Protestants in a Jewish Wrapper?

[PJM]

=Harpazo;5796162]I have been reading about the self-styled “Messianic Jews” lately. For the most part they are disenchanted Protestants, or disenchanted Jewish converts to Evangelicalism. To me it is a complete fabrication, with no connection to Apostolic Christianity (whether it be Orthodoxy or Catholicism). However, I want to see what you, the fine people of CAF have to say about it.

It looks like a way for people to want to be Jewish with some pop-evangelicalism mixed in. From my Orthodox viewpoint, I can see the Jewish roots of Orthodoxy and understand that the early Church developed in its praxis, moving away from Judaism. For example, the Jewish Rabbi’s have a blessing that they make with their hands and pray over the congregants. The Orthodox priests do this, too. Just as the Jews are taught to bow when they are blessed, we do, too.

So what do you think about Messianic Judaism? Is it legitimate, ridiculous, blasphemous, silly? If so, why?

Friend,

What is there Theology of a Trinue God head, and in Jesus Christ:shrug:

Thanks,

Pat

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[SFH]

I have been reading about the self-styled “Messianic Jews” lately. For the most part they are disenchanted Protestants, or disenchanted Jewish converts to Evangelicalism. To me it is a complete fabrication, with no connection to Apostolic Christianity (whether it be Orthodoxy or Catholicism). However, I want to see what you, the fine people of CAF have to say about it.

It looks like a way for people to want to be Jewish with some pop-evangelicalism mixed in. From my Orthodox viewpoint, I can see the Jewish roots of Orthodoxy and understand that the early Church developed in its praxis, moving away from Judaism. For example, the Jewish Rabbi’s have a blessing that they make with their hands and pray over the congregants. The Orthodox priests do this, too. Just as the Jews are taught to bow when they are blessed, we do, too.

So what do you think about Messianic Judaism? Is it legitimate, ridiculous, blasphemous, silly? If so, why?

In Christ,
Andrew

The traditional Catholic response would be that it’s borderline blasphemous. Because St. Paul teaches that what was written in the Old Testament was written as signs to lead us to Christ in the New Testament, the continued observance of those rituals would suggest that the signs have not been fulfilled yet (i.e., that Christ has not come). See Summa Theologica. For that reason, the traditional Catholic response has always been that Catholics should not observe the Jewish festivals or traditions. While it was permitted by the Apostles, this was a concession to the early Jewish converts.

In the past several decades (especially since Vatican II), the Catholic Church seems to have abandoned this traditional view. For example, many Catholic churches now have seder meals at Easter time, but my personal view is that such observances reflect fuzzy thinking on the part of some well-intentioned Catholics for the reasons expressed above. For modern Jewish converts, however, I would think the Apostolic concession would still apply

 

[Anna_Scott]

Messianic Jews are simply people of Hebrew decent that have become Christians (like me). There are Jewish Catholic Christians (don’t you know) and Jewish Protestant Christians.

Messianic Jews see christianity from their uniquely jewish faith, traditions, language, in ways we gentiles can never understand.

They are Jews who accept that the Messiah has come and look forward to His Coming Again.

you cannot remove the jewishness from the Jew of today than you can remove the jewishness form Jesus. They are completly legitimate.

So what do you think about Messianic Judaism? Is it legitimate, ridiculous, blasphemous, silly? If so, why? Andrew

This is a rather ironic question. At certain points in history, Jews were to convert to Christianity or die.

Now, when Jews convert to Christianity, other Christians are saying they are not Christian.

Oh, the twists and turns of history.

Anna

 

[Harpazo]

This is a rather ironic question. At certain points in history, Jews were to convert to Christianity or die.

Now, when Jews convert to Christianity, other Christians are saying they are not Christian.

Oh, the twists and turns of history.

Anna

Now, I don’t think anyone is saying that. My question was are they really Jews or just Protestants that like Jewish custom and tradition?

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Lev23]

This is a rather ironic question. At certain points in history, Jews were to convert to Christianity or die.

Now, when Jews convert to Christianity, other Christians are saying they are not Christian.

Oh, the twists and turns of history.

Anna

I hear ya. There is even a athetist weblog link on this thread(post#29) to show, well, whatever point was trying to be made.

 

[Anna_Scott]

I have been reading about the self-styled “Messianic Jews” lately. For the most part they are disenchanted Protestants, or disenchanted Jewish converts to Evangelicalism. To me it is a complete fabrication, with no connection to Apostolic Christianity (whether it be Orthodoxy or Catholicism). However, I want to see what you, the fine people of CAF have to say about it.

It looks like a way for people to want to be Jewish with some pop-evangelicalism mixed in. From my Orthodox viewpoint, I can see the Jewish roots of Orthodoxy and understand that the early Church developed in its praxis, moving away from Judaism. For example, the Jewish Rabbi’s have a blessing that they make with their hands and pray over the congregants. The Orthodox priests do this, too. Just as the Jews are taught to bow when they are blessed, we do, too.

So what do you think about Messianic Judaism? Is it legitimate, ridiculous, blasphemous, silly? If so, why?

This is a rather ironic question. At certain points in history, Jews were to convert to Christianity or die. Now, when Jews convert to Christianity, other Christians are saying they are not Christian. Oh, the twists and turns of history.

Now, I don’t think anyone is saying that. My question was are they really Jews or just Protestants that like Jewish custom and tradition?

Andrew,

You are talking about two entirely different groups of Messianic Jews. There are Jews who convert to Christianity, and Protestants who embrace Messianic Judaism.

A Jew who accepts Christ is still a Jew.

My Jewish friends have told me that most Jews who convert to Christianity–convert to Catholicism. Some do convert to Protestant religions. They are still Jews.

I do know it takes at least a year for a Christian to convert to Judaism (not speaking of Messianic Judaism.) There is a great deal of study involved and the convert must be willing to denounce Christ and all other religious affiliations.

I don’t know what is required of a Protestant Christian, who wants to convert to Messianic Judaism.

Anna