What's the difference between a Messianic Jew and a Christian?

Question

I am an observant Jew, I won't be convinced otherwise...but this whole Messianic Judaism thing in my opinion is bull crap. I have no problem with other religions, but "Messianic Judaism" is pretty much many of the Christian beliefs disguised as what they call "Judaism". It does not follow the beliefs of Judaism, and not only are many Jews offended, many well-read Christians as well realize what it truly is, and are offended such a low form of trickery is attempted at people. By our laws (Halacha), Jews do not believe in Jesus Christ, and I've talked to the "Rabbi" at the local Messanic Church (Not a synagogue by my standards), and he couldn't even tell me Moshe's last name.

This is just sad. I have no problem with other religions, but this isn't a religion, it's a form of tricking people into believing in something they were not brought up to believe in.

I'd rather not have answers telling me to believe in Jesus, and he will save me, as they will be ignored, as I am a very religious Orthodox Jew, and am proud of it.

Answer 1

Christians are honest about who they are and what they believe.



You don't need to do anything special to convert to Messianic "Judaism." You just have to show up, and they say "well, as a Christian, you are automatically grafted on to the Jewish people." Statistically, only about 10-15% of all Messianics have any Jewish heritage at all. Most are simply born Christians who like sitting in a sukkah and having a seder, but don't want to give up their Christmas trees or actually learn what Jewish tradition says - it's much easier to be fed a list of fake quotes and "prophecies" (always Torah quotes that have nothing to do with the Messiah, because the actual Messianic prophecies weren't fulfilled by Jesus) that lets you do whatever you want ritualistically.



For a lot of them, angering Jews is part of its appeal. As Christians, they believe that it is important to spread Jesus's teachings to anyone who is not Christian - and this gives them an automatic conversation starter with real Jews.

Answer 2

Hi, to let you know a little about me...I am a Christian Zionist living in Ca USA and strongly believe that Jewish people must have a homeland and that homeland being the Land of ISRAEL.

Are you in Ha Eretz or in America?

In response to your question... There are Jewish people that have come to believe that Jesus Christ is Messiah. Certain of these people do not feel they should abandon their Jewishness and take on a foreign identity, (joining a christian church) just because they've come to believe that Christ is Messiah. Thus, in simple terms, the Messianic Jewish Congregation. But in my experience, having been a member of a "Messianic Jewish" congregation and also having spent the majority of my life in the "Christian church", I have come to realize that this "Messianic" congregation in America, at least, is comprised majorly of gentile wannabe's that have taken the sacred from Judaism and tried to make it their own. It would be like moving into YOUR house, taking your precious items and furniture, moving it all around and calling it theirs. My "pet" term for this is "Messy Antics"

It's heartbreaking to see. On the other hand, in Israel, there are many devout Jews sincerely believing that Christ is Messiah and have their Congregations keeping their liturgy, and tradition in tact.

It is my strong belief that both Christian and Jewish believers in Christ as well as religious Jews who do not believe that Christ is Messiah, can "walk together" without any of them taking on the others identity. I realize that you a Jew and not believing in Christ as Messiah may be deeply offended by conversation such as this.

Yet, I do believe it does remain that each should retain their own identity and not masquerade as anything but who they truly are. Each would be blessed and BE a blessing to one another and to the nations in walking together in harmony and in retaining their own unique distinctiveness.

Yes, as a believer in Christ as Messiah, I find much of what I see in the Church and "Messianic" Congregations completely foreign to what the first purpose of emunah and emet actually is.

We won't go into "who is a Jew" questions...just trying to shed a little light on your question.

Answer 3

the major difference between Messianic Judaism and normal Christianity is that Messianic Jews follow the Torah and try to follow Christianity how it was done during the early Church. and there are people in every religion that some how got leadership role who are ignorant about various subjects and you may have met one of those. Messianic Judaism from the people that i have talked to at least for the most part (again just like any religion there are exceptions) not trying to trick anyone.

