I Could Not Have Known Better...

As a young child, I just assumed that Jesus Christ was the only man in the world to EVER die nailed to a cross.

I'm talking about before I went to church, before I read the "Bible" on a regular basis or anything like that. You know how you imagine what G-d must look like, and you imagine what Heaven looks like. I admit, I would imagine white clouds everywhere, with never ending light from the sun, and a patch of blue sky here and there. I imagined G-d the father sitting at a desk, with a pen and a pad of paper (LOL) :). Guess he was keeping tabs on everyone. He was wearing white pajamas and white slippers. I mean pajamas: A shirt, button down, long sleeve, and pajama bottoms, elastic waist and all! Guess I wanted G-d to be comfy!

But Jesus wasn't with G-d in heaven (in my imagination)...not living there, not all the time...he would "pop in" (sorta like magic, you know, so that G-d the Father could pat him on the shoulder...but just as quickly...he was gone again. This is because he needed to be back on earth ASAP because he would need to climb inside someones soul if they called to him. (I was just a kid) :). Anyway, I thought that Jesus dying on the cross simply made him the savior of the world because no one else had ever done that. I had no idea that crucifixions were quite a common form of punishment and death...or even that there were two thieves on either side of him also being crucified...

My great grandmother (my Nana) was the earliest example of Jesus in my life. Never did she tell me what he said, how he thought, what I should read in the Bible, or what I should believe about him. She knew I was afraid of the dark. Whether she put me next to her in her bed, or Nana came in and slept in the other twin bed in the guest room., she knew I was afraid of the dark, and she would sing me to sleep:

"Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little one's to Him belong
They are week, but he is strong..."

Needless to say, this was a comfort, a protection, a relief. I don't ever recall my Nana not working, on something...anything...you name it. She baked and sewed, and made everything from scratch. She cleaned and scoured, and then raked leaves in the yard, and always as she worked, she sang:

"Rock of ages cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee."

I even wrote a poem about this, I remember it so vividly. Going to church with her was a real treat. (How could it not be when she kept Tic Tacs in her purse?). Anyway, I felt as though we were "visiting" Jesus there, and because I did not go all the time, this was a special treat. So, I had no idea what it meant to reverence someone...but this is what I was learning to do. So, I had not read any verses about Jesus, but "saw" him in the joy, empathy and reverence that my Nana had for him. Believe me, it was quite infectious, and left an impression on me that I'd not even seen forming...

Somewhere between the ages of eight and ten, my step-dad told me the story of the woman who had an affliction of bleeding for 12 years. She was in the crowd and she "tugged" at the garment of Jesus, believing that he could heal her (as the story goes). (Luke 8:40-49). The point was made that Jesus did heal her, and all she had to do was ask. Even back then, anything in the Bible was something somehow I knew I should read, but it was like this super holy thing that was hard to understand, and literally gave me goosebumps. :). But, the story itself was very simple: This woman believed...and she was healed. Easy, right? So, that night when I went to bed, I wondered what would happen if I said that I believed the same thing. I knew I had no sickness to be cured and that I would not actually touch Jesus, but I decided to tell him that I believed...

If I could touch his garment...then he would heal me too if I needed it. Sure, why not? I figured if it was good enough to be in the Bible it was good enough for me. So, in the dark, grabbing on to my Teddy bear (the one Nana had bought me when I was an infant) I just said so...mouthed the words. No noise...not even a knowledge of what had just happened. The memory of my Nana singing to me helped me believe the story of this afflicted woman with ease...and I told him so... I felt warm and tingly, and happy and giddy, like a kid feels when they know something good has happened they're just not quite sure what it is. :). Let's just say that on this particular night, Jesus climbed inside my soul and made himself at home.

I had absolutely no knowledge of scribes or pharisee's or Christians of Jews, or crucifixion, or religion or becoming saved...I just had the example of absolute sweetness and joy that left a very good "taste in my mouth" if you will, and I wanted more of it. This was all I needed. I don't think I could've "known" any better (than that).

I'm Sorry...I Can't Reach You (So it Would Seem)

Disclaimer. I have much love and respect for Israel and the Israeli people, and for anyone who is Jewish, which is much of the reason I write this blog. I am not saying that all situations are the same, or that everyone thinks the same way. I write this based on Personal observation and opinion.


Quote: "If you feel sorry for not being Jewish, read Ephesians. If you think you've replaced Israel, read Romans". I'm not going to say who said this, simply because I have a great deal of respect for them and I would not want to appear to be encouraging disrespect. But the fact is, I hate quotes like this in general because all they seem to do is cause arguments. In my opinion, this whole issue is about a bringing together, or a joining...not a division or a separation.

