שמע ישראל ה 'הוא האלוהים שלנו הוא אחד

Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One"

How's Things?

Thoughts on this from Yochanan ben Avraham (John of AllFaith):

One of the several things about Judaism that is unique is that unlike Nicene Christianity and Islam not only are Jews not looking for converts, they discourage them!

If one wishes to convert to Judaism the rabbis will refuse three times (at least) and do everything they can to discourage you from converting. They will, for instance, point out that as a Goy (a non-Jew) one is only answerable to the

	Sheva Mitzvot B'nei Noach The Seven Noahide Laws

The Seven Laws, but that if one converts one will be required to observe all 613 Mitzvot (Commandments). Failure to obey the 613 may result in HaShem's displeasure. If one chooses to come under these mitzvot His displeasure may be ever stronger than for one born a Jew and such a failure may negatively impact all of Am Israel and even the world entire! So the rabbis say, "Better you should stay a Noahide."

But HaShem is doing something wonderful today!

He is calling all Jews and Goyim (Gentiles) to repentance!

HaShem is calling Jews back to Tanakh-based Torah Observant religion and faith in HaShem as 'the nation of priests' (Exodus 19:6). While faith and practice is still lacking among Am Israel there are signs that many Jews, especially in Israel, are beginning to take their religious obligations more seriously again!

HaShem is also calling the Goyim back to obedience to the Sheva Mitzvot (the Covenant of the Seven Laws). AND He is raising up a people who are returning to the teachings of Adon Y'shua ("Master Jesus") who are willing and ready to separate themselves from the Pagan Nicean influences that have concealed the Torah-based teachings of Y'shua and his initial talmidim (students).

In short... HaShem is preparing 144,000 Jews and a Great Multitude of Goyim for His End Time service exactly as the Prophets foretold!

As Noahides, Jews and Christians come to understand the Torah-based biblical teachings of the B'rit Hadashah in relation to the Tanakh (or "Old Testament") we are all discovering the truth: Adon Y'shua did not create a new religion! He opened the doors of the original biblical religion to everyone! In Israel there is a major underground movement of "Messianic Jews" forming. These Jews will readily tell you that they are not Nicene Christians and have little to nothing to do with them. They are Jews who have been called to the service of Cohen Gadol (High Priest) Y'shua and who expect him to take up the mantle Mashiach sooner rather than later.

Many of the people (Jews and Gentiles) who are seeking to follow the Way of Y'shua as he taught it are finding that labels can be problematic. The use of Jewish terminology by some Messianic groups angers some Jews and confuses many Nicene Christians. If people place themselves under the instruction and grace of Y'shua and reject the Nicolaitan teachings of the Nicean Church, what should they call themselves? Are they Christians? Are they Jews? Consider this quote from the fourth century "church father" Epiphanius:

But these sectarians... did not call themselves Christians -- but "Nazarenes," ... However they are simply complete Jews. They use not only the New Testament but the Old Testament as well, as the Jews do... They have no different ideas, but confess everything exactly as the Law proclaims it and in the Jewish fashion -- except for their belief in Messiah -- if you please! .... They are different from the Jews, and different from Christians, only in the following. They disagree with Jews because they have come to faith in Messiah; but since they are still fettered by the Law -- circumcision, the Sabbath, and the rest -- they are not in accord with Christians.... they are nothing but Jews....

What is A Jew:

KJV: Romans 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Let's look at this in the Complete Jewish Bible and bring in more of the context (emphasis and bracketed notes mine):

Romans 2:23 You who take such pride in Torah [the Jews], do you, by disobeying the Torah, dishonor God? - 24 as it says in the Tanakh, "For it is because of you [non-observant Jews] that God's name is blasphemed by the Goyim [gentile nations]." 25For circumcision is indeed of value if you do what Torah says. But if you are a transgressor of Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision [its as though you had never been Jews/never entered the Covenants of Avraham and Moshe!]!26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the Torah, won't his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision [i.e. won't he be counted as a real Jew: as one who has entered the Covenants of Avraham and Moshe through the B'rit Hadashah Covenant of Adon Y'shua!]? 27 Indeed, the man who is physically uncircumcised but obeys the Torah will stand as a judgment on you who have had a b'rit-milah and have Torah written out but violate it! 28 For the real Jew is not merely Jewish outwardly: true circumcision is not only external and physical. 29 On the contrary, the real Jew is one inwardly; and true circumcision is of the heart, spiritual not literal so that his praise comes not from other people but from God

So... who is a Jew?

