Messianic Judaism – a WOLF in Sheep’s clothing to Judaism and true Messianic belief.
August 2nd, 2008 by Ron S.
Years ago when I first began to take a look at Messianic Judaism I was under the impression that they were Jewish yet believed that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Jewish Messiah. But I soon discovered that this was not the case. In fact modern Messianic Judaism – to use a Scriptural description – is really more like a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
I’m sure many people have heard about “Jews for Jesus”. And perhaps just as I did originally, many may perceive them to be just what their catchy group name suggests, Jews that believe in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Some may even perceive them to be a branch of Judaism that is simply reclaiming the faith that Jesus, his Apostles, and Paul all practiced in the 1st Century. But nothing could be further from the truth.
In reality groups like “Jews for Jesus” and most other “Messianic Jewish” groups are really mainstream Christian organizations that have been created with the sole purpose of converting Jewish people to Christian beliefs. Now I have no problem with anyone going out and proselytizing others to their religion. But the covert methods used by these missionary groups is unethical and is what makes them “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
This is well known and fought against by “counter-missionary” Jewish groups such as Outreach Judaism and Jews for Judaism. Here is what they have to say about the issue respectively:
“Such congregations are designed to appear Jewish, but they are actually fundamentalist Christian churches which use traditional Jewish symbols to lure the most vulnerable of our Jewish people into their ranks.”
“Leaders of these groups are often ordained Christian ministers who are specifically trained in techniques for converting vulnerable Jews. Members of these groups deceptively use Jewish symbols (such as Stars of David) and language so as to appear Jewish, their goal is to take Jews away from Judaism and to bring them into the Christian Church. Jews for Jesus actually considers itself an arm of the evangelical church. On the local level, much of the “Hebrew-Christian” movement is organized in the form of churches which call themselves “Messianic Synagogues” or housed as separate ministries and congregations in larger churches. These groups use Jewish trappings such as yarmulkes, talesim, Torahs, Jewish music and Hebrew to hide their Christian nature from potential converts.”
And the biggest deception of the Messianic community has historically been the hiding of THE central dividing point between Christianity and Judaism – The Trinity / Divinity of Jesus. This is pointed out by Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz of Jews for Judaism in his article entitled “Messianic Truth in Advertising”. In it he says (emphasis mine):
“It is misleading for them to claim that the only difference between “messianic Jews” and other Jews, is their belief that Jesus is the Messiah. This was highlighted by Myers’ recent quote in the Jerusalem Post comparing messianic Jews to messianic Chabadniks. In fact, “Messianic Jews” intentionally avoid mentioning a fundamental difference. In addition to believing Jesus is the Messiah, they believe he is God in the flesh and part of a Trinity. Beliefs considered idolatrous by all denominations of Judaism.”
“As early as 1980, Jews for Jesus founder Moshe Rosen in his book “Sharing the New Life with a Jew,” advised messianic missionaries to avoid mentioning their belief in the deity of Jesus because it makes witnessing to Jews extremely difficult. Additionally, attempts by the messianic movement to prove their theology from biblical and rabbinic sources are based on misquotations and mistranslations.”
“Even before Christianity, Jews rejected these anti-Jewish non-monotheistic beliefs. We also realize they were introduced into Christianity due to the influence of pagan cult gods like Osiris and Dionysus.”
“Obviously there are other differences. “Messianic Jews” accept the Greek New Testament as divinely inspired scripture and they believe that all Jews who don’t believe in Jesus face eternal damnation in hell. However, historically it is their idolatrous beliefs that have ultimately placed “Jews who believe in Jesus” outside the pale of Judaism.”
