Messianic Judaism is Not Christianity: A Loving Call to Unity

Stan Telchin has done an excellent analysis in this volume. Many Christians and Jews are confused on this distinction, and Mr. Telchin shows clearly that Jewish people are still Jewish, even if they accept Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish Messiah. Jesus Himself was a Jew and the whole early Christian church was made up of Jewish believers. This is an outstanding work, and a much needed explanation of Jewishness, which is never lost.

The book was detailed, yet easy to read. The author used many Scripture verses to support his viewpoint. I appreciated that.

I was looking for in depth answers and this excellent book provided them, one and all. I simply cant say enough good things about it.

This gives insightful information into the Messianic movement. All need to realize that Jesus is the Messiah the Jews have been waiting for, but Gentiles do not need to become Jews.The one point that needed to be nailed down is that Jesus is not only the Messiah to Jews and Savior to Gentiles, but He is our High Priest to both Jews and Gentiles. We are no longer, and the Jews are no longer, under the priesthood of Aaron. We are all one in Christ.

As a gentile believer in Christ, I have become dismayed over what I have seen as an exodus from a faithless church to the false promise of fulfillment in a Messianic Judaism direction. Mr Telchin describes a movement which looks more like the “seeker-sensitive” movement found in latter day Western Christianity, and which is failing just as epically to reach its target group. He affirms my long-held belief in the One New Man, placing Faith in God and His Christ well before race, gender, national or economic status or any other human consideration. I once heard a black evangelist of some notoriety state he wasn’t first a black man, he wasn’t first a man, he was a first a Christian. The first requirement by God to the nation seeking healing of its land in the often mis- or only partially-quoted verse in 2 Chronicles is that we humble ourselves. Much pride stands between the healing of the gentile Christian and the Messianic Jew and must be repented of before we become the One New Man, one Body, one Spirit, one Faith. Thank you for this book.

Stan Telchin is a Jewish believer, former pastor, and long time supporter of Jews for Jesus who is well informed and well qualified to speak on the topic of Messianic Judaism. This work provides a poignant, first-hand account of what it means to be a Jew in America and a brief overview of the origin and development of Messianic Judaism. Theologically, Telchin writes from a main-stream, dispensational perspective, however Torah-observant individuals who follow Covenant Theology will still find his observations very informative and his questions worthy of consideration.Telchin's main thesis is that Messianic Judaism is an ineffective method for evangelizing Jews and that it is a divisive and spiritually unhealthy influence within the larger Christian community. He claims that the leaders of Messianic Judaism want to be accepted by a Jewish community that has largely rejected God and His Word. He points out that most Jews do not regularly attend a synagogue (62), but those who do are strongly opposed to Christianity (104) and abhor Messianic Judaism (70). Only 4 percent of Jews were evangelized by a Messianic congregation, while most Jewish believers are converted by a Gentile friend, and they attend churches (66).Telchin also observes that the leaders of Messianic Judaism are more focused on maintaining Jewishness than they are on maintaining the integrity of Scripture. As a result, they are separating themselves from the rest of the body of Christ (98). While a church should reflect the culture of its people, most American Jews are assimilated and outwardly indistinguishable from American Gentiles (116). Yet, Messianic Judaism has created a liturgy that never before existed and is forcing it upon Jews and Gentiles alike (68). Rather than creating a comfortable place for Jewish believers to worship, most of the people attending Messianic congregations are Gentiles, who are being encouraged to wear head coverings, prayer shawls and fringes. Often, Jewish believers find this environment to be artificial, contrived and unappealing (83-84).Telchin is concerned that Messianic Judaism is catering to Jewish elitism, pride and separatism (154). A kind of reverse anti-Semitism exists in the form of anti-Church sentiment (85). The actions and attitudes of their (primarily Gentile) followers seem to indicate a belief that if Jewish people really are saved, they should belong to Messianic synagogues and follow rabbinic form. Therefore, Telchin concludes that Messianic Judaism has lost sight of the fact that God has not called us to an ethnic identity and that He has called Jews and Gentiles to a spiritual identity as one new man (150).Even if you don't agree with Telchin's point of view, his criticisms are worthy of consideration. Rather than lashing out, Messianics should see if there is room for improvement.

No wonder the Holy Spirit's work among the Jews unto salvation is being maligned by Telchin.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800793722/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_titleI highly recommend this short read some 160 pgs. to anyone who has ever wondered about the very essence of just how Scripturally the whole idea of how Messianic Judaism plays out when balanced with a perspective that is purely Biblical. Especially when we see so many confused about the precedent of untold numbers of Dear Jewish people coming into the fold of the greater Body of Messiah Y'shua/Jesus, where the partitioning wall of separation is not only removed but kept at bay. Where the real emphasis about what the God of Israel is doing in these critical days, in keeping with no 2nd class Believers in the New solidarity that comes with this Image of the New Man in the greater Body of Y'shua/Jesus. A most provocative read indeed... but who said the Truth would be easy. My hat's off to Stan Telchin for the courage and steadfastness in putting himself in the hot seat with such disclosure in demonstrating what a true Jew actually is... one who prefers the Praises of G-d to the praises of man... no matter what opposition should invariably ensue.