The Baby Boomers' Messianic Movement

The modern Messianic movement is a first-generation movement: birthed in the 1960s and '70s. But that first generation of pioneers are ageing, however, and a new generation – our generation of Millennials – must rise up to take up the mantle.

As the Millennial generation takes the torch, we recognize challenges in Messianic movement the Boomers have left to us: fundamentalism, rigidity, majoring on minors, a lack of critical thinking, failing to deal with issues relevant to today’s generation, an inability to plan for the future.

In a new episode of the Messianic Walk, Messianic apologist J.K. McKee and I discuss these challenges and propose reasonable paths forward to help modern Messianics navigate these difficulties:

A Mission Statement for Messianic Judaism

In a new episode of the Messianic Walk podcast, John McKee and I discuss his take on the mission statement for Messianic Judaism.

His statement, part of John’s coursework in Messianic studies, is formulated like this:

Today’s Messianic Jewish community has the widescale conviction that it composes “the end-time move of God.” This is based in the Biblical conviction that it is actively involved in the salvation-historical trajectory of “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). A massive salvation of Jewish people is to be regarded as “life from the dead” (Romans 11:15). Given the Apostle Paul’s magnanimous burden of the salvation of his kinsfolk—“I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood” (Romans 9:3, TLV)—everything that today’s Messianic movement does, should be with the expressed purpose of trying to enhance the mission of Jewish outreach and evangelism! Today’s Messianic movement was specifically raised up by the Lord to proclaim the good news of Israel’s Messiah to the Jewish community, and emphasize that they do not have to assimilate into a much wider non-Jewish Christianity to properly express faith in Him.

Many non-Jewish Believers, with a sincere and genuine love for the people and Scriptures of Israel, have been legitimately called by the Lord to be active participants and co-laborers in the salvation of Israel, along with Messianic Jewish Believers. Many of these people are to be regarded as modern-day Ruths, whose loyalty to Messianic Judaism is steadfast to the point of dying with their Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters (Ruth 1:16-17). They have a distinct role to play, in provoking non-believing Jewish people to Messiah faith (Romans 11:11). More importantly, as Jewish and non-Jewish people come together in a special and unique unity, in Messiah Yeshua, they should be representing the “one new man/humanity” (Ephesians 2:15)—a testimony and snapshot of the greater redemption to come to the cosmos in the eschaton (Ephesians 1:10).

-John McKee

John and I discuss this vision in detail:

• Is the Messianic movement really the end-times move of God? Why we say it is, and what Biblical reasons we have for making that claim.
• Are there other reasons to serve in the Messianic movement besides theology about the last days?
• How and where the movement has diverged from the original vision of Jewish outreach, both good and bad.
• Is the Messianic movement a more authentic Christianity?
• Why the Messianic movement views assimilation differently than Christianity. (And how we know God doesn’t want Jews to disappear or lose their Jewishness.)
• The Ruth calling: the role of non-Jews in the Messianic movement

We hope this episode will give some clarity around the movement’s purpose and calling, and how you, fine Kineti reader, may be called to serve in the Messianic movement.

You can subscribe to the Messianic Walk podcast on your iPhone, Android, PC, or Mac here.

Messianic Jewish Problems with Hebrew Roots

In a new podcast episode, Messianic Apologist John McKee and I tackle difficult issues separating Messianic Judaism and Hebrew Roots.

For the uninitiated, the Messianic movement encompasses both Messianic Judaism and Hebrew Roots.

In Messianic Judaism, the goal is Israel’s salvation by making a space where Jews can follow Yeshua as Messiah without losing their Jewish identity.

In Hebrew Roots, the goal is a return to the Jewish roots of Christianity, removing the extra-Biblical cruft created by the Church over the last 2000 years.

Go to most any Messianic congregation today, and you’re bound to find folks from both camps. These groups need each other, and yet, often there are theological disputes and disagreements that can prevent fellowship.

In this podcast, John and I look at 4 major issues that the Messianic Judaism movement sees with Hebrew Roots, and offer some ways to navigate them:

1. One-Law Rigidity – dogmatism around the idea that non-Jews must follow the Torah in the same way that Jews do
2. Two-House identity – which claims many or most non-Jews in the Messianic movement are actually descendants of the lost 10 tribes of Israel
3. Sacred Name Onlyism – the idea that you must pronounce God’s divine name, יהוה, and that you must never use circumlocutions like “Lord”, “God”, or even “Adonai” or “Elohim.”
4. Divergent Calendars – Calendars that differ from the modern Jewish (Hillel II) calendar, resulting in dates of the Feasts differing from mainstream date.

These 4 issues were raised by Rabbi David Schiller of Congregation Etz Chaim in Richardson, Texas, during an interview with John in an earlier podcast.

In this episode, John and I talk about how to navigate these difficult issues — and have fellowship in the presence of disagreement on these issues — towards a Big Tent Messianic movement.

If you enjoy the Messianic Walk, you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or email. Enjoy, friends!

Shelanu TV: Controversy Over Jewish Evangelism in Israel

God TV announcing the creation of Shelanu

Kehilat News from Israel reports the launch of Shelanu: a new Hebrew TV channel in Israel run by believers in Yeshua. 

Quick to follow up, some Christian Zionist organizations criticized the move, with one Evangelical leader urging Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to shut down the station, saying, "Any attempts to convert Jews or downgrade their religion will only sow undue hatred at a time when we should unite in the face of darkness."

And, unsurprisingly, the anti-missionary Tovia Singer slams the station, framing Shelanu as sneaking into homes to convert your children. Dr. Michael Brown reviews and responds to Singer below:

It seems to me this is a matter of uncertainty in the pro-Torah wing of the Messianic movement. Unlike Jews for Jesus or Chosen People Ministries, which certainly have no qualms about Jews becoming Christians, Messianic Judaism is more focused on bringing Yeshua into Judaism, rather than Jews into Christianity. 

For example, Messianic Judaism Rabbi Itzhak Shapira argued against Shelanu as well, saying, 

Shalom Friends, this is a sensitive post, but I have to make our position clear. Recently we all seen the news of the new Messianic Israeli station S'helanu that is trying to launch in Israel as a Messianic station in Hebrew. People asked me to give my feedback in public. I refrained in putting anything in writing. However now many asked me to comment and when I see so many negative comments I had to speak up.... When I saw the original video from God TV talking about bringing Jews to "Jesus-Christ" I was equally sad and horrified as this impact our work in Israel in a middle of things that you can't imagine that are happening that are truly incredible. How arrogant, proud it is of us to release a video like the one that was made to announce the channel. This is not the way to go about it friends.... For the record, I do believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, I have suffered more for this name than almost anybody due to the "Return of the Kosher Pig", and I continue to speak to my people about the real Jewish Messiah. I am not ashamed of that, and I will not hide it, but friends THIS IS NOT THE WAY. Ahavat Ammi as an organization exist for this reconciliation, but if I bring Jews to Christianity I have done nothing. Let us pray for the real unity in the body of Messiah where we develop culture of honor towards each other.

I understand his point -- this will draw some lines in the sand and stir division between some religious Jews and Christian Zionists -- but on the other hand, aren't we called to be emissaries of Messiah? If Yeshua is really the Messiah, shouldn't we make the case, even if it's more Christian and less Torah-observant than we may like?

What the Messianic movement is (and isn’t)

What’s the purpose of the Messianic movement?

I came across a Facebook thread this week that showed to me again the confusion about the purpose of the Messianic movement.

As someone who has been in the Messianic movement since childhood, I find a lot of his reasons for leaving the Messianic movement come down to misunderstanding what our purpose is.

The Messianic movement doesn’t exist to confirm modern Judaism

“I got into the Messianic movement, due to my desire to confirm to the Jewish faith (as it exists today).”

In my experience, this sentiment often leads to apostasy.

Setting out to confirm an existing religious sect is as wise and fruitful as a Southern Baptist searching the Scriptures trying to confirm Southern Baptist doctrine. Or a Sadducee setting out to confirm their now-obsolete brand of Judaism. The whole premise is wrong.

Our goal must be seeking God and Messiah above everything else. If we place other ideas, philosophies, and even religions above that, we are creating a kind of idol.

Yes, Messiah closely aligned with Hillel Pharasaic Judaism. And in the Scriptures, Paul identifies himself, post-Damascus, as a Pharisee. But does that mean the Pharisees were correct in everything or that Pharisaic Judaism is God’s Approved Brand of Religion? Of course not.

If your desire is simply to confirm a particular Judaism, you’re not seeking God or Messiah first. You’re seeking religion first, and probably an identity within that religion; apostasy.

