FAQ Question: What are the qualifications for being a Messianic Jew?

[iitb]

A couple of easy ones:

What are the qualifications for being a Messianic Jew? How are those qualifications determined?

Where did Messianic belief originate from?

 

[simchat_torah]

easy ones?

pfffftttt....


those are the hardest to answer. At least the first one because it's not an 'objective' question.

 

[simchat_torah]

To ask "what are the qualifications for being a messianic jew" is a lot different than asking who has the authority to decide what those qualifications acutally are.

 

[iitb]

But considering the wide variety of groups that consider themselves Messianic, is your question really any easier to answer?

I think I am going to reword that one, though.

 

[iitb]

Hopefully it's a little more cut and dry now

 

[simchat_torah]

But considering the wide variety of groups that consider themselves Messianic, is your question really any easier to answer?

hehe, maybe I didn't make myself clear... I was saying that it was darn near impossible to answer as everyone would have said they were the ones with the authority to answer the question... lol


anyway, now the question is a bit more refined and can be more objective.

thanks Justin!
yafet.

 

[iitb]

hehe, maybe I didn't make myself clear... I was saying that it was darn near impossible to answer as everyone would have said they were the ones with the authority to answer the question

I had the feeling that's where you were going with that. I honestly think that's going to be the hardest thing to address in this FAQ: how do we answer leadership-related questions about a movement that doesn't seem to have any?

 

[Henaynei]

What are the qualifications for being a Messianic Jew? How are those qualifications determined?

1) you're Jewish (defination elsewhere)
2) you believe Yeshua (a.k.a. Jesus) is the Messiah according to the T'NaKah and K'tuvim Natzrim (a.k.a. New Testament)
3) you believe in, are growing in or are observing the Torah (a.k.a. Law of Moses) as can be kept today without the Temple (often loosely defined, usually by people who don't want any of Torah and just enough Tradition to make them "feel" Jewish)

Those who are all the above but are not Jewish are Messianic Gentiles.

Where did Messianic belief originate from?

From Torah with Yeshua in first century Israel. All the disciples, all the apostles, all the Jewish followers (read "many thousands", go back and read the Gospels and Acts) and even Rav Sha'ul (a.k.a. Paul) were all practicing Messianic Jews.

 

[Shamash Of Yeshua]

A couple of easy ones:

What are the qualifications for being a Messianic Jew? How are those qualifications determined?QUOTE]

I would say the question might be better worded:
What are the qualifications of being considered part of the Assembly of Messianic Judaism?
Otherwise we would have a problem of gentiles feeling left out. Which in my opinion I feel many gentiles might feel that Messianic Judaism is for Jews who believe in the Messiah as well as Torah observance. And I hear so much talk of Jews being the center focus in this movement. Yet we know for a fact that the majority in the movement are in fact non-Jewish. I have said before in so many words that if one does believe in Torah observance and Yeshua as Messiah that you are a Jew at heart.
I think the movement is named Messianic Judaism because one believes in observance of Torah as well as believes in Yeshua as Messiah, not that one is a Jew in blood.

Shalom,

Tag

 

[blessed2]

I have a question:
Jewish as in of Jewish biological descent or Jewish as in
religion?
I have known of people who converted to judaism.

 

[iitb]

I have a question:
Jewish as in of Jewish biological descent or Jewish as in
religion?
I have known of people who converted to judaism.

What exactly is it you're wanting to know? How we're defining "Jewish?" How many of us are ethnically Jewish? Something else?

 

[simchat_torah]

Jewish, Judaism and Jews have already been defined.

 

[blessed2]

Sorry all, please bear with me as I am new, and exploring messianic Judiasm as a possible answer to my yearning for a closer relationship with G-d. The qualifications stated Jewish. My question referred to this qualification. I am not far enough along to have found the definitions to Jewish, Judaism and Jew. Or what distinguishes them from one another.
I have often thought that I would be a better christian if I were Jewish as Christ was Jewish and practiced such. There is a richness of history,wisdom,and understanding of the Torah that the Jewish people have that I always felt that I was missing, and have longed for. I guess my question refined is: Being a non-biological Jew, could I convert to Messianic Judaism?

 

[Shamash Of Yeshua]

blessed2,
Yes you can. Observance of Torah is part of what defines one who is part of Messianic Judaism as well as believing in the Messiah who came almost 2000 years ago.

Shalom,

Tag

 

[iitb]

I have often thought that I would be a better christian if I were Jewish as Christ was Jewish and practiced such. There is a richness of history,wisdom,and understanding of the Torah that the Jewish people have that I always felt that I was missing, and have longed for.

Well, while the Jews are G-d's chosen people, there's also something to be said for Torah observance. At the church I use to attend there was a Jewish member, who was studying to be a rabbi before "finding Jesus," that believed with every essence of his being that the Torah was "nailed to the cross with Christ." This church member was definitely Jewish, but was he obedient?

I guess my question refined is: Being a non-biological Jew, could I convert to Messianic Judaism?

Well, you'll probably find that the majority of the MJ movement is made up of gentiles. That, and I refuse to believe HaShem is racist.

 

[iitb]

Oh, in case you're curious, the thread defining Jew and Judaism can be found here: http://www.christianforums.com/t61955

 

[SonWorshipper]

The Torah was nailed to the cross

 

[iitb]

The Torah was nailed to the cross

You know what I mean!

 

[simchat_torah]

I would point out that one doesn't have to be "jewish" by descent to understand the riches of Judaism, and to understand the context of the messiah.

Sure, it will add depths to your understanding as you would have seen the traditions practiced before your eyes since birth... but one can still study from the outside, or even join in later on in life and gain much understanding from there!

That's what many gentiles today have done as they have begin to enter the infant stages of MJ'sim.

shalom,
yafet.

 

[blessed2]

He was definitely Jewish, but was he obedient?

Hmmmm.......Was Christ at twelve not in Jerusalem for passover? When found by His parents not found in temple discussing the Torah?
My thought is that and I could be wrong and will be grateful for your correction....that the priests of the day had misused the law for thier own gain and to hold power over the people....corrupted as we often see even today. Christ didn't change the torah laws but rather defined it's true nature by showing us the heart of G-d which is the heart of the law. David did many things that was viewed as breaking the torah laws however Christ explained that in effect that David understood the heart of G-d in the law. Is their any Law that G-d gave that wasn't given for our own good? Should we think that G-d just doesn't want us to have any fun or that He should want us to fail? Or was this rather good parenting so to speak to keep us from the natural and /or spirtual consequences of our actions? Observance of the torah doesn't deminish the grace of the cross but rather may help us to deeper serve and honor the One we love and keep us out of trouble. The penalty for sin was death... spiritual death aka separation from G-d....cut off from as well as physical. As Abraham withheld not his own son from the sacrifice....so did G-d, though Abrahams seed offer up His own who physically took on the sins of the world and in that moment experienced the separation for us whereby he called out " Abba (father in the familiar- daddy, father, why hast thou forsaken me" and giving up the spirit , (it's finished) did pay the penalty for us ushering in the age of grace whereby repenting (turning away from) our sins are blessed with forgiveness but not to take it as liberty to commit sin.
whew! Where did that come from? I just got started typing as couldn't stop. lol
As I said, if I am wrong please correct for thu correction we are perfected.