I didn't write this... However this is how my husband and I feel. I thought you might like the link to this mans blog. http://towardblog.blogspot.com/
I believe that G-d has a ministry to touch each individual, we weren't all cut from the same mold... We have the same Potter different clay!
Messianic Judaism - Beyond Evangelistic Shtick
In defining what Messianic Judaism is it is important to deal with the issue of Torah observance and to see what the differing voices in the larger spectrum say on this issue. In doing this we can see clearer those who affirm a Messianic Judaism that is a Torah-honoring movement for Yeshua and those who hold for a Jewish cultural form of Evangelical Christianity. This is the divide between Messianic Judaism and Jews for Jesus/Missions/Hebrew Christian movement. Below is a post from Year 1 of Toward Blog, looking at Jews for Jesus' view of Torah observance for Jewish believers in Yeshua:
I believe that G-d has a ministry to touch each individual, we weren't all cut from the same mold... We have the same Potter different clay!
Messianic Judaism - Beyond Evangelistic Shtick
In defining what Messianic Judaism is it is important to deal with the issue of Torah observance and to see what the differing voices in the larger spectrum say on this issue. In doing this we can see clearer those who affirm a Messianic Judaism that is a Torah-honoring movement for Yeshua and those who hold for a Jewish cultural form of Evangelical Christianity. This is the divide between Messianic Judaism and Jews for Jesus/Missions/Hebrew Christian movement. Below is a post from Year 1 of Toward Blog, looking at Jews for Jesus' view of Torah observance for Jewish believers in Yeshua:
Jews for Jesus affirms Jewish believers who, for the sake of honoring our heritage and developing a Jewish testimony, choose to give up some of what grace allows to conform to dietary standards and various other Jewish practices. As long as such practices are not presented as incumbent upon others in the body of Messiah, Jewish or Gentile, we hope to be an encouragement to those who desire to uphold their Jewish identity in this way, (from Fall 2003 Havurah, a publication of Jews for Jesus)
The above quote from JFJ's Havurah newsletter was looked at in a previous post. In this post I want to look further at this statement from Jews for Jesus. In their statement above they put forward that a Messianic Jew can observe Torah commands if they choose to give up some of what grace allows to conform to dietary standards and various other Jewish practices. Torah observance is not an "abandoning of grace", but an embracing of obedience to G-d. Observing kashrut, Shabbat, the Festivals and other Torah commands is an act of obeying G-d and faithfulness to the covenant G-d made with all the Jewish People. If we choose not to obey Torah commands we are not "living in grace", but "living in sin". Non-observance of Torah commands is an act of disobeying G-d and not walking in His ways, not a benefit of being a follower of the Messiah. Torah observance like dietary standards and various other Jewish practices is not just shtik to be used for evangelistic outreach (which sadly is the case for Jews for Jesus and other Jewish missions), but it is a matter of obeying G-d and living lives that honor Him. I close with a statement by another Messianic Jew on the topic of grace and sin:
What may we say, then? are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace?In no way. How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?(Romans 6:1-2)Let us live in obedience to G-d and observe His Torah!
What may we say, then? are we to go on in sin so that there may be more grace?In no way. How may we, who are dead to sin, be living in it any longer?(Romans 6:1-2)Let us live in obedience to G-d and observe His Torah!
