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Hey, who needs brief answers to complex questions for interfaith encounters between Jews and Christians? I know I do! Let's do this #thread /1
#christianity #judaism #interfaith #jesus #Jews #messiah #christ #gospels #forgiveness #Christmas
#messianics #emptytomb #resurrection
#christianity #judaism #interfaith #jesus #Jews #messiah #christ #gospels #forgiveness #Christmas
#messianics #emptytomb #resurrection
Q: Why will you Jews not accept Jesus as Messiah?
“Messiah” (from Hebrew) is a Jewish concept that, today has come to mean God’s agent who brings an end to war, famine, disease, discrimination, and suffering.
Since these ills still afflict our society, Jews cannot accept /2
“Messiah” (from Hebrew) is a Jewish concept that, today has come to mean God’s agent who brings an end to war, famine, disease, discrimination, and suffering.
Since these ills still afflict our society, Jews cannot accept /2
any historical figure (including Jesus) as the Messiah.
That “Christ” (Greek for Messiah) is supposed to forgive sins or bring salvation is a Christian, not Jewish, idea – and it is one that redefines the Messiah’s agenda away from what Jews intended when they originated /3
That “Christ” (Greek for Messiah) is supposed to forgive sins or bring salvation is a Christian, not Jewish, idea – and it is one that redefines the Messiah’s agenda away from what Jews intended when they originated /3
this concept.
Q: Is not Jesus predicted in your (Jewish) Bible?
No. We would need to see his name. As for motifs that you may claim point to Jesus, Gospel writers likely conformed Jesus’ image expressly to match these motifs, so your citing them would be circular reasoning.
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Q: Is not Jesus predicted in your (Jewish) Bible?
No. We would need to see his name. As for motifs that you may claim point to Jesus, Gospel writers likely conformed Jesus’ image expressly to match these motifs, so your citing them would be circular reasoning.
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Moreover, we are not dependent solely on ancient texts but also on later revised interpretations and understandings that constantly renew our religion and keep it up to date.
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Q:So who do you Jews think Jesus was?
A charismatic Jew who felt a mission to declare that God was bringing the messianic age (the ”Kingdom of God”) soon, and taught this idea. But he was mistaken.
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A charismatic Jew who felt a mission to declare that God was bringing the messianic age (the ”Kingdom of God”) soon, and taught this idea. But he was mistaken.
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Q: You Jews will go to hell for your sins!
Jews do not believe in a God who would use “hell” as an incentive to make them moral. Jews are moral because that is the proper way to live. Unlike “fear,” this is a fine incentive.
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Jews do not believe in a God who would use “hell” as an incentive to make them moral. Jews are moral because that is the proper way to live. Unlike “fear,” this is a fine incentive.
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Further, we deny hell altogether as barbaric and contrary to the nature of God.
Q: Did not Jesus die for your sins?
Jews believe that people are responsible for their own actions – and so they must themselves repent to gain forgiveness. No one can accomplish this for them. /8
Q: Did not Jesus die for your sins?
Jews believe that people are responsible for their own actions – and so they must themselves repent to gain forgiveness. No one can accomplish this for them. /8
God will accept even imperfect repentance.
Any idea that people are so sinful that god personally must die for them is not Jewish. We don’t hold that we’ve all inherited some original Sin and need to offer satisfaction for it, so none of this is of any interest to us. /9
Any idea that people are so sinful that god personally must die for them is not Jewish. We don’t hold that we’ve all inherited some original Sin and need to offer satisfaction for it, so none of this is of any interest to us. /9
Q: Why won’t you observe Christmas?
It celebrates the Messiah’s birth. Since Jews do not acknowledge that the Messiah has come, they lack a reason to celebrate it but may nonetheless appreciate the beauty of the Christmas season.
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It celebrates the Messiah’s birth. Since Jews do not acknowledge that the Messiah has come, they lack a reason to celebrate it but may nonetheless appreciate the beauty of the Christmas season.