This is not about a replacement.

This whole thing is about a mutual understanding and love. It's like I said in my last entry, many Christians want very much to be able to IDENTIFY with those who are Jewish and the Jewish culture. We love Israel because it's where our savior walked and talked and performed his miracles, and we know that Yeshua was Jewish himself. This is a longing to be close to someone. Listen, I may have been taught Replacement Theology, but where I come from, EVERYONE is embraced and welcomed and invited IN. No one is made to feel guilty simply for wanting to identify with Jesus because everybody needs his LOVE.

I for one am tired of feeling verbally "slapped on the hand" for wanting, from my soul, to identify with those who are Jewish (because of quotes like this). Look, there is a lot that I DON'T UNDERSTAND, and I'm trying to...but I can't get any answers...just continual reminders that I am not Jewish (and I never will be) and I better be GLAD that I'm not! Why??? Because I haven't been through the Holocaust? Because I haven't been "crucified" myself?? Is unbearable tragedy the ONLY thing that identifies certain people? Is it fair to "use" this sad history against others and do everything you can to say "sorry, you don't qualify"? Listen, if you're not biologically Jewish, that's one thing, I get that. But let's see what we have here: I'd better be glad that I'm not Jewish because apparently I'll never ever be persecuted in such a way, oh and by the way, as a non-Jew, I am not here to replace anyone. So...what?...I better just grovel at the feet of those who ARE Jewish, and remember that THEY are G-d's chosen people.

It's almost as though I'm being told, (by Jewish folks) "Yeah, you're one of God's too, but that's your business...WE are the real thing, and you (Gentiles) are trying to "contaminate" us! Go away, get out, and take all your stupid love for Israel with ya too! Oh, but...if you'll CONVERT, and while you're at it, deny Jesus, because that really pisses us off, and you'll work your ass off to join us, we MIGHT stop reminding you that you're not GENUINELY one of us, and you never will be. In honesty, why on earth would I want to convert to that?

Now, am I saying that ALL folks who are Jewish feel this way? Let me put it this way: I sure HOPE not! But mostly, this is the "mindset" or the "feel" I've received from many people in Israel (not JUST, not ONLY) but many people in Israel (through Facebook). Not to mention, the arguments people get into... I'm seeing people on this thread saying that this is anti-Semitic, that this is a lie (that Gentiles are grafted in to the olive branches). To be fair, people are also pointing out that whether Jew or Gentile, we are all one in Messiah, chosen since the foundation of the world. This is what I was always taught in my Evangelical church that taught Replacement Theology anyway! We (Gentiles) don't want to be REPLACE anybody! We want to be INCLUDED! We want to be a part of, we want to be LIKE. I THINK the problem is that most Gentiles are taught that as long as they pray the prayer, and are saved...then (we) ARE grafted in. As a result, many of us don't take it any further than that. We don't think we need to.

But it's more than that...then we have this lovely little gem called the Messianic Movement that many born again Christians (including myself) have aspired to because we (mistakenly) are all starry eye'd about IDENTIFYING with the Jewish people. I wonder how many Americans (in particular) don't realize that many Jewish folks are completely mystified by this movement and don't understand it. They believe that Messianic Jews are nothing but born-again Christians re-labeled, and they are insulted and angry. (again, you're not one of us, and you never will be, so quit trying). Of course, the Messianic Movement is NOT limited to the US...it's everywhere...which I think is GREAT but apparently, many of the Jewish folks which we are wanting to EMULATE are quite insulted by this. It's as if many Jewish folks seem to be saying "Don't B.S. me.". Goodness sakes, I wasn't TRYING to! But apparently, that's what we're doing! The belief is that Paul, and all the 12 disciples were Messianic Jews, for that matter most of the people written about in scripture were Jewish folks who followed Jesus because he was the Messiah! (Messianic Jews). I presume they were hated back then as well. What about Ruth, and Luke? Ruth converted...and Luke was a Gentile! Does this mean they'll always be second best, because they're not genuine?

