Jew who converted to Christianity.

[Gary K]

I have an ebook copy a autobiography of the story of this man that became a Christian through the witness of a Seventh-Day Adventist family whom he lived with for three years. The book is out of copyright as it was published in the early 1900s.

A STRANGER in a strange land! Such was I, I felt,
when I arrived in Massachusetts. I had no relatives there,
and friends were very few. I was kindly received by a
family distantly related to certain of my in-laws. Positions
were not plentiful. Erelong, however, I was able to find
part-time employment. I early discovered a Jewish com-
munity, and I made myself known to its residents. My zeal
for Judaism was not extraordinary; yet I felt that the Old
Testament was God's gift to the Jewish people, and that the
Jewish religion could not be superseded. I considered it
necessary all the time to be on guard, for I was obliged to
make many contacts with Gentile people. I presumed that
the attitude of non-Jews was the same in the Bay State as
it was in other places where I had been.
Occasionally I attended the synagogue, especially during
the penitential periods. The first ten days of the Bible sev-
enth month are called "penitential days." Among the Jewish
people they are known as Aa-sae-res Ye-may Tskoo-va (Ten
Days of Repentance).
The belief exists that these ten days are solemn and
68
GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
69
sacred, because they lead up to that most solemn of all the
days of the year, the Day of Atonement. This latter day is
called Torn Kippur, which means Day of Atonement. In
Scripture, in the Hebrew, it is called "The Sabbath of Sab-
baths." It is still common belief among the strict orthodox
Jews that this twenty-four-hour period decides a person's
destiny for the next year. It is still known among them as
the Yom Hw-di/n (Day of Judgment).
I Found Christianity Many-Sided
I was thrown a great deal among non-Jews, as there are
no ghettos in Massachusetts comparable to those in New York
City. Most non-Jews I met professed to be Christians.
There seemed to be many kinds of Christians. Christianity
appeared to be called by different names, and there seemed to
be various brands of this religion. I also discovered that the
Christians at times strongly opposed each other's beliefs. To
the Jewish onlooker unacquainted with Christianity, it would
appear that this religion is one of divisions and separations!
If I discovered a prospect of employment, it was neces-
sary to work on the Sabbath. At last a door opened to me,
which was accompanied with a rather strange and novel ex-
perience. I was promised a position some ten miles distant
from the city. In purchasing my railroad ticket, I noticed
a train standing at the platform in front of the station. In
stead of inquiring of the station agent whether this particular
train would carry me to my destination, I asked a bystander,
supposing that he would furnish me with a correct reply. He
assured me that the train would deliver me at my railroad
station. I boarded the train, thinking that it would arrive
at my stopping place in ample time to reach my position.
But I rode the longest ten miles I ever rode.
After a time the conductor entered the carriage, and I
handed him my ticket. He looked at the ticket, then at me,
and said: "Mister, you are on the wrong train." I ex-
70
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
postulated with him. I told him that I had been informed
that this train would take me to my destination. After a
brief discussion, the conductor advised me to leave the train
at the next stop, and told me how I could reach the town
I was seeking. I decided to follow his counsel. Had I re-
mained on this train, I should have landed in a city some
three thousand miles from my starting point. Honesty and
sincerity associated with error are of little permanent value.
I discovered that it is the truth that makes men free.

Seeking a Home in a, Private Family
After a time I was successful in securing what seemed
to be a promising position. I here found myself in per-
plexity. I did not feel free to make myself known as a Jew.
I feared that if this were commonly known, I might lose
my position, in addition to being ostracized or possibly perse-
cuted.
I decided that in view of some experiences through which
I already had passed, it would be advisable if I could secure a
boarding place in a private family. One of the men in the
factory told me of a family with whom I might find room and
board; but he added that they were a strange and, singular
people: They- observed Saturday for Sunday, they did not
use pork, and they followed other rather strange customs
that Christian people usually do not observe. My interest
was at once aroused. He further added that these people
called themselves Christian, and that they were a fine family,
but they entertained certain strange notions. What at once
attracted my attention was the statement that they observed
Saturday for Sunday and did not eat pork, and yet they
were Christians.

 

[Gary K]

Strange Jewish Ideas of Christianity
It has been the common belief of the Jew for centuries
that the Christian religion consisted of a trio of ideas—keep-
GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAT
71
ing Sunday, eating pork, hating Jews. While this statement
may be somewhat of a surprise to some, it is obvious to the
thoughtful person that the Jew could not be blamed for
reaching such a conclusion.
The average Christian had little use for the Old Testa
ment. It was considered by the Gentiles as a Jewish Book.
It was given to the Jews. Christians had little use for
anything that was Jewish. _The Christian professed to fol
low the New Testament. The Jew had not seen the New'
Testament and so knew little of it, except what he had been
taught about it, and this information was not favorable.
The Christian's popular diet, as the Jew understood it,
was pork. In most European countries the non-Jewish
neighbors of the Jews regarded the swine as the staple article
of diet. Often this animal was used among the professed
Christians in certain lands to ridicule the Jew. They even
forced him to use it. By so doing, the Christians thought
they were performing a missionary act. This only tended
to make the Jew feel more bitter against the Christian re
ligion. Since the days of Moses, Abraham's literal de
scendants have abominated the thought of eating swine's
flesh.
With very few exceptions, every country on earth, espe
cially in the Old World, has persecuted the Jew. It has
seemed to be regarded a real Christian act to persecute and
brutally treat the Jew. "Jew hater," "Jew killer," "Jew
persecutor," "Jew hunter," were popular terms among men
in certain European countries. The Jewish people for cen
turies have known by a most bitter experience the meaning
of such terms. One need not use any figures of speech in
saying that certain countries and large cities have written
their history with the blood of the Jew. In view of these
facts, what other understanding could the rigidly orthodox
Jew have of the Christian religion? Not till quite recently
has the Jew felt that he had occasion to change his ideas of
72 _____
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
what constituted Christianity. We must not be too harsh in
our judgment of the strange idea of the Jew that the Chris
tian religion is based on the threefold belief mentioned.
When this- shopmate informed me that the people with
whom he had lived and with whom I might find a home were
Christian, yet held to such doctrines as the observance of the
seventh-day Sabbath, attendance at religious services on
Saturday instead of on Sunday, and abstinence from unclean
food, I felt that I had good reason for being interested in this
family. I decided to approach the man, who worked in the
same factory, and ask him for a place in his home, to room
and to board.
My request did not meet a warm reception. He offered
various reasons and some excuses. He did not entirely turn
me down, but he gave me to understand that his home was
not a boarding house. That was exactly what I wanted. I
did not want to live in a boarding house, but in a home. He
told me that I would have to eat cold food on Saturday, be
cause he and his family attended church on that day. He also
attended prayer meeting during the week, and I would not
be able to get warm food when. I should have it.
The more he tried to excuse himself from not accepting
me as a member of the family, the more I felt impressed
that I ought to go there. In this first conversation with
him, he said so many things which seemed strange for a
Christian to say, that my interest was aroused to a high pitch.
"Prayer meeting" was a term I never had heard before.
What could this mean to a person who was a Christian, yet
kept Sabbath, and did not eat pork? He finally said that
he would give the matter further consideration, and would
talk it over with his wife. If his wife should be agreeable,
he would be willing for me to come to his home. How eager
I was to receive a favorable reply! I heard good reports of
this man and of his family. He seemed to be an amiable
person, and he was held in high esteem by all who knew him.