Answer 4

And you have no "problems "with other religions, you say. Jesus Christ was a Jew. The writings of Jewish historians tell of Jesus, and Pilate. Ask your "Rabbi" and find out what changes were made, say around 33 A.D. If He didn't come, why was it "written" in the stars, as Old Testament documents? Both His arrival, and departure. I've not been to a Messianic service, but I do plan on going to one in Minnetonka soon. I've heard that the teachings are very informative.What I have read, you believe one is offered the possibility of "teshuva" I pray that for you.

Answer 5

Hi Sam



You are quite right in saying that Christianity is not a religion.



Christians do not define Christianity as a religion but as an intimate relationship with Yeshua.



As a follower of Yeshua I don't have to work to be accepted by God unlike all the other religions. God - The true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - accepts me through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is called the grace of God. It is not through our good works but trusting in the finished work of Yeshua's death on the cross. It was Yeshua who loved me and gave himself for me so that I can live in freedom and in love and have everlasting life.



Habakkuk 2:4 But the righteous person will live by my faith.



Sam, don't look to people for evidence, look at the Bible and ask God to reveal His truth to you



Shalom



Tom

Answer 6

The CHRISTIANS that pose as 'messianic jews' are precisely that: CHRISTIANS.



There is no 'messianic' sect IN Judaism.



Anyone who knows the history of the Messianic movement KNOWS that they used to call themselves 'hebrew christians'. The entire movement was FOUNDED BY CHRISTIANS. The entire movement is FUNDED BY EVANGELICAL CHURCHES.



Messianics are Christians - it's not up for debate, it is objective, verifiable *fact*.



And for anyone who still doesn't quite get it, here you are:

Here are what the two groups believe in, so you can judge for yourself:



Messianics worship Christ.

Messianics pray to Christ.

Messianics believe in the 'virgin birth' and in 'original sin'.

Messianics believe in the 'resurrection'.

Messianics believe that a man can die for the sins of others.

Messianics believe that their god demands a blood sacrifice.

Messianics condemn ALL NON CHRISTIANS to 'hell'.



Jews worship only G-d.

Jews pray only to G-d.

Jews reject the idea of 'virgin birth'.

Jews reject the idea of any man dying for the sins of others.

Jews don't believe in 'hell'.

Jews DO believe that the righteous of ALL faiths reach 'heaven'.

Jews know that Jesus did NOT fulfill the JEWISH messianic prophecies.

Jesus is utterly *irrelevant* to Jews.



Now - do the groups SEEM like part of the same religion???



________________________________



And for those of you who STILL don't want to accept it, here are the words OF the founder of a large Messianic group:



Abridged from: "Holy Terror" by Flo Conway and Jim Seigelman



In a document entitled "What Evangelical Christians Should Know About MESSIANIC 'JEWS'; A Confidential Report: Not to be Distributed to Non-Christians," Meyer reveals his goal:



˜We define ourselves as evangelical fundamentalists and we seek the cooperation of individuals and Christian bodies meeting this description.We believe in affiliation with a local church and being accountable to the church for service and discipline. We will uphold the local church wherever we can.



˜We consider ourselves an arm of the local church. We are primarily evangelists and we are always mindful that we should not usurp the authority of the local pastor. As we win and disciple (convert) Jewish people, we urge them to take their place in a local evangelical church or establish a congregation and call their own minister. Our duty is to aid the church at large and we work as an arm of that body to gather in the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel.'



------------------------------------------------------------



And for those of you who are NOW going to protest that Jews who practise Christianity are 'still jewish' - WRONG.



Both our Jewish scriptures and our Rabbinical authorities define Jewish identity - Christianity does not get to come along and REdefine it.



A Jew who converts to another faith is no longer Jewish. Simple as that.



There is a biblical basis for this. Look at 1 Kings 18-21. Elijah tackles the Jews who were worshipping the Pagan deity, Baal: 'How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the G-d of the Jews is G-d, follow him! But if Baal is god, then follow him!'

But they could NOT have their religious cake and eat it.



Judaism and Christianity are mutually exclusive. Believe one, and by default, you reject the other. A person cannot be a Jew AND worship Jesus.



