"T4C
Position on Messianic/Christian Evangelization
Efforts Toward Jewish People"
by
R. Ariel Ehrmantrout ©2009
T4C.Com
“Messianic
congregations are churches that mask themselves in Jewish tradition
in order to target Jews for proselytization and
conversion.”
“Messianic
congregations falsely advertise and target Jews for proselytization
and conversion.”
“Funding for
such unabashed efforts to convert Jews directly threatens the very
lifeblood of American Jewry.”
Reprinted
from the Union of Reform Judaism Commission on Interreligious
Affairs © URJ 2008
There is no subject more explosive to traditional Jewish
Rabbi’s and their followers than the question of the attempted
Messianic “witnessing” to Jewish people. I have seen the nicest, and
most mild mannered Rabbi’s become ravenous and formidable protectors
when an unsuspecting Messianic announces their “Messianism” in a
group of “traditional Jews” at a Synagogue on some Shabbat
Service. I have always
been awed by their dogged aggression toward this idea, but I never
fully understood why this harsh reaction was given by these men of
YHWH (God) until I began to study the history between Christians and
Jews over the last 2000 years.
You see, the thought of "conversion" to a Greco-Romanized
Christian Mind and way of thinking is the ultimate sign of respect
and affection--a gift of life—free from trespasses and our past that
have plauged a person for their lifetime. However, to a naturally born
Jew, any attempted “conversion” is the same as committing
“Sociological Suicide” and has been called the “Silent Holocaust” by
groups that are attempting to stop the practice of witnessing to the
Jews and “a threat to the very lifeblood of American and Worldwide Jewry.” So how can these two
opinions be so desperately divided and how do we at Torah 4 Christians and Hebrew Roots International,
Inc ™ think about the process of “sharing our Trust and Loyalty
in Yeshua” with members of the larger Jewish community in an attempt
to see the Jewish person "saved" and converted to Christ?? Well I hope you like
honesty, because I will do nothing here, if I do not give you my
honest opinion on the matter; however, sometimes we have to be
careful what we wish for--for once we receive the information it may
not be what we were hoping for.
At Torah 4 Christians
and in all
Congregations affiliated with Hebrew Roots International,
Inc. We
strongly condemn any and all missionary acts done by Christians
which are commonly known as “witnessing,” or "attempting to save"
Jewish People through conversion to faith in Jesus
Christ.
We strongly denounce Jewish proselytization by
Christians or any kind, and renounce its destructive ways; and look
forward to the day in the larger scope of things when the splinter
in the "eye" of Rabbinic Judaism will no longer be attempted to be
extracted and condemned by those in the Christian community who are
still carrying around the "Tree" of Marcionic paganistic idolatrous
synchotism in their daily lives.
It is our position that all this activity had done is cause a
great chasm between the faithful followers from the biblical House
of Israel scattered among the Nations; and our older Brothers in the
House of Judah--or the ancestorial tribes of Judah, Benjamin and
half of the Tribe of Levi, which is Rabbinical Judaism today. We would politely ask all
Messianic Jews and Hebrew Roots Teachers Practicioners--as well as
Christian Pastors everywhere to stop this practice "immediately" as
it is a direct violation of the Torah. [Most specifically Deuteronomy
13!]
I am going to make yet a shocking statement—but it will only
be shocking if you do not know the Scripture about this matter—but
here goes……Observant and Faithful Jewish people do not need to
receive Yeshua in their hearts to be saved from their sins—as they
already have "Yeshua: the Living Torah" in their hearts which is
evidenced by their obedience to the commands, precepts, laws and
instructions and are
already saved [see most
specifically--Jeremiah 23:5-6, 33:14-16 and
Zachariah 3:8-10].
Paul's writing in Romans Chapter 11, very clearly states that
Israel may have "received a hardening IN PART" until "the fulness of the 'Nations'
has come in" --to
Israel.
