HELP WITH MESSIANIC JUDAISM

[Instrument150]

I feel so drawn to the concept, and I don't know if it's because you guys love Jesus too, or if it's because that's what I am in my heart. Because every time I hear a Messianic Jew speak on anything, my heart and spirit is warm with approval.

Am I a messianic jew? Can I not be because I'm a gentile, but I just appreciate the idea of God's people? Is it a genetic claim or can I be adopted, do I even need to be

 

[Dave-W]

You can be a messianic gentile just as well.

Guys like us fall into the category of ger, commonly rendered "the stranger who dwells within your gates." In talmudic literature, we are sometimes referred to as "God Lovers."

 

[Steve Petersen]

I feel so drawn to the concept, and I don't know if it's because you guys love Jesus too, or if it's because that's what I am in my heart. Because every time I hear a Messianic Jew speak on anything, my heart and spirit is warm with approval.

Am I a messianic jew? Can I not be because I'm a gentile, but I just appreciate the idea of God's people? Is it a genetic claim or can I be adopted, do I even need to be

You might want to go to the MJ forum here on CF to ask this question. I suspect you will get a variety of different opinions on this.

 

[Instrument150]

You can be a messianic gentile just as well.

Yeah i mean I am that already

 

[Instrument150]

You might want to go to the MJ forum here on CF to ask this question. I suspect you will get a variety of different opinions on this.

I would love them all, but I tried to find such a forum and was not successful because I'm... bad at social media

 

[Dave-W]

I tried to find such a forum and was not successful

Try here:

Messianic Judaism

 

[Lulav]

I'll move this to the MJ forum for you.

 

[Instrument150]

Oh so are we saying that the term is indeed genetic? Because God chose that certain lineage to make Jesus from and I'm just not in it?

Not that I don't receive salvation, I get that part. I guess I'm at the gates like Hey guys, I'm here too right

 

[Shimshon]

I would love them all, but I tried to find such a forum and was not successful because I'm... bad at social media

It sounds like you would be interested in this site produced by Rabbi David Rudolph
MessianicGentiles.com

Welcome
Welcome to MessianicGentiles.com! If you are a non-Jew drawn to Messianic Judaism, be encouraged that there are thousands of people around the world just like you. Messianic Gentiles are not a recent phenomenon. Many non-Jews in the first century CE attended synagogues and became followers of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah (Acts 10:1-2, 22; 13:16, 26; 16:14; 18:7). These Yeshua-believing Gentile "God fearers," as they were called, worshiped with Jewish people and voluntarily followed various aspects of Jewish life and custom.

As the Director of Messianic Jewish Studies at The King's University in Southlake, Texas, I regularly meet Gentile followers of the Messiah who want to grow in their knowledge of Judaism. I have noticed that many Gentiles drawn to the Jewish roots of their Christian faith do not know where to find reliable resources and often get sidetracked by teachers on the Internet who lack theological training and accountability. While these Hebrew Roots "experts" may sometimes offer valuable insights, they frequently lead people away from balanced biblical teaching on issues related to the Torah, Israel and the Church. As a Messianic Jew with a PhD in New Testament and Second Temple Judaism from Cambridge University, and almost 40 years of experience thinking through the historical, theological and practical issues that Messianic Gentiles face, I am convinced that the solution to this problem is to introduce people to resources that are well grounded and accessible online.

The mission of MessianicGentiles.com is to provide non-Jews drawn to Messianic Judaism with a resource center that is supported by solid scholarship. My vision is to see millions of Gentile believers in Yeshua visit this site for trustworthy teaching to guide them on their journey. I invite you to explore MessianicGentiles.com to find the balanced and scholarly resources you need to answer your questions.

L'Shalom,

Rabbi David Rudolph, Ph.D.

 

[Steve Petersen]

Oh so are we saying that the term is indeed genetic? Because God chose that certain lineage to make Jesus from and I'm just not in it?

Not that I don't receive salvation, I get that part. I guess I'm at the gates like Hey guys, I'm here too right

This is exactly the position of the God-fearers mentioned in the NT.

 

[makeajoyfulnoise100]

All gentile means is being a foreigner to the Jewish tradition. Their tradition is based on the lunar calendar rather than the solar. It's a completely different but a fun learning experience if you ever able to go. I'm currently in the beginning of the CJB Bible and cross referencing it to the KJV.

 

[Instrument150]

It sounds like you would be interested in this site produced by Rabbi David Rudolph
MessianicGentiles.com

Welcome
Welcome to MessianicGentiles.com! If you are a non-Jew drawn to Messianic Judaism, be encouraged that there are thousands of people around the world just like you. Messianic Gentiles are not a recent phenomenon. Many non-Jews in the first century CE attended synagogues and became followers of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah (Acts 10:1-2, 22; 13:16, 26; 16:14; 18:7). These Yeshua-believing Gentile "God fearers," as they were called, worshiped with Jewish people and voluntarily followed various aspects of Jewish life and custom.

As the Director of Messianic Jewish Studies at The King's University in Southlake, Texas, I regularly meet Gentile followers of the Messiah who want to grow in their knowledge of Judaism. I have noticed that many Gentiles drawn to the Jewish roots of their Christian faith do not know where to find reliable resources and often get sidetracked by teachers on the Internet who lack theological training and accountability. While these Hebrew Roots "experts" may sometimes offer valuable insights, they frequently lead people away from balanced biblical teaching on issues related to the Torah, Israel and the Church. As a Messianic Jew with a PhD in New Testament and Second Temple Judaism from Cambridge University, and almost 40 years of experience thinking through the historical, theological and practical issues that Messianic Gentiles face, I am convinced that the solution to this problem is to introduce people to resources that are well grounded and accessible online.

