Yeah, this raises so many questions, and I wish we had groups near me where we could study some of the differences more fully and openly.
I'm an old earther in answer to one of the questions. As for many of the other teachings of evangelical christians, I can accept them because I see G-d as all powerful so he can do anything he wants. Like some have said, it doesn't matter to me if it's real or if it's allegory, I can accept either even if I lean one way or the other. If figure living to serve G-d in the here and now is more important that being excrutiatingly dogmatic about issues like the creation, the flood, the rapture.
I do believe in the biblical view of heaven. It's one of the things that attracted me to Christianity in the first place. I couldn't get much info from the temple and it was rarely talked about and I wanted info. I understand the concept of Satan, demons etc and yet at the same time hope that it isn't like the teachings. It's hard for me to understand why G-d would give us such finite lives and then torment unbelievers for eternity so I sometimes wonder if how it's presented to us is misunderstood.
And here's an admission for ya...I feel that when gentiles took over control of how Christianity developed and rid it of most Jewish influences, they did a huge injustice to so many Jews over the millenia. I don't think that how Christianity is practices is what Yeshua or G-d intended and so while I love the people, I never quite feel like I fit into mainstream Christianity and yet, at the same time, there are ZERO messianic congregations around within an easy drive (the closest is about 90 miles away) so I have no way to worship with those who think more like I do.
If I went to a synagogue I'd be treated like an outcast (although I don't think they can legally kick me out). I've tried to explain I'm not there to preach, I just want to learn but still the suspicion remains...another reason I feel that the early development of the church did a disservice to Jews. I've read academic papers which said that the earliest believers were considered a sect of Judaism.
Now to be fair, Jews have become incredibly narrow-minded and intolerant of Jewish believers (and Christianity as a whole) even though the majority of persecution has ceased. This is evidenced by the fact that if you ask a rabbi or many Jews, they will tell you that their kids and relatives who are heavily into Hinduism, buddism, new age faith, wicca, etc are most definitey still Jewish BUT the Jew who believes in Yeshua but maintains a Jewish identity and practice are no longer even remotely Jewish or worthy of trust. I've met plenty of Jews who dislike having their beliefs mocked and yet those same individuals feel completely free to mock Christians and christian beliefs. Just something to consider the next time you (generic 'you') want to make fun of anyone else's beliefs. It's not constructive and benefits no one. It closes doors, it hinders communication. And it certainly doesn't make you a better person. Just sayin'.