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Christianity Today, April (Web-only), 2008 |

Christian Evangelism and Judaism

An exchange of views between a rabbi and a columnist.

Rabbi Yehiel E. Poupko and Stan Guthrie | posted 4/02/2008 09:58AM

The following e-mail exchange began after Rabbi Yehiel E. Poupko, Judaic Scholar at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, read Stan Guthrie's "Foolish Things" column, "Why Evangelize the Jews? ...

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Emmanuel

Posted: April 04, 2008 10:59 AM

I am a Jew that has accepted Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, and I am constantly surprised as I have studied both Jewish and Christian history how much hatred, racism, and bigotry has been displayed on both sides because of one thing, IGNORANCE. It has been a long 2000 years. The Christians became more and more ignorant of who the Jewish people were and what they believed. We Jews have not been blameless though. We have taken the same stance towards Christians. Rabbinic Judaism teaches not what Christians believe, but rather through lack of education and through fear tactics, teaches every young child that Christians hate Jews and that Jesus is not for the Jews. They don't teach why they believe that Jesus is not the Jewish Messiah, they just use the errors of false Christians to scare their people into not thinking for themselves about Christians and more importantly about Jesus. If Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, then it is the most Jewish thing we can believe in him!

Mike Sechler

Posted: April 03, 2008 3:12 PM

Rabbi, As to your restatement of an evangelical statement from a Jewish perspective tell us that we are wrong and that we should accept a Jewish understanding of the world. Well should I? If I don't become a practicing Jew will I face concequences from God? If you believe you have the truth and that I am wrong and you don't tell me so, are you really concerned about me? In other words, I have no problem with your statement, and I would prefer you tell me plainly what you really believe. On the other hand, you may not in fact believe that I as a gentile face concequences if I don't become a Jew. If not, for you it may not be unloving for you not to tell me to change. As an evangelical Christian, we are commanded to love everyone, and that includes telling them what we believe to be the truth.

William Mitchell

Posted: April 03, 2008 2:39 PM

This very subject has bothered me for over a year. The Holy Ghost gave the scripture in 2nd Chronicles 6 and 7. Study the prayer of the Jewish people for forgiveness of sin, who they are speaking to. I ask you and please if you have an answer please send to my email wmfla@aol.com. If a Jew does what he is instructed in the above scripture will he be forgiven of his sins. I can only conclude if a Jew does what 2nd Chronicles 6 and 7 says he is as saved as any Christian. I am a Christian that believes in Jesus as the Son of God that died for the sins of the world. I would appreciate any comments negative or postive.

marianne miller

Posted: April 03, 2008 1:27 PM

I am so grateful to have received this Jewish Rabbi's insights. I will reread this article many times asking God to help me glean what i need to from it. As a fellow follower of the faith of Abraham, though a Christian Gentile and therefore grafted in to the main faith tree as this gentleman who is a natural branch, I would have to say that as i read history I have come to the same conclusion as he did about the Jewish people. The robust nature of the Jewish people in the face of repeated adversity through the centuries speaks of a blessing far beyond any natural explanation. I would like to hear the Jewish voice more often in the CT dialogue.

Jim, a Pastor in Nevada

Posted: April 03, 2008 12:40 PM

The lively conversation between YEP and SG is to the glory of God ... my advise to Stan is to gather a couple of Messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua to his side to assist him in any further conversations with this Rabbi, especially on the points of asking a Jew what it means to be a Jew and to become a disciple of Yeshua does NOT make one a non-Jew ... praying for the advancement of the kingdom . Jim

Steve

Posted: April 03, 2008 11:30 AM


I'm wondering why it is that the Jewish community decides who is a Jew and who isn't but apparently the Nazis were Christians regardless of what Christians say. For what it's worth, I submit that the definition of a Christian is found in scripture. Anyway - the conversation is fascinating - thanks to both of you for participating!

George

Posted: April 03, 2008 6:23 AM

I read the "exchange" article with great interest. Christians take note of this, patterned your outreach by following the process here. We can speak the Gospel to people in many ways, but this one, where we take the time to get to know people, their cultures, their dreams, their convictions reminds me of the time Jesus took to do the same. It takes longer to do it, but evangelism with love makes for some very deep experiences both for the giver and the receiver.

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: April 03, 2008 3:23 AM


ONE QUESTION TO THE RABBI AND THE COLUMNIST: If God has created "all of humanity" in His image, as believed by Jews and Christians alike, how come He is still universally unknown firsthand and personally by these very people just as He promised in Jer. 31: 31-34?

Roger - Australia

Posted: April 03, 2008 2:01 AM


It's lovely we can be friends. We share much in common and we should be friends. That, however, doesn't make truth any less truthful nor error any less erroneous. Take the narrow path via Christ.

ISUKAPATI VIDYA NADH

Posted: April 03, 2008 12:33 AM

Greetings in Holy name of Jesus Christ. I am very much grateful to you for issuing favorable message. I am prepared to come to your country on my own expenses for plane tickets , lodging and boarding. My intension is to spread the mystery revealed to me. To receive visa from U S Consulate, they are demanding call letter from whom I am invited. The required information to U S consulate may also be sent at an early date. I hope very much by the grace of God. FullName; - ISUKAPATIVIDYANADH s/o -MANIKYAM Contact address: Divine Grace Orphanage & Destitute Welfare Center Phone: +91 9866035499 Age: 11-30-1954 Sex: MALE onlytruegodministries@yahoo.com Country: SOUTHINDIA Occupation: DIRECTOR www.onlytruegodministries.com

Troy	Posted: April 03, 2008 12:03 AM

Shalom and grace to you all in Rebbe Yeshua the Messiah's Name. This is indeed a hard subject to enter in to. I am a (or was a) Gentile who converted to Messianic Judaism from christianity for reasons that this Rabbi spoke about. You (Christians) deny what is sacred to the Jews. What is that? Torah the Scriptures or known to you as "Old Testament". You say "It is done away with" but no it is not. Rebbe Yeshua (Master Jesus) told us "I have not come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets, but to fulfill" Fullfill means in not to do away with but to complete or to fulfill the meaning of the Torah. Namely that He is Messiah the Son of the Most High and to love our neighbor and to love God with all our essence. Christians split themselfs from Torah (which means "Instructions, Teachings") of God and grasped ahold to the commentary of the Torah (New testament). Look at Hosea chapters 2 to 4 and see what happened to the "Church". *Hint "Mother" is the Catholic Church.

Jonathan Freund

Posted: April 02, 2008 4:27 PM

As a Jew with one Christian parent, I firmly agree with Rabbi Poupko. Christianity and Judaism are incompatible faiths; a person can only walk one path at a time. The act of accepting Jesus as one's savior is a complete rejection and repudiation of Judaism and the entire history of the Jewish people. Similarly, evangelizing Jews is inherently anti-Semitic, as it ultimately seeks the end of the Jewish faith and the Jewish people. Evangelism would destroy the Jews as surely and as completely as Nazism would – albeit with a different philosophy, methodology and timetable. Let us be friends side-by-side instead.

Sawak Sarju

Posted: April 02, 2008 3:24 PM


Having studied and taught the Bible for 50 years, I have concluded that according to the New Testament, Christian Believers are God's People. Dr. Sawak Sarju............Canada.

Clarence Cossey

Posted: April 02, 2008 12:31 PM

I wish Stan had added that in the first century one of the big questions and in particular during Paul's time was whether only Jews could become Christians. Then, of course, the question became whether a gentile could or must become a Jew in order to become a Christian. In the 21st Century, the question has become whether a Jewish person loses his Jewish identify if he becomes a Christian. Most of those who do claim both heritages.

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