@Heart2Soul ...There are now different sects of even Messianic Jews, or 'Jews for Jesus.' They believe in Yahshua as the Savior, although they also believe in the Romanist Trinity. And there are other things I do not agree with and these are deal breakers for me.
Yes, they are very happy, many of them and they follow and adhere to OT festivities including the Friday Sabbat festivities with dancing with the show bread etc. I think it would lead me to compromise and handicap my own faith and walk with YHWH through Christ. In short order, I would not be a bold witness for Christ anymore if I got caught up into all of their OT and Hebrew views of the NT.
I would just be careful and measure all things and test all things. Being in the presence of happy and good folks that believe in the same 'Messiah' does not automatically give them a pass that they also believe as you do. I consider them impostors, false Christians. IMO .. as a
neo-Judaizer.
These Jews still believe they are the chosen ones and will enter an era of peace in the near future, where they are 'on top.'
These modern day Jews, the mainstream Orthodox, Reformed or Messiah types are NOT the chosen people of the Covenant, of YHWH, as a separate people. Again, all of them still think they are the chosen ones even though some of them believe in the Messiah as their Savior. All true believers, from any race, ,tribe, nation or language are all of Israel and the chosen ones of YHWH.
Here's selected text from an article that covers more of my concerns. The
bold text is a real concern for me.
Who Are Messianic “Jews”?
BY
TAMAR FOX
These Christians observe some Jewish practices, but the major Jewish denominations do not recognize their faith as a form of Judaism.
Messianic Judaism, (a branch of which is “Jews for Jesus”) is a religious group that has tried to
straddle the line between Judaism and Christianity. According to this group, Jesus, or
Yeshua in Aramaic, was the Messiah, and he died on behalf of the world’s sins.
They also believe that the Jews are the chosen people, and that the explicit laws of the Torah, such as observing Shabbat, holidays, and circumcision must be obeyed today.
The origins of this group can be traced back to the Hebrew Christian missions to the Jews in the 19th and early 20th centuries. By the 1960s and ’70s Messianic Judaism was gaining popularity, known by many as “the Jesus people,” and eventually Jews for Jesus.
Messianic Judaism is often presented as an ethnic church for Jews–somewhat like a Korean or Chinese church, but with outreach specific to Jews. However, most experts estimate that in most Messianic Jewish congregations only about half the members were born Jews.
Non-Jews who join a Messianic congregation
may be asked to undergo a kind of conversion to Messianic Judaism, although many within the group believe that it’s impossible to convert to Judaism. Messianic Jewish conversions are not considered valid by any Jewish denomination. Non-Jews who join Messianic congregations are sometimes called spiritual Jews, completed Jews, or Messianic gentiles.
Messianic Jews include the
New Testament in their canon and believe that there is foreshadowing and predictions of Jesus in the Old Testament. Supersessionism, the belief that Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise made by God to the Jews in the
Tanach (Hebrew Bible), is accepted by Messianic Jews. But unlike other Christian groups that believe in supersessionism, Messianic Jews maintain
a desire to practice many of the commandments given in the Torah.
For example, believers in Messianic Judaism adhere to some of the laws given in the Torah, such as resting on Shabbat, not eating pork and shellfish and observing biblical holidays like and Passover. However, the faith does not adhere to rabbinic law, and eschews the authority of the
Mishnah and
Talmud.
Messianic Jewish
prayer services include much of the traditional Jewish liturgy, often edited and amended to include references to Yeshua. Hebrew is common in Messianic Jewish congregations, and there is a growing trend towards including dance in their services. The dances are in the spirit of Israeli folk dancing.
Today, there are an estimated 400 Messianic Jewish congregations worldwide, with 10,000-15,000 Messianic Jews in Israel, and about 200,000 in the United States. Congregations (called synagogues) can be found across the country, mainly in communities with a large existing Jewish community.
Bless you,
APAK