Portland Jews Brace for Assault by 'Jews for Jesus' (anti-Christian Bigotry Alert!)

Torah Atlanta ^ | 2002 | Paul Haist

[jstone78]

Portland Jews Brace for Assault by 'Jews for Jesus'

By Paul Haist, Jewish Review

Portland’s Jewish community has mobilized to resist a two-week assault by Jews for Jesus who will unleash a sizeable squad of trained proselytizers on the city at the beginning of June. A former Eugene rabbi who now specializes in combating Jews for Jesus returned to Oregon May 7 and 8 to help the Jewish community here prepare for the assault. The campaign is planned to coincide with the annual Portland Rose Festival when thousands of people will be on the streets and accessible by pamphleteers.

Rabbi Efraim Davidson is the director of Torah Atlanta, a counter-missionary group that serves the southeast United States. Davidson, who lives in Atlanta now, was a founder and the spiritual leader of Congregation Ahavas Torah in Eugene.

ANTI-'JEWS FOR JESUS' FLIER

The Jewish Federation of Portland and its Community Relations Committee have been aware for several months of JFJ plans to bring their crusade here now to take advantage of the large public gatherings that will occur during the Rose Festival.

Davidson said that the Portland campaign is part of a JFJ five-year program called “Behold Your God.” He has confronted similar JFJ campaigns in other cities, including Tampa, Fla., and Atlanta.

“Behold Your God,” is, according to Davidson, “a very well coordinated, multi-million-dollar campaign” focusing on 66 cities worldwide with Jewish populations of 25,000 or more.

He said that the Jews for Jesus use aggressive proselytizing to target disenfranchised or unaffiliated Jews, Russian immigrants and college students. He said their techniques are manipulative, deceptive and anti-Semitic.

Jews for Jesus have had some success in recent years. Davidson cited figures that show the group has grown from a mere seven U.S. congregations in 1975 to 478 today. There already are at least five so-called messianic congregations in Portland, according to the Web site www.missionportland.org, although Davidson identifies only three messianic congregations here.

Davidson added that in 1973 there were an estimated 10,000 born Jews in the United States who were practicing Christians. Today, 29 years later, he put that figure at about 250,000.

Davidson said the JFJ typically names a coordinator for a particular city that is part of its campaign plan. That person, who he identified as Sue Pearlman in Portland, does the groundwork for the upcoming campaign.

That groundwork includes, said Davidson, “hooking up with a messianic congregation and using it as the physical base for training.”

The coordinator also usually contacts local Baptist churches to recruit lay Christian volunteers. Davidson said the JFJ relies on the Baptists because they are “very motivated evangelicals.”

[AmericaUnited]

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, "BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'" Matthew 23:37-39

[mfulstone]

Like it or not the scriptures clearly teach the Jews must accept Jesus to be saved.

You are dead wrong in the way you present the scriptures. You are the one misinterpreting and taking out of context.

[2sheep]

Jews for Jesus™  is not a true messianic organization.  Further it tried to trademark the name of G~d which is stinking fruit and is about filthy lucre!  The doctrine of Replacement Theology (that Christians REPLACED Jews) is false.  All holding it are boasting against the branches (Rom 11:18) and should read Romans Ch. 11 carefully and repent of it otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  Rom. 11:22.  The oracles were given to the Jews, not to the gentiles.   Rom 3:2.

The church is awash in false doctrines and needs to repent and gets its act together and not try to "convert" the Jews to Christian apostacy.  Yeshua Ha Mashiach (the Lord Jesus Christ) is big enough to say what He wants to any Jews any day without Jews for Jesus™ and has been putting in personal appearances to them for years.  For Jews to resists Jews for Jesus™ is not anti-Christian bigotry.  It is wisdom.

This is from a Messianic homepage:  What Is Messianic Judaism -- Isn't It Just Christianity?