Most of the great Jewish sages have stated categorically that once a Jew embraces another faith, they are no longer Jewish:



A Rabbi in the later Middle Ages named the Hai Gaon, as quoted by Aderet in Responsa, VII #292, stated that a Jew who converted out of the faith was no longer a Jew.



This was shared by numerous rabbis, which can be seen in the Responsa literature of Simon ben Zemah of Duran, Samuel de Medina, Judah Berab, Jacob Berab, Moses ben Elias Kapsali, and others in the Middle Ages.



Most recently this can also be seen in the Responsa of the Satmar Rov in his Divrei Torah, Yoreh Deah #59, paragraph 5, as well as in the Responsa of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Even Haezer Volume 4 Number 53.



Moses ben Maimon, called Maimonides, also wrote that if a Jew converted to Christianity, he or she was no longer a Jew. ( Maimonides, Hilchot Mamrim Perek 3, Halacha 1-3, as well as in Maimonides's Mishnah Torah, Avodat Kochavim 2:5.)



Rabbi Moses Isserles demanded formal conversion back to Judaism for those who converted out of Judaism but who then wanted to return.He demanded ritual immersion (mikveh) and repentance before a court of three (beit din). This can be seen also in other Responsa literature: Radbaz, Responsa III, 415; Moses Isserles to Yoreh Deah 268.12; and Hoffman, Melamed Leho-il II, 84.



Furthermore, this is the attitude of many Orthodox rabbis today. Orthodox Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, writing for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, for the National Conference of Synagogue Youth, the Orthodox Youth Group, in his book The Real Messiah, on page 21 wrote:

Christianity negates the fundamentals of Jewish faith, and one who accepts it rejects the very essence of Judaism. Even if he continues to keep all of the rituals, it is the same as if he abandoned Judaism completely.



A Jew who accepts Christianity might call himself a `Jewish Christian,' but he is no longer a Jew. He can no longer even be counted as part of a Jewish Congregation.



Similarly, so long as one believes that Jesus was anything more than a human being who lived and died around 2,000 years ago, that person cannot convert TO Judaism, and become a Jew. The two faiths of Judaism and Christianity are simply mutually exclusive and incompatible.



JUDAISM alone gets to define JEWISH IDENTITY.



I call upon all RIGHTEOUS CHRISTIANS to stand side by side with their Jewish friends and CONDEMN the lying Messianics.



http://www.ajewwithaview.com

Answer 7

A Messianic Jew is a Jew who follows the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth. A Christian is generally a Gentile who is also a follower of Jesus.

Answer 8

First of all, Pride comes before the fall, second, the only difference is that they were born physically into Jewish families and were finally converted into Salvation! Jesus IS The Messiah and He is also God!! (Read Exodus 3:14 as compared to John 8:58!) Humble yourself!

Answer 9

My brother and his wife are Messianic jews and they follower the torah and believe that Christ did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. They observe the Shabbat and the congregation sings and reads in hebrew. They observe all Jewish holidays. They are very familiar with the bible and my brother who is a Doctor just finished a book about the book of Jeremiah.



I can understand why you wouldn't want to believe in Christ because in the Jewish religion so many so called Christians have attacked your people in the name of Christianity. I ask you please if you could have an open mind about this for the next couple minutes just so you can understand the messianic thought.....



We both know that the word of God stands forever and when God gives a promise it comes true. If the Jewish people (btw I am from a jewish family) always had trouble communicating and understanding God (exodus) why should we think we would recognized him when he came? Messianic Jews look at Christ's life and wonder how could the messiah outdo him? He lived an absolutely perfect life in their opinion and followed every jewish law there was and constantly quoted scripture. Secondly he did fulfill what the bible pointed to.

Below are prophecies that Christ fulfilled.











As the “Seed of the woman,” He was to bruise Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15 with Gal. 4:4). As the Seed of Abraham (Gen. 22:18 with Gal. 3:16) and the Seed of David (Psa. 132:11, Jer. 23:5 with Acts 13:23), He was to come from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10 with Heb. 7:14).