 

[Gary K]

73
I Found a Home
Later on in the same day, the gentleman informed me that
he had talked the matter over with his family, and they had
decided that I might come and try to accommodate myself to
their ways of living. They received me very kindly and
cordially.- How such a reception refreshed my spirit! Never
before had I been so pleasantly greeted by a person or by a
family who called themselves Christian.
The first Friday night at this home was certainly a shock
to me. It was a real surprise; it was almost a jolt. I was
spiritually stunned on entering the home and hearing re
marks. This experience occurred before the days of com
mercial electricity.
As I entered the home, the sun had already set, and
the woman said to me: "This is Sabbath evening." The
large family lamp was lighted on the center table. The
atmosphere of the home was restful and Sabbatic. My mind
immediately reverted to my boyhood days, when I lived at
home with my parents. The environment was appealing.
The wholesome, restful attitude deeply impressed me. I
almost found it difficult to retain proper poise. The woman
remarked that this was the Sabbath day, and she said several
things in regard to the Sabbath and its observance. I tried
to listen to what she was saying, but my mind was crowded
with most singular thoughts. I tried to reason with myself,
in order that I might find my bearings. Where was I ? Was
I among Christian people, or were these people some form
of Jews ? What did this all mean ? I concluded that this
family were not Jews, for they did not have the facial fea
tures of the race. Could they be Christians? I had met
Christians in several lands, in many cities, but I had never
made any contact with Christian people like these.
Furthermore: Here were Christians who seemed to act as
do the Jews, and here I, a Jew, was acting like a Christian.
74
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
I confess I felt a bit strange and almost uncomfortable. I
discovered that I still had a conscience, and something about
it disturbed me. However, I did my best to retain my poise,
for I would not want to make it known that I was at all
interested in what I was hearing.
Introduction to Sabbathkeeping Christianity
The woman further remarked, "We hope you will like
our beans. We do not use pork or lard in our beans. People
who eat pork and are brought up on it, like such meat with
their beans." All such talk was decidedly strange to me.
I really wondered what was happening. I continued to lis
ten in order to find out just where I was. The whole pro
cedure was so strange. I had never had any such experience
as this.
I decided to be on my guard. I had heard of friendly
Christian people who later became hostile to the Jews. So
I felt that I must keep my counsel. If these people should
discover that I was a Jew, what might it mean to me? I
confess that I was 'finding myself interested in them and in
what they were telling me. Yet I seamed to feel that if they
discovered I was a Jew, it might not go well with me. When
a Jewish holiday occurred, I left town for 'a short time,- and
associated with the synagogue and with its observances.
This man, I observed, was not at the factory on the Sab
bath. At times he left his work early on Friday. I did not
hear that there was any remonstrance by the firm because
he stopped so early on Friday. My curiosity was greatly
aroused; yet I dared not make inquiry, for I felt that it
might create suspicions. It was strange to me to see a man
who professed to be a Christian working in a Gentile factory
observing the seventh-day Sabbath, beginning with Friday
evening sunset; and I a Jew, reared in a rigidly orthodox
home by pious parents, desecrating God's holy Sabbath by
laboring on that day.
GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAT
75
A Christian Home
I had not lived with this family a great while before I
felt quite at home. A pleasant atmosphere pervaded the
house constantly. Kindness, thoughtfulness, and unselfish
ness were always manifested. The family seemed sincerely
interested in others' welfare. A sweet spirit was constantly
present. This sort of atmosphere was different from what I
observed among other people who called themselves Christian.
While the Jewish people generally are kind, and deeply in
terested in home and family life, never before had I made
contact with a spirit of this sort. I had about concluded that
although I knew these people were not Jews, they could not
be Christian.
There were some features in their home life that were
quite perplexing to me. I observed that they used meat and
milk, butter and beef, at the same meal. This jarred me.
The Jewish people claim that the Bible forbids the use of
meat and butter at the same meal. To use them together is
regarded a great sin. The rabbis claim that such a pro
cedure is entirely foreign to the Scriptures. For support
of this position, the 1 Talmud offers the text, "Thou shalt not
seethe a kid in his mother's milk." (See Ex. 23:19; 34:26;
Deut. 14:21.) The rabbis maintain that it is necessary to
have separate utensils for these two kinds of food products.
It is not permissible to drink milk or use butter with food
for at least five hours after meat or fat has been eaten. The
reverse is equally true. Separate dishes must be used for
milk products and meat. To mix these foods is a great sin.
Rabbinical Custom for the Use of Milk and Meat
The rabbinical law, not permitting the use of dairy and
meat products at the same meal, is so deeply rooted in the
Jewish mind and Jewish home life that should a person,
while the family is at a meal at which flesh or fat is being
76
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
served, incline to the use of a cup of milk or bread and
butter, and a drop of milk accidentally fall upon the table
among the meat dishes in use, the meal must not be eaten,
until the rabbi has been inquired of. He then must pass on
the procedure, whether the meal may be eaten, or whether
all the food on the table must be set aside.
Should the rabbi decide that a sin had been committed
because of a single drop of milk spilled on the table, the
family dinner must be destroyed as of no value. I found
myself occasionally in perplexity. But the people were
very kind and considerate in dealing with my oddities and
excuses.
Studying the New Testament and the Old
I discovered that the family read much in the New Testa
ment. I had never dared to look into a New Testament.
When one considers the laws, anathemas, and maledictions of
the Talmud against the person who dares listen to Christian
teaching, he better understands my attitude. The supersti
tions and traditions of rabbinical Judaism are so inwrought
into the nature of the Jew that it takes much coaxing, ap
pealing, and entreating for him to depart from the least
of them.
It was the custom of the family to study their Sabbath
school lesson on Friday, following the evening meal. My
attitude was that of apparent indifference toward their
religion and their religious belief. They discussed their
religion with me but little, although it was quite common
family conversation at the table. I avoided this contact as
much as possible; yet inwardly I felt that I really would
like to acquaint myself with their beliefs. So during the
time they were studying their Sabbath school lesson, I oc
cupied myself in an adjoining room. It seemed singular
to hear them read from the New Testament, and then quote
verses from the Old Testament. I observed that at times
GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAT________77
they would read the Old Testament as freely as they would
read from the New.
I felt that these people had no real right to the use of
the Old Testament. In fact, I believed that what they
called the Old Testament was an entirely different book from
the Old Testament the Jews followed. The belief of Jewish
orthodoxy is that Christian missionaries have arranged an
Old Testament to harmonize with the ideas of their religion,
so as to make believe that certain Old Testament prophecies
are fulfilled in the Christian religion. Nevertheless, I con
tinued to listen and to observe.
The parents of the household were wise Christians. They
must have concluded that since I did not discuss religion
with them, either I was not interested or I was adverse to it.
Consequently, they carried on their home missionary work
another way. After I had lived at the home for a season,
I had certain chairs that I would occupy in the dining room
or in the living room. Every time I sat down, I found a
paper, a tract, or a magazine near by. At the time I gave
the matter little thought. It was natural that literature
could be placed almost anywhere for social reading. I would
pick up and read this literature, and I found it interesting.
I gathered much helpful and valuable information from what
I read. Nevertheless, I deemed it wise not to appear too much
interested. I had not yet abandoned the idea that as a Jew
I might seriously involve myself in difficulty if I asked ques
tions.
Interested in a Sabbath School Lesson
However, an unusual occasion presented itself. One Fri
day evening, while the family were engaged in the study
of the lesson, a Bible question arose which had to do with
the Old Testament. The family were discussing in a friendly
way the text and its connection. I said to myself: "What do
these people know of the Old Testament?" I was not ego
tistical in raising this question, but because of my early
78
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
training, I felt that a non-Jew could not understand the real
meaning of the Old Testament as did a Jew. I continued
to listen with great interest. But while I was listening,
the fires of childhood and youth were burning; for I still
dearly loved the Old Testament. David says: "My heart
was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned," and
says further: "Then spake I with my tongue." Ps. 39:3.
Not sensing what was about to happen, not looking ahead
to possible far-reaching results, I rose from my chair, and
entered unceremoniously into the room where the family
were engaged in study, and remarked: "Let me give you some
suggestions on the text." I offered a few remarks on the text
that they were studying and its connection. I then quietly
withdrew from the room. But that moment or two was not
the last of that experience.
Periodically the family invited me to their church. At
first their invitation was not very welcome. After a time,
I decided to accept. Since the people were so kind and
courteous, I could not imagine that any real harm would be
fall me if I went to their house of worship. I concluded that
since they were not like other Christians, it might not be so
dangerous for me to visit their church. I had not forgotten
entirely the experience I met while in the tuberculosis hos
pital in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, England.

