messianic jews

[savedbyblood]

do messianic jews believe that you have to practice portions of the law such as festivals?

[Henaynei]

Very few will say "have to," especially to non-Jews - but *get to* and *free to* - absolutely!!!

Wy do you ask? :)

[simchat_torah]

heh, I guess I'm one of the very few.

:P

[jukesk9]

Out of curiousity...I have two questions:

1) Do you still celebrate Passover? If so, when/how do you celebrate Communion?
2) Do adhere to the 613 Commandments (or I guess the correct word is Mitzvot)?

Thank you for your time and replies. And actually, I sorta asked three questions....

[simchat_torah]

Do you still celebrate Passover?
Yes. Y'shua celebrated it, and Sha'ul (paul) instructed the believers to continue celebrating it... thus there should be no problem, if not clear instruction to continue celebrating Passover.

If so, when/how do you celebrate Communion?
Messianic Judaism is as varied as the colors of the rainbow. Some celebrate communion every week. Others consider it is of pagan origins and view the act in the 'gospel' accounts to be referring strictly to Passover.

I fall into the latter category.

Do adhere to the 613 Commandments (or I guess the correct word is Mitzvot)?
Yes and no.

Allow me to explain:
While there are in fact 613 mitzvot (you got it right ;) ) not all of the mitzvot apply to everyone. For example, some laws apply just to priests, some to women, some to men, some to living in Israel, etc. The laws that apply to me today I do.

So, yes... I follow the mitzvot. However, no, not all 613.

I hope this helps.

1) Do you still celebrate Passover? If so, when/how do you celebrate Communion?
2) Do adhere to the 613 Commandments (or I guess the correct word is Mitzvot)?

Thank you for your time and replies. And actually, I sorta asked three questions....
Or four if you are counting all of them :D


Shalom,
yafet

[Sephania]

Hey , this thread ain't Kosher! ;) j/K

[Sephania]

Out of curiousity...I have two questions:

1) Do you still celebrate Passover? If so, when/how do you celebrate Communion?
2) Do adhere to the 613 Commandments (or I guess the correct word is Mitzvot)?

Thank you for your time and replies. And actually, I sorta asked three questions....Yup, including the one that says not to eat pigs, so you're safe in here. :D ^_^ :D

[jukesk9]

[/font]
Yes. Y'shua celebrated it, and Sha'ul (paul) instructed the believers to continue celebrating it... thus there should be no problem, if not clear instruction to continue celebrating Passover.


Messianic Judaism is as varied as the colors of the rainbow. Some celebrate communion every week. Others consider it is of pagan origins and view the act in the 'gospel' accounts to be referring strictly to Passover.

I fall into the latter category.



Thank you for answering my questions. Regarding your answer about Communion, do you talk about the Last Supper, mention anything about the bread representing Jesus or the Wine representing His Blood, etc.? Thanks again. This is interesting to me.

[jukesk9]

bump

[Henaynei]

Thank you for answering my questions. Regarding your answer about Communion, do you talk about the Last Supper, mention anything about the bread representing Jesus or the Wine representing His Blood, etc.? Thanks again. This is interesting to me.
Most Messianics, when they celebrate the Feast of Pesakh, the Seder, they make mention, at the points in the service where Yeshua did and said the things He did and said, what Yeshua said the things He did meant. :) So, yes.

[simchat_torah]

Before I answer, I'm curious... have you seen a passover seder?

[jukesk9]

Thanks, Hen. No, simchat, I've never seen a passover seder.

[ShirChadash]

Links that might be helpful/interesting

http://www.kprbc.org.sg/cw/Messianic_seder.html

http://www.godonthe.net/passover/

:)

[Henaynei]

Thanks, Hen. No, simchat, I've never seen a passover seder.
With the interest you have shown and the openmindedness that is apparent, I urge you to seek our a Messianic congregation in your area and go to a Passover Seder. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_5_2.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001)
Most MJ congregations have at least one community seder, on one of the first two nights of Passover. Many also to show-n-tell seders at some of the local churches in many areas and you might find those more assessable as a first time Seder-goer :) Check around :) You will truly enjoy it I think!

[Christy4Christ]

Simchat and others who follow the law mentioned above, do you stay off the computer on Saturdays?

[simchat_torah]

I don't adhere to the ultra-Orthodox halacha (oral law) of not using electricity on Shabbat.

I refrain from work, travel, etc.

[Christy4Christ]

I know a friend of mine who doesn't even make coffee on Saturday!

[Mordechai18]

Did Yeshua ever specify how frequently his followers should "do this in remembrance" of him?