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Q: Doesn’t the empty tomb prove that Jesus was resurrected?
Judaism (which created the Messiah idea) professes no necessary correlation between being the Messiah and being resurrected. AS for the empty tomb story, this was not the basis of early Christian belief in Jesus’ /11
Judaism (which created the Messiah idea) professes no necessary correlation between being the Messiah and being resurrected. AS for the empty tomb story, this was not the basis of early Christian belief in Jesus’ /11
resurrection but rather a deduction from reported sightings of him – meaning that wherever he had been buried thereby was left vacated. Moreover, evidently no empty tomb story was even written before the Gospel of Mark (ca. 72 CE), 40 years after Jesus died. /12
Q: Why did you Jews kill Jesus?
Jews of today were not present at Jesus’ death, nor were most of the 70 percent of Jews who lived outside the land of Israel in Jesus’ time, nor most Jews in the land of Israel who did not know of him either. Of the relatively few Jews who /13
Jews of today were not present at Jesus’ death, nor were most of the 70 percent of Jews who lived outside the land of Israel in Jesus’ time, nor most Jews in the land of Israel who did not know of him either. Of the relatively few Jews who /13
might have seen him die, some also never knew him personally let alone bore any connection to his execution
Since crucifixion was a Roman execution method, why say that “the Jews” killed Jesus? Stating Jesus’ “crime,” the placard on his cross read “The King of the Jews,” /14
Since crucifixion was a Roman execution method, why say that “the Jews” killed Jesus? Stating Jesus’ “crime,” the placard on his cross read “The King of the Jews,” /14
which was framed from Rome’s perspective (Jews would say “our King” or “King of Israel”). This shows who was genuinely responsible.The issues of “blame” for Jesus’ death first arose in the 60s, as Christians became increasingly fearful of Rome. This made it advantageous for /15
Christians to protect themselves by shifting blame for Jesus’ death away from Rome and onto the Jews (rebels against Rome). Thereby Rome and Christians would seem allied, with the Jews thought their common enemy. Thus did a Jew put to death by Rome become a “Christian” /16
put to death by ”Jews.”
Q: Why not become an authentic Jew by accepting Jesus?
Accepting Jesus makes a person not a “fulfilled” or “completed” Jew but a Christian. Judaism was good enough for Jesus, so it is likewise good enough for Jews today!
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Q: Why not become an authentic Jew by accepting Jesus?
Accepting Jesus makes a person not a “fulfilled” or “completed” Jew but a Christian. Judaism was good enough for Jesus, so it is likewise good enough for Jews today!
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Q: What are Jews for Jesus?
Originally gave the impression of being quasi-cultic, highly aggressive, even invasive in targeting primarily individual Jews with the intent of severing them not only from Judaism but also from their families of origin, and ultimately steering /18
Originally gave the impression of being quasi-cultic, highly aggressive, even invasive in targeting primarily individual Jews with the intent of severing them not only from Judaism but also from their families of origin, and ultimately steering /18
them toward association with evangelical Protestantism (of which Jews for Jesus considered themselves an arm). They thus appeared to pose greater danger for the welfare of individual Jews than for the Jews as a people.
Q: What are Messianic Jews?
Appeared to pose greater /19
Q: What are Messianic Jews?
Appeared to pose greater /19
danger to the welfare of the Jewish people by creating a copy-cat Judaism, organizing themselves congregationally, often counting their membership by family units, establishing religious schools, day care facilities, and counseling centers, buying burial plots adjacent to /20
Jewish cemeteries, seeking their own seminary, encouraging their members to embrace Judaism, presenting themselves as the ideal solution for intermarried couples and blended families who are experiencing religious problems, and essentially seeking recognition as a fifth /21
denomination of Judaism by listing themselves in the Yellow pages as “Synagogues.
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Aren't those helpful?
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Aren't those helpful?