The fact that you still feel that Jews are not saved is
evidence to you the you still have Modolism [You Believe that there is God
the Father--and God the Son] or some form of syncratistic
polytheism [the
Trinitarianism of the Catholic Faith] at work in your
heart. We were in need
of what they have and have been given; and this is why Paul warns us
explicitly about getting "arrogant" against the branches that have
been temporarily "cut off" if they approach the Torah and its
commandments by Faith.
Faith comes from the hebrew word "EMUNAH" which means
steadfast obedience to God's Teaching and Instructions. If they are attempting to
follow the Torah; they observe Shabbat and the Holiday and
Festivals, then they are forgiven for their Torah violations each
Yom Kippur--just like we are.
So, with that said, where are they deficient??? They are not. And besides that, we are not
to be judges of anything--let alone whether a Jew is or is not in
covenant with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and even if that
were not the case, YHWH has no problem bringing them in and He can,
and has been doing so for thousands of years--based on His love and
promises to Abraham and the Patriarchs.
By witnessing for the sake of conversion to anyone of the
Jewish faith, we are actively "judging them as though they are not
part of Israel!" This
is foolish and the lack of results should be a sign that God is not
blessing these attempts.
Jews could care less who you think is the Messiah and who
isn't; it is the missionary activity in the community that makes
them fear "messianics" and rightfully so. If someone from the Nations
coverts to the faith of Israel and follows the teachings of the
Messiah Yeshua--then they stand very little chance of receiving any
persecution for this choice; at best, they may get mocked by their
family and friends.
However, if a Jew, converts to Christianity (God forbid) they
are committing social suicide.
Thus, as many have argued before me--your missionary
activities become a "genocide" of sorts, and all without you having
a single bit of malace in your heart. However, you are guilty for
what you do and cause; just because you do not understand these
things does not go far to eleviate your accountability in the
destruction of a Jewish life--family and community.
Remember the Genesis 12:3 covenant promise "I will bless those who bless
you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will
be blessed through you;" and believe you me, you do not want
to come down on the wrong side of that covenant provision. If YHWH wishes for someone
to be a follower of the teachings of Messiah Yeshua--He will awaken
them, and the sign will be the opening of their eyes--all without
our help.
Deuteronomy 6:4 says "Shema Israel Adonai Eloheinu--Adonai
Echad:" or "Hear and obey O Israel the Lord our God the LORD IS
ONE." Now before you
chastise me as not understanding the difference between "Echad" and
"Yachid"--just give me a second to explain to the innocent bystander
who may be reading this article.
"Yachid" is the hebrew word for the numeral "One" as
signified by the number 1; "Echad" however is also
a hebrew word and is a unique word used to describe YHWH--God--and
is most easily understood as "A Plurality of Oneness." Or put another way--"Echad"
can be understood like having 1 multifaceted Diamond--but
no matter how you look at it's brilliance, it has many differing
attributes. Theses
attributes are numerous--yet they do not change the fact that "Elohim"--YHWH--God is
One--and in NO WAY three that can be separated like pieces being cut
from your Mothers Apple Pie.
This is a central and enduring difference between the Roman
Catholic Christianity and Judaism….any form of pluralistic
Judaism.