And for folks looking to confirm modern Judaism by practicing Messianic Judaism, you’re in for a world of hurt. Messianic Judaism is rejected by the Jewish world as anathema: worshiping Messiah as God is considered idolatry, and therefore Messianics and Christians are seen as idolaters.

This leads a person to say, “Well, I know Judaism isn’t the problem – since I’m trying to confirm it – so the problem must be with the Messianic ideas. Ideas like Messiah being the gateway to God, Messiah giving eternal life, granting forgiveness of sins, Messiah’s sacrifice on the cross, and Messiah’s divine and eternal nature.

A person pursuing that is quickly led away into apostasy.

As one Messianic blogger wrote in his final post announcing his apostasy, “Judaism is more important to me than Yeshua.”

The Messianic movement is not a movement to confirm modern Judaism. The Messianic movement exists to confirm the identity of Messiah, not to confirm a particular kind of Judaism.

The Messianic movement doesn’t support low views of Messiah

“I was leaning strongly towards the Messiah being a created being instead of the eternal word of God. It wasn't until I read that the early Jewish believers had 'rites' like the Orthodox Churches that I truly repented of all that.”

In this gentleman’s case, he got into the Messianic movement because he had a low christology – that is, a view of Messiah that sees him as something less than the gospels make him out to be – and he believed the Messianic movement would be a good home for that belief.

Some folks have hangups about the exact nature of God. Others fear gentile influence with regards to the trinity or other formulations of God’s oneness. For these reasons, some move into a position that is easy to hold intellectually, but difficult to hold scripturally: that Messiah is a prophet and human messiah, but not God.

It’s easy to hold that view intellectually: God reveals to us in the sh’ma that God is one. Yeshua, then, becomes a king, prophet, and messiah, but any worship of him or prayer to him becomes idolatry.

Simple.

But the problem with this view is the Scriptures themselves:

God reveals to us in the gospels that Messiah is more than a man; he’s divine and one with God. He’s worthy of worship, praise, honor, power, glory – the kind befitting only God himself. Revelation speaks of the throne of God-and-the-Lamb, as if God and Messiah are singular. Even the old Messianic prophecies of the Tenakh – like Zechariah 14 – say that it is Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey – the personal name of God, Yahweh – who sets his feet on the Mt. of Olives, vanquishes Israel’s enemies, and brings world peace. In Isaiah, God has become my salvation, every knee bows to God and confesses him. In the New Testament, God becomes salvation (in Hebrew, Yeshua), and every knee will bow to him and tongue confess him as Lord. (Philippians 2:11)

To hold a view that the Messiah isn’t divine, isn’t one with God, isn’t an emanation or image of God, well, we must eventually throw out the New Testament.

The Messianic movement exists to confirm the identity of Messiah as both Lord and God. Anything less is a departure from what we’re about.

Conclusion

So far we’ve discussed what the Messianic movement isn’t: it’s not a welcoming home for low christology, nor a home to simply confirm modern Judaism.

In the next post, I’ll address this man’s comments about Messianics and liturgy: are we Messianics opposed to liturgy? To rote prayer? More when I return…after shabbat. Shabbat shalom.

Torah-seeking Messianic gentiles are a work of God

"I am a non-Jewish Messianic Believer, and have been told that my calling as a 'Messianic Gentile' is to go back to a church and not become Torah observant."

In the broad Messianic world, there has been a large movement of Torah-seeking gentiles.

In fact, many Messianic ministries like First Fruits of Zion, Outreach Israel Ministries, and Torah Resource, are supported largely by non-Jews who are seeking a Torah-based lifestyle.

This was unexpected. The Jesus Movement of the 1970s, when God’s spirit was poured out on millions of Jews and gentiles, spurring the birth of the modern Messianic movement, did not anticipate all these non-Jews seeking Torah. It’s been my experience that Messianic Jews don’t really know what to do with all the Torah-seeking gentiles, except be ashamed of them.

Some Messianic believers, particularly those in the Messianic Judaism sub-movement, have reacted negatively. “You’re Torah observant? Pfft! You’re just playing Torah, not following it in the proper manner. Go back to the Church!”

Such people will cite 1 Corinthians 7, Paul’s recommendation to “remain as you were called.”

You know, where Paul says, paraphrasing,

“Circumcised? Stay that way! Uncircumcised? Stay that way! Slave? Stay that way! Free man? Stay that way! Unmarried? Stay that way! Married? Stay that way!”

Each person should remain in the situation in which God called him.

This is now being used against Torah-seeking, Jesus-following gentiles.

Should Messianic gentiles remain as they are, and cease seeking Torah?

My friend and Messianic scholar J.K. McKee has an excellent response.

J.K. McKee – Examining Paul’s Rule in 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

He notes how this same passage in 1 Corinthians has historically been used to justify slavery and theologically chastise those slaves who sought freedom: "Were you called while a slave? Remain as you are.”

It has been used to chastise women who leave abusive marriages: "You’re married - remain in the condition you are called!"

Religious authorities have repeatedly abused 1 Corinthians 7 to put less favorable believers – slaves, women, and gentiles – in their place.

McKee cites Christian bible scholarship and teaching which notes, and commends avoiding, the historic abuse of this passage:

“Paul’s...counsel...[in 7:24] can be mistaken as a call to inaction, to do nothing, or even to embrace the status quo. There are circumstances that the gospel cannot abide and we must be unmistakably clear about that. For example, no one should remain in a physically or emotionally abusive situation. The gospel does not call for one to do that. In a similar way, Paul’s counsel to ‘remain’ should not be used as a justification for not seeking better circumstances for oneself and an improvement of one’s circumstances.”

McKee digs further, getting into the Greek linguistics to answer whether the “remain (abide) as you are” pertains to a vocational calling of one’s status in life, or a calling by God to salvation and sanctification.

The takeaway is this:

Non-Jewish believers who are seeking God’s Torah – and for the first time in a long while, recognizing the whole of Scripture as holy and good and righteous – are drawn by God to live a life characterized by the Scriptures more than the secular world. Divine spiritual betterment. Messianic gentiles are evidence of God-at-work in the nations.

That confounds some who don’t understand what God is doing.

Perhaps Messianic Judaism should remain in the condition in which it was called: bringing Jews to the Jewish Messiah and Jewish Torah. It’s a righteous and holy mission. But legislating and regulating and discouraging God’s move among gentiles is a wild tangent and a distraction, and ultimately opposes a work of God in the world.

Is Messianic Judaism Really a Part of Modern Judaism?

 Reblogged from TorahResource, courtesy Caleb Hegg.

Within our modern culture and societies there are a plethora of different beliefs. Christianity has many different branches, and even within those branches we see offshoots. A Baptist is no longer just a Baptist, but must define what type of Baptist they are. Southern, reform, seventh day, etc. While many people in our western culture understand this break down within Christianity, it seems to be lost when speaking about Judaism. Even those that understand the four major branches of Judaism (reform, conservative, orthodox and Hasidic) consider the identity lines within this religious structure to all fit within these definitions. Now, to muddy the waters even more we have seen the rise of “Messianic Judaism.” Even within this title we begin to see numerous issues that need to be addressed. The word “Messianic” stems from the word “Messiah”, and denotes one “who is inspired by hope or belief in a Messiah.” (Definition taken from the Oxford American Dictionary) With this definition we could rightly say that almost all Judaisms today are Messianic. Beyond this, with such a definition, every branch of Christianity today falls under the title “Messianic”. Perhaps this is fitting as Messianic Judaism tends to have one foot in both camps. But the real trouble comes when we attach the word “Judaism”. While I don’t believe I will give the ground breaking definition that will answer the age old question of “who is a Jew”, I will attempt to give a definition of what “Judaism” is, and in so doing will attempt to show that “Messianic Judaism” is not in fact a part of Judaism as can be defined today. I will then attempt to demonstrate similarities between Hasidic Jewish theology and Messianic Judaism in an effort to show that both of these groups took some specific theology from the the followers of “The Way”, i.e., first century Messianic Judaism. My contention is, while Messianic Judaism does not fall under the modern definition of “Judaism”, Hasidic Judaism has borrowed theological beliefs (even if unknowingly) from Messianic Judaism, thus challenging the concept of Judaism as a whole within our modern times.

What is Judaism?