He was to come at a specified time (Gen. 49:10, Dan. 9:24-25 with Gal. 4:4) and be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14 with Matt. 1:18-23; also Luke 1:27, 35), in Bethlehem of Judaea (Micah 5:2 with Matt. 2:1, Luke 2:4-6). Great persons were to visit and adore Him (Psa. 72:10 with Matt. 2:1, 11). Through the rage of a jealous king, innocent children were to be slaughtered (Jer. 31:15 with Matt. 2:16-18).



He was to be preceded by a forerunner, John the Baptist, before entering His public ministry (Isa. 40:3, Mal. 3:1 with Matt. 3:1-3 and Luke 1:17)



He was to be a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:18 with Acts 3:20-22) and have a special anointing of the Holy Spirit (Psa. 45:7, Isa. 11:2-4, 61:1-3 with John 3:34-36, Matt. 3:16-17; Luke 4:15-19, 43). He was to be a priest after the order of Melchisedec (Psa. 110:4 with Heb. 5:5-10). As the “Servant of the Lord,” He was to be a faithful and patient redeemer, for the Gentiles as well as the Jews (Gen. 17:5, Isa. 42:1, 6 with Matt. 12:18, 21).



His ministry was to begin in Galilee (Isa. 9:1-2 with Matt. 4:12-17, 23); later, He was to enter Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9 with Matt. 21:1-10) to bring salvation. He was to enter the temple (Hag. 2:7, 9, Mal. 3:1-2 with Matt. 21:12, I Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19, II Cor. 6:16-18, Eph. 2:18-22, Rev. 3:20).



His zeal for the Lord is spoken of in both Testaments (Psa. 69:9 with John 2:15-17). His manner of teaching was to be by parables (Psa. 78:2 with Matt. 13:34-35), and His ministry was to be characterized by miracles (Isa. 35:5-6 with Matt. 11:4-5, John 11:47). He was to be rejected by His brethren (Psa. 69:8, Isa. 53:3 with John 1:11, 7:5), to be a “stone of stumbling” to the Jews and a “rock of offence” (Isa. 8:14 with Rom. 9:32-33, I Pet. 2:7-8).



He was to be hated without a cause (Psa. 22:6-20, Isa. Ch. 53, Zech. 12:10, Psa. 69:4, Isa. 49:7 with John 15:18-25, Matt. 2:13, 26:67-68, 27:28-44, Mark 8:31, Luke 4:28-29, 23:5, 10-11, John 8:37, Ch. 19), rejected by the rulers (Psa. 118:22 with Matt. 21:42-46, John 7:48-53), betrayed by a friend (Psa. 41:9 with John 13:18, 21), forsaken by His disciples (Zech. 13:7 with Matt. 26:31-56) and sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12 with Matt. 26:15). The price paid for Him was to be given for the potter’s field (Zech. 11:13 with Matt. 27:7). He was to be smitten on the cheek (Micah 5:1 with Matt. 27:30), spat on (Isa. 50:6 with Matt. 27:30), mocked (Psa. 22:7-8 with Matt. 27:28-31, 39-44), and beaten (Isa. 50:6 with Matt. 26:67, 27:26, 30).5



His death by crucifixion is given in detail in Psalm 22, and the meaning of His death, as a substitutions atonement for our sins, is given in Isaiah 53. His hands and His feet were to be pierced (Psa. 22:16, Zech. 12:10 with John 19:18, 37, 20:25), yet not a bone of Him was to be broken (Ex. 12:46, Psa. 34:20 with John 19:33-36). He was to suffer thirst (Psa. 22:15 with John 19:28) and be given vinegar to drink (Psa. 69:21 with Matt. 27:34), and He was to be numbered with the transgressors (Isa. 53:12 with Matt. 27:38).



His body was to be buried with the rich in His death (Isa. 53:9 with Matt. 27:57-60), but was not to see corruption (Psa. 16:10 with Acts 2:31).

He was to be raised from the dead (Psa. 16:10 with Matt. Ch. 28, Mark Ch. 16, Luke Ch. 24, John Ch. 20 and Acts 13:33) and ascend to the right hand of God (Psa. 68:18 with Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9; also, Psa. 110:1 with Heb. 1:3).