Since you took a poke at Gentiles, then I think it is only fair to investigate what happens to a Jew who decides to follow Yeshua.
The tears that are in my friends’ eyes are very real from the verbal persecution and rejection that comes from their own community.
Either way, I do not think it constructive to tear the body of Christ apart — we should forgive those Christians who persecuted Jews in the past while trusting God to hold them accountable for their sins. Our generations’ responsibility is to see that Messianic Jews are being embraced wholeheartedly by Gentiles.
It is what Yeshua would have us do.
We also know that God hardens hearts sometimes to make His will be done according to His plans (see for instance the book of Romans).
I for one want to learn as much as I can from my Jewish brethren about the root of my faith. Gentile commentators have missed a lot of richness by lacking a Jewish background.
BTW, as a Gentile I love saying Yeshua, it gives me goosebumps — so I’m thankful for a chance to talk to Messianic Jews :)
I'm quite aware. I'm also aware that this comes after over sixteen centuries of persecution and forced assimilation by Christians. The fear that drives persecution from the Jewish side is that the Messianics are just Christians in wolf's clothing trying to pull a bait-and-switch. Given how many Messianic groups came out of Jews For Jesus and similar organizations that "target" Jews, it's easy to understand why that perception lingers. Time and love will win out, and it will win out faster if the Evangelical community continues to show unconditional love to Israel and Messianic Jews refuse to be pushed out of normal Jewish life.
The fact is that Messianics are already starting to receive tacit acceptance in many quarters. My synagogue has had friendly discussion with a member of the Sanhedrin who is favorable towards accepting Messianics as Jews and within the bounds of traditional Judaism without endorsing our views. We are also on friendly terms with a prominant anti-missionary in Jerusalem who, though he teaches classes on countering Christian apologetics, sees the sea-change in Christian attitudes towards Jews in the last 20 years. In his words, "Christians have stopped telling Jews what we believe and what we should believe and have started asking what we believe."
There will always be those in both the Jewish and the Christian communities who reject Messianic Jews. (I get the word "heretic" thrown at me a fair amount.) If I seem unduly critical of Christianity in its relations with the Jews, understand that it is because I see how few realize how the centuries-long mischaracterization of Yeshua is causing the persecution of their Jewish brothers and sisters in Messiah today.
It's not that I'm defending the current persecution of Jews on Jews--I'm just more interested in diagnosing and treating the root cause rather than seeing people get upset at the symptoms.
Shalom.
I'm quite aware. I'm also aware that this comes after over sixteen centuries of persecution and forced assimilation by Christians. The fear that drives persecution from the Jewish side is that the Messianics are just Christians in wolf's clothing trying to pull a bait-and-switch. Given how many Messianic groups came out of Jews For Jesus and similar organizations that "target" Jews, it's easy to understand why that perception lingers. Time and love will win out, and it will win out faster if the Evangelical community continues to show unconditional love to Israel and Messianic Jews refuse to be pushed out of normal Jewish life.
The fact is that Messianics are already starting to receive tacit acceptance in many quarters. My synagogue has had friendly discussion with a member of the Sanhedrin who is favorable towards accepting Messianics as Jews and within the bounds of traditional Judaism without endorsing our views. We are also on friendly terms with a prominant anti-missionary in Jerusalem who, though he teaches classes on countering Christian apologetics, sees the sea-change in Christian attitudes towards Jews in the last 20 years. In his words, "Christians have stopped telling Jews what we believe and what we should believe and have started asking what we believe."
There will always be those in both the Jewish and the Christian communities who reject Messianic Jews. (I get the word "heretic" thrown at me a fair amount.) If I seem unduly critical of Christianity in its relations with the Jews, understand that it is because I see how few realize how the centuries-long mischaracterization of Yeshua is causing the persecution of their Jewish brothers and sisters in Messiah today.
It's not that I'm defending the current persecution of Jews on Jews--I'm just more interested in diagnosing and treating the root cause rather than seeing people get upset at the symptoms.
Shalom.