[Mordechai18]

G-d gives the commandments to Moshe:

18 "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover). For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt."

Exodus 34:18

[simchat_torah]

I think it was somewhat obvious....

He was speaking of special meanings during the events of the Seder... and basically, "when you do this, remember my teaching/words".

I just simply added 1 + 1 to get 2. IN other words, I took his words as literal and 'remember' his teachings during the Pesach Seder.

shalom,
yafet

[Mordechai18]

Simchat Torah, was that addressed at me? (Sorry I was dozing! :))
I quoted Exodus to show why we celebrate Passover today.
And I was wondering if there is basis in the NT for a weekly "communion" or could it be monthly, yearly, or even just once, upon conversion? Just curious...

[ps139]

Simchat Torah, was that addressed at me? (Sorry I was dozing! :))
I quoted Exodus to show why we celebrate Passover today.
And I was wondering if there is basis in the NT for a weekly "communion" or could it be monthly, yearly, or even just once, upon conversion? Just curious...
From the earliest Church writings we find that they celebrated Communion every time they met. In the Catholic Church there is Communion every day of the week, of the year, but most people only attend on Sundays.

[jukesk9]

With the interest you have shown and the openmindedness that is apparent, I urge you to seek our a Messianic congregation in your area and go to a Passover Seder. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_5_2.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001)
Most MJ congregations have at least one community seder, on one of the first two nights of Passover. Many also to show-n-tell seders at some of the local churches in many areas and you might find those more assessable as a first time Seder-goer :) Check around :) You will truly enjoy it I think!
Something I'd like to see. Thank you.

[simchat_torah]

Shalom Morry,

And I was wondering if there is basis in the NT for a weekly "communion" or could it be monthly, yearly, or even just once, upon conversion? Just curious...

There is no basis for communion. It comes from a christian misunderstanding of Passover.

[Breanainn]

For those that believe Messianic Jews must follow Mosaic law, could you provide scriptural support as to why you believe this?

[Mordechai18]

For those that believe Messianic Jews must follow Mosaic law, could you provide scriptural support as to why you believe this?

I would think, instead, that the onus is on those who believe that the Mosaic Law is no longer binding to prove their case.
After all, that is the viewpoint that is changing things from how they had been.

[Breanainn]

It's stated in the NT writings, which I believe Messianic Jews hold as truth.

But maybe it would be better if I asked elsewhere if that's the kind answer I'm going to receive...

[iitb]

It's stated in the NT writings, which I believe Messianic Jews hold as truth. That's just a matter of interpretation. We could probably go round and round with proof texts, but it really wouldn't prove anything. ;) Truthfully, this really isn't something that could be summed up in one reply. The best I could do, for the sake of brevity, is to offer up Matthew 5: 17-19. Even then, I'm sure there would be an argument over how we're defining "fulfilled."

But maybe it would be better if I asked elsewhere if that's the kind answer I'm going to receive...To be honest, I don't think Morry meant you any disrespect. He was just stating an opinion. :)

[Breanainn]

To be honest, I don't think Morry meant you any disrespect. He was just stating an opinion. :)

Oh, I know. :)

I just meant that if when I asked a question for the purpose of trying to understand something about Messianic Judaism I am answered with a request to prove something, there may be better places to seek knowledge.

[koilias]

The best I could do, for the sake of brevity, is to offer up Matthew 5: 17-19. Even then, I'm sure there would be an argument over how we're defining "fulfilled."

Yeah, some say "fulfill" means "ended" or "completed".

But "fulfill" in Matthew 5.17 is being contrasted with the word "destroy" (abolish).

The opposite of "destroy" is to "establish" or "set right".

In context, Yeshua is saying even the lightest commandments are as important as the heavy commandments (not one jot and tittle will pass away). For example "Do not bear hatred in your heart" is as important as "Do not murder". Yeshua certainly did not come to "end" or do away with the command "do not murder"...well the text very plainly states that neither is he doing away with the lightest commandments either. To suggest that Yeshua is saying we can get off the hook with the lighter commandments is to call Yeshua "the least in the Kingdom of Heaven"! For "whoever annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven"!! (next verse).

[Mordechai18]

It's stated in the NT writings, which I believe Messianic Jews hold as truth.

But maybe it would be better if I asked elsewhere if that's the kind answer I'm going to receive...

No offense was intended.
As a Jew, I am used to being asked to prove that things didn't change form how they were in Torah.
In such a discussion, the onus is rather on the one who asserts that things did change to prove their case.
But I understand how my answer was unsatisfactory to you, and apologize for any perceived slight. I should instead have kept silent.