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Christianity Today, October, 2007 |

Interview with a Pharisee—and a Christian

How two believers of two faiths talk to one another with conviction and civility.

David Neff | posted 10/12/2007 09:24AM

In 1964, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote: "I am ready to go to Auschwitz any time, if faced with the alternative of conversion or death." The prominent Jewish theologian was protesting a reference ...

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Ephrem Hagos

Posted: October 23, 2007 2:11 AM

Christianity has obscured the huge difference between "the Word of God" (as portrayed in the Gospels) and the "interpretations" (as presented in the epistles of the Apostles) with greater emphasis on the latter. This has proved very unfortunate making Christians part of the problem but not the solution. If actually confronted with the truth, as we surely will see, the deeper roots of the Pharisees in the Torah and the Prophets may yet prove to be a real comparative advantage over Christianity.

Myrna

Posted: October 19, 2007 6:10 AM

This article was wonderful! As a completed Jew, I can certainly understand, because in many ways, I have been both of these men. Before I met the Lord, the incarnation was inconceivable. HOW can the Infinite pour Himself into the finite? At best this is a craziness - at worst blasphemy. I understand when the rabbi says he doesn't understand. I didn't either. There is indeed a double blindness on the Jews. Jesus, Himself pronounced it in Mt. 23:39. However, when they turn (as it says in 2 Cor 3:16) to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away! God has NOT forsaken His people. There is no need for a "replacement theology." (Read Eph. 2 and Ro. 9-11.) In fact, God calls all Gentiles who have received mercy to show it to the Jews, so they can be saved (Ro. 11:31) - which is exactly what Kendall is trying to do. There has definitely been enough MISunderstanding between us. Any book that can help us all heal is a good thing. May the Lord use it mightily; there are eternal realities at stake.

George

Posted: October 17, 2007 1:54 PM

Great thoughts from Brenda. The article demonstrates in a beautiful manner how people can stay in dialogue and still maintain their valued positions, not just for themselves but for those they serve. And is there any more mysterious or challenging three chapters in the New testament that Romans 9 -11? Every time I read them I scratch my head a bit even though I resonate with Kendall's posture as a Christ-follower. So I believe that Christians must be faithful to their calling of proclaiming the gospel to whomever will listen, but to do it with the grace demonstrated in the lives of these two long time friends.

Kato Abiel

Posted: October 17, 2007 9:51 AM

It makes for good and interesting reading. Truly, this has broaden my understanding of who the Pharisees were and are. Being a seminary student, I intend to put this material in my computer and share with my course mates what is contained therein. I believe that Pharisees do have a heart for God and Christians will do well to reconsider some of their stand on issues relating to them. The fact that they were always in conflict with Jesus Christ, does not mean that they were the worst of sinners of the time. Thanks.

Grace Nyanga

Posted: October 16, 2007 10:43 PM

This is an informative piece of writing to all of us interested in World Evangelism. I had never thought of religion in terms of christianity and Judaism. I've always thought in terms of Islam, and African traditions. Thank you for giving us this piece of a great conversation and in such a way that is quite readable by any simple ones like us over this part of the globe with less travel experience. I mean Africa.

Jean McDowell

Posted: October 16, 2007 9:59 PM


I pray for Israel and it's inhabitants

Zarry

Posted: October 15, 2007 1:38 PM


R. T. Kendall is a bit too aggressive and fundamentalist for my style of dialogue, but I do wish for better and closer relations between Jews and Christians.

Mosala

Posted: October 15, 2007 2:45 AM


Jason Powell says R.T's comment is ridiculous, but is it? I believe that is the distinguishing mark of christianity, not a philosophy or teaching but the Person of Jesus Christ! I also obviously agree with what A Hermit says. Jesus must transform a person who truly believes in Him. I wish to commend R.T for his forthrightness and sheer boldness in proclaiming the truth with respect but boldly.

Brenda

Posted: October 13, 2007 11:03 AM

It fascinates me how the OT stories reflect this bewildering path of God's grace and blessings being given to those who, according to tradition and law, do not deserve it (the little brother), while those who, by birthright (the big brother), resist the celebration of this grace. Even though the big brothers are seperated from the little brothers, God keeps watch over them and they are sometimes reunited. Read again the story of Cain/Able, Ishmael/Isaac, Esau/Jacob, Reuben/Joseph; Pharoah who ruled over God's people as slaves to Moses (the royally adopted son) who freed the people to lead them to the promised land; David, not even a member of the royal family, who became King instead of Jonathan {David [rep: Christ/Christians] always honored King Saul and he loved Jonathan [rep: The Law/Jews]}. In Luke 15, Jesus tells about a lost (prodigal) son whose older brother won't celebrate his inclusion, but the father tells the older "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours".

Jason Powell

Posted: October 13, 2007 10:07 AM

"The heart of Christianity is the person of Jesus, who he was and what he did more than what he said, although we accept what he said as true." This comment by Kendall is ridiculous! It represents a thoroughly hyper-modern/hyper-pauline opinion of Christ. I simply can't believe he relegated the actual words of Jesus to the back-seat. You could easily interject "specifically for me so I won't go to hell" after the words "he did" and you will get the clear uber-individualized, non-holistic, non-reconciliatory nature of the weak gospel that has been allowed to permeate evangelicalism within the last few decades. Possibly, if we as believers began to take Christs words seriously again...instead of using him as a train ticket out of Hell...then maybe we'd begin to act like the reconcilatory members of the Kingdom we're supposed to be! Then they would know we are Christians by our love, and the love of Christ is very,"attractive" (re-read the effects of the WORDS OF JESUS in Mark 1).

