Man, I have to be so careful here. Lots of religious types love it when you make fun of them but Messianic Christians are deadly serious about their religion. They all have this fiery-eyed look and they’re always using all these Hebrew sounding words in conversation. Once in a while you’ll run into the type that doesn’t wear shoes in church or has a prayer shawl. What can I say? Should I just stop now before I get in big trouble?
According to Wikipedia:
Messianic Judaism is a religious movement whose adherents believe that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they call Yeshua, is both the resurrected Jewish Messiah and their Divine Savior.
…
Similarly, Messianic Judaism differs widely from mainstream Christianity in adherents’ observation of Jewish Law which is often discouraged in churches.
Yep. So nobody knows what to do with these people.
By speaking Hebrew and dressing like a Jew these folks are trying to get a little closer to the pure religion of worshiping Jesus Christ, er, I mean, Yeshua HaMashia. I guess that’s OK. But they look so weird when they’re in a normal church. And I wonder what happens when they show up at the synagogue. Lipstick on a pig is not the phrase I want here…
So all this groovy Jewishness happening in the US has made me really reticent to let anyone know that I’m studying Hebrew. I like the Old Testament and all that. But for me it is background information to the New Covenant. Read it. But don’t get carried away trying to follow it on a daily basis. If you’re excited about the Messiah, recite the words of Jesus. Memorize the Sermon on the Mount. Or all five of Jesus’ sermons in Matthew which for Christians form the New Covenant Pentateuch. Matthew’s Gospel is definitely the one to go all goosy about if you’re into the Jewish thing.
Here’s a little theory that I have about Messianic Christianity: I think it’s a girl thing. What Mary is to Roman Catholicism, Mary Magdalene is to Messianic Christianity.
There is some kind of feminism going on here that I don’t quite understand. I read an interesting quote in the Celtic Prayer Book about one of the reasons they celebrate the Family Shabbat:
Another reason for adopting the regular, or occasional, use of Shabbat was, for us, its focus on the honouring of women: the woman presides, and leads prayers of blessing. In particular, it is the woman’s special prerogative to light the candles. She prays for herself, intercedes for her children wherever they may be and commits them to God’s care.
On The Family Shabbat, from Celtic Daily Prayer, p. 87.
I’m good on all that. I love it when the resident matriarch takes a role of spiritual leadership in a family gathering. Messianic Christianity seems to especially attract women. Am I deluded? Sexist? Well, disagree in the comments if you like.
Now, I make fun of Christians for all the stupid memorabilia that they buy and hang from every ear lobe and rear view mirror and cover every table and mount on the bookshelf and on and on just to show how much they love Jesus. But let me tell you, they can hardly shake a stick at the kitsch you can accumulate as a Messianic Christian.
Prayer shawl in English and Hebrew
Note: This is a Prayer of Jabez prayer shawl. Enlarge my territory!
A combo package complete with shofar!
This is a post marked satire, parody, humor and fun so if I’ve offended you just tough. Plus, you shouldn’t be breaking the Sabbath by reading my blog, you hypocrite!
Shalom!
Haha, this made me giggle quite a lot, whilst furtively looking over my shoulder at the same time.
There is some kind of feminism going on here that I don’t quite understand…. I’m good on all that. I love it when the resident matriarch takes a role of spiritual leadership in a family gathering. Messianic Christianity seems to especially attract women.
Some of us are reading this on the Sabbath with unwashed hands. Oh, it’s Sunday now? Well then. Wonder who it is that’s so especially attractive?
Hmmm! Good idea posting on Sabbath, but it’s now Sunday, and you’re going to be in so much trouble! I’ll have to sic one or another of my Messianic friends on you!
Seriously, I think it is hard for the ordinary Christian to understand the fascination. I’ve found very few neutral people. They tend to either regard Messianic Jews as completely weird, or to join them. I’m hoping that’s just in my personal experience and that the world is not quite so binary in fact.
Maybe I should hide this post until next Friday night…
I have several Christian friends, mostly of the feminine gender, who are studying Hebrew and following some of the Jewish traditions. I respect and admire their desire to follow God’s teaching and by doing so come closer to Him. It has been an educational experience for all of us to learn what the traditions mean and why they are done. I don’t believe any of the friends feel this has anything to do with salvation, but it is important to them. I should be so diligent and have that passion in my study.
They’re my friends, too! Whatever you do, don’t tell them about this article!
As a Jewish Believer who attends a congregation mixed with Christians and Jews all I can add to this is -
that it is very rewarding to be in Jewish and Gentile worship with people who respect and read from the Old and New Covenants, observe the scriptural and traditional Jewish holidays, and have a love for Israel and God’s Chosen people. It’s amazing to see and experience.
Just today a group of 50 of our men spent time just praying for the current situation in Israel.
Thanks for praying for the situation in Israel and Gaza.
It is in the Lord’s hands. We should pray for the salvation of the Palestinians also, and that they will soon come to know the truth.
David, who is the target of your (gentle but unapologetic) mockery here? Jewish believers in Jesus, or Gentile Christians who adopt Jewish customs?
Alan, Palestinians are God’s chosen people, too.
Chaka, definitely the latter.
agreed, they are just confused, and often misled.I have met a number of Arab Christians in Israel, who treated me as a brother.
David,
I’m responding to this article at the suggestion of Henry Neufeld. He is familiar with my ministry, East River Ministries in Panama City, FL. I had to really think about some of what you said, to see how we may be appearing to people within the church. Thanks for your enlightening article. I have written a blog in response to your article, because what I wanted to say was too many words for this space. For any who are intested in why we are experiencing this “phenomenon” of Jewishness within the church, please read my blog on Messianic Christians/Messianic Jews/One New Man. http://www.eastriverministries.blogspot.com
Thanks, Hannah May, I will check it out.
I think Chaka hit the nail on the head – Messianic Judaism fits closely with the lifestyle Paul, as a Jew, lived when he was with Jews. But similarly when opening the gospel to Gentiles, he railed against any attempts to first convert to Judaism, then accept Christ (Gentile Messianic Judaism? or is that Messianic Christianity?).
Judaism, more than other religions, is a culture, a nationality, a heritage. For Jews accepting Jesus as Christ, that remains. For all others accepting Jesus as Christ, we’re still Gentiles.
Dear David,
I would ask you to please not judge me to harshly because I wear a talit or blow a shofar. This is one small way I have chosen to honor Abba in my worship. I wear the prayer shawl because I am an intercessor and I use it as a prayer closet. I blow the shofar because …
oops…I forgot to tell you how to read the rest of the letter…it is long. Go to eastriverministries.blogspot.com
[...] Messianic Christians are getting revved up by my recent rant. I’ve got three little problems with this [...]
I just want you to know that this nut job and wacko loves you very much with the Love of God and I pray that this love will just flood you soul and give you peace.
I thought you might be interested in learning about OUR Jewish traditions which embrace the real Christ. We are the Frankist Association of America. One of our members has a new book out:
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Messiah-Throne-Origins-Christianity/dp/1906787123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245892844&sr=8-1
These are our teachings passed on through generations. If you can’t afford the book you can see the website of one of our teachers – http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com.
Shalom
Beth El Jacob Frank
Grace and peace to you, too.