So, look, people are people and they need love and respect. I think Jesus himself said it best when he said love your neighbor as you do yourself. I felt a devotion to the Jewish people and the Jewish faith because I believed they (are) in touch with their faith and their traditions, and "anchored" to what they believe in many ways that I wasn't. There seemed to be a wonderful sense of family there that I'd not experienced in the faith that I've been in since I was a teenager. Now, I'm suddenly wondering where I got that idea. Where I was, (in church) everyone needs the love of Jesus (not everyone ACCEPTS it...but everyone needs it) all are welcomed, no fees required, and all are encouraged to COME, just as they are. Where I was thinking about going, the love of Jesus is only okay, if you believe he has no divinity, I will always be reminded that I'm not really Jewish, while paying exspensive membership dues because I'm busting my butt TRYING to be, there is no belief in original sin, and any attempt I make to fit in is put under a preverbal "microscope" to see whether it's acceptable. Where I came from, I was already accepted when I came in. Easy.

I've embraced (or tried to) embrace the Jewish faith because I believed that it was insane to sit in church and be anti-Semitic, by pointing out the wrongs of Jewish tradition everywhere, and then saying we are under a new covenant, and calling the OLD one "legalism.". Not fair. Not right. So, I took another direction...desiring to build a bridge between myself and those who are (blessed) enough to be Jewish. (yes, you ARE...don't tell me to read Ephesians if I'm sorry I'm not Jewish.). Anyway, this bridge has proven to be impossible to build. It is not wanted (it seems) and not welcomed. I'm confused...just because I've never happened to "suffer" that much means I can't even try to EMPATHIZE with those who have? Well, excuse me! I'm as loyal as they come, but I think I'll take thar loyalty to someone who'll actually allow it. Think my devotion is a joke, and I ought to be glad I'm not (Jewish)... while I'd BETTER remember that the church I'm in has NOT replaced Israel?? Really? Okay, fine...I think I understand.

But I will say this... never again will I worry about empathizing with the Jewish people for being particularly mistreated or discriminated against, because, first of all, it seems to cut both ways...second of all, many people seem to feed off of it. My "love" for Israel has caused me to be inundated with it...page after page...example after example (after example) of continued, horrible, dramatic, never ending...anti-Semitism. Right there, in everybody's face for all to see...and those of us who are not Jewish will NEVER know how bad it is...because we'll never experience it. So let me tell you what I'm NOT saying:

I'm not saying that I hate anyone who's Jewish, because I don't hate anyone.
I'm not saying that I'll not like someone who's Jewish if I can't "convert" them.
I'm not saying that no Jewish person is open to accepting Jesus.
and I'm not saying that those who are Jewish only associate with those who have converted to Judaism.

I'm saying very generally that it seems their is a feeling in the air that those who are Jewish are (as it were) not impressed with any devotion we might (want) to have for them. I think most heartfelt efforts to try and show "brotherly love" to those who are Jewish are almost taken as a direct insult. Either we are humiliated because we should know that we'll never understand what it means to suffer that way, or we're bombarded with corrections and comparisons between Judaism and Christianity...AND, the cherry on top of the sundae...that hardly anybody really understands anything about Israel anyway. Fine. But it seems many many people are trying to understand and embrace, and when we DO try to understand, with hopeful expectation, we seem to have it rubbed in our face in a million different ways that we never will. That hurts. I say all this...because this is what's happened to ME.

In the end, the only devotion I really want is from my savior anyway...so who cares what anyone else thinks? But this wonderful mutual respect between Jews and Christians? As hopeful as some of are (including me), I just don't think it's quite as mutual and wonderful as we'd like to believe. Now of course, this just MY opinion...there are many others. So, let's pray for each other, love each other, and do whatever we can to help each other understand. There also is a lot of love being poured out on both sides. Let's try and zoom in on that sometimes instead of of the negative, not so we turn a blind eye to it, but so we can relieve the hurt and bridge the gap.

Understanding the Blessing

Disclaimer: I am not a scholar or rabbi. I write this based on what I've found to be true in particular situations where I became curious, and wanted to know more. In no way do I intend here to accuse anyone or say that everyone thinks the same way. I have the deepest respect for Israel, and the Israeli people. My desire is to understand; it is not to put down or to insult.



Galatians 3:10-11 says that all who rely on observing the law are under a curse. For it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law. Clearly, no one is justified by the law, for it is written, "the righteous shall live by faith.'

Okay, here it is...pretty much the basis for my Evangelical Christian faith all this time. But let me make it clear, I am so GRATEFUL to Evangelical Christians who shared with me the redemption that is found in Christ and nowhere else! If it had not been for them, I would not be walking so closely with Yeshuah today. I did in fact pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart, and he did! He met me right where I was and has been drawing me unto himself ever since. There is no doubt that the grace of Christ abounds in my life. I write this blog, simply to say that I have been trampling all over it...and now I'm realizing that.

