Enlighten me please!

[DanceFreak]

Hello All,

I am actually a Catholic; which you may know, does carry out many Jewish traditions.
I am very intrigued by Messianic Jewdaism, however, I do not know very much about the beliefs...Could you please tell me what your beliefes are in comparison to Christianity and Jewdaism.

Is a Messianic Jew a Christian or a Jew? Or are they Christians (of whatever denomination) that keeps all of the Jewish Holy days and traditions and rituals as well as the Jewish ones?

As you probably see, I really need some insight, and would love any information you can give me. On hand info is better than certain research from places if you know what I mean!

 

[Henaynei]

Hello All,

I am actually a Catholic; which you may know, does carry out many Jewish traditions.
I am very intrigued by Messianic Jewdaism, however, I do not know very much about the beliefs...Could you please tell me what your beliefes are in comparison to Christianity and Jewdaism.

Is a Messianic Jew a Christian or a Jew? Or are they Christians (of whatever denomination) that keeps all of the Jewish Holy days and traditions and rituals as well as the Jewish ones?

As you probably see, I really need some insight, and would love any information you can give me. On hand info is better than certain research from places if you know what I mean!

Dear DanceFreak,

Wonderfully inquisitive questions!! May I refer you to our Messianic Jewish FAQ? There are several threads that will answer most of your questions - feel free to browse

 

[ShirChadash]

Shalom DanceFreak

in re:

All, I am actually a Catholic; which you may know, does carry out many Jewish traditions.

Which ones?

 

[lucky13]

Messianic Judaism is different from mainline Christianity in a few different ways-

Cosmetically, Our expressions of faith, customs and practices look Jewish.

Connotatively, Our bible translations have been modified to accurately depict the true nature of Jesus (Chanukah rather than feast of dedication)
We use nutral words like "execution stake" rather than cross.


We / I feel that I have converted to Judaism rather than Christianity. A practicing Jew who is born again has not converted but completed.

Its hard to answer your question because while Messianic Judaism is a sect of the mainstream church we are far from organized. There are so many different arms and legs of the movement ranging from the far right to the far left its hard to pinpoint which one is orthodox.

As for me after reading the bible all the way through a number of times I came to the conclusion that this is the accurate interpretation of scripture. This is a Jewish religion, Christ did not come to start a new religion (I guess thats arguable) and many of the churches doctrines are rooted in anti-semitism.

 

[simchat_torah]

fyi lucky....
your icon indicates you're not messianic. Is this a mistake?

just curious.

 

[Henaynei]

Messianic Judaism is different from mainline Christianity in a few different ways-

Cosmetically, Our expressions of faith, customs and practices look Jewish.

Connotatively, Our bible translations have been modified to accurately depict the true nature of Jesus (Chanukah rather than feast of dedication)
We use nutral words like "execution stake" rather than cross.


We / I feel that I have converted to Judaism rather than Christianity. A practicing Jew who is born again has not converted but completed.

Its hard to answer your question because while Messianic Judaism is a sect of the mainstream church we are far from organized. There are so many different arms and legs of the movement ranging from the far right to the far left its hard to pinpoint which one is orthodox.

As for me after reading the bible all the way through a number of times I came to the conclusion that this is the accurate interpretation of scripture. This is a Jewish religion, Christ did not come to start a new religion (I guess thats arguable) and many of the churches doctrines are rooted in anti-semitism.

Lucky,

I agree with much of what you imply - but I must speak out on one thing. Most of us do not feel we have "converted to Judaism" - in that implies that we (the non-Jewish believers) do not think we have become Jews We are simply Gentiles who keep Torah (where that *is* what we do - many Messianic Gentiles see no need to keep Torah). For both the Jew and the Gentile in this movement we are truly in "A Space Between Two Chairs" (also the title of an excellent tape teaching done by my hubby BTW).

 

[lucky13]

Yes my thing is wrong! Frankley im not the type to read the instructions.
If I tell someone I am taking the day off to go to Temple the reaction I usually get is "oh your Jewish".

Rather than get into a long debate about beliefs I usually just say yes.

We need to use terms that make sense to the public, having to get into a 30 min discussion with someone confuses that individual and could possibly turn them off.

This is why we are branded as being weird. Telling someone, I have converted to Judaism but I also belive in Jesus is the most make sense approach to explaining what we are about.

I do fell I converted to Judisim, I don't keep Torah.

If you feel differently thats o.k. too.