 

[Gary K]

Adventist Minister Uses Old Testament
I was greatly surprised to hear the minister quote as
freely from the Old Testament as from the New. It seemed
as though both the Testaments had the same value to them.
I discovered, too, that their Old Testament sounded quite like
the Old Testament followed by the Jews. The great differ
ence, however, was that they associated the name of Jesus
with the Old Testament. The sound of this name began
to lose its bitterness; but I still retained some of the earlier
prejudices against Christianity.
&OD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAT
79
Their ministers seemed very human. They had such a
friendly spirit. Whenever I came in contact with the mem
bers of their church, the people manifested a congenial at
titude. The family became like members of my own family.
The kindness and sweet spirit manifest all the time seemed
to me very unusual. I never before had come in contact with
a similar influence. I saw practiced what I later read in
the New Testament was the true Christian spirit.
I frequently reminded myself that the religion of this
people was different from any religion I had heretofore met.
A religious atmosphere pervaded the home constantly; yet it
was not forced. There seemed to be a naturalness about
their faith that was indeed refreshing. The people were as
interested in those who did not belong to them as they were
in their own relatives.
Stricken With Fever
When I had lived in this home a year and a half, I was
taken ill. I was unable to tell what had happened. So I
asked the man of the house to explain my difficulty. He said,
"You have a fever." These people were the only real friends
I knew, and I expected to be removed to the hospital. The
doctor was called, and he pronounced the illness scarlet fever.
That being a contagious disease, I decided that it meant many
weeks in a hospital. I had little money, and no immediate
relatives near by. Imagine my surprise when the woman of
the house, a true mother of mercy, said, "You will not need to
go to the hospital. We will take care of you here at home."
I had no right to expect such favors at their hand. The
house would have to be quarantined; the husband would be
obliged to live away from home, or be forced out of employ
ment.
An incident occurred in this connection which brought
sadness to me; yet it worked out in such a way that it brought
real enlightenment. The family had a child five or six years
80
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
old. I was very fond of the little girl. I said to the family:
"But the child will be stricken with the fever. She surely
will catch it, because I had her on my lap." What surprised
me was to hear the mother reply: "She will not get the fever.
I have prayed to the Lord, and He will not let her take the
fever."
I had never before heard a person talk like that. I said
to myself: "Of course the child will contract the fever.
How can it be otherwise ?" But the mother insisted that the
child would not be ill, because she had prayed to the Lord
about it. I thought that was strange talk. But what the
mother said stayed with me.
Christianity Demonstrated
During the following weeks, I passed through singular
experiences. While the fever was raging in my body, I had
peculiar mental disturbances. These kind people were deny
ing themselves of their own home comforts and social life.
They were put to extreme inconvenience on my account.
They assumed the risk of contracting the disease themselves
while caring for me, a stranger. The father worked hard
during the day; and at no time, day or night, when I needed
care, did they deny me the aid necessary. If I had been in
my own home and my immediate family had been caring for
me, I could not have received more constant and careful at
tention than was given me by these people. I had no money
to offer them for their trouble and their worry; yet I had
not a need but they gladly and willingly supplied it.
But my early teaching impressed itself upon me. Those
former days returned with an impact. Was it possible,
thought I, that my parents and my rabbis were untrue to me ?
Did they falsify to me during those early days ? They taught
me that Christians were unkind, hard, austere, especially
vindictive toward Jewish people, although I had not yet
confessed that I was a Jew. Yet here was I in a Christian
GOD WORKS IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
81
home, among Christian people only, and I was being given
the kindest and most thoughtful consideration. I was re
ceiving the best of treatment, when the people knew that I
was unable even to remunerate them in a financial way for
all their trouble. There were times during these weeks of
serious illness, when mental suffering almost equaled physical
pain. I was greatly perplexed. I had the utmost con
fidence in my rabbis. I had no reason to question the love
and filial devotion of my family. Yet here I was having
demonstrated to me, day by day, during the number of
weeks, courtesy and unselfish service which wealth could not
purchase.
They Said So Much About Jesus
More than once during this illness I felt that if such a
religion were a marketable commodity, I would like to pur
chase it. If such a religion can wield so great an influence
upon a Jew, I thought, what a blessing it would be to the
seed of Abraham!
I observed, too, that they were constantly lauding and
extolling the name of Jesus. They praised Him for His
faithfulness and constancy. They, expressed to Him their
gratitude for His mercies and blessings. He was regarded
by them as though He were God. They worshiped Him as
the Jews worship Jehovah. I had decided that this Jesus
of whom they were constantly speaking, was the same Being
I was taught to despise when I was a lad. I must confess
that the foundations of my early teaching were being shaken.
I could not deny that the unselfish treatment I was receiving
was being administered to me by those who followed this
Jesus—was being given in His name. It was being supplied
willingly and lovingly, without money and without price. I
was forced to admit that something was wrong about my
early training.
Before I completed my period of convalescence, the
6
82
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
name "Jesus" sounded very different to me; the Christian re
ligion as illustrated by the Fiske family had taken on a new
meaning to me. Judaism, the orthodox Judaism in which I
was reared, had not the colorful attraction of my early days.
Still, I felt that I was a Jew. The prevalent teaching of
Judaism—once a Jew always a Jew—was not entirely ban
ished from my mind. Nevertheless, I felt that God was en
lightening my mind, in order that I might understand that
the Christian religion was far different from what I had been
taught to believe regarding it. I believed that God was using
this family to give me a demonstration of Christianity. The
three months of illness and convalescence were to me a mys
terious leading of Providence which later enabled me to listen
to the voice of the Saviour. I was being prepared' uncon
sciously to receive a hope in the true God, the ,God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God surely works in a mysteri
ous way His wonders to perform.

 

[BobRyan]

I have an ebook copy a autobiography of the story of this man that became a Christian through the witness of a Seventh-Day Adventist family ....
"I decided that in view of some experiences through which
I already had passed, it would be advisable if I could secure a
boarding place in a private family. One of the men in the
factory told me of a family with whom I might find room and
board; but he added that they were a strange and, singular
people:

"They- observed Saturday for Sunday, they did not
use pork, and they followed other rather strange customs
that Christian people usually do not observe. My interest
was at once aroused. He further added that these people
called themselves Christian, and that they were a fine family,
but they entertained certain strange notions.

"What at once attracted my attention was the statement that they observed
Saturday for Sunday and did not eat pork, and yet they were Christians.

Interesting...

 

[Gary K]

Interesting...

Yep. To read his conversion story and the miracles performed by God is very interesting.

 

[Gary K]

How I Was Led to Accept Jesus as the True Messiah
AFTER RECOVERING from my illness, I was soon
stricken with other ailments. I was wondering at times
whether the Lord was not punishing me for my transgres
sions, in not more faithfully following in the steps of Juda
ism. The Jewish rabbinical religion does not overlook the
rewards and merits of weal, or the fruits and results of dis
obedience. The Talmudic student is frequently reminded
that since the Scripture says vengeance belongs to God, the
Lord does not forget to deal with people in this life who con
stantly sin against Him, by departing from Judaism.
Until this time I did not feel it wrong that I was a rab
binical orthodox Jew. I thought I was not living up to my
religion as sincerely as I should. It occurred to me that
what I should do was to bring my life into closer harmony
with the teaching of Moses and the prophets.
I still hoped that someday I might enjoy financial pros
perity ; then it would be possible to bestow philanthropies on a
large scale; for the orthodox is taught that "charity covereth
83
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
85
a multitude of sins." Charity, righteousness, philanthropy,
all mean one and the same thing to the literal child of
Abraham.
A Christian Appeal
While the New Testament was still to me an unknown
and unread book, the people with whom I lived were of great
interest to me, and so was their religion. One evening the
family was entertaining one of their ministers. He was a
kind, genial, and courteous gentleman. He manifested a
deep interest in me. After supper, he began to talk to me
about the Christian religion. He told me that I ought to be
a Christian. What seemed so strange and startling to me
was that while he talked he wept. His tears seemed heart
felt; yet he was a stranger to me. I.did not remember ever
having met the man before. Nevertheless, his tears flowed
freely and copiously. How earnestly he appealed to me
that I ought to be a Christian! All the time he was talking,
I said to myself, I am a Jew. Why should this stranger
so desire that I should be a Christian, when in reality I was
reared to be a Jew, and must ever remember that I cannot
change my religion ? I knew that these people had an inter
esting religion, but I never felt that it was for me, a Jew, to
adopt their religion. How could I become a Christian when
I was a Jew ? for if I changed my religion, the Jews would
regard me as an apostate. I might be accused of accepting
this religion because I was bribed to do so.
I said to myself, It might not be harmful for me to visit
other churches. But I found myself in perplexity. I heard
the people talking about the Trinity; yet they would say they
believed in the one and the true God. I also discovered that
some people in these various Christian communions would
talk unkindly about the religion of Seventh-day Adventists.
I attended a Sunday school class, which gave opportunity to
ask questions. I raised the question, Why do certain Chris-

HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
87
tian people observe Saturday as the Sabbath instead of Sun
day? The minister of this church', who was considered an
outstanding theologian in his day, hurled anathemas against
those people who observed the seventh day for the Sabbath
instead of Sunday. After that, I had little use for that min
ister or for his church. I had lived with Seventh-day Ad-
ventists; and any person who would accuse such a family as
I knew could exert little influence upon me.
A Strange Experience
On Monday night, April 15, 1889, as I was wending my
way to my room after parting with a friend, I was suddenly
seized with a peculiar fear. I was alone; I had not been
conversing about religion or about Christianity, nor had I
associated particularly with godly Christian people. The
twelve-hundred-candle-power arc light near a railroad cross
ing not distant, appeared dark and hazy. I began to hurry,
only to hear accompanying hurrying footsteps. I finally ran,
and running feet kept pace with me. I hastened to my room,
locked the door, and tried to throw off this strange feeling.
What was taking place, I was unable to understand.
The next day at the dinner table, Mr. Fiske said to me:
"You ought to be a Christian." Those words pierced my
soul. They struck home right to the heart with conviction.
During that entire afternoon, at work, it seemed to me that all
I could hear was, You ought to be a Christian. I tried to
argue with myself by repeating: I am a Jew. Why should
I be a Christian ? The Jews do not believe in changing their
religion. The Jew says, A man must die in the same re
ligion in which he was born.
The conviction retorted: But Mr. Fiske says you ought to
be a Christian. You admit you have no fault to find with
him, or with his religion. He is a kind man, and has been
interested in your welfare during these three years you have
lived in his home. You have admitted that sometime if you
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JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
have money enough, you might like to get some of his re
ligion.
The conviction grew upon me that I should give heed" to
what this man said. Again and again came the echo: You
ought to be a Christian.
The child of the family had a birthday anniversary on
April 16. The mother said to me: "We are having a gather
ing of children today, to celebrate our little girl's birthday.
If you do not come home too late tonight, we shall have some
ice cream and cake for you."
The Saviour Reveals Himself
On reaching the house that night about ten-thirty, I seated
myself at the table in my accustomed seat, to enjoy the con
fections which had been saved. I sat at the table alone.
The large lamp stood in the center of the table. As I began
to eat the food, my mind became terribly exercised. I was
greatly disturbed. It seemed to me that someone was at my
back piling a load upon it. I was burdened.
Beyond the lamp suddenly there appeared four words
in letters of fire: "YOU AKE A SINNER." No hand was
, seen. . I saw only those words. What does this mean, thought
1? I could not eat the food. I feared that I was going to
die. I was terribly burdened. No person was near me. I
could see no one. The family had retired, I presumed. I
felt as though I must have help.
I finally called to the man of the house. "Frank, are you
there ? I am in trouble," I said.
He came at once to the dining room, and I told him my
perplexity, what I was passing through. Suddenly an im
pression came to me. I said: "Will you pray with me?"
Never before had I asked anyone to pray for or with me; for
the Jews read their prayers out of the rabbinically prepared
volumes. For the first time in my life, I dropped on my
knees. This man of God prayed for me.
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
89
While we were on bended knees, and while he was praying
on this night of April 16, 1889, Jesus came into that room,
and He said to me: "I am the Messiah."
What a word! What a startling statement to listen to!
I knew at once that Jesus is the Messiah. The Saviour told
ine that He is the Messiah. The Saviour came and found
this Jew. In that moment I knew that the Jesus I had been
taught to abhor is the Messiah of Israel, Son of the living
God. The Saviour told me He is the Messiah. What an ex
perience came into my life at that instant! What a change
came over me! What a thrill filled my soul! What a re
joicing came into my heart!
It seemed to me as though I were born into a new world.
A new life had come to me. What an hour! What an ex
perience ! Jesus came into that dining room and said: "I
am the Messiah." He said it to this bigoted, prejudiced Jew.
How could I mistake that voice? Never can I forget that
hour, that night! What a blessed experience came to this
poor man's soul! I had not been attending any religious
revivals. But the Lord Jesus came into that room and told
me He is the Messiah. The Spirit of God brought deep con
viction into my soul. The dear Lord of heaven had pity
upon this poor bigoted, vindictive Jew, and He opened my
eyes and my heart, and revealed Himself to me as my own
Messiah.

 

[Gary K]