I had sort of a falling out with the church I was in. This was not a moral issue. This was not a doctrinal thing. This was a situational thing that forced me to back up and take another look at myself. I puzzled over this. How could it be Elohim's will that I not be in church? Why should I be "separated from the body of Christ (as some are in the habit of doing?)". Because I needed to take a closer look. Crazy as this sounds, I could only do this if I backed up a bit.

So, if all who rely on observing the law are under a curse, does this mean that the law is done away with completely? I no longer think so. I used to tell people all the time that there actually is only one sin that anyone ever went to Hell for...and that's the sin of remaining unsaved. However, I would not want anyone to quote me on this, because, this is only half the story. The fact is, our deeds do matter. Whether or not we do our deeds according to God's law does matter. I can't count how many times I've listened to some pastor (usually on radio) try to get it through my head that there is nothing I can do to earn salvation...it's by God's grace alone. True. I don't deny this. My question is, why do we stop there? Why don't we tell the rest of the story...as Paul Harvey would say?

I will back this up with scripture as much as possible, but it seems to me that the problem is this: Much of the Christian world has everything divided into two camps. Simple, right? Sure. The problem is, this then becomes the lens through which all other scriptures are viewed. So, when a Christian says, for example, "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation," what we mean is, he's now "crossed over" from the unsaved camp, to the saved camp. He (or she) is forgiven, they're redeemed. They will spend eternity with Christ forever. (Yes!!!!). Great! But what if this is only part of it? What about when Ruth tells Naomi: "Don't urge me to leave you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God."? Does this sound like a woman who wanted to identify with the way Naomi did things and be her family? Sure it does.

So, when we become born again, we enter into a relationship with Yeshuah, right? I heard it every week in church, no matter where my pastor was teaching in the scripture, this was the conclusion... You must be born-again, as Jesus said to Nicodemus. From my heart, I must say now, I really think that this means more than simply accepting salvation. When we consider that faith without works is dead, and that Yeshuah said that he did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it, why would Galations 3 say that all who rely on serving the law are under a curse? Well, most Evangelicals have this shoved down their throat every week: Salvation is by God's GRACE through FAITH alone. It's not faith, plus works.

Okay, all I know how to do, is say this in my own language, the way I understand it. So, here goes... The grace of Christ is what we as believers trust in when we mess up and we fail to keep God's commandments...but this does not mean that we don't bother to keep the law, or that we say it does not matter. The Abrahamic covenant law, and also parts of the Levitical law are the mandates Yahweh gave to his people as the evidence (you might say) that we belong to HIM. Why did I say "parts" of the Levitical law? Simply because parts of it were suitable for the time it was written, but simply do not apply for the way we live today...this is true. But how many of you are now thinking "No, no, you can't do that...you don't get to CHOOSE the parts of the law you follow...we need to follow it all. Okay, I see what you're saying. But let me ask you: Do you plan on boiling a baby goat in it's Mother's milk as part of a Babylonian fertility ritual? Of course not, right? Yet this is what Exodus 23:19 instructs because, at that time, this was a pertinent issue. Yahweh warned his people that when they made it into the land he would show them, there would be folks participating in practices that He did not want his people assimilating to. This was one. So obviously, "keeping" with this command now, is no longer "relevant" if you will, because I would HOPE no one does such a thing anymore.

Anyway, let me just say it like this: Perhaps when we "Christians" become "Christians," we don't truly realize who's identity we are willingly taking on, or even WHY we're taking it on, because the so-called Evangelical church (bless their hearts) has watered it down so much. Read Romans chapter's 9, 10 and 11. I think a person could spend a lifetime digging into what these chapters say, and still not fully grasp the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of such an awesome G-d!! Generally, we love to quote Romans 8 verse 28 that says "we are saved by trusting"... This is true, we are, through God's leading us unto himself. But when we are born again, and we now claim to belong to, and be following the G-d of the Hebrews, and we are grafted into the Olive tree (as a wild olive branch, maybe we should understand that we are now assuming the "identity" of the G-d of the Hebrews as well?