I am not attempting to define what makes a person a Jew, or Jewish. Rather I am attempting to define a religious order to which one holds, i.e., how do we know if a person is practicing Judaism? This short definition is nothing more then a summary of thought, as I don’t believe I will give such a mountain of a topic the justice it deserves in such a short exposition. Others such as Michael L. Satlow, in his article “Defining Judaism: Accounting for ‘religions’ in the study of religion”, as well as Michael Fishbane in chapter three of his book Judaism: “Revelation and traditions”, have given a much more in depth look at this topic and the theological implications that come when answering such a question. My definition is an attempt to define Judaism as those, in our modern time, who practice “Judaism” might see it, also giving consideration to the scholarly view of Judaism by weighing both Satlow and Fishbane’s work (cited above). In so doing I hope to formulate a broad understanding of Judaism as it is today. Both Satlow and Fishbane would most likely disagree with my minimal description of Judaism, yet with respect to the discussion of defining this religious order in our modern times, I am only trying to present a bare bones definition.

One thing I believe Satlow has shown within his work is that the definition of Judaism has changed throughout time and geographical location (Satlow, p. 10). Thus, a definition of Judaism in 1CE, is going to be different than the definition in 101CE (perhaps even more so within this specific time frame as the temple was destroyed). Likewise, defining Judaism in the 4th century CE. is going to be different than defining Judaism in our current time.

With this in mind, I agree with both Satlow and Fishbane that those who practice Judaism consider specific writings to be authoritative. Even within the different levels of halachic observance, certain books are held by those who practice “Judaism” as authoritative. In our modern time those that hold to Judaism affirm, at the very least, the Torah, Mishnah  and Talmud as carrying divine authority. Those that practice Judaism are required to observe the five high holy days, as well as keep a kosher diet. Yet, since the seventh century (and perhaps even later) a kosher diet has grown to encompass the separation of milk and meat. What is more, those that practice Judaism believe that anyone who claims to be divine is a heretic, thus Yeshua, according to modern Judaism, was a heretic and the belief that He was the Messiah goes contrary to the very beliefs of this religious order. Therefore, according to my definition, those that practice Judaism in our modern time hold to a dietary standard (even if this fluctuates between different groups), authoritative books (even if various groups accept certain parts of these books as authoritative over other parts of the same book), and adherence to specific Jewish holidays (and traditions).

I am fully aware that this definition brings its own set of problems, however, the task of defining “Judaism” is one that is much easier said than done. From the outset of this definition we may notice a specific issue. Those who say they practice Judaism, but are not as “orthodox” as others, are left outside my definition. Some within the Conservative tradition, and almost all of the Reform sect are now placed outside this description of Judaism (something with which many orthodox would happily agree). While some within the Conservative sect might be walking the line of Judaism, they might better be considered a fringe group, much like the Seventh Day Adventists within Christianity. However, if given this definition, those within the Reform and Messianic sects might better be likened to the Mormons within Christianity. They hold to some of the same basic teachings, but they have rejected some fundamentally core beliefs, and therefore have gone off the proverbial deep end. Although many within these sects consider and call themselves part of Judaism, the majority of Torah observant Judaism do not. Perhaps more important to note is the fact that anyone who affirms Yeshua as the Messiah is then left out of such a tradition, making the term “Messianic Judaism” an oxymoron in and of itself.

Many might disagree with this assessment by stating that the followers of “The Way”, i.e., “Messianic Jews” in the first century were certainly a viable sect of Judaism. To this I fully agree. Those that practiced Judaism in the first century while fully affirming that Yeshua was the Messiah were indeed a sect of Judaism… in that time. According to my definition there was no such thing as “Judaism” as we know it today, within the first century. The Mishnah and Talmud both had yet to be written. Separating milk and meat was not even considered in the 1st century, and many within Judaism were still waiting to see if Yeshua was  the long awaited Messiah. This however has changed. Judaism is not what it once was.

The Theological Formation of the Tsadik

I will now turn my attention to a specific theology that is held by many sects that fall under my definition of Judaism and the more specific title “Hasidic”.

Joseph Dan in his article titled Hasidism: Teachings and Literature (http://www.yivoencyclopedia.org/article.aspx/Hasidism/Teachings_and_Literature) in the Yivo Encyclopedia (from now on abbreviated “JDYE”)  states that the concept of a leader being responsible for the spiritual life and acting as the intermediary between such a community and God, was first taught by the Ba’al Shem Tov. This teaching was later formulated by Elimelech of Lizhensk and Ya’akov Yitshak Horowitz, the Seer of Lublin, as the theology of the “tsadik”. JDYE states that the “conception of religious leadership that resulted came to dominate – and distinguish – Hasidism.” Dan goes on to say, “Without adherence to a leader and his dynasty, there is no Hasidism.”  Thus the theology of the tsadik within Hasidic communities is foundational, as well as a necessary identity marker for groups labeled as such. While this foundational belief was formulated for Jewish communities in the later half of the 18th century, it is my belief that such a doctrine was alive and central for observant Jewish believers of Yeshua since the first century. While the Hasidic wings of Judaism would strongly object to the notion that any of their theology stemmed from some form of “Christianity”, the similarities between the Hasidic belief in a tsadik, and the Messianic Jewish role of Yeshua within believing communities are striking (Christianity not excluded).

The Tsadik in Hasidic and Messianic Belief

The core of the theory of the tsadik maintains that there is a pact between the leader and his community, which exists on two levels, spiritual and physical. On each level, the duties of the leader and those of the community are clearly specified. On the spiritual level, the community owes the tsadik complete faith and loyalty. It has to perceive him as the intermediary between themselves and God—as the divine representative in their midst—and their worship of God is to be directed through him. Complete loyalty to the tsadik and his dynasty on the part of the Hasidim and their families is demanded, and a Hasid identifies himself according to this dynasty. (JDEY)

From the outset of this description we see parallels between the theology of the tzadik and the relationship that Yeshua has with his followers. A Hassidic community “owes the tsadik complete faith and loyalty.”

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believe in the name of the only begotten son of God. (John 3:16, 18)

But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin so that the promise by faith in Yeshua the Messiah might be given to those who believe. (Gal. 3:22)

And Yeshua cried out and said, “He who believes in me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. (John 12:44)

“It has to perceive him as the intermediary between themselves and God”

Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. (John 14:6)

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. (Heb. 8:6)

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Messiah Yeshua. (1 Tim. 2:5)

“as the divine representative in their midst”

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Col. 1:15)

I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)

“and their worship of God is to be directed through him.”

Yeshua answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” (Luke 4:8)

After coming into the house they saw the child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him… (Matt. 2:11)

And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. (John 9:36)

“Complete loyalty to the tsadik and his dynasty on the part of the Hasidim and their families is demanded, and a Hasid identifies himself according to this dynasty.”

The concept of loyalty to a dynasty is not lost within Messianic Judaism (or Christianity and traditional Judaism). Yeshua was to come through the line of King David (2 Sam. 7:16-19), and the writer of Matthew begins by showing that Yeshua has come through this dynasty. Thus, the kingly dynasty that has been maintained by Judaism and Christianity since the time of David, is the same loyalty that Messianics have, and therefore translates to direct loyalty of the Messianic Jewish tsadik’s dynasty, i.e. loyalty to Yeshua’s dynastic line. Beyond this, those that follow Yeshua as the true Messiah, and the leader of their sect, (i.e. their tsadik) find identity within Him.

“For his part, the tsadik uses the faith that the community puts in him in order to focus the spiritual power of all of them together; he aims to employ it, on earth and in the divine world, to protect and advance the spiritual needs of the community. The tsadikuses this power in order to uplift his followers’ prayers to the divine world, pleading that their sins be forgiven and their repentance accepted, and that divine providence be perpetually extended to them.” (JDYE)

Once again we see parallels.

Who is the one who condemns? Messiah Yeshua is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who intercedes for us. (Rom. 8:34)

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. (Matt. 9:6)

And Yeshua seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5)

…The tsadik’s role as an intermediary requires him to move, spiritually, from the divine realm to earth and vice versa, in a constant rhythm. (JDYE)

For Messiah did not enter a holy place made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb. 9:24)

lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matt. 28:20)

The doctrine of Messianic Judaism has always held that the Messiah Yeshua sat down at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly places (Acts 22:33, Rom. 8:34, Eph. 1:20, Col. 3:1, Heb. 1:3 and more), yet is in the midst of His community always. Thus the notion that the head of a community can move from the spiritual throne room of God, to the physical world of his people, is one that has been established since the ascension of Yeshua.