Messianic Judaism is Biblical Judaism with Yeshua as the Messiah. We believe that Yeshua (Jesus) was the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. Messianic Judaism has more in common with other branches of Judaism than with Christianity in spite of sharing the belief that Yeshua was Messiah. Messianics see Yeshua as a Jewish rabbi who taught His disciples the Torah, even commissioning them to take His Torah teachings to the rest of the world. Christianity sees Jesus as one who 'did away with Torah (law)' and 'freed us' from needing to obey G-d's Word. G-d never changes nor does His Word. I believe any doctrine *not* based on a solid Torah foundation will be faulty and lead many astray. Torahlessness (lawlessness) is that old religion of hasatan, the fallen one who has tried to lure man away from G-d's instructions from day one. Hasatan has succeeded not only in drawing the  church away from Torah but also in making lawlessness even seem the godlier choice. Lawlessness is a scary deception and is a major reason why many Messianics have attempted to separate themselves from the mainstream church.

Without a solid foundation built on G-d's TaNaKh (sadly referred to as "old testament' within the church), many in the mainstream Christian churches have been teaching that the church replaces Israel in G-d's plan; many teach that the promised earthly messianic kingdom has been replaced with a spiritual kingdom for the church; most believe that obeying G-d's Holy Torah (law) is somehow useless or irrelevant in our lives -- even likening Torah obedience to "earning" the free gift of salvation. These beliefs result from interpreting the Brit Chadasha (new testament) apart from it's TaNaKh foundation. Sadly the church seems to believe it can exist apart from its TaNaKh foundation and Jewish roots. Such church teachings reflect a non-Jewish mindset and are not considered part of Messianic Judaism.

But Aren't Messianic Jews And Hebrew Christians The Same Thing?

Sadly, Hebrew Christians are Jewish brethren who have been assimilated into the mainstream church. Some may observe the Holy Days --- but their basic belief system remains that of Christianity. A Messianic Jew is one who practices Messianic Judaism -- his beliefs rest on a solid foundation of Torah. Interestingly, the two labels themselves (Messianic Jew & Hebrew Christian) show each's differing emphasis: a Messianic Jew emphasizes personal lineage: a Messianic Jew is a certain type of Jew (a Jew who happens to believe in Yeshua). Whereas Hebrew Christian emphasizes the belief system: a Hebrew Christian is a certain type of Christian (a Christian who happens to be Jewish).  Gentiles who practice Messianic Judaism refer to themselves in more vague terms, such as "Messianics" or "Messianic Believers" (terms which fit both Jewish and gentiles believers).

Then Why Do People Say Messianic Judaism Is Christianity?

Ignorance? Broad generalization? A refusal to let Messianic Judaism define itself? It is confusing when other branches of Judaism (as well as some within the church) call all believers in Yeshua "Christians" regardless of their view on Torah. More recently I have been bothered that some Christians are deciding to call themselves Messianics even though their belief system remains unchanged from that of Christianity. I only hope as more people study the Messianic Mov't, they will learn the many differences between these two very different belief systems. Messianic Judaism should the best of both worlds: True Biblical Judaism *with* Messiah -- exactly as G-d intended!

This is from the same messianic website:  We are NOT Jews for Jesus

Shalom Chaverim,  Let me begin by stating that this site is not affiliated with Jews For Jesus. We probably need to define what we mean by "Messianic" since many consider Jews For Jesus a Messianic organization. I consider Jews For Jesus a Christian organization. Moishe Rosen, founder of Jews For Jesus, is a Christian missionary, schooled in a standard bible college and not trained as a rabbi. The Jews For Jesus organization has worked diligently teaching Jesus to the non-believing Jewish people, but it is Christianity being taught and not Messianic Judaism (in spite of JFJ efforts to make the two terms synonymous). I would like to see evangelism to the Jewish people which includes teaching Torah observance.

I see the Messianic Mov't as a return to Biblical Judaism, removing 2000 years of non-biblical teachings and restoring Torah observance to the body of believers. It seems too much effort is going into trying to bring down the Messianic Mov't and turn into just another Christian denomination, I find that sad. And those who protest this Christianization are called divisive. If you remove the elements that set Messianics apart from Christianity, you lose what drew people to the truth of Messianic Judaism in the first place.

I think Christianity is threatened by our return to Torah truths and by our refusal to tolerate the pagan influences that have become a part of Christian doctrine. The Messianic emphasis on Torah is taken as somehow undermining the work of Yeshua. And our rejection of pagan influences is taken as judgemental, as causing strife within the body of Messiah. But Scripture tells us to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Sha'ul did not teach us tolerate false doctrines --- yet Christianity asks that for the sake of "unity" Messianics should overlook these differences and be a 'team player. That's not what we are called to do.

