Shalom,
Although I hope to participate in a few threads, I am starting this one specifically to find out more about the denomination or one could also say, branch of Christianity that is Messianic Judaism.
My first question is this.
What are the most important things to know to understand what Messianic Judaism is? (This doesn't have to be long).
Thank you in advance for your help. Also, I pray for this forum, for it's members, for your families, and for ever improving relationships between members and ever increasing knowledge and understanding from participating in the MJ forums.
God bless you.
Brother Sacerdote,
Before sharing anything in-depth, I was writing due to how I was curious as to what exactly you have done in terms of research when it comes to studies on what MJism is about? What specific sources did you come across and what are your reasons for wishing to know more, if I may ask? Do you have friends and families who are involved in MJish circles---or do you plan on attending a MJish circle yourself? Or is it simply for curiosity's sake? Either way, I'd love to find out since knowing where someone has come from/how they developed into their current understanding can help in interacting.
There are other threads which have some in-depth discussion, as well as sticky threads with references given on top of the forum...should you like more information. If interested, I'll try to give a comprehensive list of all of the main organizations in the MJish camp. For now, some places you can go in the immediate are threads like
Some links to Messianic Judaism organizations..or
here /
here ( #
47 ). Others that may help:
One of the main moderators of the forum, known as Tishri, is another excellent source of information for overview. She has recently been spearheading an attempt in clarifying the differing groups within MJism that are seen here---and it's because of her efforts that we have the forum set up where there are differing forums to represent others from specific streams of thought, even though we all come together in the main forum to party/try to have a good time in Messiah
There are many differing views, though the original viewpoint with MJism in the 60s/70s was that MJism itself is a subset of Christianity and spread out from there---with many seeing MJism as a form of Jewish Christianity (which in/of itself was a sub-set/sect of Judaism)..the ORIGINAL form practiced by the early church. Those within MJism love Torah, studying the Law and seeing the beauty in how it can apply for believers today...although the movement was originally begun in order to do outreach to the Jewish people who felt that much of the Church neglected its Jewish roots. There is a recognition of how Yeshua was Jewish, as were his disciples...and although we've been justified by the blood of Christ and God's grace, the Law still has application in the realm of teaching/instruction. Many Gentiles have also come into the movement in a desire to reach out to Jews (aka Ruth )---with the understanding within those Messianic congregations that Gentiles are not less acceptable before the Lord for not being Jewish/Hebrew and that it's a blessing to be a Gentile working alongside Jew, showing what it means to be "Jew and Gentile" united for Messiah...and redeemed by His Blood and sacrifice.
Of course, there are Gentiles who've also come into the movement in the mindset that Gentiles are meant to live as the Jews in all areas...something which has actually turned many Jews off. There are also those who may be Jewish and have sought in the name of "MJism" to essentially turn Gentiles into Jewish converts. Many within the MJish movement have noted this to be a form of counter-missionary work and what Paul condemned in the Book of Galatians when it came to ignoring the Grace of God whenever law came up. Additionally, due to the ways that the term "grace" has been abused by many within the Church to mean a liscence to sin, many tend to have a reactionary mindset in assuming all people who speak of God's grace believe that they don't value the Torah. This issue has been frequently addressed/clarified by the major MJish organizations and founders of the movement for decades when it comes to demonstrating how Grace/Torah are not counter to one another and are meant to work in Harmony. However, sadly, much contention tends to continue. If reading through the threads here on this forum, one may come across that dynamic rather quickly.
Many believers within the MJish camp have come/gone over the years---some who tend to come in/out when they have time and others who are here for seasons. Thus, while many things shared on this board are a reflection of some of the worlds existing within MJism, it is not always fully accurate as to showing what the history of the MJish movement has been over the years....and with that said, if I may say, I'd encourage you to continue in your own research and interactions with others. There is a good deal of diversity within the movement---truly a Mosaic in many ways-----and there are some more concerned with the way the movement began and others being the offshoots of the newer camps that've started up with the ideology of having Gentiles live as Jews fully...the most extreme DENOUNCING all aspects of Christianity as "worldy" or "Gentile" and only adhering to Judaism, even though much of Judaism sees the extreme camps as Gentiles trying to be what they were never meant to be. But again, the mainstream voices of MJism (i.e MJAA, IJMA, UMJC, etc) have often spoken on such matters. Hoping that this has been helpful...