“The tsadik, in turn, had three primary material obligations relevant to each of his adherents. First, it was his responsibility to endow every one of his believers with sons, health, and livelihood. Throughout the history of Hasidism, extending to today, thetsadik has used all of his powers to ensure that each adherent will have at least one male offspring. Second, the tsadik prays, and sometimes intervenes with regard to medical treatments, for the health of his Hasidim and their families. Finally, he gives detailed advice, direction, and assistance concerning choices of employment and business, so as to make possible at least a modest standard of living.” (JDYE)

While this might seem out of the realm of possibility, Yeshua’s followers are even more specific, saying that their Tsadik is in control of every aspect of their lives. The idea that Yeshua has complete control over His followers lives and their well being, and will give or withhold whatever He deems in their best interested is established within the Apostolic Scriptures.

And Yeshua came up and spoke to them, saying, “all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18)

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers of authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Col. 1:16)

Messianic Judaism has always taught that Yeshua is the one who has the power to produce offspring for His followers, as well as direct them in their daily lives. Beyond giving these things to His followers, it is He that provides these things for the entire world. Thus, from a Messianic Jewish perspective, it is our Tsadik that grants blessings to the tsadiks of other communities, and ultimately to their followers. There is nothing that the tsadik of a community can do to help their followers, but rather, it is our Tsadik that grants such blessings.

Beyond all this, the first citation of anyone calling their leader a tsadik is in the first century work by a follower of Yeshua.

My little Children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Yeshua the Messiah, the Tsadik. (1 John 2:1)

Conclusion

We have seen that the term “Messianic Judaism” carries a set of problems from the outset.  Many Christians would say that a belief in Yeshua as the Messiah brings us under the umbrella of Christianity, even if we are practicing things that “look Jewish”. On the reverse side many non-believing practicing Jews would take great offense at the idea that those within Messianic Judaism are claiming to practice some form of Judaism. Groups such as the Breslov,  Bobovers, Satmars, and the very vocal Chabad Lubavitch might claim that Messianics are borrowing practices and rituals that are not rightly ours. However, it is my belief that if modern Hasidism can say that Messianics are wrongly taking ritual and tradition from the ancient religious order known as Judaism, then it should just as well be said that Messianics and Christians are rightly the first “Hasidic” order, and that modern Hasidism has borrowed our theology of the Tsadik.

I have no problem giving up the term “Messianic Judaism”, and would just as well call myself a “Messianic Believer”, a “Messianic” or perhaps we should simply call ourselves what the Messiah told us to be, “Disciples of Yeshua.” It is my contention that the religious order that now identifies itself as Messianic Judaism originally formed out of a Judaism of the first century. Yet Hasidic Judaism simply borrowed a theology that, at the time, had been held by believers in Yeshua for almost 1800 years. But perhaps what should be even more apparent to those of us who do believe in Yeshua, is that we have the true Tsadik leading our communities on a daily basis. He is our mediator between this world and the throne room of God. He oversees our well being, and our daily lives. We place total faith in Him and have complete loyalty to Him and His dynasty. He is the true Tsadik.

The 3 signs of apostasy, and how to deal with doubt in your life

Are there signs in a person's life that they are headed towards apostasy, loss of faith?

What can a person dealing with doubt do to renew faith and grow stronger?

What can a man do to initiate again that growing edge of faith, one that drives his life, strengthens him as an upstanding man for righteousness, feeding on God's word?

With the recent apostasy of Messianic Judaism blogger Gene Shlomovich, I've been reflecting on these questions deeply and in sincerity.

Apostasy is not new or shocking to me; years ago, my younger brother Aaron gave up faith in Yeshua and converted to Orthodox Judaism. My cousin Anthony went from Christianity to Messianic Judaism to atheism. A family friend, Alice, got involved in Karaite Judaism and lost faith in Messiah. There was a time in my own life where I considered agnosticism.

I grok doubt and sympathize with people going through it.

And in my 10 years writing this blog, I've seen several other Messianic bloggers lose faith:

• Lathan Murdock, aka "David" from the now-defunct TheJewishCarpenter613 blog, wrote a warning for those who  follow Yeshua, cautioning that scholarship should not undermine experience with God. He warned against stumbling on Yeshua as the obstacle offense for a true Judaic theology. A few months after writing that post, I am told by a trustworthy source that Murdock himself denied Messiah, writing anti-Yeshua diatribes, performing the very apostasy he once warned against.
  
• Daniel from the rotting Christian4Moses blog titled his now-ironically named blog as an inverse of the phrase "Jews for Jesus". He used the platform as a fountain of commentary flowing from his inundation in scholarly books on Judaism and Jewishness. Less and less did he talk about Messiah, more and more about religion. Last year he wrote in his final post,

  "The rabbis that guided my process have been very helpful...my Beis Din application for conversion has now been completed...No, I am no longer a follower of Jesus."
  

• Antonio Rivera, aka "Ovadia" from the now-defunct OrGadol 'Just Jewish' blog, would often write of future directions for the religion of Messianic Judaism, often harshly criticizing those who were experiencing God's renewal in the Hebrew Roots and independent Messianic movement because they were outside his vision for Messianic Judaism.
  
  He advocated strongly against Messianic innovation, such as Messianic worship and Davidic dance, and was focused primarily on making the Messianic movement an accepted form of Judaism. He met with some prominent Messianic Judaism leaders, who reported a positive experience. His blogs were reblogged by Messianic Judaism leaders who applauded his rejection of “particular cultural forms of early Messianic Judaism and evangelical Christianity” (code for Messianic music, dance, and other Messianic innovation) discarding them in favor of Orthodox Judaism emulation. He became an apostate months later.
  
  *Update: Antonio comments below, I am glad to report, that he has since returned to Messiah faith, and was unable to go through with his conversion to Judaism.
   
  
• Gene Shlomovich of the now-defunct Daily Minyan blog spent a great deal of time in the Messianic blogosphere, much of which was devoted to ridiculing and ostracizing folks in the Hebrew Roots and independent Messianic movement. A staunch Bilateral Ecclesiologist, Gene posted his conversations with Hebrew Roots people in which he "converted" them to Bilateral Ecclesiology, turning gentiles away from Torah observance and what God was doing in their lives for the sake of clear distinctions between Jews and gentiles in the Messianic world.

 

Is there something we can learn from all this?

I am a man who, by the grace of God and God's multi-generational mercies, has remained faithful to Messiah. During these decades, I have observed signs of apostasy among the family and friends who have abandoned Yeshua.

Sign of apostasy 1: X before Messiah

Judaism before Messiah. Intellectualism before Messiah. Torah before Messiah. Environmentalism before Messiah. Heresy hunting before Messiah. Secret knowledge before Messiah. Religion building before Messiah. Conspiracy theories before Messiah.

I once dismissed "nothing but the blood of Jesus" as Christian over-amplification of Christ. I now recognize I was in error for thinking that way.

Messiah is our salvation, our atonement, the only name by which we have forgiveness of sins. Messiah's arrival was arguably the greatest event in human history: a single Jew who caused billions of non-Jewish people – former polytheistic, sexually deviant, temple-prostitute practicing pagans – to the God of Israel, to the Messiah of Israel, to the Hebrew Scriptures, and to inheritance in the commonwealth of Israel. (Thank you, God! Baruch HaShem again and again!) God sent Messiah so that the nations would be shown mercy. You wouldn't be reading this blog if Messiah hadn't showed up. Messiah's message spread across peoples, poor men, kings, nations, empires, languages, millennia.

Messiah is the hope of the Hebrew Scriptures, the focus of the apostolic Scriptures, and the fulfillment of the world to come. If we call ourselves Messiah's disciples, He should be our primary focus. This might be obvious to those in Christianity, but it has been blurred in the Messianic movement, with the fruit being confusion and apostasy.

In Shlomovich's apostasy case, Judaism and the Jewish people were of foremost concern, eclipsing even the work God was doing among the gentiles. For Gene, Judaism could never do wrong, but every Messianic out there was in error.

In my cousin Anthony’s case, he became, in his own words, a "save the earth vegan." Maybe it sounds innocuous enough. Yet having experienced religion and religion building, but having never experienced the sweet outpouring of God's spirit in a real and tangible way, his dead religion exposure combined with an imbalanced focus on environmentalism and veganism took a significant role in his eventual embrace of worldly concerns, contributing to his resulting atheism, abandoning the salvation he once clung to.

In my family friend Alice’s case, her amplification of Torah and its supposed pure practice in the form in Karaitism led her away from Israel's Messiah.

In my younger brother's case, he amplified Lurianic Kabbalah. He amplified dreams and visions and special revelation supposedly from God. (He once told me he and his then-girlfriend would be parents to the high priest serving in the 3rd Temple, for example.) His initial focus was on secret knowledge and wisdom from men who rejected Messiah.