This is further demonstrated to be the case by a rare, TRUE Jewish believer in Jesus as the Messiah – as the real human Messiah, NOT God in the Flesh – whom I discovered while doing some web searches one day. His name is Rabbi Louis Baruch Vos Levitz and he runs an independent Synagogue in Woburn, MA along with a web site called www.shomeryisrael.org. On his site Rabbi Louis presents an excellent article entitled “Why Messianic Judaism is Not Judaism”. Here he further describes the issue in the following way:
“I believe the real issue is that the Messianic Movement has failed or desists to make, a clear unambiguous declaration to the Jewish community of what they really believe about the Messiah. Their public statement and proclamation focuses on the fact that they believe that the Messiah has come and will return, and so does a large number of Orthodox Chassidim, and that I do not have an issue with. However, what the Messianic Movement believes about the Messiah is not the same for Chabbad, or us. The Messianic community purposefully omits to make a public declaration of their principal belief, that the Messiah is ABSOLUTELY God. This is the dividing point - where their theology parts with Lubavitch Chassidim, our congregation, and authentic, ancient Jewish belief and practice. There never has been a monolithic Jewish understanding of the person of the Messiah, but one thing is for certain, the Messiah is the anointed of God and not God himself. This omission by the Messianics is far more revealing than we think; it actually defines who they are, Hebrew Protestants. This omission, I believe, is the greater offence.”
Rabbi Louis goes on to point out that belief in Jesus as the Messiah has never been the main stumbling block for Jews. There have been many Jews who have believed certain men were the Jewish Messiah. In fact many members of the Jewish ultra-orthodox Chabad Lubavitch believe that their great Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson – who died in 1994) is the Messiah and will return from the dead to bring about the “Olam Ha-Ba” (the Messianic Age).
However it is making the Messiah literally be God that causes the remotely knowledgeable Jew to rightly turn away. Rabbi Louis reminds us of this with:
“What does offend and has created a division between Yeshua and the rest of the Jewish world, is the deification of this Jewish man and the superimposition of gentile traditions upon his faith and person.”
So the one litmus test that appears to define the difference between Judaism and Christianity is the deification of the Messiah vs. the Messiah as a real human being. You just can’t be Jewish and believe that the Messiah is/was God in the flesh. If you do, then you’re theologically Christian whether you’re ethnically Jewish or follow Torah and practice traditional Jewish customs.
Thanks for this article. I was privileged to speak to an orthodox Jew last weekend (she was born and raised in Israel). I asked her if she would be willing to consider the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. She had been so jaded by previous Christian encounters that she was completely unwilling even to consider it, because to her Jesus = Pagan, because the Christians believe that Jesus is God.
When asked if I believe Jesus is God, in addition to saying no, I clearly state up front that scripture does not give us the warrant to say such of him at all. Instead scripture only allows the idea that he is the Word of God, the Memra. Does this mean he is divine? Well, is the Memra, God? No he is not God. But is the Memra called HaShem? Yes, for the name of HaShem is on him. Thus who then is Yeshua? The Word of God. To say anything more would be to attempt to define God and His Word, and put him in a box in order to control him. We should be content with the glory that he has revealed to us through the Torah, and through the risen Messiah, Yeshua ben Yosef shel Netzaret.
Sean,
Thanks.
Your experience with the Orthodox Jewish woman is quite typical for many Jewish people. The “J-word” (as they sometimes use to refer to Jesus) is indeed something that can immediately put them on the defensive. They view the concept of Jesus as a pagan polar opposite of true Jewish belief. And centuries of anti-semitism, hard-core conversion attempts, and pagan twistings of their Hebrew Scriptures have made them extremely leery of all believers in Jesus. Which is tragic in our case as we would be the first to side with them in their singular conception of God and that Jesus as the real human Messiah is not literally that God, but his ultimate human representative - the “Second Adam”.
We as true Unitarians need to do as much as we can to let our Jewish brothers and sisters know that not everyone who believes that Jesus IS the Messiah, believes him to be God in the flesh. Yet that will be much more problematic with the ruse of Messianic Judaism making real Jews all the more suspicious. It is for this reason that I wanted to write the article so that we here at kingdomready can have this in mind if and when we come in contact with orthodox Jews - as I’m sure that 99.9% of them think that any who believe in Jesus also thinks he is God.
