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I don't think we actually have any (active) Jewish members, but we do have some members who seem to be well-informed about different theologies, so maybe someone can shed some light on this for me.

There was a "Jews for Jesus" bloke handing out pamphlets near one of the entrances to the university campus where my partner teaches. I always thought the "Jews for Jesus" movement was linked with Messianic Judaism, but...well, either I was wrong, or our local chapter needs to find someone smarter to hand out their pamphlets, because according to Pamphlet Bloke, "Jews for Jesus" is just a movement aimed at converting practising Jews to Christianity, and the pamphlet tells me nothing except where they're meeting and the location of a Christian bookstore. neutral

Messianic Judaism is something I find very confusing. I've always been under the impression that the fundamental theological difference between Christianity and Judaism is whether or not Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Christianity is just basically the natural progression of Judaism post-Messiah...right? I know that's an over-simplification, but that's pretty much the gust of it in ten words or less, yes?

Jews who believe that Jesus was not the Messiah are...well, Jews. But Jews who believe that Jesus is the Messiah are Messianic Jews, not just...I don't know, Christians of Jewish descent?

I know that another big difference between Judaism and Christianity is that, at least according to Orthodox Judaism, you're either born Jewish through a matriarchal line or you're not. You can convert to Reform Judaism without having Jewish ancestry, but Judaism doesn't seek converts the way Christianity does.

It just seems to me that Judaism and Christianity are kind of at odds with each other in several very basic, fundamental ways, so attempting to have a religion where they meet somewhere in the middle just seems...awkward at best.

If anyone has anything to share on the subject, that would be excellent.

note: I didn't intend for this post to be long, lol.



But they also believe he's the Son of God, unlike Islam.

Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God identify Jesus as the Word of God (like Christianity does), the "memra" of the Old Testament ("memra" being the Aramaic for "word"; in Hebrew it's "dabar" (DBR - dalet, bet, resh), the physical manifestation of God who wrestled with Jacob, the Second "Yahweh" in such verses like Genesis 19:24 and Amos 4:11, the creator/son of Proverbs 30:4. They admit the plurality of the Jewish Godhead in those Old Testament verses, yet they still consider it monotheism like Christians do. Some Jews are blind to what's written in their own scriptures like Jesus and Paul said, mostly because of not reading their law and the prophets honestly, holding on to their Rabbi's interpretation instead of what the divine revelation is actually saying. Those who recognize Jesus as messiah, are the ones who knew/know their Old Testament really well (for example, knowing how the word "Elohim" ["אלהים"] refers equally to the Most High God, false Gods and Goddesses, idols, and even demons—even looking at just Deuteronomy alone (to YHWH in Deuteronomy 4:35; to Idols in 7:25; to demons in 32:17); the problem isn't in having plural Elohim, but identifying who is the one highest in authority, the creator of all; like Christians, they associate the angel of the Lord as YHWH himself, and rightly so because the passage in Exodus refers to the angel in the burning bush as God.



God is in the bush, the Angel of YHWH is in the bush, they're both one in the same.


An article about the memra is even in their own encyclopedia, but most Jews don't get it (or they simply haven't read it); to quote an excerpt from it:



Note: the Targums are the Aramaic translation of the Old Testament.


So yes, Enj, Messianic Judaism isn't any different than biblical Christianity; it's a congregation of both Jews and Christians adhering to both the Hebrew and Greek scriptures. What stands out about the sect, from what I've seen, is how they know their Old Testament better than most individuals under the new covenant, they observe the biblical feasts days, the weekly Sabbath and dietary laws (how the apostles did, and how some other Christian sects still do). They can honestly say they live up to Matthew 4:4, man living by every word that comes out of the mouth of God, thus the whole bible.

However, a disclaimer: humans will be humans, some congregations start upholding other things on par with God's word; what I've noticed about some of these Messianic congregations in particular, is how they add Jewish traditions on top of keeping the law (like Hanukkah and Purim [this one's not a big deal since it's about dedication to God]), but not as harmless: requiring a dress code for the gatherings, and I don't mean for modesty's sake, but quality of clothing (that's not biblical, James 2:1-4, clearly people with shabby clothing are in the congregation in those verses; some of these Messianic groups wouldn't tolerate that).

Then, there are congregations identifying as "Messianic" but they're mostly comprised of Christians, ones who believe Jews and Christians should worship together. And biblically, that's whats suppose to happen, as described by Paul (Romans 9:6, 11:25, more so spoken about at length in chapter 11) and the prophets (Zechariah 8:23; Micah 4:2; Isaiah 56:1-8 ). But aside from straight up telling us, this concept is outright exemplified throughout the Book of Acts (Gentiles attending the Jewish synagogues on a weekly basis or both Jew and Gentiles meeting up in homes).

Gentiles in the Synagogues:










Meeting in Homes:













Jews and Christians are not at odds once they genuinely read their sacred texts. What their religions have evolved into, sure, they're not compatible at all. But when interpreted correctly on the basis of the Law of Moses, the prophets and what Jesus and the apostles actually spoke, it is the same doctrine. Even in the Sanhedrin (of the Talmud), they acknowledge Isaiah 53 is about the Messiah, not Israel as a nation as most modern Rabbi's like to say. Sanhedrin 98: http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_98.html, scroll down to 98b, where it starts talking about "What is his [the Messiah's] name?" That paragraph ends with a direct quotation from Isaiah 53:4. Thus ascribing Isaiah 53 as a prophecy about the Messiah, who comes and dies for the transgressions of its people and to heal them of their sin and intercess on their behalf.

Messianic Judaism is no different than Peter, Paul, James, John (all Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah, worshiping with Gentiles (non-Jews such as Greeks and Romans), and they kept the appointed times of Leviticus 23, which Paul alluded to in Acts 18:21, 20:16; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8. I probably would join a Messianic temple if I could find one near me and one that didn't tack on requirements that contradict the epistles. For now, I'll just keep meeting in small groups in the home of fellow believers and online. razz

Traditiooooooon!!! blaugh