"What kind of Jew are you???!!!" That question was asked of Milt on numerous occasions. Usually the questioner was an orthodox Jew & wasn't really interested in an answer. He wanted to berate my husband because Milt didn't fit his expectations & it confused him. Milt wore a kippah (skullcap) and on worship occasions, he wore his talit (prayer shawl - Numbers 15:38-40,). We had mezuzot (small containers with Scripture in it) affixed to our doorposts. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 We keep kosher (acceptable/clean) but without all the newer restrictions imposed by the Rabbis. Instead, we follow the BIBLE. We are interested in pleasing G-d, rather than man.
Because of being Jewish, Milt & I have been harassed by the Ku Klux Klan & the Neo Nazis. We have been the target of the traditional Jews because we're Messianic. We have been targeted by some of the "Christians", because we follow the Word of G-d & His Holy Days, rather than man-made holidays. We have had our windows broken numerous times. Stones have been thrown, We have been spit at, yelled at, and our car has been tampered with on several occasions --brake lines cut, etc. Some of this nasty behavior has been because of FEAR & lack of understanding. The L-rd says that Fear does not come from Him. 2 Tim. 1:7 Some of this bad behavior comes from PREJUDICE. We are commanded to LOVE ONE ANOTHER! There is no other option. Faith, UNaccompanied by actions, is dead. We ARE our brother's keepers & we are accountable to the L-rd, the Judge of the whole earth!
To please G-d: that's the goal of Messianic Jews. We believe in the Messiah Y'shua as our Savior & Redeemer & we try to follow His Holy lifestyle as outlined in the Torah (first five books of Moses in the Bible: Genesis through Deuteronomy). There is great freedom in Messiah & so there is great variety in the way each person interprets the lifestyle. Some incorporate many traditional customs in their lifestyle -others ignore the tradition & stick to the Bible. The important thing to remember is to LOVE the L-rd your G--d & to LOVE one another!
Tradition is not wrong if it does not conflict with the Bible. Rather, quite often, the Jewish custom & tradition enhances understanding of the Bible, because it brings to life the words of the Scripture.
The word "Messianic" is the adjective for describing one who follows Messiah (Christ). Messiah is the Jewish way to say Christ ("Christ" comes from the Greek language). Messianic Believers are Jews & non-Jews who worship the G-d of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob together in a traditionally Biblical mode. We recognize that the L-rd has made One New Man from the two. We realize that the L-rd has brought Gentiles (non-Jews) into the Commonwealth of Israel so that they may partake of the blessings of Israel, together with us! Ephesians 2 We are all equal in our spiritual standing before the L-rd. We are all children of Abraham by faith! Galatians 3:26-29
One thing we need to remember: Judaism, as it is practiced today by most of the orthodox Jews, is NOT the Judaism given by G-d. It is a man-made religion built up around the central core of truth. Therefore, Messianic Jews do not feel obligated to follow the rules of the traditional Rabbis, but are free to do so, if those traditions enhance the worship of the L-rd. We must exercise caution not to become legalistic in our approach to the practice of traditions, but to exercise Grace in our every day walk with the L-rd.
We ARE obligated to follow the L-rd and worship Him in Spirit & Truth. He summed up the Torah (Law/Instruction) & the Prophets (The Torah & the Prophets make up The Old Testament) in these two commandments: "You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, soul, & strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. All of the Torah & the Prophets are dependent on these two principles." Matthew 22:37-40
The Messiah also said, "Don't think I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes, Indeed! I tell you that until heaven & earth pass away, not so much as a yud (smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet) or a stroke will pass from the Torah -- not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (commandments) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them & so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven!" Matthew 5:17-19
There is much in the Old Covenant that has yet to be fulfilled, & heaven & earth have not yet passed away. I think we would have noticed if it did. So obviously the Old Covenant is still in effect. Messianic Judaism recognizes this & is seeking to implement the ENTIRE BIBLE in our lifestyle & worship experience.
If you are a traditional Jew, & you feel threatened by Messianic Judaism: I challenge you to be honest with yourself & study the Scriptures to see what the L-rd Himself has to say about the Messiah.
Unfortunately, many non-Jewish believers (Christians) feel threatened by Messianic Judaism; they need to ask themselves, "Why?"
The traditions of the church are sometimes so strong that many of us have just accepted them as correct, when in fact, they have nothing to do with the L-rd. What is more important to you? Your traditions or what the L-rd requires of you? The L-rd requires obedience rather than sacrifice. See I Samuel 15 Y'shua said, "If you love me, you will keep my commands." John 14:15
One final note for those who are concerned that we are placing ourselves back under the Law: We do not depend upon the Torah (Law) for salvation; it was never given for that. No one was ever saved by the Law. When people try to use it for that purpose, it becomes a curse to them. It is only with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that the Law can be used to please the L-rd.
Romans 8:1-8 says. "..there is no condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Y'shua. Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit which produces life in union with Messiah Y'shua has set me free from the Torah of sin & death. For what the Torah could not do by itself, because it lacked the power to make the old sin nature cooperate, G-d did by sending his own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one. G-d did this in order to deal with sin, and in so doing He executed the punishment against sin in human nature so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants, but according to what the Spirit wants.
For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Having one's mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one's mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom (peace). For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to G-d, because it does not submit itself to G-d's Torah -- indeed it cannot. Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please G-d."
Above all, Love the Lord your God & Love one another - it is a command from our Commander-in-Chief!
As much as possible live in Peace with one another.
Lura Maiman, Congregation Yeruel, Israel