Read/Heard of this book?

[plum]

Yesterday I was picking up some back-issues of magazines that Christianity Today International publishes; and on the back cover of one of them from November 2005 I saw the words "Is Messianic Judaism Kosher?" And let me tell you I stopped in traffic just to see what it was talking about!

Here's the book it was advertising:
The Messianic Movement: A Field Guide for Evangelical Christians (http://store.jewsforjesus.org/ppp/product.php?prodid=843)
Has anyone even heard about the premise or the content? Anyone actually read it?

Here's a snippet from the linked page:
In this book find answers to questions like:
What is a Messianic Congregation?
What can you tell me about the Hebrew Roots groups?
What does 'Torah observant' mean?
Why the need for specific Jewish missions?


And on the back of the magazine I was looking at it said:

"Is it OK to mention "the cross" around Messianic Jews?"
"Do Messianic Jews think Christmas and Easter are pagan holidays?"
and other such questions.

Now that it piqued my interest I was hoping to see someone give an honest review of it. Thoughts?

By the by, some people get awfully negative about certain Messianic organizations they don't care for and miss the point of a thread in the first place. I am asking ahead of time that you will not act in this manner here. Shalom!

[Homesick4Heaven]

It is mostly an etiquette book for Christians about the beliefs of MJs. It explains all the things MJs do in worship, the language used -execution stake vs cross-and why that terminology is used, exactly what we believe, and why we worship as we do.

Our rabbi recommends it to most believers without any knowledge of Judaism because it answers a lot of the questions they may have coming into a MJ congregation and helps them decide if MJ is for them. It is also a great tool for anyone with the heart for sharing the Message of Y'shua to non-believing Jews. I lets them know about what objections they may face and how to handle them in a way that is not offensive to the Jew and that they can culturally and Scripturally understand. Example you used about the cross-the Jewish people find it offensive because of the centuries of perscution under the sign of the cross. This was carried out by Crusaders, Spanish Inquisition, Hitler used religion (Jews killed Jesus) and Constentine himself forced Jews to convert under the sign of the cross.

Hope this helps you. :)

[plum]

thank you. I was wondering if it was going to be a book that started out as etiquette but then moved into a more debating style. *nods*

btw ;) I know about the cross. I'm an insider asking, not an outsider ;) thanks for the thoughts!

[Homesick4Heaven]

I knew you were insider, but someone else may not that reads this at a later date. This covers all the bases and gives them an example of what the book holds.

[plum]

:thumbsup: good point!

[Homesick4Heaven]

I just spoke to a christian friend of mine that finished reading it. He said it explains so much of the Jewish perspective and gave him a better vantage point to begin to learn how to share his faith with Jewish nonbelievers.

[plum]

praise G-d! a tool for the Kingdom

[Homesick4Heaven]

Yes, it makes me want to read it just to see what I am missing. He said it was a very easy, pleasurable read packed full of good info. At least we know it isn't long, dry and boring.

[Wags]

Looks like it is a Jews for Jesus publication - which makes me wonder how they present messianics that observe Torah. (J4J is NOT a pro-torah organization) .

[Homesick4Heaven]

Looks like it is a Jews for Jesus publication - which makes me wonder how they present messianics that observe Torah. (J4J is NOT a pro-torah organization) .
Our rabbi said it is not J4J.

[plum]

It is published by a Jews for Jesus organization, as I gather.

[Homesick4Heaven]

I wonder if they do not announce they are J4J because they are afraid people would avoid it?

edit to add:
If you read the statements on the J4J site, they do not promote or endorse ignoring of Scripture. Their statement of faith says the entire Bible is the 'inspired word of God'. The problem I have with them is execution of sharing Truth. They are very confrontational and in your face, not loving and understanding. Other than that, I do not have first hand experience with them. Those that have have supported the execution is where they go wrong.

[Margolit]

eirene, Homesick4Heaven,

You've piqued my curiosity. Where can I find the book?

As a Jewish Believer, I sometimes find myself being asked the kinds of basic questions this book seems to cover. It would be nice to be able to answer them without getting into a deep discussion.

[Homesick4Heaven]

If you click on the link (green letters) in the first post, it takes you to the publisher's site and you can order there.