Savior evidently participated in that, though my friends to not .