Dear Christians…
Please listen to what I say and don’t take this personally. I believe that most of you are sincere about your beliefs and really believe that you must spread the “good news” so others will not be eternally damned. However, many of you cannot or will not really listen to what those in the Jewish world say to you about your missionary work.
There is a belief by many Christians that we Jews are blind, ignorant, stupid, liars, etc. because we do not find your arguments convincing. This is found in their own scriptures.
What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” (Romans 11:7-8)
The idea that Christians consistently tell us Jews that we are ignorant of our own texts and our own prophecies has only led to more tensions between Christians and Jews. The fact is that without Judaism, there would be no Christianity and with no Judaism there would be no idea of a “messiah” figure.
The entirety of the Jewish texts belong exclusively to the Jews.
In the third month of the children of Israel’s departure from Egypt, on this day they arrived in the desert of Sinai. They journeyed from Rephidim, and they arrived in the desert of Sinai, and they encamped in the desert, and Israel encamped there opposite the mountain. Moses ascended to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “So shall you say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel, ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles’ wings, and I brought you to Me. And now, if you obey Me and keep My covenant, you shall be to Me a treasure out of all peoples, for Mine is the entire earth. (Exodus 19:1-5)
The idea that Christianity has stolen, twisted, lied about, and made up scriptures to then preach to the Jews is the epitome of arrogance. The arrogance and ignorance of many in the Christian world to tell Jews that we are completely wrong about our own texts and our own beliefs is beyond the pale.
Christianity uses supersessionism, covenant theology, new covenant theology, dispensationalism, and dual-covenant theology in an attempt to show that it is the “New Israel” and the Tanach rightfully belongs to it. All of these are antithetical to Tanach and the eternal covenant between the Children of Israel and God.
The Tanach can stand on its own without the Christian texts but the Christian texts cannot stand at all without the Tanach. An end-time messiah is a Jewish idea. This means that it is up to the Jews to decide who is or is not the promised messiah. It is up to the Jews to decide what is or is not a messianic prophecy.
Christianity insists on taking things out of context and twisting the Tanach. It also insists on reading Jesus and the “trinity” back into the Tanach where they don’t exist.
“Someone reading a passage with a Christian viewpoint will understand that passage in a totally different way than one who is Jewish. When it comes to understanding the Bible, there is an old saying that ‘the reader is always convinced that the Bible says what the reader means.’ In other words, the reader sees reflected in the Bible what his or her experiences and beliefs lead him or her to see there, and not necessarily what is inherently a part of the Biblical verse, or what the Biblical verse is literally saying. …
The way in which a person has chosen to interpret a Biblical verse is what makes that person a Jew or a Christian, as much as being a Jew or being a Christian will determine how one interprets a Biblical verse. …
There are reasonable, well-reasoned Christian interpretations of Scripture, but from the Jewish perspective, those interpretations must be rejected as simply wrong, because they go against the meaning, against both the literal meaning as well as against the way in which Jews have interpreted the Biblical text for thousands of years.” (Judaism and Christianity: A Contrast – Chapter 12)
Even Marcion – one of the earliest Christian theologians – taught that the Christian God is the true, benevolent God of this world. He also taught that the “malevolent” God of the “Old Testament” was a totally separate God. He made the first canon of the Christian Bible and it completely rejected the “Old Testament”.
“Jesus Christ and none else revealed a new God, who, in the Old world and in the Old time and under the Old God was unknown and unheard of; Whom is accounted by no one through long centuries back, and ancient in men’s very ignorance of Him – even in ancient names He was unknown and concealed. He had remained unknown by any works from the beginning. Even the Creator was unaware of the Supreme God being above himself, Who, although He did not manifest Himself from the beginning and by means of the creation, has yet revealed Himself in Christ Jesus. … The Supreme God is susceptible to no feeling of rivalry, or anger, or damage, or injury. He inflicts no punishment and takes no offence, and is not feared, as a good being ought not to be an object of fear, as a judicial being, in whom resides the grounds for fear – anger, severity, judgements, vengence [sic], and condemnation.” (The Antithesis – Marcion)
If Christians want to believe that Jesus is their messiah, they are welcome to him. However, they cannot use the Tanach, Judaism, rabbinic writings, etc. as “proof”. As I stated before, the theft of Judaism and Jewish texts and ideas by Christians is causing nothing but tension between Christians and Jews. I wouldn’t care what Christians believe if they would stop stealing from Judaism and then claim that Judaism is incorrect. This attitude is anti-Judaism, anti-Jewish, and (in some cases) anti-Semitic. The arrogance and ignorance of many in the Christian world to tell Jews that we are completely wrong about our own texts and our own beliefs is beyond the pale. Christians like to think that Judaism is just Christianity without Jesus. This is very, very wrong.
