Hebrew Voices #159 – Messianic Jews in Israel

This was very interesting. I was waiting to hear what exactly most Messianics that he surveyed actually believe. For instance, how many believers in Yashua follow Torah vs how many have strictly kept a Christian denominational lifestyle.
I wrote a short paper on my limited experiences as it relates to where I live and what I personally have been exposed to. I talk about such things as what “Messianic” means to the Christians that I have lived around for most of my life, and what it Messianic means now that I know people who follow Torah and believe in Yashua. One person was surprised to learn that just because someone says that they are Messianic, that doesn’t mean that they follow Torah because they had never been in a more traditional, I guess, American Messianic congregation like I have. You may be surprised to know that the Messianic congregation that I went to for over 5 years was NOT Torah observant, AND even though they had a Jewish synagogue style of worship, they also kept all the Christian holidays in their private lives. However, they didn’t hide that fact about themselves either. Most also attended church on Sunday after having gone to fellowship at the Messianic congregation on Saturday. That also applied to the leaders.
Their primary reasons for existing was to “draw Jews to Jesus” and to give Jewish believers a “safe place” to fellowship.
Once I became Torah pursuant and didn’t want to keep Christian traditions, I was shown the door. Strange. I wonder where, in his survey, this odd congregation would fit? Probably nowhere.

Sabbath Shalom,

“Your Faith had made you heal”.

Shalom and HIS Peace be with you,
Fisherman

Netzerim, perhaps?

Thanks so much Nehemia for this very informative interview. I loved it. Your guest was very precise and I enjoy that kind of ‘straight talk’.

I felt rather exalted that I knew something more than the very intelligent, Nehemia Gordon. I know more about Jews than you do about Messianic believers! Smile! The Father is calling us all together, Nehemia! He will bring the two sticks back together….all of Israel whether we are of the Jewish race or not. We come under the covenants willingly through the blood of Yeshua. He is our Passover lamb. I am waiting for you to take that first step towards Him. Shalom.

Please note, that groups were excluded from the survey, that do not stick to the church doctrine of trinity. Quote from the book: „It is no surprise that almost all the congregations affirmed both the deity and humanity of Jesus by saying he is truly divine and truly human; as we stated above, that affirmation was our default condition for including the fellowship in the survey.“
So the survey only includes believers that hold to this church dogma of trinity. Which in turn might be the reason for „secret believers“, that do not stick to this church thing….

Why would a Jew not believe Daniel 2? “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” The kings Daniel is speaking of are in the passage itself when he described 4 kingdoms from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. So God set up a kingdom that will destroy all others for all time. He did this sometime during the “time of those kings,” the last one being Rome. hmmm…….. What happened that significantly influenced the House of Israel and House of Judah before the Roman Empire was destroyed? (not to mention all the other passages that describe the birth of a servant of God that will influence the world)

My family for a long time were Christians that refused to wear the cross as my mom said the shame of Christ as his sacrifice and the fall out.

Nehemia, this is a fascinating study. Thanks so much for introducing us to the many dimensions of this topic, and for bringing more clarity to it with your questions.

I think that with the problems that come with using the word “Christian”, it might be better to call ourselves, ” believers in and followers of Jesus the Messiah”.

Our Messiah came to speak the words of His Father, and to do His Will as revealed in the Scriptures by God’s words and commandments. If we are followers of Jesus, that will be our choice and passion, too. I can’t say that I am a Follower of Jesus the Messiah if I am walking in a path contrary to what He taught. The “walk” must match the “talk”. “Christian” is a title that could have many meanings, but “Follower” is a simple picture of reality. Either we are truly following Jesus or we are not.

This was great Nehemiah, look forward to hearing more. Biggest thing that surprised me in no liturgy. In the US most Messianic congregations in US incorporate much of if not all of the synagogues typical hebrew liturgy. Additionally celebrate the feast and festivals. Torah being the main focus of the “teaching” with the brit hadasha being included but not main focus. Music is typically hebrew based. Most Jews treasure this part of being in a messianic fellowship and would perhaps feel slighted if appeared to be christianized.