Leaving Earthly Calling
I was unable to say much in prayer that night, but I
knew that a great light illumined my soul. I fervently
thanked God for what He had done for me, a poor sinner,
and that I had been transformed into a new man. I knew
that the Lord had found me. I was sure that Jesus of Naza
reth is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. What a joy
and peace flooded my soul! I now was sure that this blessed
Jesus is the Saviour for whom my forefathers were hoping. I
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JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
went to my room for the night, but, oh, what a night! The
Saviour spoke to my heart that night. He told me to leave
my work, to give up all business, abandon earthly projects.
From that time on I must give my life to Him, to tell others
of the light He had brought to my soul. I must dedicate my
being to His service, and declare to others what the Lord had
done for my soul.
On meeting the family the next morning, I told them what
had happened to me the previous night. I informed them
that I was born and reared an orthodox Jew, but I now knew
that Jesus of Nazareth is the true Messiah, the Deliverer of
Israel. I informed them that I was to dispose of my tools,
and give up my work in the factory. From henceforth I
intended to give my all to the Lord Jesus,, who gave His
life for me.
The family were delighted to learn what the Saviour had
done for my soul. However, the good man of the house re
marked : "You better keep your tools. You may need them."
I said: "I mean to cut loose from everything in this world.
I never plan to do a day's work for any man as long as I
live, aside from the service of God." I had found what my
heart longed for; from henceforth I belonged to the Lord
Jesus. My life was His,, and He was to have what there
was of it.
I notified the foreman of the factory of my intention to
give up my position. I felt constrained to sever connections,
and devote the rest of my life to the service of God. The
Lord was so kind and gracious in revealing Himself to me,
in assuring me that He is the Messiah of Israel, that I wanted
the privilege of giving to Him what life He had given to
me. I felt that it would be a joy to tell others the story that
the Messiah already had come, and that He is soon to return.
It seemed to me that the least I could render to my Lord was
this small service in making known to others this glorious
truth of salvation.
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
91
Suffering Persecution
The intervening days, from the time I accepted Jesus as
Messiah until I left the factory, were days of persecution.
Word had passed around the factory that I had been a Jew
and now I had become a Seventh-day Adventist. I was
treated most bitterly by the employees in the factory. Some
of these men professed to be Christians, but they joined the
rabble crowd in making it as hard for me as possible.
The next Saturday I went to church, now as a Christian,
and not as a Jew. This was the first Christian Sabbath I
observed'. What a wonderful and glorious Sabbath day it
was! What a thrill filled my soul, as I entered that modest
Seventh-day Adventist church and saw the company of about
seventy Christian men and women observing sacredly and
reverently this holy day of God, which the Lord had given to
my forefathers. It seemed to me that I was enjoying a taste
of heaven. I had found the true Messiah, the true religion,
and the true people of God. Language is inadequate to ex
press my feelings as I mingled in worship with these God
fearing people.
While I was absent from work on this Sabbath day, the
employees at the factory devised schemes to express their
contempt for my becoming a Christian. They were vindictive
in their treatment. I had entered the school of Christ, and I
was to receive my first lessons as a Christian. I was learning
by experience what it meant to take up the cross and follow
the Saviour. Nevertheless, my heart rejoiced that I was
counted worthy to suffer for His name.
Studying the New Testament
I now began to read and study the New Testament. What
a wonderful Jewish book I discovered it to be! I could not
understand why I had never before seen this book. It was
so distinctly Jewish. Everything in the New Testament,
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JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
from the first verse of the first chapter, I observed, dealt with
matters Jewish. The men who wrote those words were Jews,
they spoke of Jewish affairs, and they wrote of the patriarchs
and prophets freely, as did the rabbis and other Jewish
writers. I literally devoured its contents. This holy book
made clear many things which I had been unable to under
stand while an orthodox Jew.
When the Jewish student is perplexed over questions re
lating to the Old Testament, or to the rabbinical writings,
he asks the rabbi to harmonize the teachings. The rabbis
refer him to the great scholars. But these Sages do not
agree among themselves in regard to many of those Biblical
subjects. But whom shall I follow ? the rabbi is asked. In all
likelihood the student may receive as his reply a stunning
broadside on his cheek from the rabbi's pabn. The student
dare not retaliate; for the Talmud is impressive in its teach
ing of the pupil's submission to his rabbi.
Gotfs Precious Promise
Shortly after my conversion, before I had left my position
at the factory, early one morning, before I had risen from
bed, I heard a most beautiful voice speaking these words:
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I
am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteous
ness." Then followed the words, "Forty-one ten." I was not
sure whether the voice said Isaiah or Numbers.
During the student years of my early life, I read the Bible
mostly in the Hebrew. While I attended the public school,
operated by the Jews in connection with the government
schools, most of the studies in the Bible were in Hebrew. I
was very fond of the Hebrew language, and I loved to read
the Scriptures and the rabbinical writings in that language.
Most of the prayers are selected from the Old Testament
Scriptures; these are read in the synagogue in the Hebrew.
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
93
But these words I heard in the English language greatly im
pressed me.
I quickly rose from bed, and asked: "Who is there?"
I searched the clothes closet, the open attic, to find the
person who spoke such sweet and comforting words with so
melodious a voice.
On meeting the family this morning when I went to
breakfast, I informed them of this precious experience I had
had. I asked them to investigate the Scriptures whether
such words were found in Numbers or in Isaiah. They
found them in Isaiah 41:10.
How my soul rejoiced that the merciful God and loving
Saviour who knew my future were so kind and gracious in
giving to me such a precious promise at this early period in
my Christian experience, in order to strengthen my faith in
the blessed Saviour. I had had no Christian experience till
this time. This religion with its problems was all new to
me; but the dear Lord well understood what was ahead of me.
To encourage and strengthen my faith in Him, He gave me
this precious promise in an audible voice. How blessed
and precious this promise has been during these more than
fifty years!
Before I completed my work in the factory, I was con
fronted by Satan with an almost-overwhelming trial. Sud
denly the devil came to me with this serious temptation:
What have you done ? You were born and reared a Jew; you
have become a Christian. Don't you know that your family
will cut you off ? They nevermore will have anything to do
with you. You have given up your work. You have no
money and few friends. Who cares for a Jew? How are
you going to make a living ? What about your future ?
I answered: I know that Jesus is my Messiah. He is the
Son of God. I know He has forgiven my sins. He has
promised to take care of me through eternity. I know I can
trust Him now.

 

[Gary K]

Why Rabbis Hid the New Testament
As I continued reading and studying the New Testament,
it was not difficult to understand why the rabbis hid this
blessed and beautiful book from the Jewish people. This
book written by Jews, given originally to Jews, has been
hidden from that people for many centuries. What a tragedy
to the descendants of Abraham that this precious volume of
truth given to their ancestors through the Divine Spirit by
those holy men of God, has been kept from them! What light,
peace, joy, and consolation would have been the portion of the
brethren of the Saviour had they only known that the Mes
siah is Jesus of Nazareth! His first advent, more than
nineteen centuries ago, brought spiritual deliverance and
salvation to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, according to
the promises which God made to the forefathers. The
heavenly Father fulfilled what He promised patriarchs and
prophets by sending His dearly beloved Son to this earth.
If only the Jewish people through the past centuries could
have had placed in their .hands this blessed New Testament,
what '& different history they might have left to their de
scendants, what a blessing and a peace would have come to
their own hearts! By concealing this blessed New "Testament
from the Jewish race, the rabbis have been able to keep'these
children of Abraham in spiritual bondage, and have held
them in the tight grip of human slavery.
There had been times, during the years in which I asso
ciated with Gentiles after leaving my home in London,
England, when I was somewhat ashamed that I had been
born and reared a Jew. But now how glad and thankful I
felt that the Lord Jesus had revealed Himself to me, who
formerly had been a bigoted and narrow-minded Jew! I was
profoundly grateful that there is grace in the Lord Jesus still
to redeem and deliver prejudiced Jews. I was very happy to
know by experience that it is possible for a vindictive Jew
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
95
to become a Christian, a follower of the Lord Jesus. I now
longed to make this truth known to my fellow Jewish people,
and to all others.
The Fiske family rejoiced that the blessed Saviour had
enlightened my mind and quickened my spirit and brought to
me the light of God's salvation. If only hundreds and thou
sands of Jews would accept the glorious light of the gospel
of Christ, what a change would come to them, what a dif
ferent meaning life would have! If the children of God
would only become more interested in the welfare of these
poor lost sheep of Israel, these sons and daughters of Abraham
who have been world wanderers because they have refused
their own Messiah, what a blessing it would bring to the fol
lowers of our Lord, besides bringing joy and peace to the
hearts of the poor downtrodden descendants of the patriarchs.
These would then rejoice with Abraham, for they, too, would
see His day and be glad. They would then understand
God's plan and purpose for them, through whom came the
Son of the living God, Jesus of Nazareth, Israel's Messiah
and Deliverer.

 

[Gary K]