For Daniel, his focus was on intellectualism, Jewish scholarship and the beauty of religion, and this became evident in his writings, which soon were devoid of Messiah altogether.

For Antonio, his primary focus was religion building; how to make Messianic Judaism accepted in the Jewish world. He wrote blog after blog about how to throw out the dated Messianic innovations clearly borrowed from Christianity, how to replace such things with Jewishly-acceptable piyyutim and liturgy.

For all of these men, something took the central place of Messiah. They thought they were doing right, perhaps even thinking they were approved by Messiah or tangentially amplifying Messiah through it. Shlomovich believed he was amplifying God by tearing down One Law and Two House Messianics. Rivera believed he was doing right by focusing on how to build modern Messianic Judaism.

But all these practices subtracted glory from the only One fit to receive it. They all, every one of them, in time abandoned Messiah for their love of Else.

For those of us who remain faithful to Messiah, he must be our solid rock foundation, and everything else must be subservient to Him. Without this, we pervert his glory and, being guided by our own intellect, are shown to be imbecilic before the throne of the living God.

If the centrality of Messiah is missing from your religious life, it's time to make an adjustment. If Messiah's centrality is missing from your congregation, it needs a rebalancing on the rock of salvation, the living Word made flesh, Yeshua. He is the living Scriptures, our spiritual food. Everything else is details.

Sign of apostasy 2: Heresy hunting

Judaism and Christianity agree on this: an indicator of righteous character, and evidence of God at work in a person, is the character trait of awe. Standing in awe of what God has done. Marveling at God's power, his work in the world. Blessing the name of God for it.

The inverse of this is what I call Heresy Hunting. Instead of rejoicing at what God is doing, praising God for his work in your life and among the nations and among the Jewish people and wherever you see God at work, you instead spend most of your time criticizing what other people and ministries are doing.

For example, leaders in Messianic Judaism have wisely observed that too many in folks Hebrew Roots spend all their time bashing Christianity and pointing out flaws in God’s people in the Church. This leads to spiritual dry land.

Amein and thank you, Messianic Judaism, for correcting us in Hebrew Roots.

But on the other hand, too many in Messianic Judaism have spent a great deal of their time mocking and flippantly discarding the work God is doing among the gentiles through Torah and the Hebrew Roots movement.

There are some religious people who spend time every week devoted to criticizing that ministry, this theology, and that one real bad guy in the other camp. If that's you, it’s time to re-evaluate your faith life and focus again on the things above.

Think of it like this: if you spend a great deal of your time criticizing other religious people, you will be consumed by anger and frustration. But if you instead focus on what God is doing in your life, what God is doing in the earth, and rejoicing at all of it, you will be consumed by supernatural joy and divine strength.

Arguing about theology and religiously disagreeing with others is like alcohol: In moderation, and don't make it a habit.

If your spiritual life is characterized primarily by criticism of others, it is time to refocus on the rock of Yeshua, his kingdom, and how you can serve in it.

Sign of apostasy 3: Faithless friends, faithless future

There's an old adage that I've found applies well to religious life:

"Show me your friends, I'll show you your future."

It is difficult to overstate the influence other people have on you. Maybe you're secure in your beliefs now, after some years of trials and doubts, and so you're cool with reading unbelieving literature, groking their websites, getting involved in their communities. Your "certainty" of faith doesn't matter: surround yourself with faithless men and you will become as them. It's the timeless, inevitable erosion known as assimilation, but applied on the individual scale.

My younger brother Aaron surrounded himself with unbelieving Jewish voices. Not with the intent to abandon Messiah, mind you, but he listened to prominent Jewish voices, some of whom spoke against Messiah. For a mind already conditioned to look negatively at Christianity (see apostasy sign #2), it was easy for him to swallow anti-Christian sentiment from anti-missionaries.

It was no difficult thing, in time, for that same sentiment to be turned towards the New Testament and Yeshua himself; suddenly, it was clear the New Testament was unreliable, redacted heavily by the ugly gentile Church fathers. And Jesus was maybe a candidate for Messiah.

Next, the New Testament was a book of lies authored by anti-Semitic gentiles in the 3rd and 4th centuries.

A progression of apostasy enabled by a mind conditioned through heresy hunting and brought to fruition by voices against Yeshua.

For Antonio, his imbalanced focus on religion building and intellect (see apostasy sign #1), coupled with his often-harsh criticisms of the broad Messianic movement and its innovations (see apostasy sign #2), was blossomed via his surrounding himself with unbelieving voices that produced first his conversion, then his eventual denial of Messiah.

For my cousin Anthony, to this day I'm unable to speak with him in a public forum without his atheist friend jumping in, inserting paraphrases of St. Dawkins, reinforcing my cousin's new atheism through insults and mocking members of my cousin’s former faith.

For Gene, he found such fault with Messianics that his place of worship was with an Orthodox Jewish shul in Florida for years. When his often-harsh criticisms of other Messianics (see apostasy sign #2) was coupled with a religious community who denied Yeshua, it's a small thing to join in their rejection of Yeshua.

Amusingly, as I was doing research for this post, I stumbled on this post warning against intellectualism and study over Yeshua, containing an amusing interaction between myself and the believers-at-the-time Murdock, who authored the post, and Shlomovich, who  commented on that post,

"Ah, yet another post about the grave dangers of Judaism and getting dangerously too close to Jews..."

I responded in truth:

"The danger here isn't Judaism. The danger here is in being influenced by certain voices within Judaism, voices that tear down the name of Messiah."

2 years later, both Murdock and Shlomovich are apostates.

And here I stand today, and that wisdom is as true as ever. I earnestly ask disciples of Yeshua to heed that truth: who you listen to, who you are in community with, who you read, these are the people who will influence your future.

There are voices within Judaism that sling mud on the name of Messiah. Their influence, and their intellectual dishonesty, has caused men to abandon Yeshua.

There are voices in the world that tear down the name of God, and men have been influenced towards dead atheism.

We all acknowledge that, but few acknowledge the other side of that coin: surrounding ourselves with such people will invariably influence us towards that religion, philosophy, and world view.

If you surround yourself with voices that reject Messiah our rock, you will invariably be influenced by such people.

Show me your friends, I'll show you your future.

If this is you, may I suggest joining a Messianic community. Join a place that has people who love each other, support each other in tangible ways, people who stand in awe of God, people who worship God together not in judgmental criticism of this or that, but worship God unashamedly and with one voice.

Surround yourself with such people, and your faith will be strengthened.

Conclusion

X before Messiah. Heresy hunting. Faithless friends.

These three are contributors to a weakened, anemic faith, one characterized by shrinking and recession, rather than a growing, strengthening edge.

The antidote comes down to focus.

Above all, place Messiah as King over every philosophy, religion, idea, worldview; above every human thing. If Messiah truly is King, then put him in that place. Religion building, intellectualism, Judaism, the sages – these are all fascinating, but if they become our primary religious experience, we will end up spiritually dry.

Acknowledge God at work, even in places outside your niche religious experience. Praise God for it. (Do it out loud, it’s liberating.) Focus on the things God is doing, focus on God’s coming Kingdom, focus on the truly spectacular work God has done in the world, even on the work he’s doing in your life. Find ways to serve God in that kingdom. You’ll be spiritually watered.

Surround yourself with people who do the same. Consume the Scriptures, and you’ll be built up and strengthened and influenced by the Scriptures and by Messiah’s community.

Focusing on Messiah, God’s work in the world, standing in awe of all that God has done and is doing today, increasing your own service to God while having patience, kindness, and grace for others – in such things, there is only a strengthening of faith.

Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek disciples of Yeshua.

So there we were, singing Hebrew songs to Lutherans…

Fine Kineti readers, I experienced a beautiful, rare moment of Messianic unity in Minnesota recently. You won’t believe the results.

Messianic musician Micha'el Ben David visited us here in Minnesota last week; our congregation hosted him for a shabbat, and we arranged for him to play at several of the Messianic and Hebrew Roots congregations during his time here.

Through his stay, things started to get interesting.

Myself and some Messianic friends held a cross-congregational Messianic music jam + picnic + BBQ and invited Messianic, Hebrew Roots, and Christian folks from all over the Twin Cities. (Even those congregations that don’t like us for theological reasons! Ha!)

The little event was: Music for Messiah (bring your own guitar sort of thing). Getting to know folks from other congregations. Food and fellowship.

This was...nice.

And rare; Messianic and Hebrew Roots congregations up here have been rather cold shoulder, suspicious of one another, stand-offish, for years now.

(Yes, we had an accordion…and it was awesome!)

Lot of fun.

But later that week, the pot was stirred unlike anything in recent memory.

