Do Jews have to forsake their culture to become a Christian?
Answers from our Messianic Friends
From the very beginning of the faith,
starting with its founder Yeshua (Jesus), our faith was a
"Jewish" one. Yeshua was from the tribe of Judah (from
whence comes the name "Jewish"). He observed all the
Biblical and many of the Jewish feasts and festivals as
evidenced by the Gospel accounts. He had to observe the
Torah (as it pertained to an Israelite) in order to be the
propitiation of our sins (1 John 2:2). His talmidim were
from various tribes, nevertheless observed a Biblical Torah
observance, even after His death and resurrection. They
observed the seventh-day Shabbat (sabbath): Acts 13:14; 44;
16:13; 17:1,2; 18:14. They observed Shavuot ("Weeks" or
"Pentecost") Acts 2:1,5; 20:16. At the behest of the other
Disciples in Jerusalem, Shaul (Paul) observed the Nazirite
vow along ith 4 others (Acts 21:15-26 cf. Numbers 6). They
observed Yom Kippur ('the fast") Acts 27:9 and Hag haMatzah
(the Feast of Unleavened Bread) Acts 20:6. Since the Temple
was still standing and center to Jewish life, they went to
and wrshipped in the Temple Acts 2:46; 3:1-3.
Indeed, the First Century kehilat ("church") was a Jewish
one. Actually, to the early believers, there was no question
as to the culture of this movement of G-d, whether it was
Jewish or not. Actually, the question was what to do with
these Gentiles who were turning to the faith? The first
council in Acts 15 determined the minimum standard that a
Gentile believer was to follow when they converted to the
faith. It was established that salvation for both the Jew
and the non-Jew was by faith alone and not by the keeping of
the Law and that Gentiles turning to G-d were not incumbant
to observe circumcision in order to be saved.
In reality, (though the Church had made it a requirement
under penalty of death, in many instances) Jews do not have
to forsake their culture to become believers in Yeshua. It
was not so in the First Century and shouldn't be now. It was
the Gentiles in the First Century, coming from a pagan
background, who had to forsake their culture when they
turned to the Messiah Yeshua for salvation. They had to turn
from their idols, from fornication, from eating that which
was strangled and from blood (Acts 15:20; 29) - all elements
of their pagan worship practice and turn to a "Jewish," or
better said, "Biblical" faith. Once turned, they worshipped
in the synagogues with the other Messianic Jewish believers
and heard Moses (the Law) Acts 15:21 whereupon they learned
a more observant lifestyle.
The better question to ask: "Should a Gentile have to
forsake their culture to become a Christian?" The answer:
Absolutely!
Shalom, In Messiah Yeshua,
Rabbi Bruce R. Booker
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The answer to this question is yes . . . and no.
The short answer is no. There is neither the need nor
requirement for a Jewish person to forsake or subjugate the
culture they grew up with whether they become a Christian, a
Buddhist, or an atheist. Culture in modern society is almost
always areligious, meaning that it has no relationship with
religion. Its practice can be totally separate or totally
included in a person's religious practice, provided certain
values are not transgressed. Therefore, no one must lose
their cultural identity when becoming a Christian, Jewish or
otherwise.
Now for the longer answer: yes. This will not be the popular
answer. The fact is that the gentilization of the church is
so complete as to negate the relevance of Jewish culture,
let alone lifestyle.
Those Jewish people who choose to become Christians and
remain in the church generally forsake their Jewishness
because it is not encouraged nor is it connected with their
faith. Once entrenched in the church, they buy into the
homogeny of the "one new man" concept as taught in most
denominations; that in which all are one and there is "no
longer Jew nor Greek." If anything comes up with regard to a
Christian's Jewish background, it becomes a novelty, or
something that one has been delivered from.
Jewish people who come to faith in Yeshua are often given
special treatment in the church because they are Jews and
somehow have a mysterious connection with the Bible. Being a
"token Jew" in a predominantly Gentile congregation is
rewarding because we can achieve special recognition while
acting like we humbly regard ourselves as "just the same as"
everyone else.
Christian Jews who visit Messianic congregations are often
uncomfortable. This can be for a few reasons, such as: 1)
Jewish believers are not special in Messianic congregations;
2) Jewish Christians have often been taught that practicing
anything that is religiously Jewish is a "going back under
the law;" 3) They reject their heritage because it separates
them from other Christians; 4) They don't value or respect
their heritage.
On the flip side, we could ask if Gentiles have to forsake
their heritage when becoming a part of a Messianic
community. To this, I would say that the Lord made no
mistakes in bringing someone into the world as Japanese,
German, or Arab. We are each called to be who we are, not to
feel as if we are missing something by not being someone
else.
The term Christian was once carried as a badge of courage.
In today's world, and especially in the United States, it
means much less and is widely used as an almost generic term
for anyone who grew up in a Protestant or Catholic home,
practicing or not. Consequently, making a point out of being
called a "Christian" becomes ludicrous, though perhaps
well-intentioned.
To add to the discussion, there needs to be the realization
that being Jewish is not merely about culture, nor is it
merely about keeping a set of religious rules. Being Jewish
involves embracing a heritage that is inseparable from its
moorings in Scripture. Once one makes that connection, the
issue of forsaking one's Jewish culture becomes irrelevant.