Preparing for the Master's Service
MY DETERMINATION to become a follower of the
Lord Jesus in active service increased as the days passed.
But I was a newborn babe in Christ. I knew nothing of
Christianity or of Christian ways. I felt helpless, inefficient,
in great need of instruction, counsel, guidance. The early
prejudices against Christianity which I had accumulated had,
not entirely gone, although I came to consider them as untrue,
childish, without foundation in fact. But I did not know how
to fill the vacuum. '
My love for the New Testament daily increased. The in
struction I found in this inspired book of God charmed me.
I seemed to appreciate the words of Job, that he regarded
God's word more than his necessary food. My interest in
eating and sleeping was not burdensome. Day and night
seemed to hurry by, as I studied and meditated on this
wonderful discovery, God's precious treasure.
While completing my work in the factory, I spent many
hours each day in delight and pleasure, studying those
precious records of apostles and prophets, of the sayings and
doings of the Saviour and His disciples.
99
PREPARING FOR THE MASTER'S SERVICE
97
Finding Gotfs True People
I sensed my need of unlearning many things which I had
formerly been taught against the Christian religion. It
occurred to me it might require years to acquaint myself with
Christian modes and Christian ways of thinking. I had been
so charged with rabbinical fabrications and Talmudic fables
opposing the Saviour and contradicting the New Testament
teachings, that.it seemed to me it would take a long time to
cast aside those false ideas which I had absorbed.
As I read the Bible and the writings of the Spirit of
prophecy, I became firmly convinced that I had not only
found the true Messiah, but I also had made contact with
God's true people. The Old Testament repeatedly points out
to the believer the true people of God. Judaism claims that
the children of Israel are God's only true followers. Many
are the texts in the Old Testament Scriptures which indicate
that Israel is God's chosen people; and without the aid of the
New Testament, rabbinic Judaism can enforce this teaching
as true. But when one reads and accepts the New Testament
as the inspired testimony of God, the darkness, superstition,
and fabrication of the rabbinical Sages are understood in
their true light. God's true people are pointed out; they
are the ones who fully accept the Saviour, the Lord Jesus.
Giving Up No Spiritual Truths
I soon discovered in my study of God's word that I had
nothing of real spiritual value to dispense with. I now
knew that the Seventh-day Adventists believe in all of the
Old Testament as well as in the New. In fact, I observed
that they were able to give clearer expositions of the Old
Testament by their application from the New Testament,
than the Jews could give. They loved the seventh-day Sab
bath, and they observed it more sacredly than the professed
guardians of God's holy law. They ate none of the unclean
foods prohibited in the Old Testament Scriptures. They
98
taught freely the sanctuary ministry given to the Israelites
through Moses, only now the application of those teachings
was centered in the Messiah, who is its minister in heaven.
Such beliefs had heen known and followed, with slight varia
tions, by me and by my ancestors before me for millenniums.
What a surprise, what a real spiritual joy, awaited me, when
I learned from Scripture that from the inception of this latest
message it had had connected with it the gift of prophecy,
even as the Lord led His people anciently by this spiritual
gift in the days of Israel. Eepeatedly it occurred to me:
This must be the true religion; these people are the true
people of God.
Judaism, through the Talmud, admits that circumcision
in the flesh, the offering of sacrifices, observance of holy days
and festivals, will be abolished following the advent of
Messiah. The most outstanding rabbis have borne their testi
mony that all these symbols and ceremonies will not be of
value after Messiah comes to earth. The Talmudic student
well understands the repeated statements of leading Sages
through the centuries, that all the observances which were
entrusted to Abraham's descendants will be of no spiritual
benefit when Messiah appears.
As I continued studying the New \Testament in connec
tion with the Old Testament, the evidence accumulated that
this people are the true people of God.
Unkind Feelings Toward Jewish-Christian Believers
I was unable to make any contact with my family. To
my friends and relatives I was as one dead. In certain con
gested orthodox communities in sections of the Old World,
it formerly was not unusual, should a Jew or Jewess accept
the Christian religion, for the family to have a funeral for
such a person. A coffin would be carried to a cemetery, not
always even to a Jewish burial ground, and interred in the
earth. To the family- and near friends this apostate was
PREPARING FOR THE MASTER'S SERVICE
99
dead and buried. If a member of the family or a near
relative should pass such a one on the sidewalk, he would
give no recognition. The Talmud is bitterly severe toward
apostates from Judaism, toward any and all who accept the
Christian religion. Such a person is called a Me-shoo-mad, a
destroyer. That is, this believer in Christ has destroyed
himself. Therefore it is permissible for his relatives and
friends to destroy him.
The orthodox Jew is not entirely to blame for harboring
such feelings; this is a heritage which has been bequeathed to
him through the centuries.
About ten days after I accepted Jesus as the Saviour, an
older brother came to America. I had been in the United
States for several years without a near relative. I felt the
need of having some member of my family with me. I in
vited my brother to join me in this country. At the time I
asked him to come across to the United States, I had not the
remotest thought of becoming a Christian. What a surprise
awaited this brother upon his arrival in America! When I
told him that I had become a Christian, he could scarcely
accept my statement.
After securing for him a position, I left him to prepare
myself for service for the Master. Months passed, and I
never received a word from him. He became estranged from
me. He avoided me whenever possible, and would have
nothing in common with me. I could not get word from my
people across the ocean. Years passed, and no word did I
hear from them. The same was true of my relatives in the
United States. How precious at such a time were the words
of the psalmist: "When my father and my mother forsake me,
then the Lord will take me up" ! Ps. 27:10.
My Contact With Jewish Relatives
After several years of silence, I was surprised to receive
from relatives in New York City an invitation to attend a
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JUDAISM
wedding. After praying over this matter, I felt impressed to
accept the invitation. I had not visited this metropolitan city
for several years ; now came this invitation from relatives to
attend a wedding of one of the family.
My brother also decided to attend this wedding. On his
way to New York City, he stopped and visited me. At this
time, I was attending school. Since I had accepted Jesus as
the Messiah, I had had very little dealings with Jews in their
ghettos, although I occasionally met some Jews during my
labors in God's work. Never since I had become a Christian,
had I associated with as many Jews as I felt I would meet if I
accepted this invitation and went to New York City.
When I informed my brother that I planned to attend
the wedding, he was astonished. The educational institu
tion I was attending was located in a small country town,
far distant from a Jewish community. My brother thought
that in so small and secluded a country community no harm
could befall me from Jews; but for me to face the Jews in
New York City, where I would meet so many of my rela
tives and friends, might mean a new and a strange ex
perience.
On my arrival at the home of the relatives, I was re
ceived very cordially. They expressed delight that I had ac
cepted the invitation to attend the wedding. While the
bridal party were waiting to participate in the formal
wedding ceremony in the synagogue, a number of Jews had
congregated in the store of my relatives, and were discussing
the sorrowful experiences of the Jewish people.
Bearing Witness for the Saviour
Various reasons were offered why for centuries the Jewish
race has been so bitterly persecuted and distressed. Sud
denly it seemed to me as though it was whispered in my ear :
Why don't you tell them the reason ? Not waiting, I said to
PREPARING FOR THE MASTER'S SERVICE
101
the company of Jews (and some of them were my relatives),
"Let me tell you why our forefathers have had so bitter an
experience. The Lord looked down from heaven many cen
turies ago upon our ancestors and saw their sorrows. He
pitied them. So He sent them a Deliverer, their own Mes
siah. But the Sanhedrin refused Him. They would have
nothing to do with Him. Because they rejected Him, we are
suffering the results of their conduct."
The words had no sooner left my lips than one of the
company, a relative by marriage, a sturdy, rugged man,
became very angry with me. He clenched his fists, gnashed
on me with his teeth, and shouted: "Kill Him! Kill him!
How dare he talk that way!"
If my brother, who stood beside me, had not interfered,
a sad experience might have been my lot. The company was
in an uproar. Many of the Jews became angry; they were
vicious. My brother was not pleased at what had happened.
He upbraided me for bearing testimony for the Lord Jesus.
I told him that whenever the Lord opened the way for me
to bear witness for Him, I expected to improve the oppor
tunity. The company soon dispersed. Word passed around
among the Jews that a relative of the bride's father had
become an apostate from the Jewish religion.
I attended the synagogue service, and spent the evening
with scores, yes, hundreds, of Jews, many of whom I had
known years before when I lived in New York City. For
one week I remained in that metropolis, and it was a pleasure
and a privilege to testify among relatives and friends that
Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of Israel. It afforded me
my first experience in bearing witness to many Jews in a
Jewish ghetto, that Jesus is the Christ. It enabled me also to
visualize what the future might hold in store, when I would
preach the blessed gospel of our Lord to the masses of the
Jewish brethren. The prayer of Paul recorded in Romans
10:1 finds a response in the heart of the Jewish Christian.