I as a Jew have far more in common – religiously – with my Muslim neighbor than I do with my Christian family.
If Christians believe that Jesus is their messiah – nobody would care. However, to tell us Jews that we are blind and ignorant for not believing Jesus is our messiah is just ignorant on your part. We fully know the Tanach and the actual prophecies regarding the end-time messiah. Christians have made up over 300 alleged prophecies that “prove” Jesus is the messiah. Then Christians try to turn around and tell us Jews that we are wrong about our own texts and our own prophecies. Christianity brings you in with love but keeps you with fear. I don’t doubt many Christians are sincere about their beliefs. However, I also know that many Christians have never really studied and honestly questioned their beliefs.
Most people in Christianity don’t actually question and struggle with their beliefs – even though it is the honest and positive thing to do. I do understand that it is not comfortable but it is necessary – even if it leads you to stay in Christianity. I understand that Christianity teaches that “counter-missionaries” lie but I must ask – have you honestly and openly listened to their arguments?
I know that when I was starting to encounter learned Jews and counter-missionaries, I did not openly and honestly listen to them. I thought they were all lying and just hated Jesus for no reason. I bought into the lie that they were blind and just trying to lead me away from Jesus. However, when I set aside all of the Jesus stuff and all of the things I learned from Christianity and began to open my eyes from a new perspective, I could see what they were saying was true. Now, that isn’t to say that I didn’t struggle and continue to argue with them but it did prompt me to really listen and understand. It wasn’t instantaneous – it took a couple years for me to really listen and learn and eventually leave Jesus and Christianity.
Missionary work targeting Jews is what helped me to learn and grow and eventually leave Christianity. I hope you have the courage to study, question, and listen – really listen – to knowledgeable Jews and turn from idolatry toward the True Creator.
I won’t lie, it is very difficult and you could lose your family, friends, and community in the process. However, wouldn’t you rather leave the false idolatry of Christianity and turn toward the One True God?
Dear Jews….
The statement that God wanted the world to know about Tanach is true. However, it is up to the Jews to teach the world – not non-Jews (especially trinitarian Christianity).
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:6)
And He said, “It is too light for you to be My servant, to establish the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the besieged of Israel, but I will make you a light of nations, so that My salvation shall be until the end of the earth.” So said the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, about him who is despised of men, about him whom the nation abhors, about a slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and rise, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, for the sake of the Lord Who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, and He chose you.” (Isaiah 49:6-7)
I will admit that we Jews have fallen down on the job. We have not been spreading the word of Tanach as we have been commanded. I fear that due to the persecution and oppression over the years, Jews have become fearful and won’t go above-and-beyond to spread the Tanach to the Nations.
I also blame the leaders who consistently kowtow to Christianity and won’t stand up and defend Tanach. We as Jews need to have something akin to Islam’s dawah. We are commanded to spread the Tanach to the Nations and we have failed.
I am on the side of Rabbi Federow who believes we should be willing and able to spread the knowledge of Tanach among the Nations.
We as Jews need to be more open to sharing the Tanach with everyone and offer knowledge and information to those interested. We need to be more open with inviting non-Jews to synagogue, Torah study, and other activities for and about Judaism.
We also need to strengthen our own knowledge about Tanach and Judaism so we can fend off the idolatry of Christianity and other religions.
I know I have failed in my duty as a Jew by allowing myself to be caught up in useless debates with Christians who will never change their minds. I do however hope that I am reaching those who are interested in learning the truth of Torah.
As a result, I have begun to spend more time studying and learning Tanach at a deeper depth.
I plan to continue to react to Christianity’s false claims about the Tanach, the Messiah, and Judaism in general. The best defense is a good offense. I want to help Jews and Righteous Gentiles to defend themselves when confronted by idolatrous beliefs – especially Christian missionaries.