davidweimar
4th September 2006, 10:54 PM
I'm trying to get more involvement in my church with messianic judaism.
I'll be giving this lesson around Yom Kippur. Any advice? The numbers are for the slide numbers of the lesson.
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Lesson in the Parashat Nitzavim - “Messianic Judaism”
As Americans, we are justly proud of our heritage of religious freedom, whereby a person is judged not by denominational affiliation, but on merit. At the same time, the spirit of tolerance is often expressed in public discourse as deriving from a “Judeo-Christian” heritage, reflected in “three religious traditions”: Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish.
But Judaism isn’t only a religion, as is Christianity, as I will later explain. If Judaism were just a religion, someone who stopped believing in Judaism would no longer be Jewish. Yet every Jew can tell you that a nonreligious Jew is…a Jew!
In relation to “Messianic Judaism,” even though one believes in Yeshua as his or her savior, they are still Jewish. The Messiah is here for the Jews and the Gentiles as well. 1 In this messiah, we find these two groups that begin to find common ground in the aspect of religion. Jesus bought the Gentiles into the Jewish family. Indeed one never ceases to become Jewish; and although you may become “an apostate Jew,” you are still Jewish, just the same.
Yet, we are not apostates. I am not an apostate.
What idea in Christianity is more Jewish than that of anything? Anything in Judaism, or Christianity? Where do Christians find hope, peace, and eternal life? Where do Jews find hope, peace, and eternal life? 2
These two seemingly radically different ideas are not so different after all. They are found in the messiah. They are found in Yeshua HaMashiach, or for those prefer the other name, which has been popularized in Christianity, “Jesus Christ.” 3
Now, while Judaism certainly includes many elements of a religion. The Jewish civilization has always been passionate about God, holiness, and morality. We celebrate religious holidays, and have holy books, religious leaders, and religious symbols. But being a Jew also involves identifying with a specific people and with their history, culture, and identity.
How many in here can show me, just by a raise of hands, that you have some sort of Jewish lineage or blood, no matter how far back it goes?
Think back, if you can, to perhaps the old song, “Father Abraham had many sons, and I am one of them… so are you!” Even if you can’t think of any off the top of your head, that’s what Jesus came for. To bring Gentiles into Abraham’s family, and Christian heritage (Greek, Russian, Catholic) is becoming richer and richer, each and every passing day.
Judaism is more than just a religion… Judaism now has a fullness. All this time, prayers and blessings were made by our people to bring about the coming of the messiah. Yet, now we know that he has come. 4 He has not rebuked the law either, only fulfilled it. He says in Matthew 5:17-18
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” KJV
As a matter of fact, he bought more of the law. In the past, I’ve found it entertaining to see what I could and couldn’t get away with. By citing the Talmud, the Mitzvot (the 613 Laws put forth by Moses), and the Torah itself.
All of these sources would eventually contradict each other. For example…
I could look at a woman and lust after her in my mind, just take no action on those lusts… if I were to be married, of course, this would be no sin.
Now, Yeshua brings a new thought, actually based in Kabalistic traditions and prayer. Kabbalah teaches one to think clearer and to see everything as a way of God. Yeshua brings this thought to the law. Now if I am to lust after a women and being married, I now have committed a transgression.
Christianity, or what Jesus teaches, brings the fact that Christianity is not just a religion, but a thought process; making both Judaism and Christianity more and more similar.
I'll be giving this lesson around Yom Kippur. Any advice? The numbers are for the slide numbers of the lesson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson in the Parashat Nitzavim - “Messianic Judaism”
As Americans, we are justly proud of our heritage of religious freedom, whereby a person is judged not by denominational affiliation, but on merit. At the same time, the spirit of tolerance is often expressed in public discourse as deriving from a “Judeo-Christian” heritage, reflected in “three religious traditions”: Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish.
But Judaism isn’t only a religion, as is Christianity, as I will later explain. If Judaism were just a religion, someone who stopped believing in Judaism would no longer be Jewish. Yet every Jew can tell you that a nonreligious Jew is…a Jew!
In relation to “Messianic Judaism,” even though one believes in Yeshua as his or her savior, they are still Jewish. The Messiah is here for the Jews and the Gentiles as well. 1 In this messiah, we find these two groups that begin to find common ground in the aspect of religion. Jesus bought the Gentiles into the Jewish family. Indeed one never ceases to become Jewish; and although you may become “an apostate Jew,” you are still Jewish, just the same.
Yet, we are not apostates. I am not an apostate.
What idea in Christianity is more Jewish than that of anything? Anything in Judaism, or Christianity? Where do Christians find hope, peace, and eternal life? Where do Jews find hope, peace, and eternal life? 2
These two seemingly radically different ideas are not so different after all. They are found in the messiah. They are found in Yeshua HaMashiach, or for those prefer the other name, which has been popularized in Christianity, “Jesus Christ.” 3
Now, while Judaism certainly includes many elements of a religion. The Jewish civilization has always been passionate about God, holiness, and morality. We celebrate religious holidays, and have holy books, religious leaders, and religious symbols. But being a Jew also involves identifying with a specific people and with their history, culture, and identity.
How many in here can show me, just by a raise of hands, that you have some sort of Jewish lineage or blood, no matter how far back it goes?
Think back, if you can, to perhaps the old song, “Father Abraham had many sons, and I am one of them… so are you!” Even if you can’t think of any off the top of your head, that’s what Jesus came for. To bring Gentiles into Abraham’s family, and Christian heritage (Greek, Russian, Catholic) is becoming richer and richer, each and every passing day.
Judaism is more than just a religion… Judaism now has a fullness. All this time, prayers and blessings were made by our people to bring about the coming of the messiah. Yet, now we know that he has come. 4 He has not rebuked the law either, only fulfilled it. He says in Matthew 5:17-18
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” KJV
As a matter of fact, he bought more of the law. In the past, I’ve found it entertaining to see what I could and couldn’t get away with. By citing the Talmud, the Mitzvot (the 613 Laws put forth by Moses), and the Torah itself.
All of these sources would eventually contradict each other. For example…
I could look at a woman and lust after her in my mind, just take no action on those lusts… if I were to be married, of course, this would be no sin.
Now, Yeshua brings a new thought, actually based in Kabalistic traditions and prayer. Kabbalah teaches one to think clearer and to see everything as a way of God. Yeshua brings this thought to the law. Now if I am to lust after a women and being married, I now have committed a transgression.
Christianity, or what Jesus teaches, brings the fact that Christianity is not just a religion, but a thought process; making both Judaism and Christianity more and more similar.