From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 1997 11:16 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: Should Christians convert to Judaism
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
From: Ben Goodwyn
Subject: Re: Studying Jewish History
At 12:30 AM 8/1/97 +0000, you wrote:
>
> Please remember that
>we encourage you to study the Jewishness of the Gospel for that reason,
>and not to convert you to Judaism of today. The Judaism of today is NOT
>that of 2000 years ago. It has "evolved" into a different
>religion---just as Christianity has "evolved" into something that it
>didn't start out with.
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==
Eddie:
You mentioned above that the Jewish and Christian religions have changed a
lot from 2000 years ago. Since Christianity was just beginning
approximately 1950 years ago, I assume every one realizes that Messiah was
an adherent of Judaism. Under Torah, one can not not create a new religion
(Deu 4). Granted the temple with all its services and sacrifices are no
longer with us, but how has Judaism evolved into a different(new) religion?
In other words since Messiah was a Jew, an adherent of Torah and Judaism,
how has Judaism change over the last 2000 years to make it a religion which
is no longer viable for conversion. You did not exclude conversion to
Christianity even though you admit that this religion has changed also. In
my opinion a great deal more than Judaism. I am having difficulty
understanding why an individual should not convert to Judaism, but yet is
encouraged to convert to Christianity which has changed even more than
Judaism?
Shalom --------------------------------benGoodwyn
From Eddie:
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Ben,
I did not write the above comment that Judaism TODAY is
NOT 100% as it was in the 1st century but it is true. Many of those
who have studied the 1st century very extensively like Dr. Ron Moseley of the
Arkansas Institute of Holy Land Studies and Dr. Brad Young who wrote,
"Jesus the Jewish Theologian" and those with them who have studied at the
Hebrew University in Israel for many years have researched that there may
have
possibly been as many as 24 different sects of Judaism in the days of
Yeshua (of course just like Christianity they have their different doctrines
and
beliefs). Of those, only the Pharisees survived. The ancestors of the
modern day Orthodox Jew are the Biblical Pharisees.
Even Judaism today is divided. There is a GREAT difference
between an Ultra-Orthodox Chassidic Jew and a Reform Jew. Reform
Jews do not believe that the Torah is divinely inspired and came from God, do
not believe in a literal Messiah, do not believe the covenant that
God gave to Abraham it eternal and relevant for today, do not believe in
keeping kosher and endorse homosexuality and abortion. Is this Biblical
Judaism ???
Some of the teachings in Judaism prior to the 1st century about
the Messiah
have been covered up by the Rabbi's over the years to ensure that the
Jewish majority didn't believe in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah. I would
like to refer you to a book entitled, "The Messiah Conspiracy" by
Philip Moore.
Regarding "conversion" to Judaism or Christianity ... a
TRUE follower of the God of Israel does not "convert" to Judaism or
Christianity. A true follower of God is a BIBLE BELIEVER. In being a
BIBLE BELIEVER, you will discover TRUTH'S in Christianity and truth's
within Judaism. Biblically, "conversion" takes place in the HEART.
One does not "join" Christianity or Judaism as a "club" like other
organizations in society.
Why not convert to Judaism? We have had this conversion on
this newsgroup many times in the past. Have you not read the
arguments? A MAJOR reason not to convert to Judaism is that Judaism
as a formal religion DOES NOT accept THE Messiah. What good is it to
follow a religion that DENIES the Messiah when the Messiah is
EVERYTHING! In Psalm 40:7 and Hebrews 10:7 it states that the "volume
of the book" (the ENTIRE Bible) was written about HIM yet Judaism
does not recognize Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah. You gain NOTHING if your
"trade" Messiah for your "roots" and Judaism.
Traditional Orthodox Judaism places the ORAL law above the
written law. We can go on and on ... a "Christian" / BIBLE BELIEVER
who has a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the God of Israel and knows WHO
the Messiah is (Yeshua/Jesus) and is led by the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy
Spirit understands that "converting" to a religion that does not even
recognize the Messiah is UNTHINKABLE.
As I have also stated on this newsgroup, I am engaged to be
married to an Ultra-Orthodox Chassidic Jew who believes that
Yeshua/Jesus is Messiah. She WILL NOT "convert" to Christianity and
I WILL NOT "convert" to Judaism. However, she accepts that Yeshua/Jesus
is Messiah and lives an Ultra-Orthodox Chassidic lifestyle. I have accepted
Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah and have embraced my Hebraic Roots.
Jewishly, you LIVE your faith. That is what we are going to
do and that is what I encourage all members of this newsgroup to do
also. But, to "convert" to Judaism because Christians celebrates
Dec 25 as the birthday of Yeshua/Jesus even though its origins are
pagan is totally obsurd.
What the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit is doing ALL OVER THE
WORLD is awakening believers to the ROOTS of
their faith and how they need to understand their Messiah, the ways
of the Kingdom of Heaven and the scriptures from a more Jewish
understanding (but necessarily according to today's rabbinical
Judaism) while EMBRACING Yeshua/Jesus as MESSIAH.
Therefore, for a believer in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah to
"convert" to Judaism is UNTHINKABLE. As it states in the TORAH in
Deuteronomy 10:16 as it is written:
"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your HEART ..."
The New Covenant as stated in Jeremiah 31:33 is as follows:
"But THIS shall be the COVENANT that I will make with the house of
Israel. After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my TORAH in the
INWARD PARTS and write it in their HEARTS ..."
In Deut 6:4-5, the SHEMA says:
" ... and you shall love the Lord thy God will all thine HEART ...."
What God desires is a HEART relationship not "converting" to
Judaism when one is shown some of the errors in Christianity. Let's
be BALANCED and STUDY and UNDERSTAND that there are errors in Judaism
as well.
So, let's EMBRACE our MESSIAH (Yeshua/Jesus) and seek to have
a PERSONAL HEART RELATIONSHIP with the God of Israel not "convert" to
a religion based upon the God of Israel.
Let us also embrace our Hebraic Roots as believers in
Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah but do so IN BALANCE. In this, God will be well
pleased with us.
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