Subject: Meaning of "Messianic"
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 23:49:35 +0000
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>

From:          Jana S. Erickson
To:            Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject:       Messianic

Hi,

I am wondering what the exact definition of Messianic is.  I have a
friend who is not Jewish, although she observes the Feasts & basically
everything traditionally Jewish and she now claims to be Messianic.  Is
she wrong?

God Bless,   

Jana

>From Eddie:
**************

     In this generation, there are increasing more and more Jews who 
believe that Yeshua/Jesus is Messiah. Many of these Jewish believers 
increasing began to identify themselves as being "Messianic Jewish"
believers rather than using the term "Christian" and began to affiliate 
themselves with Messianic Jewish organizations. There are two 
primary organizations represented by the Messianic  Jewish 
movement. They are:

1) MJAA - Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
2) UMJC - Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations

      As a general rule, the UMJC believes in a stricter Torah 
observance and seeks to worship in a more traditional Jewish manner.
The MJAA as a general rule is more "grace" and "evangelical" oriented 
in their worship style than the UMJC. The MJAA and the UMJC were 
divided for many years over this issue. Several years ago, they 
decided to be more united and have a greater bond of mutual respect 
for each other.

       In order to declare more openly and to be seen more visibly by 
the traditional Jewish community and to make a better distinction in 
the traditional Jewish community that by accepting Yeshua/Jesus as 
Messiah that you don't give up your Jewishness to become "Christian", 
Jewish believers increasingly began to call themselves Messianic Jews 
rather than "Christians". 

       Frequently, they use the term "Messianic" for short when 
referring to Messianic Judaism.

       As an increasing number of non-Jewish believers began to have 
a "Jewish heart", and have a desire to keep the sabbath, Biblical 
Festivals and love and support the Jewish people and the land of 
Israel, they began to attend Messianic Synogogues/congregations 
instead of Sunday churches. In these Messianic Jewish congregations, 
they often refer to their worship style as being "Messianic" short for 
the term Messianic Judaism or the Messianic Jewish movement. As 
more and more non-Jewish believers began to identify with these 
practices, they began to refer to themselves as being "Messianic".

         From a word definition point of view, the term "Messianic" 
means anything pertaining or relating to the Messiah. Therefore, from 
a word definition point of view, when you accept Yeshua/Jesus as 
Messiah whether you are Baptist, Evangelical or whatever 
denomination, you are a "Messianic believer". From a word definition 
point of view,  most non-Jewish believers use the term "Christian" 
rather than "Messianic believer".

        From the definition of the point of view of Jews who accept 
Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah who identity with the Messianic Jewish 
movement, they refer to themselves as a Messianic Jews rather than 
using the term Christian. From this point of view, "Messianic" means 
that you are Jewish, believe in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah, keep the 
sabbath, the Biblical Festivals, the Torah and have a love for the 
land of Israel. Increasingly non-Jewish believers who also identify 
with keeping the Torah, sabbath, Biblical Festivals and love the 
Jewish people and the land of Israel began to see themselves as being 
"Messianic" in trying to differentiate their identity with the 
previous mentioned beliefs from traditional Christian beliefs. For this 
reason, Jana, your non-Jewish friend referred to herself as "Messianic" 
identifying with this belief system. 

However, the way term today is most  generally used today it 
specifically refers to Jewish believers in Messiah who use the term 
"Messianic" in short for being "Messianic Jewish" (being Jewish and 
believing that Yeshua/Jesus is Messiah).  From this perspective, 
Jana, your non-Jewish friend is not "Messianic" because she is not 
Jewish.

          Biblically, all those who believe in the God of Israel are 
"Israelites". Probably a more Biblical term for non-Jewish believers 
in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah would be a "Messianic Israelite".          

            Another term being more commonly used today for 
non-Jewish believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah who identify with the 
Torah, sabbath, Biblical Festivals and have a love for the Jewish 
people and the land of Israel are believers who embrace their Hebraic 
Roots or Jewish roots. Many non-Jewish believers who are not 
associated with a Messianic Synogogue/congregation but identify with 
these beliefs and may attend Sunday church or have their own home 
fellowship see themselves or call themselves believers who embrace 
their Hebraic Roots or Jewish roots of Christianity. Fewer in number 
actually call themselves, "Messianic Israelites".

         Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l is a ministry to believers 
in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah to embrace their Hebraic/Jewish roots 
regardless of where they worship or what their level of understanding 
is of their rich Hebraic/Jewish heritage in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah.

          I hope that this explanation of terms helps.

                            Eddie Chumney
                            Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l

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