In today's Evangelical church, we are basically taught that this is not necessary (the Jewish identity) and that the death of Christ on the cross "did away with" the (original) covenant, and that we are now no longer under legalism. Legalism, this is the way most evangelical's refer to any "evidence" of a Jewish faith. Whether it's celebrating the Jewish feast days, celebrating the Sabbath, eating Kosher, or simply being diligent about memorizing the ten commandments (!!!!). How would we feel if the shoe were on the other foot? But if this were not enough, most of us sit in church on Sunday and use Jewish traditions and customs as OUR example of what NOT to do. We say that all of this without accepting Christ's death is worth nothing...which is why, I think that Galations 3:10 says that those who rely on following the law are under a curse. My dream would be for those who are offended by what I just said to understand that this is G-d's idea. This is not simply the dogma of a bunch of unkind, uncaring Christians who want to be cruel to those who are Jewish. Anyway...turn it around the other way...When I looked up cross references for Galatians 3:10, I was given Deuteronomy 27:26... "Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of the law, and do them (by carrying them out) and all the people shall say Amen!"

Okay, so, the Christian version of this story is that the Law let's us know that we are sinners...but our human imperfection can't be accepted by a a perfect G-d...so he sent his son as a "payment" for our sins. So, with this payment now put in place on our behalf, it now seems to me that if we belong to Christ, we ought to be following the law, as much as we're able, rather than throwing it out, or proclaiming that we're no longer under it. Until now, I had not believed this. I was taught that Christ's death paid for the sins of the world, and whether someone is a Jew or a Gentile, they need to accept Christ's death on the cross, or they will...here it comes...spend forever in Hell, rather than in Heaven.

But an interesting thing happened. I read verse 25... "Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.". I thought of Pilate, knowing that Jesus was innocent, but giving into the crowd screaming "Crucify him! Crucify him!". Pilate knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong, he even admitted it (verse). Yet Jesus was crucified anyway because Pilate gave into the demands of the huge crowd. What about the silver that Judas was paid to have Jesus arrested? Was this not a "bribe" accepted for the death of an innocent man? Goodness, did we not "accept" that? Hmmm, are we now "under a curse" for that? Wow. We've actually been under a curse since the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden, but that's another thing...

I visited a website just last night called the Conversion to Judaism Resource Center (link below) on which is stated that Jews do not believe in the idea of Original Sin. They believe that humans are born neither good nor bad, but having the ability to choose, good or bad, also implying that with this choice...humans have some merit. This sounds great, but is it true?? It's my understanding that folks who aspire to Judaism do it because they want to learn and keep the Torah because this is what honors G-d. Don't the very first chapters of the Torah deal with Original Sin?? If not, then what exactly IS the story of Adam and Eve???? Why would Yeshua have gone to the cross if he didn't have to? In the entire process, he did not even take the wine he'd been offered for relief. Because he took our punishment on himself...this is what I've always been taught. This was his mercy shown to us.

But let's get back to Deuteronomy 27:25. Could it be possible that we are under a curse for sending Jesus to the cross, rather then for the "original sin" of Adam and Eve? Suppose Jesus had no divinity, the way Judaism seems to suggest...even Pilate knew he was an innocent man. Would Jesus have been the first innocent man to have been crucified? I'd doubt it. Just as many innocent people were executed at the Tower of London, I'm sure innocent people were crucified as well. But if Jesus was G-d as he claimed to be, then not only did (we) crucify an innocent man, we "accepted a bribe" (Judas and the silver) for the death of G-d himself. If this sounds too good to be true...I think this is exactly the point. Only a perfect G-d willing to become like one of us could be the "sacrifice" for our imperfection.

As I've written on this blog before, I came to believe that Jewish folks are especially blessed, because they share the lineage of the most high G-d. So, I thought that if Judaism is good enough for them, it's good enough for me. I just wanted to be as close to Yeshua as possible. So, to find out that (most) Jewish folks don't even believe that Yeshua even had any divinity is s heartbreaking reality. What?? I said "most" because, as I'm learning many Jewish folks have come to believe in Yeshua. They've accepted his death on the cross (or tree), and believe that he is the Messiah. He is Lord. These folks are called Messianic Jews...or, at least where I come from this is the "term" used to refer to someone Jewish, who believes Jesus is the Messiah.

Now, based on what I've found on YouTube, there are in fact Messianic Jews living in Israel as well, but oddly enough I saw someone who works at a Messianic college in Israel, post on Facebook, that he was perplexed by the whole Messianic movement in "the west.". "Can you keep his commandments perfectly?" he asked. Of course not. But anyone who lived in the days of the Abrahamic covenant could not keep them perfectly either...neither can anyone who practices Judaism today. So why is this idea so "shunned" when it involves the belief in Yeshua as the Messiah? Where I come from, the folks who celebrate Messianic Judaism, do it because they wish to embrace Hebrew roots and embrace the traditions and teachings of the original law, and show support for Israel...God's chosen people. To put it another way, we wish to "validate" (again) those things which the Western Evangelical church has largely been taught are both not applicable to those who are not Jewish, and not applicable period, because (supposedly) we are no longer under the Old Covenant law.