A few of us had the idea of having Micha’el play at…ahem…a Lutheran Church.

OK.

Would it be  _possible_ for Messianics and Hebrew Roots folks to get together with Lutheran Christians, set aside differences and worship God together? We’re always fighting about relevance of Torah, makeup of God’s people, Israel, the role of gentiles, ad nauseam…

I had an insider, so to speak: a scholarly Hebrew Roots teacher (rare, I know!) was connected with the church in question, a man by the name of John Ferret of Light of Menorah ministries. I reached out to John, who then reached out to the Lutheran Pastor, Tom Gillman.

Pastor Gillman and his church, as it turns out, is associated with Good News For Israel, the 130-year old Jewish Christian missions organization.

Suddenly, this thing ballooned.

Now we’ve got Messianic Jewish leaders, multiple Hebrew Roots congregations, a prestigious Jewish Christian organization, and one Lutheran church all converging together.

Alright!

There were several hurdles to making the event happen. Some Christian people objected that Torah would be taught. Ahem. Others to the very idea of Jewish music. Others were concerned about fraternizing with people of different beliefs. Still others held back because of tired, old Messianic Jewish-Hebrew Roots divisions (truly, Messianic Judaism needs tikkun in this area.)

In spite of all these hurdles, somehow it all came together. There I was, entering this Lutheran Church with Micha’el Ben David, about to sing Messiah and Torah songs to Lutherans, Hebrew Roots folks, Messianic Judaism folks, Jewish Christians.

I snapped this photo from the stage as we arrived an hour before anyone else:

(The church is actually larger than the photo seems; the pews spread out in wings on the left and right.)

As folks filed in, Micha’el, myself, and 2 other musicians from another Hebrew Roots congregation got on stage to play.

Before we began, all of the leaders – Messianic Jewish, Hebrew Roots, Jewish Christian, Lutheran – laid our arms around each other and prayed. Micha’el prayed that the message of Messiah and Torah would go out to the audience.

Gulp.

We took the stage, and started singing songs of Zion right there to the predominantly Lutheran audience. HaTikva, Psalm 137 (“If I forget you, Yerushalayim…”). Hebrew and English.

(Lutherans singing Hebrew songs of Zion - has this ever happened before? Ha!)

We sang songs of Torah, like Psalm 119 (“How I love your Torah…”)

We sang songs of Messiah, like Isaiah 52 (“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, proclaims shalom, announces salvation/y’shua.”)

Zion, Torah, Messiah.

That’s our focus, folks, and that was our focus that night. We played for a solid hour or two singing the songs of Zion to Minnesota Lutherans, Jewish Christians, Messianic Judaism and Hebrew Roots folks.

It was really unlike any time I’ve experienced; the unity, the singing with one voice to God. Total joy in it. Setting aside the minor religious disagreements and just amplifying God.

This was huge, and it was unlike anything I’ve experienced in recent memory. I had a huge grin on my face as we wrapped up, blessing each other as we departed.

Afterwards, we were greeted by folks like Rabbi Ed Rothman, leader of the oldest Messianic Jewish congregation in the United States. He and his wife were in the audience praising with us. He wants to host Micha’el next year at his congregation.

We were approached by Trevor Rubenstein of the prestigious Good News For Israel Jewish missions organization. We spoke at length about our common love of apologetics, admiration for Dr. Michael Brown, and more. He wants to have lunch with me this month.

I spoke with people from several Messianic congregations – including some folks from that one congregation that avoids us! – and it was mutual blessing all around.

We spoke with “Da Rev” John Ferret, the Hebrew Roots teacher who enabled the whole thing. He texted me the next day,

Shalom, chaver tov b’Yeshua! I am still basking in the glow of HaShem’s pleasure he poured on all of us...”

And we spoke with the kind Lutheran Pastor Tom Gillman. He told me he and his church were blessed by the whole event and that their desire is to bless the people of Israel continually.

We need more Tom Gillmans in Christianity.

Whew.

I see all the fighting and bickering and censorship and political jockeying among Messianic ministries. You’ve probably seen it too on the blogs or on Facebook. Sometimes I am discouraged by that.

But for once, on this one night, the opposite happened. Unity among Messiah’s flock. Praising God together with one voice. And, like my new friend Rev. Ferret, I’m basking in the glow of what happened that night among Minnesota’s believers.

You have it wrong: Messianic Jews ≠ Jews for Jesus

I was reminded today of a continued misconception in the Jewish world: the mistaken belief that all Messianic Jews are Jews for Jesus. An interaction on an Orthodox Jewish blog made it clear this misconception still exists in the religious Jewish world. More on that in a minute.

 

This misconception presents a problem for the Messianic Judaism movement, and I’d like to suggest how we can fix that.

It is a certain misconception: Anyone involved in the Messianic movement knows this is about as accurate as saying all Jews are Chabadniks; or all Christians are Jesuits.

In reality, Jews for Jesus and Messianic Jews are not at all the same thing. In a nutshell, Jews for Jesus are advocating Jewish conversion and assimilation to Christianity, while Messianic Jews are advocating a new sect of Judaism built around Jesus, Torah observant lifestyles, and preservation of Jewish identity.

• Jews for Jesus is a Christian missionary organization whose goal is to convert Jews to Christianity, with the end result of Jews assimilating into the Christian gentile church. This organization does not generally believe the Torah is applicable any longer. Most Jews for Jesus converts are not observant, and hold the usual Christian beliefs about Israel, the Torah, and Jesus: Israel has been replaced by the Christian Church, the Torah is no longer applicable, and that Jesus came to start a new religion. They see themselves as outsider missionaries and evangelists sent to get people saved by accepting Jesus into their hearts.
  
• Messianic Jews – that is, the people of Messianic Judaism, believe the Torah remains relevant and applicable. Instead of gentile Christian churches that often result in assimilation, Messianic Jews have their own congregations, modeled loosely after conservative Judaism's services and halakha. They believe Jews remain God's chosen people. They see themselves within Israel, rather than as outsiders. And they believe Yeshua was the Jewish Messiah who came not to start a new religion but to fulfill the role of Messiah, which included bringing salvation to the nations and ultimately delivering Israel, bringing final peace.

I'm painting with a broad brush, and there's always exceptions, but this is an accurate generalization. If you doubt any of this, please consult the Last Words of Moishe Rosen, founder of Jews for Jesus, in which he makes it clear Jews for Jesus is a repudiation of Judaism and a Christian missionary organization with the end goal of getting Jews converted and into the Christian church.

The beliefs of Jews for Jesus and Messianic Jews produce two vastly different worldviews, sharing perhaps only the Messianic claims of Jesus. The adherents to each live different lives, eat different foods, worship differently and with different congregations, and pass on different values to their children. As Messianic Jewish rabbi Dr. Michael Schiffman wrote, Messianic Judaism and Christianity are two different religions with the same Messiah.

Perhaps these differences can best be illustrated by the words of their own leadership:

Moishe Rosen of Jews for Jesus:

I hope I can count on you to show love and respect for the Jewish people, but Jewishness never saved anybody.  Judaism never saved anybody...we stand on the edge of a breakthrough in Jewish evangelism.  Just a little more. Just another push. Just another soul - and we will have reached critical mass where we begin generating that energy that the whole world might know the Lord.

Contrast this with Stuart Dauermann, a leader within the Messianic Judaism movement, a founder of Hashivenu:

...it seems to me that the Jewish community has a right to expect that whoever the Messiah is, one of the things he is sure to do is to make Jews into better Jews in some kind of synch with communal Torah standards that have prevailed for thousands of years!  When you ask Jews what it would look like if they were better Jews, wouldn’t about ninety-nine percent of them say, "If I was a better Jew I would be more observant, like my grandfather who was a better Jew that I am"?

In order to welcome Messiah home, we Jews who believe in Yeshua should be living Jewish lives. In fact, the Bible reminds us that one of Messiah’s goals is to renovate our community, so that we return to the blue print given to our people by the God of Sinai: “My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my statutes,” that is, his chukkim and mishpatim, the nuts and bolts of halachic living (Ezekiel 37:24).”

Do you spot the difference? A man is animated by "just one more Jewish soul" compared with a man who is animated by "Messiah returns us to Torah" – can you postulate how different their beliefs, their goals, indeed their very lives must then be? So too their myriads of adherents.

The reality on the ground is Messianic Jews are not Jews for Jesus.

Jews for Jesus is a Christian missionary organization aimed at converting Jewish people into the Christian church.

Messianic Jews are Jewish people who follow Jesus and generally observe Torah and see their identities within Israel, rather than as foreign missionaries from the outside.