 

[Gary K]

How I Was Led to Accept
Jesus as the True Messiah
AFTER RECOVERING from my illness, I was soon
stricken with other ailments. I was wondering at times
whether the Lord was not punishing me for my transgres
sions, in not more faithfully following in the steps of Juda
ism. The Jewish rabbinical religion does not overlook the
rewards and merits of weal, or the fruits and results of dis
obedience. The Talmudic student is frequently reminded
that since the Scripture says vengeance belongs to God, the
Lord does not forget to deal with people in this life who con
stantly sin against Him, by departing from Judaism.
Until this time I did not feel it wrong that I was a rab
binical orthodox Jew. I thought I was not living up to my
religion as sincerely as I should. It occurred to me that
what I should do was to bring my life into closer harmony
with the teaching of Moses and the prophets.
I still hoped that someday I might enjoy financial pros
perity ; then it would be possible to bestow philanthropies on a
large scale; for the orthodox is taught that "charity covereth
83
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
85
a multitude of sins." Charity, righteousness, philanthropy,
all mean one and the same thing to the literal child of
Abraham.
A Christian Appeal
While the ISTew Testament was still to me an unknown
and unread book, the people with whom I lived were of great
interest to me, and so was their religion. One evening the
family was entertaining one of their ministers. He was a
kind, genial, and courteous gentleman. He manifested a
deep interest in me. After supper, he began to talk to me
about the Christian religion. He told me that I ought to be
a Christian. What seemed so strange and startling to me
was that while he talked he wept. His tears seemed heart
felt; yet he was a stranger to me. I.did not remember ever
having met the man before. Nevertheless, his tears flowed
freely and copiously. How earnestly he appealed to me
that I ought to be a Christian! All the time he was talking,
I said to myself, I am a Jew. Why should this stranger
so desire that I should be a Christian, when in reality I was
reared to be a Jew, and must ever remember that I cannot
change my religion ? I knew that these people had an inter
esting religion, but I never felt that it was for me, a Jew, to
adopt their religion. How could I become a Christian when
I was a Jew ? for if I changed my religion, the Jews would
regard me as an apostate. I might be accused of accepting
this religion because I was bribed to do so.
I said to myself, It might not be harmful for me to visit
other churches. But I found myself in perplexity. I heard
the people talking about the Trinity; yet they would say they
believed in the one and the true God. I also discovered that
some people in these various Christian communions would
talk unkindly about the religion of Seventh-day Adventists.
I attended a Sunday school class, which gave opportunity to
ask questions. I raised the question, Why do certain Chris-

HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
87
tian people observe Saturday as the Sabbath instead of Sun
day? The minister of this church', who was considered an
outstanding theologian in his day, hurled anathemas against
those people who observed the seventh day for the Sabbath
instead of Sunday. After that, I had little use for that min
ister or for his church. I had lived with Seventh-day Ad-
ventists; and any person who would accuse such a family as
I knew could exert little influence upon me.
A Strange Experience
On Monday night, April 15, 1889, as I was wending my
way to my room after parting with a friend, I was suddenly
seized with a peculiar fear. I was alone; I had not been
conversing about religion or about Christianity, nor had I
associated particularly with godly Christian people. The
twelve-hundred-candle-power arc light near a railroad cross
ing not distant, appeared dark and hazy. I began to hurry,
only to hear accompanying hurrying footsteps. I finally ran,
and running feet kept pace with me. I hastened to my room,
locked the door, and tried to throw off this strange feeling.
What was taking place, I was unable to understand.
The next day at the dinner table, Mr. Fiske said to me:
"You ought to be a Christian." Those words pierced my
soul. They struck home right to the heart with conviction.
During that entire afternoon, at work, it seemed to me that all
I could hear was, You ought to be a Christian. I tried to
argue with myself by repeating: I am a Jew. Why should
I be a Christian ? The Jews do not believe in changing their
religion. The Jew says, A man must die in the same re
ligion in which he was born.
The conviction retorted: But Mr. Fiske says you ought to
be a Christian. You admit you have no fault to find with
him, or with his religion. He is a kind man, and has been
interested in your welfare during these three years you have
lived in his home. You have admitted that sometime if you
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have money enough, you might like to get some of his re
ligion. The conviction grew upon me that I should give heed" to
what this man said. Again and again came the echo: You
ought to be a Christian.
The child of the family had a birthday anniversary on
April 16. The mother said to me: "We are having a gather
ing of children today, to celebrate our little girl's birthday.
If you do not come home too late tonight, we shall have some
ice cream and cake for you."
The Saviour Reveals Himself
On reaching the house that night about ten-thirty, I seated
myself at the table in my accustomed seat, to enjoy the con
fections which had been saved. I sat at the table alone.
The large lamp stood in the center of the table. As I began
to eat the food, my mind became terribly exercised. I was
greatly disturbed. It seemed to me that someone was at my
back piling a load upon it. I was burdened.
Beyond the lamp suddenly there appeared four words
in letters of fire: "YOU AKE A SINNER." No hand was
, seen. . I saw only those words. What does this mean, thought
1? I could not eat the food. I feared that I was going to
die. I was terribly burdened. No person was near me. I
could see no one. The family had retired, I presumed. I
felt as though I must have help.
I finally called to the man of the house. "Frank, are you
there ? I am in trouble," I said.
He came at once to the dining room, and I told him my
perplexity, what I was passing through. Suddenly an im
pression came to me. I said: "Will you pray with me?"
Never before had I asked anyone to pray for or with me; for
the Jews read their prayers out of the rabbinically prepared
volumes. For the first time in my life, I dropped on my
knees. This man of God prayed for me.
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
89
While we were on bended knees, and while he was praying
on this night of April 16, 1889, Jesus came into that room,
and He said to me: "I am the Messiah."
What a word! What a startling statement to listen to!
I knew at once that Jesus is the Messiah. The Saviour told
ine that He is the Messiah. The Saviour came and found
this Jew. In that moment I knew that the Jesus I had been
taught to abhor is the Messiah of Israel, Son of the living
God. The Saviour told me He is the Messiah. What an ex
perience came into my life at that instant! What a change
came over me! What a thrill filled my soul! What a re
joicing came into my heart!
It seemed to me as though I were born into a new world.
A new life had come to me. What an hour! What an ex
perience ! Jesus came into that dining room and said: "I
am the Messiah." He said it to this bigoted, prejudiced Jew.
How could I mistake that voice? Never can I forget that
hour, that night! What a blessed experience came to this
poor man's soul! I had not been attending any religious
revivals. But the Lord Jesus came into that room and told
me He is the Messiah. The Spirit of God brought deep con
viction into my soul. The dear Lord of heaven had pity
upon this poor bigoted, vindictive Jew, and He opened my
eyes and my heart, and revealed Himself to me as my own
Messiah.
Leaving Earthly Calling
I was unable to say much in prayer that night, but I
knew that a great light illumined my soul. I fervently
thanked God for what He had done for me, a poor sinner,
and that I had been transformed into a new man. I knew
that the Lord had found me. I was sure that Jesus of Naza
reth is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. What a joy
and peace flooded my soul! I now was sure that this blessed
Jesus is the Saviour for whom my forefathers were hoping. I
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went to my room for the night, but, oh, what a night! The
Saviour spoke to my heart that night. He told me to leave
my work, to give up all business, abandon earthly projects.
From that time on I must give my life to Him, to tell others
of the light He had brought to my soul. I must dedicate my
being to His service, and declare to others what the Lord had
done for my soul.
On meeting the family the next morning, I told them what
had happened to me the previous night. I informed them
that I was born and reared an orthodox Jew, but I now knew
that Jesus of Nazareth is the true Messiah, the Deliverer of
Israel. I informed them that I was to dispose of my tools,
and give up my work in the factory. From henceforth I
intended to give my all to the Lord Jesus,, who gave His
life for me.
The family were delighted to learn what the Saviour had
done for my soul. However, the good man of the house re
marked : "You better keep your tools. You may need them."
I said: "I mean to cut loose from everything in this world.
I never plan to do a day's work for any man as long as I
live, aside from the service of God." I had found what my
heart longed for; from henceforth I belonged to the Lord
Jesus. My life was His,, and He was to have what there
was of it.
I notified the foreman of the factory of my intention to
give up my position. I felt constrained to sever connections,
and devote the rest of my life to the service of God. The
Lord was so kind and gracious in revealing Himself to me,
in assuring me that He is the Messiah of Israel, that I wanted
the privilege of giving to Him what life He had given to
me. I felt that it would be a joy to tell others the story that
the Messiah already had come, and that He is soon to return.
It seemed to me that the least I could render to my Lord was
this small service in making known to others this glorious
truth of salvation.

