In the February 2005 issue of Christianity Today magazine there appeared an article entitled Jacob vs. Jacob written by Deborah Pardo-Kaplan.
There is much to be taken from her article that is one of the first, if not the first mainstream discussion of the issue of the differences between the Messianic congregational movement (UMJC, IAMCS and others) and the Missions movement (Jews for Jesus, Chosen People Ministries and others). Though this has been an in-house debate and discussion for years within the Messianic world this is the first time for the issues to be aired openly. Though those who are fanatical about unity may be upset at this article, I and others believe that it is important for lines to be drawn and people to honestly deal with what is their identity.
1. Are you a Jew living and practicing Messianic Judaism attending a Messianic congregation and living within Jewish space?
or
2. Are you a Jew living and practicing Christianity, attending a church and living within Christian space?
If you affirm #1 then you are within Messianic Judaism and a part of the Messianic congregational perspective.
If you affirm #2 then you are a Jewish Christian and part of the Christian world and also more than likely aligned with the philosophy of the Missions movement.
Both choices reflect Jewish followers of Yeshua, yet they reflect two different religious expressions and communities of reference.
David Brickner, the Executive Director of Jews for Jesus commented in the article on the 2002 UMJC Defining Messianic Judaism statement which states:
Messianic Judaism is a movement of Jewish congregations committed to Yeshua who also embrace a responsibility to Jewish life and identity
Mr. Brickner said that this definition would exclude the 75% of Jewish believers who attend churches.
Though Mr. Brickner sees this as negative, this is the very point of defining “Messianic Judaism” as being a Jewish congregational movement and a Judaism focused entity. Jews in the churches are participating in Christian life and not Messianic Judaism. What gets lost is the difference from being a Jewish follower of Yeshua and being actively involved in living out that following of Yeshua within a Messianic Judaism context.
I hope that the 75% of Jewish believers who are now outside the world of Messianic Judaism and Torah life will come to see the importance of living their life following Yeshua within Jewish space, living Torah and involved in the life of a Messianic synagogue.
I think for us to make that a viable option we need to be willing to define Messianic Judaism as a living within the life of a Messianic congregation and living in Jewish space and therefore make a clear distinction between those Jews who are currently living within Messianic Judaism and Jewish space and those Jews living within Christianity and Christian space. Only with a contrast can there be an option to choose a new way of living life within Messianic Judaism as a Yeshua honoring, Torah faithful Messianic Jew.
May we all grow more in the image of our righteous Messiah who lived as our example a life within the Judaism of his day and a life devoted to living the Torah. If we live in his example Yeshua will be seen as he truly is the Jewish Messiah who is followed by Torah honoring Jewish people.