David A. Fleischer Rabbi, Congregation B'nai B'rit
HaMashiach San Francisco, CA
www.bbhm.org
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Messianic Jews believe that we have found the Messiah, or
"Anointed one" like the book of Daniel 9:25 refers to and
Psalm 2:2 and in the New Testament in Mark 14:61-62. Once we
have found the Jewish Messiah in the Jesus or Yeshua we are
now " completed Jews" or we also call ourselves " Messianic
Jews". We are Jewish People who live like Jews but follow
the Messiah Yeshua. Because we believe that Yeshua is the
fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. He never
intended to start a new religion, He fulfilled our Jewish
heritage and faith. We are completed because we have found
the Trues Biblical Judaism through the Messiah Yeshua (
Matthew 5:17). These answers can be found in David Chernoffs
Messianic Workbook Series " An Introduction to Messianic
Judaism"
I hope thisa answers your question, Vicky Sedaca Faircloth,
IMJA
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Answers from our Subscribers
No, But…..
Jews along with every other nationality or human being must
forsake or turn away from sin through repentance to inherit
eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord. These scripture
do not speak concerning culture, only the sinful nature must
be forsaken.
Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will
have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should
be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem.
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a
Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and
forgiveness of sins.
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their
peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the
Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the
baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they
should believe on him which should come after him, that is,
on Christ Jesus.
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then
to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance.
· These scriptures also address the issue
Matthew 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold,
we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have
therefore? Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I
say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the
regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of
his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:29 And every one
that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or
father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit
everlasting life. Matthew 19:30 But many that are first
shall be last; and the last shall be first.
(Matthew 19:29) Brethren or sisters, or father or mother, or
wife or children, lands, for my name's sake; or, as in Luke,
"for the kingdom of God's sake"; that is, for the sake of
the Gospel, and a profession of it. Not that believing in
Christ, and professing his name, do necessarily require a
parting with all worldly substance, and natural relations,
but when these things stand in competition with Christ, he
is to be loved and preferred before them; and believers are
always to be ready to part with them for his sake, when
persecution arises, because of the word. All these things
are to be relinquished, rather than Christ, and his Gospel;
and such who shall be enabled, through divine grace, to do
so, (John Gill's exposition of the Bible) God Bless,
Paul Phillips
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I'm not sure if the person asking this question meant cultural heritage or following the 613 Old Testament laws, so I'll address both.
Acknowledging one's cultural heritage is not sinful in and of itself. There are those out there who are of Jewish ancestry that identify with the Jewish culture, but don't follow the religion. I have a friend who was raised Jewish and is now a Lutheran who still indentifies with the Jewish community. However, observing the Jewish laws does present a conflict with Christianity.
Romans 2:11For God does not show favoritism. 12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (NIV) Those who are under the law of Moses will be judged according to how they followed the Law. Christians are under a new law of grace.
Romans 3:18"There is no fear of God before their
eyes."[1]
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those
who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced
and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no
one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the
law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
(NIV) The Law was intended for God's chosen people, Israel.
Throughout the Old Testament, Israel sinned and returned to
God numerous times. Their failure to obey the Law helped
show that we can't save ourselves, that we need a Savior.
Romans 4:12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (NIV) Abraham, one of the most faithful Jews who lived, was saved by his faith. All the great men and women in the Bible who lived before the time of Christ were saved by their faith in God.
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" (NIV) I think this verse speaks for itself. If we could do it on our own, there wouldn't have been any need for Jesus' sacrifice.
I'll also note, too, that traditional Jewish teaching regards Jews who convert to Christianity as apostate Jews. A new Christian in this situation may face rejection from their family and friends in some cases. If this is a situation you might encounter, please seek lots of prayer support from other Christians and find a church home if you haven't already.
With Jesus, all have equal access to God-Jew or Gentile.
AJ
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Jewish Culture covers a wide range of topics. Jewish Art,
Jewish and Hebrew Literature, Jewish Cuisine, Jewish History
and the Holocaust, Jewish Humor, Jewish Views on Sex,
Judaica Shopping, Kosher Travel, and Jewish Singles.
A Jewish person will of course always be Jewish by birth,
and it is fine to continue to enjoy Jewish cuisine and be
interested in Jewish History, Travel, and Art, but one
cannot in ANYWAY become a Christian and continue the
religious traditions of the Jewish faith. You cannot do
both. You are either a Christian or Jewish. So many Jewish
people today say they are Jewish by faith, yet they go to a
different church. This makes no sense. When this is the
case, they are not truly either Jewish or Christians.
You have to be firm in your belief of Christianity. One must
believe 100% that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save
them from death and is their Holy Savior. You must believe
in the Holy Spirit. If you don't believe in these, you
cannot claim Christianity and all the beautiful promises
that the Lord promises those who are believers in the
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Religious beliefs differ very much between Christianity and
Judaism. Christians believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah,
and Jewish people believe he was only a good teacher. Some
Jews don't consider him at all. Christians believe in the
New Testament, whereas the Jewish only go by the first 5
books of the Old Testament. Christians believe in the Triune
God. One God in three persons. The Jewish do not believe
this at all. Christians believe we are saved by faith alone,
and Jews believe that works and deeds are considered. These
are just a few of the differences, and as you see, you must
believe in Jesus Christ our Savior in order to be a
Christian and gain entrance to the Holy Gates of Heaven. So
I would have to say that aside from enjoying the food, art,
and history of Judaism, YES, one must give up alot of the
traditions, ideas and beliefs of the Jewish culture in order
to become a Christian!
DeeDee