The mission of MessianicGentiles.com is to provide non-Jews drawn to Messianic Judaism with a resource center that is supported by solid scholarship. My vision is to see millions of Gentile believers in Yeshua visit this site for trustworthy teaching to guide them on their journey. I invite you to explore MessianicGentiles.com to find the balanced and scholarly resources you need to answer your questions.

L'Shalom,

Rabbi David Rudolph, Ph.D.

Yes this is wonderful. My idea is that I've spent a lot of time idolizing the wrong people, and mimicking their actions and mannerisms. People like Michael Jackson, just as a powerful example. I grow convicted to find ways to show Jesus that I'd like to walk around like a child pretending to be Him because I love who He is and what He does. And the Holy Spirit can teach these things to you BUT, I also feel like Jews have a better understanding of making your flesh submit to the Spirit. So who better to fellowship with, in Jesus name?

 

[Instrument150]

This is exactly the position of the God-fearers mentioned in the NT.

I'm not sure what you mean by that

 

[Steve Petersen]

I'm not sure what you mean by that

Read the book of Acts and pay attention to the phrase.

You will find they were already attending synagogues when the apostles came there to preach Jesus. They were not Jews but learned from them and interacted with them at some level.

 

[Steve Petersen]

Frequently Asked Questions

This page gives FFOZs opinion on a variety of topics related to the Torah, Gentiles etx.

 

[salt-n-light]

I feel so drawn to the concept, and I don't know if it's because you guys love Jesus too, or if it's because that's what I am in my heart. Because every time I hear a Messianic Jew speak on anything, my heart and spirit is warm with approval.

Am I a messianic jew? Can I not be because I'm a gentile, but I just appreciate the idea of God's people? Is it a genetic claim or can I be adopted, do I even need to be

So many labels, you don't need to be anything. Just a child of God.

It is possible to discuss the Word have fulfilling conversations with Messanic Jews? Of course. And if you find an assembly of them that is bible-driven, go join them. But you don't need to have an identity to fit it, you're identity is in Jesus.

 

[Steve Petersen]

So many labels, you don't need to be anything. Just a child of God.

It is possible to discuss the Word have fulfilling conversations with Messanic Jews? Of course. And if you find an assembly of them that is bible-driven, go join them. But you don't need to have an identity to fit it, you're identity is in Jesus.

Why did the early church call themselves 'The Way' and 'The Poor' and 'Christian' if labels are unimportant?

 

[Soyeong]

I feel so drawn to the concept, and I don't know if it's because you guys love Jesus too, or if it's because that's what I am in my heart. Because every time I hear a Messianic Jew speak on anything, my heart and spirit is warm with approval.

Am I a messianic jew? Can I not be because I'm a gentile, but I just appreciate the idea of God's people? Is it a genetic claim or can I be adopted, do I even need to be

Welcome!

In Exodus 12:38, it says that a mixed multitude went up with them, so there were Gentiles who affiliated themselves with Israel, and wherever you find Israel, you will find both Jews and Gentiles worshiping the one true God together. In Ephesians 2:12-19, it says that Gentiles were once separated from Christ, alienated from Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, but through faith in Messiah all of that is no longer true in that Gentiles are now no longer strangers or aliens, but are fellow citizens of Israel along with the saints in the household of God. In Romans 9:6-8, it says that Israel is made up of those who have faith in the promise. So it might be more appropriate to refer to yourself as "Messianic Gentile", though I prefer just the term "Messianic" or "Messianic Judaism".

My mom was a Jew, but she became a Christian in her 20's, so I grew up culturally as a Baptist and was one for most of my life. Jewishness is traced through the mother, so I am technically Jewish, but it is hard for me to identify as one because I did not grow up in the culture. In any case, Paul made in clear in 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 that Jews should stay as Jews, Gentiles should stay as Gentiles, and that we should live as we are called. I trust God to sort out whether I am a Jew or a Gentile, but either way I am happy to be the way that God made me.

I highly recommend many of the excellent studies and articles found at this site, especially the ones on Matthew, Romans, Galatians, the Temple, the Festivals, and on Finding Messiah in the Torah:

Romans 1-8, Messianic Jewish audio teachings by Stan Farr

 

[salt-n-light]

Why did the early church call themselves 'The Way' and 'The Poor' and 'Christian' if labels are unimportant?

"Just a child of God", would be Christian. I was referring to the need to belong to a denomination and the focus on knowing what label to call yourself based off of that.A lot of times I find myself seeing Christians mark other Christians by just what affiliation they are in, when that shouldn't be the focus.

 

[Soyeong]

"Just a child of God", would be Christian. I was referring to the need to belong to a denomination and the focus on knowing what label to call yourself based off of that.A lot of times I find myself seeing Christians mark other Christians by just what affiliation they are in, when that shouldn't be the focus.

Labels are just useful tools for quickly conveying information about us. One of the problems faced by Messianic Judaism is how to label ourselves. For instance, it in the book "Don't call me Christian", Paul Liberman talked about his role in the renewal of the movement and how he strongly wanted them to be identified as a Messianic Jews rather than as a Hebrew Christians. And whether to identify as Christians is another problem for us because if I tell the average person that I am a Christian, then I will communicate things about me that are false, such as that I am someone who worships on Sunday, that I celebrates Christmas, or that doesn't keep kosher, but if I don't identify as a Christian, then I communicate even more things about me that are false. Even just identifying as a child of God will not necessarily communicate everything that you want it to communicate, especially if you have different beliefs than other people who identify as a child of God. Denominational labels are again just useful tools to help quickly communicate information about what we believe.