John	Posted: October 13, 2007 10:03 AM


I believe we must be careful not to limit the salvific work of Jeus to a formula we have constructed from our own understanding of justification and redemption. There are times when Jesus may choose to introduce Himself to someone personally without that person having checked all the correct boxes on a plan for salvation.

Gresford

Posted: October 13, 2007 9:28 AM

One point that strikes me from this article is Kendall's insistence on Rosen accepting Jesus as Messiah seems to be based on his own experience/worldview of who Jesus is. The "early Christians" were practicing Jews who accepted the fact that Yeshu ha'Notzri (Jesus of Nazareth) is the Messiah and Savior of the world. They did not abandon their Jewishness and, in fact, this realization brought new life to their practices as Jews. Have you ever celebrated Passover with a Jewish family? It's the story of salvation/redemption. A story that we, as Christians, know very well in the context of the cross but we don't present it in a style that will be relevant to Jews (and non-Jews, for that matter). Let us remember the words of Jesus who told the woman at the well in John 4 that salvation is of the Jews. And let us remember the words of Paul who said in Romans 11 that we must be grafted into Israel. They have much to learn from us but we have much more to learn from them.

Keith S. Andersen.

Posted: October 12, 2007 9:42 PM

A Hermit: "More would be accomplished looking at how Jesus lived ... than to arguing whether he was 'God.' For Christians to live the truth, not argue about belief." Amen. Jesus did indeed say that the only way to the Father was through Him, as we know. But John 1 tells us that all that has been made is from Jesus, "the word". So however a person is saved (and only God knows who this truly applies to), it is in effect through Christ, irrespective of whether the saved individual attributes his or her relationship to the Divine as being with Jesus Christ specifically. We are all responsible for the truths we have been shown, or else how can Paul have suggested that "no one has an excuse" and that a person can percieve and respond to God with nothing more than creation itself to go by? Rabbi Rosen spoke at my church and I found him a marvelous speaker. I did not find Kendall's view helpful. I work with a number of orthadox Jews and have enjoyed numerous, enligtning, loving, talks.

A Hermit

Posted: October 12, 2007 8:35 PM

A very good dialog. I believe that Yeshua ben Miryam was the Meshiach- the Anointed One of God. But God is love; Yeshua is Incarnate Love. His message was not so much about worshipping him as 'God', second person of the trinity; but being united in 'oneness' with the father and doing the will of God. Belief is a step to a new way of seeing, to being transformed, to becoming incarnate LOVE. Christianity has often ignored the need to be transformed, while focusing on salvation only as conceptual belief. It is more important to 'see' with God's eyes of love, to incarnate God's presence (as Jesus did) than to profess a 'belief' that doesn't transform. More would be accomplished looking at how Jesus lived and what he taught about man and relationship to God, than to arguing whether he was 'God.' For Christians to live the truth, not argue about belief.

Anonymous

Posted: October 12, 2007 4:57 PM

Christians/Jews bringing elements of goddess worship i.e. which leads to fat-living, strong-headedness and warring attitudes will go to hell. Violence and arrogance and elegant sensualliving echo the ancient woman of Babylon. The enemy of genuine faith/religion on the part of both Christian and Jew is a false belief that their tradtional etiqette proves that they are humble:Dangerous to their souls! Furthermore, as for proselytizing, Rosen is right in what he implies. It is our lifestyle which earns Jesus and the Father disciples for the Kingdom. Jesus taught in Matthew that it is in our goings-forth in life that we make disciples, not in our brow-beating them. Apostle Paul said that he wants to become just like those whom he wants to win over and Jesus said our righteousness has to exceed those of the Pharisees. The crux of the matter in converting a Jew is to allow him to slap you instead of you slapping him with high-sounding words of theology. Rosen slaps no one but Kendall bullies

Kim	Posted: October 12, 2007 2:07 PM

I believe that the blindness will be lifted, too, as Kendall mentioned. In that vein, I don't believe that Jews who've not lived through that lifting will go to hell. That would be akin children or any others who've not reached an "age of accountability" going to hell. I believe that the "children of Israel" is the body of believers who make up the church, and to me that means Jews and Christians. I believe that we indeed worship the same God. God gives individuals understanding when they are ready for it and in His own good time. We just aren't privy to His scheduling.

Robert

Posted: October 12, 2007 12:35 PM

For a Jew to say "the concept of Incarnation completely def[ies] my religious understanding" reveals a lack of understanding about his own faith. In the OT God incarnated himself in Temple and Torah and personified himself as Wisdom. Talk about a Jew becoming a Christian as "conversion" reveals a profound misunderstanding of God's role in creation and Jesus' place therein. This is the problem with labels, talk of "religion", and concepts of belief, they divide. The story of the biblical text is one of God's creation and his subsequence rescue operation to deal with the problem of man's rebellion, with its climax in Jesus. As a result that there are not two peoples of God, Jews and Christians, but one world wide family of God in which distinctions such as those highlighted in this article simple don't exist. Whatever you want to say, to pretend that Jews as Jews some how remain the people of God, or that Judaism today has value, is not only un-biblical, but misleading.

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