A Jew is a person who obeys the Commandments of HaSHem and worships Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Unfortunately many Nicene Christians have abused this principle with what they call Replacement Theology: The teaching that "the Church" ("saved people) have replaced Am Israel (People Israel) as the Elect of HaShem. This is an anti-biblical heresy that most destructive:

KJV: Romans 11:1  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
11:2  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew....

Romans 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
11:28  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
11:29  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

What is a Christian?

A "Christian" is a person who is "Christ-like."
Ever met a true "Christian"? I've met a few (and they were not all Christians!).
However the term as applied refers to a person who accepts the Nicene Creed rather than the Torah (the two are in opposition). To say "I am a Christian" implies things those who have embraced biblical religion do not accept. For this reason more and more people are avoiding that term.

Referring to oneself as a Jew:

So, if one is seeking to observe biblical religion should they refer to themselves as a Jew? As a Messianic Jew?

Understand that the term "Jew" first came into popular use during the Hasmonean (Maccabean) period (circa 166 B.C.E.: II Maccabees 2:21). As coined it referred to the religious and nationalist systems of the Judaites (this was after the exclusion of the 10 Lost Houses and reflected the need for a more accurate term than Israelite).

The way the term "Jew" and "Judaism" is used by Jews it therefore only refers to those in association with the House of Judah. Since the Elders of the House of Judah reject our views regarding Y'shua and since we are not descendants from the House of Israel (let alone the House of Judah) by birth or formal adoption by a Beit Din, can we properly be called Jews? Most Jews would answer a resounding no. To do so would be to attempt to undermine or even steal their heritage.

However words are not static things. They ebb and flow and meanings alter over time. By the first century C.E. the word had been enlarged as we see in Paul's usage:

According to the Messianic Jewish Rabbi Paul, the emissary of Adon Y'shua, we have not and will never replace the Jews as the Elect of HaShem (Romans 11). "Replacement Theology" is nothing but an antisemitic heresy.

However while most Jews will not accept it, we Goyim have been "grafted" among them as their fellow laborers. We have been adopted into the House of Israel (Romans 8:15) through Y'shua. Just as we need to respect Jewish understanding, Jews need to understand ours as the talmidim of Y'shua. There need not be enmity between us any more than there needs to be between Rabbinic and Karaite Jews.... but of course there is.... Biblical Messianic Judaism (by whatever name) is a Jewish Movement, not another religion.

Since we have been "grafted in" and adopted (Romans 11:24) we are "Jews" as surely as they and can correctly apply that term to ourselves.

HOWEVER consider this as well:

I Corinthians 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

The context here is about the halakha of foods, however the principle clearly applies. For a Goy (Noahide, Nazarene, Christian or otherwise) to claim he/she is a "Jew" based upon being 'grafted in" through Y'shua etc. is understandably offensive to those who call themselves Jews (the Judaeans who do not accept this). These people have suffered so very much at the hands of the Goyim. For their ancestral enemies to now claim they are also "Jews" -- especially when they so thoroughly outnumber them in the case of Nicene Christians who do this -- is understandably disturbing.

Balance is required.

Our service to HaShem is to support the Jews, to bless and encourage them, not to cause even more divisions and ill will! For this reason one who is not recognized as a Jew by the historically established guidelines (be it rabbinical, Karaite or otherwise) should use the term only after great prayer and thought.

The same is true of those Nicene Christians who are calling themselves rabbis.

Why cause more divisions over semantics?

Those who are seriously seeking to return to the Torah-based  monotheistic teachings of Adon Y'shua should do so in ways that honor and respect our Jewish kin and are doctrinally harmonious with the Torah. The talmidim of Adon Y'shua are members of the One Biblical Religion and we should all seek harmony with our brothers and sisters where possible.

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