One community aligns with Protestant Christianity, another aligns itself with Torah observant Judaism.

Here’s why it matters

I revive this old topic today because this misconception was again displayed to me through an interaction on an Orthodox Jewish blog.

In Things I Wish Orthodox Jews Would Stop Believing, DovBear, the left-wing Orthodox Jewish author asks for suggestions about what you wish the Orthodox Jews would stop believing.

The comments are amusing if not enlightening.

Some asked OJs to reject doctrines like salvation through suffering. Secular Jews asked OJs to reject a literal interpretation of the Exodus. Still other asked for a loosing of religious stringencies, a rejection of Young Earth creationism, a renewed focus on good works over religious minutia, and more.

I chimed in with something that was bound to stir the waters. What was the one thing I’d wish the Orthodox Jewish community to stop believing?

I wish orthodox Jews would quit believing that Jews who follow Jesus are no longer Jewish.

-Me

This received interesting responses. One man responded,

OJs don't believe that. OJs believe that if you are born Jewish or convert orthodoxly, you are Jewish until the day you die.  No, OJs believe that Jews who follow Jesus are Jewish heretics.

And another said,

orthodox jews believe that once a jew, always a jew.  no matter what you believe, or convert to, or anything.  so you are misinformed here.

Others chimed in defending me:

what Judah Gabriel Himango means is that, OJs should stop thinking those who believe in Jesus are heretics, but rather they are more authentically Jewish. (he is a Jew for Jesus)

And was retorted with:

I wish Jews for Jesus would quit believing that Jews who follow Jesus aren't X-tian.

The conversation veered off as soon as "Jews for Jesus" came into the picture.

The last comment -- that Jews for Jesus need to see themselves as Christians -- implies a falsehood, that Jews who follow Jesus don't see themselves as Christians.

Truth is, folks, Jews for Jesus (J4J), the Christian missionary organization, most certainly see themselves as Christian! In the words of J4J founder Moishe Rosen, "Judaism never saved anybody"; they absolutely see themselves as Christians and Definitely-Not-Judaism.

But even Messianic Jews would say they are Christians in the absolute sense of the word: followers of Christ. Just not in the traditional sense of attending gentile Christian churches on Sunday, disregard of the Torah, replacing Israel with the Church, etc.

Two observations from these interactions:

First, it's again clear that the Jewish world generally mistakes all Messianics as Jews for Jesus. In a sentence, Jews for Jesus is still the face of the Messianic movement, for better or worse.

I'd like that to change, not because of any personal feelings against Jews for Jesus, but because they simply do not represent most of us. The goals of Jews for Jesus do not align with Messianic Judaism congregations today, nor do they align with the many gentile-dominated Hebrew Roots congregations sprinkled across the world, including the congregation I help run.

Secondly, Jews believe we're being deceptive if we call ourselves anything other than Christians. I know that we mean well; we are trying to articulate our Torah-faithful lifestyle when we call ourselves "Messianic", but the Jewish world doesn't believe it. They think we're just being deceptive; we’re just Christians pretending to be something else.

And in many of the cases, they’re right! For all our talk about Torah, how many actually live that? Our lives usually reflect something different. It's rare in the Messianic world to find people who are serious about Torah, impacting even the small areas of their lives. I think many of us, even me, spend those hours on shabbat with the Lord, in worship and prayer, but live otherwise messed up lives. I’m ashamed by that. But living right is hard. Following Torah and living that life and leading your family in that is hard, especially outside of Israel.

Heck, it’s hard to just eat kosher – even a graceful, forgiving, relaxed-stringencies kosher – let alone live the weighty matters of the Torah in this secular, sexualized, modern age that sees us as holdovers from the dark ages of humanity, unenlightened idiots who refuse to accept modern science and medicine and instead cling to silly sky god myths. I digress.

Point is, living right is hard in this time, difficult in this culture. So when we talk all this Torah talk, religious Jews don’t take us seriously. They think we’re just Christians pretending.

What to do about all this?

I think it’s bad that Jews look at us as deceivers. I think it unnecessarily hurts our message about Yeshua.

How do we fix this?

The best action is how we live. Look, we can spill a river of ink talking about Torah. But what changes people perceptions, above all, is action. If people see us, and know us, as people who are Torah faithful, and not just in religion only, but in deed we actually do the weighty matters of the Torah, the desired outcome will naturally come.

What is the desired outcome? Let's start with a credible message of Yeshua-as-Messiah to Jews, such that the Jewish world sees us not as heretic deceivers tricking people into converting to another religion, but as faithful, Torah-observant people within Israel. People that show love and actually do the things the Torah commands, not just the legalese and the ritual.

If that happened, I think we'd see many more Jewish people in our movement. No conversion required; why would a Jew need to convert to another religion to follow the Jewish Messiah? It shouldn't be that way, and that, I think, is the raison d'être for the Messianic Judaism movement.

I sympathize with that goal, and will do everything to help them succeed in that goal.

As for me, the Lord has called me to a different focus: Hebrew Roots, which shares some goals with the Messianic Judaism, albeit with some important differences. More on that in another post.

What do you think, fine and learned disciples of Yeshua, should Jews for Jesus be the face of all things Messianic?

Ecclesiology in a nutshell: Christianity, Judaism, Hebrew Roots, and Messianic Judaism

Defining Bilateral Ecclesiology created a bit of banter, got people thinking.

Let’s take this a bit further.

Let’s see if we can define the ecclesiology of Judaism, Christianity, Hebrew Roots, and Messianic Judaism, all in blurbish, bite-sized nutshells, please:

• Judaism: God chose Special People A.
  
• Christianity: God chose Special People A. God sends messiah to Special People A, who reject him. God’s messiah picks Special People B to replace Special People A.
  
• Hebrew Roots: God chose Special People A. God sends messiah to Special People A, who temporarily reject him. God invites everyone to join Special People A.
  
• Messianic Judaism: God chose Special People A. God sends messiah to Special People A, who temporarily reject him. God’s messiah picks new Special People B. God has two special peoples.

At least all 4 can agree that “God chose Special People A”. The streams start forking as soon as Messiah is introduced into the mix:

Did Messiah never show up? Judaism.

Did Messiah replace Special People A with a new Special People B? Christianity.

Did Messiah open up membership to Special People A? Hebrew Roots.

Did Messiah chose a new Special People B whilst keeping Special People A? Messianic Judaism.

Nitpicker’s corner: yes, we’re oversimplifying. Sometimes, though, generalizations are generally helpful.

*update*: Nitpicker’s corner 2: By “special people”, I mean special because of God’s choosing. Please don’t read too deeply into wording. This is a blog post, not an academic paper.

Two Church: Defining Bilateral Ecclesiology in Simple Terms

Let’s see if I can explain Bilateral Ecclesiology: Imagine that God has a people. A very special group of people. Now later, God tells his son to go to his special people. When his son arrives, he chooses a new special people. Now God has 2 special peoples.

That's Bilateral Ecclesiology in a nutshell. In case you didn't figure it out, God's "2 special peoples" are the Jewish people (God's chosen people from old) and the Church (His son's chosen people). Bilateral = "two groups". Ecclesiology = "theology about the ekklesia, the assembly of people". A simpler name of this belief might be "Two Church": it believes that God has 2 assemblies: the Christian Church, and the Jewish people.

An interesting outcome of this theology is separation: If God has 2 special peoples, then we shouldn't blur the line between Special People A and Special People B. There's an example in Scripture where a tribe called the Galatians -- part of theoretical Special People B -- thought they had to undergo the old Special People A ritual in order to be approved by God. Paul, a follower of the aforementioned son, wrote a letter to these Galatians, and basically tore them a new one.

"You crazy people! Don't you know God accepts you without having to do the Special People A ritual?! I say that if you undergo Special People A ritual, you may as well never have heard about God’s son."

In concrete terms, Paul the apostle of Jesus was telling gentiles they didn't need to convert to Judaism and become Jewish in order to gain God's approval. So maybe the Bilateral Ecclesiology folks have a point about all this separation stuff?

Well, Bilateral Ecclesiologists...ermm, I'm going to call them Two Churchers for simplicity. Two Churchers are all about preserving distinctions between Special People A and Special People B. This has resulted in a funny little thing: when they see Special People B (gentiles) keeping the Torah (God's agreement with Special People A), they cry, "Supersessionism!"

(Doesn't this all sound utterly ridiculous thing to argue about? Religious people are stupid and wasteful and totally spend way too much time arguing about silly things. Yes, we should be spending our time on more important things like feeding the poor and helping people. But here we are...)