See, here in the states, there is this image of the US having formed all of these wonderful alliances with Israel. I believe this image comes largely from the Christian community, because we believe that allegiance to Christ involves loving his chosen land and chosen people as well. There are all sorts of Facebook pages about it, there are organizations such as Stand With Us who send shaleach's, if you will, all over the US to educate people about Israel and help shed light on the overwhelmingly negative images and stereo-types. But ironically, much of the lies that are spread about this gem in the Middle East, come from mis-Information, spread by the media in the US, not only in the US, but may other places as well. The lies are everywhere, and they run deep. So anyway, which side are we on here? We have this huge Christian community praising Israel to the skies because of a Messiah that most of Israel... does not believe has even come yet. US Christians love for Israel and her people causes us to spend millions of dollars every year, sending over (what we call) "missionaries" to share the love of Christ with the Israeli people. Again, because of our allegiance to Christ, we think...what better folks could we share Christ's love with?

At the same time, our media rips Israel and the Israeli people apart, portraying this tiny Jewish state as some sort of blood thirsty tyrant, who only wants to do harm to the world. We seem to believe that Israeli's don't like anyone who is not Israeli, and our media seems to only want to cover the violence going on in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Hmmmm... add to this, the fact that many Jewish folks grow up believing that Christians were responsible for the Holocaust. Many folks who practice Judaism will not read the New Testament, because they believe it's blasphemy (Go to www.oneforisrael.org), and most Americans can't even find Israel on a map. I would imagine then, that Christians desiring Jews (particularly Israeli Jews) to accept the bloody, violent death of an innocent "Rabbi" as their "redemption" would feel like the cherry sitting on top of a huge "sundae" of hate. Wouldn't you?

All of this, to me, is very sad. So, long story very short, I've embraced Israel and the traditions of Judaism, in every way I could, because of my devotion to Jesus, only to soon find that for this very reason...much of Israel would probably just want to... give me the finger? I saw a video about it just last week. There's an organization in Maryland called "Jews for Judaism" that made a video saying that Christians "prey" on Jews and they are everywhere. The video pointed to groups such as "Jews for Jesus" and "Messianic Visions" and displayed the numbers for the immense amounts of money poured into sending "missionaries" to Israel. Now, this was an AMERICAN organization but is it true that many Israeli's don't understand what we mean (in America) when we say "missionary"? Is it true many Israeli's even think of this as curse word?? Well, in short, what do we American Christians look like spending all those billions of dollars trying to get them to accept the violent, bloody "bribe" for the death of one of their own...Yes? An innocent man...yes? How do you think you'd feel? It would seem to to me that Jewish folks, like no others in history, have had to fight very hard and endure a lot of bloodshed, just to simply be who they are. Are Christians any different when we too attempt to "convert" them, using the bloodshed of Yeshua as the basis for that change?

I just think that these are things we Christians need to consider when we are witnessing to folks, but particularly those that we may feel, hold a special "devotion" to Yeshua, because he was a descendent of the tribe of Judah. This truth is simply not the wonderful "proof of divinity" that many evangelical folks may believe that it is for the Jewish people. I say all of this because...this is what I believed myself, and it tickled me pink, because of my excited visions of introducing Israeli's to the Messiah (whenever I went to Israel myself) and sharing his love with them. This excitement has absolutely died now...and much of it has turned to sadness. But it's worse than that: I've begun to wonder whether the Israeli people just laugh at us behind our back and think we're complete idiots. I know that certainly, not everybody in Israel feels this way, just like not everyone in America hates Israel...not at all. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of us love Israel like crazy because of our devotion to Jesus...we want to be like her people and learn what Israel is all about. Gee, with a heavy heart I say, is the joke on us?

I hope that we can simply be patient with each other and try to understand.


Scriptures:

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 "Our deeds do matter"
Matthew 27:22-26 "Pilate says Jesus is innocent."
Genesis 12:2-3 "Blessings for those who bless Israel"

Links:

Conversion to Judaism Resource Center:

http://www.convert.org/Judaism_and_Christianity.html

One For Israel:

http://www.oneforisrael.org/

Jews For Judaism:

http://jewsforjudaism.org/