Secondly, the "Great Commission" that is given by Yeshua in
Matthew--arguably the most Jewish of the Synoptic Gospels by
Biblical Scholars today, in Matthew 28:18-20 says "18Then Jesus came
to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The word "Nations" right
there is clearly a command to go to all the "Gentile" peoples. The word translated as
"Nations" is the Greek word "ETHNOS" which is Strongs number G1484
which means "in the OT, foreign
nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles"
By using the word "Ethnos" it is clear who
Rabbeinu Yeshua was talking about--go to the people of the
Nations. This happens
first to Peter when he is dispatched to the Gentile Roman Officer
Cornelious and His entire household; and secondly, by the ministry
of Paul and Barnabus throughout the Roman Kingdom. Their mission, was to teach
converts to the Faith of Israel--to live as Jews in the manner in
which their Rabbi had left for them to live--just like He
lived. According to
Rabbi Stephen Wylen in his book called "Jews at the Time of Jesus"
Rabbi Wylen argues "A Disciple in the first century is one
who "Studies like, eats like, walks like, talks like, comports with
outsiders like" and basically "imitates" their Master--or "Rabboni"
in Aramaic. If Yeshua
had desired for us to convert the Jewish people away from
Judaism--SOMETHING--SOMEWHERE in the Torah would surely tell
us. In fact, Yehsua
says exactly the opposite in Matthew 5 when He says that "Not the
least stroke of a pen with fall away from this Torah unto all is
fulfulled." Since "ALL"
means all and that is all it means then "ALL" is not yet fulfilled
for the Jewish people.
There is a second exodus that is prophesied to be even
greater than the first one at the end of days.
Thus the Torah, and its binding upon ALL ISRAEL the naturally
botrn in and the grafted in, still applies. Even in the story of Phillip
and the African General from Sheba, who he meets reading the prophet
Isaiah--Philip shares about Yeshua being the fulfillment of what He
was reading--mikvah's this foreigner, which in itself is a
requirement of conversion to Judaism--and then is taken several
hundreds of miles North.
Never once is it recorded that he is telling the African
Convert from Sheba, that he practice anything other than the Judaism
that they now shared--through Yeshua's Testimony. At Torah 4 Christians we do
not believe that we have replaced anyone in Israel or Judah, only
that we have been grafted in along side of them through our faithful
Torah obedient walk as a sign of our faith in the God of
Abraham.
The reason many have not seen this before now is that we were
tri-theophists—meaning—we believed that the God of Israel was really
three distinct beings called the “Father—the Son—and the Holy
Spirit.” The God of
Israel IS the FATHER YHWH and He IS the Son Yeshua and He IS the
Holy Spirit; He is also TRUTH, He is also LIGHT, He is also so many
other designations that it would take me hours to list them all—and
even then I would only be scratching the surface of the greatness of
YHWH. But the over
riding guiding verse for us to remember is the absolute lynchpin
around which all Judaism has turned since Abraham wandered into the
land of Israel over 3500 years ago—is found in Deuteronomy 6:4 which
states ““SHEMA ISRAEL ADONAI ELOHEINU ADONAI ECHAD: which means
“Hear and obey ALL ISRAEL, the Lord our G-d the L-rd is One.” This oneness comes from the
wonderful Hebrew word “Echad” which loosely means “Plurality of
ONENESS.”
The Sages teach us that nothing is impossible for God because
He has so many manifestations of His incredible greatness—that were
there books to hold all His exploits it would take more room that
this world currently has to hold them all.
This Tri-unity approach which first was introduced as
modalism by the 2nd century heretic “Marcion” and then
later updated by the Roman Catholic Church has been a source of
great contempt that has manifest against the Jews on behalf of
Christians. Here are
only a few examples listed at the website: http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_pers.htm
In March of
2008, a Hamas Terrorist walked into an Orthodox Jewish Yeshiva
(Biblical College) and murdered 8 Yeshiva Students—and why? Because they were Jews and
only because they were Jews.
And there are Christians who have actually talked with me and
told me these things happened because “the Jews didn’t believe in
Jesus.” Oh Creator forgive them—for they do not know what they
are doing or saying.
Forgive them Source of all Jewish life and all life
throughout the world!
So what are we to do?