 Would Your Church Allow You To Be Like Jesus? -- [MUST READ!]

[jstone78]

{"....The fact is, that in deeply religious Jewish communities, you'll find that there's no problem with it. It's in communities where there is far less belief in their religion, and when people attemtp to get others to convert, it's taken as a direct assault on their religion...."}

You make an interesting point. A missionary does not stand much of a chance of seeking converts, in deeply religious communities - Jewish, Muslim, or otherwise.

It has often been noted that those Jews who join the messianic groups, are almost never observant Jews, and are not part of any Synagogue.

Therefore, messianic activity should be seen as beneficial, because unattached Jews who don't observe the Torah, anyway, get to be part of a religious congregation of people who are ethnically Jewish.

That means that a member of a messianic congregation, has a better chance of marrying someone who is ethnically Jewish, than an agnostic Jew who is not involved in Jewish community life in any way.

Rather than driving Jews to extinction through assimilation, messianic congregations help to retain intact Jewish communities.

[Hildy]

I don't know where you get off saying MOST Jews dislike Christians. That's so ridiculous.

[mfulstone]

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, "BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'" Matthew 23:37-39

Many, if not most, Jews say that at least once a year. Next question?

[Leonard210]

How would you like it, if the homosexual community made it a practice to gather in large numbers in your neighborhood, and handed out pro gay literature to everyone they saw? Since this would undoubtedly go against your beliefs, you might not like this.

You don't watch much TV. :-)

[Lurker]

All it takes to be put on the Jehovah Witness "Don't Knock On This Door List" is to answer the door naked, and invite them all in for coffee.

I've only had to do that once in the 12 years I've lived in the same neighborhood as a Kingdom Hall.

It was about 6 years ago if I remember correctly. I see them knocking on other peoples doors, but they don't knock on mine anymore.

L

[ET(end tyranny)]

Thanks so much for that bookmark, it's a good one!

[Cachelot]

but the last thing I would dream of doing is complaining to anybody about their pestering me

I completely agree. I just keep large and extremely vicious dogs.

[Jorge]

"Like it or not the scriptures clearly teach the Jews must accept Jesus to be saved."

You are dead wrong in the way you present the scriptures. You are the one misinterpreting and taking out of context.

Nonsense. I presented the scriptures exactly as they appear in the Bible.
I didn't change a thing.

If you could show me where the scriptures I posted mean anything other than Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation, you would have done so already.
The truth is you can't can't.

[ET(end tyranny)]

I leave the tv channel on FNC, or the history channel or discovery. If there is nothing on these that I want to watch then I turn it to nick at night, usually just for background noise.
<P.
I refuse to give ABC, CBS, NBC etc any rating whatsoever.

[jstone78]

The messianic community is not monolithic. There are some congregations which work closely with Jews for Jesus, and there are some which do not.

In the same vein, the Episcopalians are also a very diverse group. Some Episcopalians share the same Christian conservatism of Pat Robertson (although he is not Eiscopalian, himself), while a few Episcopalians like ex-Bishop John Spong are radical agnostic leftists, who are no more doctrinally "Christian" than Noam Chomsky. Most Episcopalians lie somewhere in between.

[mfulstone]

If you could show me where the scriptures I posted mean anything other than Jesus is the ONLY way to salvation, you would have done so already. The truth is you can't can't.

Just one f'rinstance: When Jesus said "if you do not believe I am he" He was referring to the Son of Man. Remember that just before that, he had said "when you have lifted up the Son of Man..."

Did you know that God, Himself, called Ezekiel "Son of Man?"

I was where you are at about 1957. I have read and studied the bible since 1945 (I learned to read out ot the KJV.)

Long ago I learned that ALL of the seed of Israel will be saved. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance.

Now go spend your time learning why churches are preaching a gospel of salvation and not the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus taught.

Galatians 1:
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

[LostTribe]

>Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written,

ALL Israel of course means ALL ISRAEL.  Not just the Jewish Israelites, but the Celts/NorthernKingdom/European/American Israelites as well.

[LostTribe]

>Bible-Believing Christians are the best friends that Israel has in the whole wide world.

That's because many/most of the worlds Christians are blood cousins of many of todays Jews. For details, see my FR LostTribe Profile.

[Scotsman will be Free]

So you are equating a sexual perversion with a christian faith? Interesting.