Are the bulk of Messianics here Gentiles who more closely align with Christianity on a theological basis?
I basically consider myself a Reform Jew who believes in Yeshu as the messiah. But I'm a theistic evolutionist and lean more towards the Jewish concept of the Afterlife over the Christian one.
Am I alone in that regard here? No offense intended, but I feel like I'm on the Conservative Christianity forum, not a Judaism forum. So I'm just trying to get a feel of people's views here.
There are other forums I've been to that would have a radically differing flavor than this one....and that do not come off as if its more akin to Conservative, sometimes Ultra-Conservative or Fundamentalist, Christianity. Over at CARM Forums,
as seen here, there was a myriad of Messianic Jewish thought....and differing views on how to interpret the Torah.
WHere you come from may make a difference in where you land, though..
My own fellowship is one where both Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles come together in fellowship. I attend
Congregation Mishkan David in Marietta, GA. I also attend the small group that they have on Thursday Nights. ...and have been going for the past 4 yrs. I also have friends/family in other Messianic Fellowships or organizations. Its under the leadership of Rabbi Aaron Evans, who grew up Messianic Jewish (Sephardic Jew, to be specific). He is an avid scholar in Eastern Christianity and Jewish history--and I have been greatly blessed by his ministry. He came out a background within Judaism where there was much legalism ...and for a time walked away from it before the Lord called him back to being Messianic.
One can go either
here or
here online/listen to the sermons that've been taught in our fellowship here. There was one point where we had what was known as "
MLS 101- Messianic Lifestyle and Spirituality Class"--which is one the website. It was 5 teachings covering the basics of Messianic Jewish Lifestyle and Spirituality. And there the leaders discussed Hebraic Christian history, theology, and practice to better understand what it means to live a Biblical lifestyle influenced from the Jewish spiritual path. We learned what it means to practice Hebraic Christian prayer and spirituality from a practical and meaningful perspective
Due to the background that the Rabbi has within the field of Eastern Christian Studies and how he grew up experiencing Eastern Orthodoxy as well as Messianic Judaism, there are many things which we study alongside Jewish culture--and thus, one could say that things are a bit "ecumenical" on some fronts for us. He, as well as the congregation, does not care to be waging war against "Christianity" when much of the Modern Messianic Movement owns its existence to it. Moreover, he's not for the mindset that being Messianic only develops in one way.
For to him, being "Messianic" is something that didn't begin within the 1960's-70s's movement....nor does Jewish thought find itself quarantined within that era. He is for the mindset that Jewish thought has had a myriad of ways in which it has sought to express itself in differing cultures/eras and places. Thus, being "Messianic" is simply about being a Jewish follower who seeks Jesus. Within that train of thought, one would find themselves in the camps that other posters here are in when it comes to being Jews trusting in Yeshua....and yet, finding aspects within Christianity that go with what they think. This is
something which the Rabbi I learned with shared more in-depth elsewhere. He's not much for what's often seen in Western Christianity and Evangelicalism, even though he appreciates aspects of it. He's very passionate for what occurs within the Anglican church since they seemed to be very supporative of Jewish thought....and has worked with them on many occassions.
To me, it seems that much of Messianic Judaism isn't truly about Jewish culture. For its often Gentiles who who comprise the bulk of MJism. Technically, the ONLY people who have a right to the title "Messianic Jew" are genuine ethnic Jews who have accepted the Messiah. Goyim should keep their own ethnic and religious identities since being goyim is nothing to be ashamed of (even though many MJs appear to be ashamed), just as being Jewish is nothing to be ashamed of, and being either is no reason for being prideful. Neither is better or worse than the other--just different.
Messianic Judaism has truly had a wild development as it concerns its history...and many people are often unaware of how the movement developed. Understanding how it started can give insight as to why there seems to be so many influences from Christianity within it.
For information on the history of the Messianic Jewish movement, there's the work of Asher Intrater/ Dan Juster on Messianic Judaism, Christian Identity & ministry. They are connected with something known as
"Israel Mandate" . ...from the organization of IHOP (i.e. International House of Prayer) and made for the specific purpose of mobilizing intercessors in the church worldwide to help establish houses of prayer for Israel/Jewish outreach. Their goals are being accomplished by the Global Prayer Network (web based) and partnering with indigenous believers in Israel to see houses of prayer augmented---and there have been a number of MJ Fellowships joining in that mission/bearing much fruit. Many in the Jewish world have been coming to faith in radical ways/seeing that Yeshua truly is real. Within this strain of MJudaism I grew up with and loved...
Rabbi Dan Juster had very informative sermon on the issue called "
The Development of the Messianic Jewish Movement - "...which I was very glad for since it was very detailed in giving description of how the movement evolved and spawned many variations/sub-cultures of Messianic Jewish culture that we see today. ...and discussing how other Messianic Jews can seek to address many of the errors that have been allowed to develop in the camp.
Concerning discussing the errors (as well as the strengths ) in Messianic Judaism and what the Law was meant for, Asher Intrater had an excellent sermon I was able to listen to, entitled
"You Are My Beloved Son"...focusing on what it means to be approved by the Lord and how many within Messianic Judaism did not have true love for the Gentiles.
For more on the background behind Asher, he and his wife, Betty Intrater, are the directors of
"Revive Israel Ministries"--which is an apostolic ministry team dedicated to revival in Israel, with their work in recent years including street evangelism in Tel Aviv with Simcha Davidov, assisting at Tiferet Yeshua Congregation in Tel Aviv with Ari Sorkoram, working with the Netanel House outreach in Jerusalem with Rachel Netanel, teaching discipleship
classes in Hebrew, serving in the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel, and preaching in congregations and conferences throughout Israel. Asher is also one of the founders of "
Tikkun Ministries International.org" , which is a family of Messianic Jewish congregations with ministry outreaches in Israel under the
leadership of Dan Juster and Eitan Shishkoff. Having been raised in a "conservative" Jewish home in the United States, Asher came to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) by a series of supernatural experiences while traveling in Central America in 1977-78---and has been living radical for the Lord ever since.
For others that have given good dialouge on the variety of thought in Messianic Judaism, one can go here to #
38 ---as within that thread, the subject of "One Law" was debated. Hope what has been offered helps in any kind of way. Shalom.