Supersessionism. It's the "Special People B replace Special People A" idea. B replaces A. Christians replace Israel. Bilateral Ecclesiologists hate this thing. (I do too!) We hate it because it has resulted in persecution of Jewish people by Christians: Just 90 years ago, for example, a Catholic leader in the Vatican wrote that because they rejected God's son, Jews were forever cursed to be wandering nomads without nation. He wasn’t the first to make that claim, either. (Guess they were wrong.)

So supersessionism, replacement theology, is bad. God hasn't replace the Jews. And there's pretty good evidence in the Christians Scriptures that suggest he's not replaced Jewish people. Paul, that same guy who tore the Galatians a new one, said of Jews:

"God has not forsaken his people whom he foreknew. I'm a Jew myself! There's a temporary hardening of hearts here. It'll go away eventually, but it's being used by God to bring in the gentiles."

Back to Two Churchers: while they rightfully disdain supersessionism, they're prone to seeing supersessionism everywhere. It's like the Hebrew Roots paganoia, except with supersessionism. Gentile saying the Shema? Supersessionism. Gentiles celebrating Passover? Supersessionism. Gentile giving the Aaronic blessing out of Deuteronomy? Supersessionism. Singing to music instead of traditional prayers? Supersessionism. Filling grandma's prescriptions? You get the idea.

Another criticism of Two Church is that the idea doesn't really have support in the New Testament. We don't see in the New Testament, for example, gentiles and Jews meeting in separate assemblies. On the contrary, it records gentiles meeting in the synagogues; and only 1 "assembly" is mentioned: Messiah's assembly. If there was separation between Yeshua's followers at an assembly level, the New Testament is silent on it.

In practice, this leads to accusations of exclusion, racism, and feelings of inferiority: non-Jews are encouraged to go back to Special People B places -- Christian Churches -- so that Special People A, the Jews, can have their distinctions and separations, avoiding assimilation into Special People B.

This has led to conversions and proselytism (Special People B want to join Special People A), but also has resulted in apostasy. More on that in the next post.

What our leaders believe, Gene Shlomovich edition

Gene Shlomovich is a Messianic Jew who argues for Bilateral Ecclesiology Messianic Judaism: the idea that there should be a religion for Jews (Judaism) that follows Yeshua as Messiah (Messianic) and is a distinct, second body apart from the gentile Christian Church (bilateral ecclesiology).

Ahem.

I came across this great banter over at Orthodox Messianic, where the author of that blog, Peter, questions Gene on gentile membership into the covenants God made with Israel:

Peter: Are you saying that the Apostles believed that uncircumcision excluded gentiles from the covenant?

Gene: The apostles understood that Gentiles partook in the spiritual benefits of the covenants of Israel WITHOUT circumcision.

Peter: It sounds like you're position is that gentiles remained OUTSIDE of the covenant. Do I understand you correctly?

Gene: Since they share in the spiritual benefits of Israel, the answer is that those Gentiles who are disciples of Yeshua are INSIDE of the New Covenant G-d has made with Israel.

Peter: Wait a minute? You must agree with me then. Because Torah says that all members of the covenant (i.e. members of Adat Yisrael) are required to follow Torah. Or would you dispute this?

Gene: Peter, yes, all members are required to follow Torah.

Peter: If all members are required to follow Torah and gentiles are now members then it follows that the gentiles must now follow Torah, yes?

Gene: Absolutely and without a doubt!

Peter: Are you being sarcastic? I'm genuinely confused.

Gene: Not at all. Everyone should obey Torah.

Peter: I see where you're coming from. You're advocating the view that Torah differentiated as between covenantal members.

This helped me. It clarified, significantly, the Bilateral Ecclesiology stance on Torah. And I was pleased hearing it; despite a difference (and a big one) about Torah differentiated between covenant members (a complicated way of saying gentiles don’t have to keep the same set of laws Jews do, a view I differ with), I thought it was nice to hear folks on the Bilateral Ecclesiology Messianic Judaism camp speak so positively of God’s Torah: “everyone should obey Torah.”

With all the arguing that goes on against gentile Torah observance, some times I forget we’re on the same Pro-Torah, Pro-Messiah team.

(Nitpickers corner: since we are on the same team, I’m tagging this with “what our leaders believe”, even though Gene is not my personal rabbi or leader, he is a leader in the Messianic Judaism movement.)

You can read Gene’s musings over at Daily Minyan.

How to deal with wrongful criticisms in the Messianic world

Recently, a leader in the Messianic movement, a Hebrew Roots gentile friend who “converted” to Messianic Judaism, made some disparaging remarks about his former companions, Torah-keeping gentiles.

If I could condense his words into a sentence:

Gentiles who keep Torah outside of rabbinic interpretation are striking at the core of Judaism, replacing the rabbis, and can be compared to the rebellion of Korah in the wilderness.

To simplify further: if you are a gentile who follows God’s commandments outside the traditions of Judaism, you’re rebelling against God.

I can give you a link to his full statements, but I’m a big fan of the Don’t Give Bile A Permalink mantra. Besides, if you’re in the Messianic blogosphere, you probably have already seen it anyways, and if not, it’s easy enough to find.

The premise of his argument here is silly, because traditional Judaism doesn’t really allow for gentiles keeping Torah, let alone following Jesus at the same time.

Even so, here is my old friend, now a kind of proselyte to a Judaism-not-recognized-by-the-Jewish world, saying Torah-keeping gentiles must follow Judaism’s rabbis (people who do not actually allow for Torah-keeping gentiles), but while still keeping Jesus faith, and if they fail to recognize the authority of said sages, they’re to be compared to the Biblical rebellion of Korach.

Confused yet?

I allow for disagreement with friends and disciples; he has his new view on things, and that’s OK, we differ.

The part that hurts is where my former friend lashes out at us, his old companions, as rebellious people who are tearing apart Israel and Judaism, supersessionists, indeed false-friends of Israel.

It’s supersessionoia at its extreme height; paranoid that every observance of God’s commandments is, in some crypto, secret way, a replacement of Jews and Judaism.

As my Israeli friend Dina would say, “Oi yoi yoi!”

Truth is, folks, for those of us in the Hebrew Roots movement, we’re just trying to keep God’s commandments best we know how. That’s all. Really! Many of us are not really opposed to traditions of Judaism within their proper place. We are trying to serve God best we can. That’s all.

But to my old friend, he says we’re rebellious, Israel-hating supersessionists to be compared to Korach.

My initial reaction to his words was at first anger, but then great sadness.

As another friend eloquently summarized,

One day [this man] will realize that rabbinic authority also forbids the recognition of Yeshua as the only Messiah. This man seems to be trapped in some sort of cognitive dissonance caused by his desire to be perceived as a Jew. It's sad to see someone with so much potential have such an irreconcilable discomfort with his own race and self-imposed feelings of inferiority. My guess is that it stems from a lifetime of being told that he, as a gentile, is not entitled to the full inheritance of our God.

After my initial anger settled, and having successfully rebuked the tech temptation to blog-while-angry, I came up with renewed energy to do good work for the Lord. I mean, who can argue with feeding poor kids, right? (Wrong.)

But sometimes, we have to dismiss the critics and just move on with our good work and our convictions. Critics be damned.

And that, folks, is my suggestion to you, as fine Messianics in the blog world. My suggestion is to amplify your good works despite criticisms.

My personal focus in the last year has been to just keep doing good work for the Lord -- helping out at Feed My Starving Children, serving my Hebrew Roots community via music service, supplying books and music to spiritually grow the people at my congregation, building out Chavah Messianic Radio, Messianic Chords, helping regular people when they’re going through tough times.

For you, you have your community, so your good works will be different than mine. Don’t know where to start? You know people. Help them. Christians, Jews, Messianics, whatever. Help people. Do some good service for God. That guy going through a divorce? Help him out. That old woman need help moving? Do it without expecting anything in return. You can find something good to do, something besides arguing theology over the internet.

Make it so that when you die, you’re missed. Make it so that the guy writing your obituary has a damn long list of things to talk about. Make it so that when people read these wrongful criticisms of you and your beliefs, people will know it's without weight because they’ve seen your good works in action, seen Messiah’s love and good works in you, in the real world.

How should we deal with wrongful, hurtful criticisms by leadership in the Messianic movement? By amplifying our good works for the Lord.

Yes, my suggestion is this: let the out-of-touch leadership continue their lengthy, divisive criticisms from their ivory towers and big conferences. The rest of us regular people will continue doing service for the Lord, doing so with the longsuffering of Messiah, despite the slanderous rhetoric from the proselyte pulpit.