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Frequently Asked Questions

 



Can unity exist between Christians and Jews?

            Yes, we do believe unity can exist if we put away any notion to proselytize or to hold any replacement theology rhetoric, but instead accept the promises of G-d that we, Jews and Christians, are His people and will be with Him in the World-to-Come.

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Isn’t the of Christ going to impede this unity?

We seek unity, not homogenization. Consider the fact that Christians are united through faith; however, that does not mean are all identical, just as the body has many different parts. This Scriptural analogy is appropriate because it illustrates the many different parts of the body with each having an important function. In the same way Christians see Jesus as the Messiah and await His return whereas Jews see the promise of Moshiach ben Dovid (Messiah, son of David) to reunite the kingdom and bring peace after conquering all enemies.
 
 
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Didn’t Paul write that keeping the Law undermines Christ?  or Are you not becoming Judaizers?

            Actually Paul taught circumcision (Gal. 5:11) but was against the relying upon the Law for salvation. Thus, “Judaizers” are those who demand observance of a ritual before being accepted as “saved,” such as those who did demand Gentiles be circumcised prior to being accepted among G-d’s chosen people.

Nowadays we see Christians doing this very thing with regards to baptism. However, the Catholic Church recognizes that people can be saved without baptism, as found in the catechism [1260]:

 

“Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of His Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of G-d in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.” 

 

Therefore, we believe Christians and Jews rely upon G-d for salvation by doing the things He has called us to do and not by the actions alone. Consider that Christians do not ignore the Ten Commandments. Even if one tries to summarize it into the Golden Rule or in to the [Two] Greatest Commandment(s), the essence of the Ten Commandments remain the same as we accept and follow them. Does this mean we find salvation through works? Of course not! It merely shows our actions based on our faith in G-d. In the same exact way, Jews abide the Law because it was G-d who gave it, and they trust in His providence.

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Did not Christ fulfill all the Laws?

            For every Christian the law has been fulfilled but that does not nullify the essence of the law. Again, consider that Christians still follow the Ten Commandments, and that Christ further stated in Matthew 5:

 
“…For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until al is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:18-19

 
Furthermore, the Catholic Church clarified from the Bull "Cantate Domino" (February 4, 1441) that keeping any law is proper when these laws promote “the health of body, for the exercise of virtue, for regular and ecclesiatical discipline,” echoing St. Paul’s own words, “all things are lawful for me but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything,” 1Cor.6.12.

Even Christ seemed to have upheld obeying both laws under this same criteria when He, after warning us not to put the New Wine into old wineskins, told us:

“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, ‘the old is better (good).” Lk.5.39

Consequently, it can be reasoned that the Laws of Torah, though good and true, can be a burden to those coming unto faith in Christ. However they are not a burden to those raised in the law as St. Paul hinted to Peter in his admonishment-

 “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

We perceive this as stating, “If you Peter, a Jew, raised in Jewish home can’t abide the Laws of Kashrus (Dietary laws) when you hang out with Gentiles due to peer pressure (cf Lk.22.31-34, 54-62, and Jn.21.20-21), how can you compel Gentile believers to abide these same laws when they lack your background and upbringing, and furthermore, they are in that Gentile environment all the times?”  

We suspect this view is also supported by the understanding we saw in the Catholic Encyclopedia which explains the Church lifted the Laws on the blood because Catholics were no longer living around Jews; therefore, they had no support for removing the blood or any experience into what is involved to abide these laws (Mitzvos). 

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Are you not just trying to convert more Jews?

            Absolutely not! We are not attempting to convert Jews or anyone who believes in the G-d who created the heavens and the earth and all that is within them, seen and unseen.  We only seek to develop closer relationships among believers in this same G-d as well as promote a greater relationship with G-d for He alone will guide any and all to where He desires that person to be.  

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Isn’t there a risk of converting even though you do not seek to proselytize?

            Yes, there is a risk and that is to be expected. With any bridge that connects two sides, there can be crossings from either direction. However, if we truly show respect for one another and keep faith in the promises of G-d, then we really should not have any issues about whether a person is Jew or Christian.

            Consider the parable of the prodigal son in which the younger brother demands his inheritance and then squanders it.  He ceases to be connected to his father and brother, but then one day realizes his father’s providence is far better than anything he can get on his own.  As a result, he returns home and his father greets him and orders a robe and ring for him.

            We see this younger son representing E’phraim who ceased to be a people and a nation but was called back to the father’s providence through Christ Jesus. When he responded to the call, the Father went out and ordered majesty (robe), protection for the Gospel (sandals for the feet), and authority (ring) to be given to him. This we see as the Church, her call to reach out the Gospel, and her authority under the Father.

            Yet, when the eldest son learns of all that transpired he becomes angry that his younger brother is greeted so highly while he received nothing extra. We see the eldest son as Judah who is unaware of all that transpired with his younger brother. But when he does learn what happened and that the Father gives so many blessings upon him, the eldest becomes angry and reasons that he has done everything the father has requested but never so much received a goat for his friends.

Judah has indeed suffered greatly while doing all that G-d has requested upon him. Yet, the Father reassures his eldest son that all He has belongs to him; therefore, the inheritance promised is the same but given at different times.

Consequently, both Jews and Christians will enter the World-to-Come which reflects the promise made to both houses of Israel.

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