Messianic Judaism – A “Jewish Roots” movement?

Under the umbrella of “Messianic” groups there are “Jewish roots”, “Hebrew roots” or the archaic sounding “Hebraic roots” organizations.

These groups seek to teach what they call the “Jewish roots” or “Hebraic roots” of Christianity. This is a common message topic for speakers from various missionary groups like Jews for Jesus and Chosen People Ministries to present in local churches. In doing so they seek to teach that at the earliest followers of Yeshua were Jews who lived within Jewish life, which is true.

The problem with the “Jewish roots” model is that it ignores the fact that what we know as Christianity today was developed after the Jewish believers and their influence was stripped from the Church. Christianity as we know it today as a unique world religion owes it’s roots to Constantine and specifically to the Nicene Council, the formers of the “Nicene Creed”, one of the earliest statements of Christian belief. By the time of Constantine (and especially since him) the Church’s roots are no longer attached to it’s Jewish roots. The Nicene Council excluded Jewish believers from being involved in the Council and it’s formation of the future of what we now know as Christianity. So then based on Christianity as we know it today as a world religion there are no “Jewish roots” that were allowed in a Post-Constantine world.

So then to Messianic Judaism, where does Messianic Judaism fit in the scheme of things. We are not a “Jewish roots” of Christianity movement, because we are not within Christianity, we are a Judaism. We are not just studying or exploring the experience of the early Messianic Jews, we are daily living within Jewish life with the knowledge that we are following the Jewish Messiah. Our orientation is toward Judaism, our world is the Jewish world, our faith is within Judaism and our daily practice and way of living is guided by Torah, the way of life for the Jewish people.

We can appreciate the desire for Christians to explore the early Messianic Jews and their life, which would go a great deal toward changing incorrect teachings within the Church like anti-Judaism, anti-Torah and anti-Semitic views. But a Messianic Judaism is far more than a historical study it is a living breathing peoplehood, that is lived in 21st century Judaism with a faith trust in Yeshua, our righteous Messiah.