 

[Gary K]

Suffering Persecution
The intervening days, from the time I accepted Jesus as
Messiah until I left the factory, were days of persecution.
Word had passed around the factory that I had been a Jew
and now I had become a Seventh-day Adventist. I was
treated most bitterly by the employees in the factory. Some
of these men professed to be Christians, but they joined the
rabble crowd in making it as hard for me as possible.
The next Saturday I went to church, now as a Christian,
and not as a Jew. This was the first Christian Sabbath I
observed'. What a wonderful and glorious Sabbath day it
was! What a thrill filled my soul, as I entered that modest
Seventh-day Adventist church and saw the company of about
seventy Christian men and women observing sacredly and
reverently this holy day of God, which the Lord had given to
my forefathers. It seemed to me that I was enjoying a taste
of heaven. I had found the true Messiah, the true religion,
and the true people of God. Language is inadequate to ex
press my feelings as I mingled in worship with these God
fearing people.
While I was absent from work on this Sabbath day, the
employees at the factory devised schemes to express their
contempt for my becoming a Christian. They were vindictive
in their treatment. I had entered the school of Christ, and I
was to receive my first lessons as a Christian. I was learning
by experience what it meant to take up the cross and follow
the Saviour. Nevertheless, my heart rejoiced that I was
counted worthy to suffer for His name.
Studying the New Testament
I now began to read and study the New Testament. What
a wonderful Jewish book I discovered it to be! I could not
understand why I had never before seen this book. It was
so distinctly Jewish. Everything in the New Testament,
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from the first verse of the first chapter, I observed, dealt with
matters Jewish. The men who wrote those words were Jews,
they spoke of Jewish affairs, and they wrote of the patriarchs
and prophets freely, as did the rabbis and other Jewish
writers. I literally devoured its contents. This holy book
made clear many things which I had been unable to under
stand while an orthodox Jew.
When the Jewish student is perplexed over questions re
lating to the Old Testament, or to the rabbinical writings,
he asks the rabbi to harmonize the teachings. The rabbis
refer him to the great scholars. But these Sages do not
agree among themselves in regard to many of those Biblical
subjects. But whom shall I follow ? the rabbi is asked. In all
likelihood the student may receive as his reply a stunning
broadside on his cheek from the rabbi's pabn. The student
dare not retaliate; for the Talmud is impressive in its teach
ing of the pupil's submission to his rabbi.
Gotfs Precious Promise
Shortly after my conversion, before I had left my position
at the factory, early one morning, before I had risen from
bed, I heard a most beautiful voice speaking these words:
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I
am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteous
ness." Then followed the words, "Forty-one ten." I was not
sure whether the voice said Isaiah or Numbers.
During the student years of my early life, I read the Bible
mostly in the Hebrew. While I attended the public school,
operated by the Jews in connection with the government
schools, most of the studies in the Bible were in Hebrew. I
was very fond of the Hebrew language, and I loved to read
the Scriptures and the rabbinical writings in that language.
Most of the prayers are selected from the Old Testament
Scriptures; these are read in the synagogue in the Hebrew.
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
93
But these words I heard in the English language greatly im
pressed me.
I quickly rose from bed, and asked: "Who is there?"
I searched the clothes closet, the open attic, to find the
person who spoke such sweet and comforting words with so
melodious a voice.
On meeting the family this morning when I went to
breakfast, I informed them of this precious experience I had
had. I asked them to investigate the Scriptures whether
such words were found in Numbers or in Isaiah. They
found them in Isaiah 41:10.
How my soul rejoiced that the merciful God and loving
Saviour who knew my future were so kind and gracious in
giving to me such a precious promise at this early period in
my Christian experience, in order to strengthen my faith in
the blessed Saviour. I had had no Christian experience till
this time. This religion with its problems was all new to
me; but the dear Lord well understood what was ahead of me.
To encourage and strengthen my faith in Him, He gave me
this precious promise in an audible voice. How blessed
and precious this promise has been during these more than
fifty years!
Before I completed my work in the factory, I was con
fronted by Satan with an almost-overwhelming trial. Sud
denly the devil came to me with this serious temptation:
What have you done ? You were born and reared a Jew; you
have become a Christian. Don't you know that your family
will cut you off ? They nevermore will have anything to do
with you. You have given up your work. You have no
money and few friends. Who cares for a Jew? How are
you going to make a living ? What about your future ?
I answered: I know that Jesus is my Messiah. He is the
Son of God. I know He has forgiven my sins. He has
promised to take care of me through eternity. I know I can
trust Him now.
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JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY
Why Rabbis Hid the New Testament
As I continued reading and studying the New Testament,
it was not difficult to understand why the rabbis hid this
blessed and beautiful book from the Jewish people. This
book written by Jews, given originally to Jews, has been
hidden from that people for many centuries. What a tragedy
to the descendants of Abraham that this precious volume of
truth given to their ancestors through the Divine Spirit by
those holy men of God, has been kept from them! What light,
peace, joy, and consolation would have been the portion of the
brethren of the Saviour had they only known that the Mes
siah is Jesus of Nazareth! His first advent, more than
nineteen centuries ago, brought spiritual deliverance and
salvation to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, according to
the promises which God made to the forefathers. The
heavenly Father fulfilled what He promised patriarchs and
prophets by sending His dearly beloved Son to this earth.
If only the Jewish people through the past centuries could
have had placed in their .hands this blessed New Testament,
what '& different history they might have left to their de
scendants, what a blessing and a peace would have come to
their own hearts! By concealing this blessed New "Testament
from the Jewish race, the rabbis have been able to keep'these
children of Abraham in spiritual bondage, and have held
them in the tight grip of human slavery.
There had been times, during the years in which I asso
ciated with Gentiles after leaving my home in London,
England, when I was somewhat ashamed that I had been
born and reared a Jew. But now how glad and thankful I
felt that the Lord Jesus had revealed Himself to me, who
formerly had been a bigoted and narrow-minded Jew! I was
profoundly grateful that there is grace in the Lord Jesus still
to redeem and deliver prejudiced Jews. I was very happy to
know by experience that it is possible for a vindictive Jew
HOW I WAS LED TO ACCEPT JESUS
95
to become a Christian, a follower of the Lord Jesus. I now
longed to make this truth known to my fellow Jewish people,
and to all others.
The Fiske family rejoiced that the blessed Saviour had
enlightened my mind and quickened my spirit and brought to
me the light of God's salvation. If only hundreds and thou
sands of Jews would accept the glorious light of the gospel
of Christ, what a change would come to them, what a dif
ferent meaning life would have! If the children of God
would only become more interested in the welfare of these
poor lost sheep of Israel, these sons and daughters of Abraham
who have been world wanderers because they have refused
their own Messiah, what a blessing it would bring to the fol
lowers of our Lord, besides bringing joy and peace to the
hearts of the poor downtrodden descendants of the patriarchs.
These would then rejoice with Abraham, for they, too, would
see His day and be glad. They would then understand
God's plan and purpose for them, through whom came the
Son of the living God, Jesus of Nazareth, Israel's Messiah
and Deliverer.

 

[WilliamK76]

Why can’t people just lose their identities as Jews and Gentiles?

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.


Wow Paul, what an amazing revelation to the few who can receive it.

 

[Aaron112]

revelation to the few who can receive it.

The few who are now, as always, opposed by the rulers, the leaders, the religions, the bosses, the corporations, the governments and agencies and forums and internet site controllers and on and on and on , as written.

 

[WilliamK76]

The few who are now, as always, opposed by the rulers, the leaders, the religions, the bosses, the corporations, the governments and agencies and forums and internet site controllers and on and on and on , as written.

Amen brother, very sad and true unfortunately.

 

[Soyeong]

Why can’t people just lose their identities as Jews and Gentiles?

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.


Wow Paul, what an amazing revelation to the few who can receive it.

The Bible clearly refers to people who have those identities and Paul never stopped identifying as a Jew (Acts 21:39, 22:3), so he was not denying the reality of those identities, but rather he was denying that they gave someone a higher status when it comes to being in Christ. Paul spoke about how we are different parts of the same body, not that we should all be the same part.