Also we should be aware that because of the Messianic deception, the Jewish counter-missionary efforts of “Jews for Judaism” and Rabbi Tovi Singer’s “Outreach Judaism” are coming out guns blazing against Jesus being the Messiah. They’re out to not just disprove the Messiah as God (as we would as well), but they take it nine steps further and aim to discredit him totally with things such as the “Messiah Resume Challenge”, counters to Isaiah’s suffering servant, and a smearing of Paul and the New Testament (to name a few).
I would like to know more about these things and how to respond to them. Perhaps a new article can address that.
Ron,
Messianic Judaism is a touchy subject, I have been in this way of life for some time now, and have discussed the topic many times. As you pointed out, there are many taking on the title, but going against the foundational beliefs of Judaism, specifically Monotheism. The Trinity is one of the big obstacles in the way of true Monotheism, by way of Judaism.
Other issues that determine Jewish status that will arise are:
- Biblically, how does one convert to Judaism?
- One is Jewish, yet can’t prove it with documents.
- Ones Father is Jewish, but Mother is not, are they Jewish?
- Aren’t all Jews in essence, Messianic (belief in a Messiah)?
- Is a Jew still Jewish regardless of their present beliefs?
- Does Scripture imply that Gentiles are also to be observant of Jewish Law?
I have Jewish friends living in Israel that have been at the forefront of the Christ believers in Israel for over 20 years now. Uri Marcus is one of them, and he is not a Trinitarian. I believe that his synagogue may be the only one in Israel that upholds Torah while not believing in the Trinity. There is another congregation that I attended in BeerSheva, they uphold the Trinity doctrine and many do not observe Halacha (Jewish Law). While I don’t agree with the foundational beliefs of the BeerSheva congregation, I still keep a close bond to them as family in Christ. I see no reason in siding with the counter missionaries of “Jews for Judaism” or “yad l’achim(Brothers in Arms).” I believe that it is important for Unitarians or Trinitarians Jews to unite in the struggle for status in Israel. If the Trinitarian Messianic goes, then you can count on the Unitarian Messianic to follow.
Currently, there is a law suit that has been filed by the BeerSheva congregation for the harassment they get from counter missionaries, particularly the political sect, Shas. I have been at the congregation service when counter missionaries show up (on shabbat!), and wave flags and yell obscenities while children stand there and watch. To these counter missionaries, the belief in Trinity does not matter, it is belief in Jesus as Messiah is what motivates them to picket Messianics.
The point I am making is that sometimes we may need to side with the wolf in order to take care of the bear. Let’s face the facts here, almost all Jews will not accept Christ as Messiah regardless of Trinity or Unitarian beliefs. They have many other reasons that have been taught to them to deny Christ. But I will agree that the Trinity has been one of the main stumbling blocks toward the Jew.
I was just listening to some of Rabbi Tovi Singer. His presentation on sin and atonement causes me to think that atonement is probably just as big an obstacle to someone who is Jewish as the trinity. Some of the way he spoke was quite shocking to me. It helps one understand why so many had problems with Paul in the first century.
Also, this verse comes to mind:
1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
Brian,
I’m not familiar with Rabbi Tovi Singer. Could you elaborate on his views about atonement and how they are an obstacle?
Mark,
That’s a good idea. I’ll try to do a new article on the various counter missionary arguements.
Also, I think I can answer your question to Brian:
Rabbi Tovia Singer is one of the top counter missionaries in the world and has his own radio show on Israel’s National Radio and runs the counter missionary web site - Outreach Judaism.
Here’s what Wiki says about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovia_Singer
And here’s one of his site’s articles against the atonement of Jesus:
http://www.outreachjudaism.org/jesusdeath.html
Ron S.
Ron,
Sorry about the above post, I agree the idea if an article on the arguments of counter missionaries will yield great discussion.
I have looked at this web site and would appreciate further discussion. It appears to me that what they are saying is well thought out and as Christians we would do well to become more familiar with the old testament so we could more accurately understand the truth .