Rabbi Yeshua ben Yosef said that “A good tree would be
recognized by its fruit;’ and by the record posted above—we can
clearly see that the “fruit” of attempted conversion of Jews to
Christianity holds a dark and ominous past of murder and grave
damage to the Jewish people—which is not what Rabbeinu Yeshua would
have ever intended. We
are commanded to be missionaries by the “great commission” of our
Rabbeinu in Mattityahu (Matthew 28) –BUT
NOT TO THE JEW, but to those "outside" of Judaism who
are dissatisfied with lack of results and contentment contemporary
religions, and to those who do not know God at all. We aggressively seek to make
converts TO JUDAISM as our Rabbi Yeshua ben
Yosef commanded us in Mattityahu 28:19-20 when He
said:
19Therefore go and make
disciples of
all nations, [which means the gentile
nations] baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, [which is YHWH—the God of the
Jewish people] 20and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. [The Torah:
God’s teaching and instructions which He gave us all at Mt.
Sinai] And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age."
Torah 4 Christians
and Hebrew Roots International, Inc is a NON
PROSELIZING TEACHING ORGANIZATION where ‘in-grafted Jews” from all nations are
going to ensure that naturally born Jews are going to be safe from
any proselytizing activities.
Be aware,
that we feel so strongly about this that if any
activity like this manifests, it will be immediate
grounds for separation of all membership in any classes at Torah 4
Christians or Hebrew Roots International Inc. Further, we are not now
affiliated with and will not be in the future affiliated with ANY
"JEWS FOR JESUS;"® "MJAA®," "UMJC®," "IAMCS®," or "IMJA®," "TYPE
GROUP"; and we
strongly condemn this behavior throughout Messianism and plead with
our fellow leaders to stop all activity like
this. The status of the Jewish people
is not for us to judge—but for the Holy One, blessed be He, and He
does not need our help.
We will love, honor and respect all Jews who wish to visit
and communicate with us at Torah 4 Christians and Hebrew
Roots International, Inc, and Lord willing we will treat them as
the Children of YHWH Most High and the lineage and relatives of
Yeshua ben Yosef, who we believe is the King of the Jewish people
throughout the world.
We also love and extend a hand to all Chrtistian people
willing to foresake paganism and return to the ways of the 1st
century where we were part of Israel as one unified group of Jews:
those who praise God.
But because we believe Him to the Ben David—King of
Israel—that we will always respect the desire of the leadership of
traditional Judaism to not allow any missionary activity
whatsoever-- in any and all Congregations affiliated with the Union
of Hebrew Roots Congregations, Inc.
We seek a continuous dialogue with the modern Jewish
Community Leaders and always look for opportunities to be instructed
by any of Judaism’s four traditional branches, Orthodox,
Conservative, Reconstruction, and Reform Jewish Scholars. We look
forward to sharing holidays and Jewish lifecycle events together
with our brothers and sisters in traditional Judaism worldwide as we
return from our dispersion among the nations.
Ahava means “love
of God, and is a demonstration of one of the ten innate soul powers
deriving from Chesed (grace).
YHWH (God) has always saved the
naturally born Jewish people; is now saving them; and will forever
save the Jewish people just fine without our assistance as we focus
on taking Messianic Judaism and the story of our Rabbeinu Yeshua ben
Yosef to a non-Jewish
world and inviting them to be a part of what we have to
offer as the in grafted members of Israel’s “Royal Priesthood” as
taught by our Rabbeinuim Moses and Yeshua!!!
Let Messianic Jews everywhere prayerfully consider this
terribly hateful activity of witnessing to Jews and let us repent
for violating Deuteronomy 13 while claiming to call on the God of
Israel. Let us forsake
all missionary activity to Jews and focus on reaching out to the
“Mello Goyim” the gentile nations who need to repent of their
lawlessness and enter into the lifestyle and lifecycle of the Jewish
people as they are our eternal model in which we are to follow. To the groups who practice
“Missionary” activity like “Jews for Jesus”®--the UMJC®, the MJAA®,
IAMCS® and IMJA®—please repent and stop continuing to harm our older
brother by your activities.
Repent for you are going the wrong way by teaching Jews to
follow the miss guided doctrines of Catholic (Universal)
Christianity—and focus all our collective efforts on turning
gentiles—to the ways of the Torah and the testimony of
Yeshua.
