Messianic religious practice

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This article describes certain religious practices common in Messianic Judaism. Messianic religious practices are sometimes called Messianic halakha.

Contents

[edit] "Old Testament"

Messianic Judaism generally recognizes Scripture as a continuum that builds on its foundation, not a book divided into two sections, one of which is "old", the other "new". The entire book is seen as vibrant and relevant to modern life.

[edit] Covenants

Messianic Judaism's position on the covenant with Abraham is that it is still in force, and most believe that the New Covenant foretold in Jeremiah does not replace the old, and the false idea of Jesus attempting to replace the Torah would contradict various statements in the Torah itself that such a covenant is non-negotiably perpetual, disqualifying him from Messiahship. A handful of recently-founded organizations such as the Coalition of Torah Observant Messianic Congregations, First Fruits of Zion, and the Union of Torah Observant Ministries seek to provide a more Torah-observant platform for Messianic Judaism.

[edit] Protestant canon

A majority of Messianics consider the full canon of the Bible to include the same books found in Protestant Bibles, although this is a matter of great debate in the Messianic community, especially in reference to Paul's writings.

[edit] Apocryphal non-canon

Like many Protestants, Messianic Jews consider the additional books referred to as the Apocrypha or the Deuterocannonical texts to be of historical value but not divinely inspired, unlike Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

[edit] Oral Torah

Most Messianics do not consider the Oral Torah divinely inspired or binding, although some do. The most common view within Messianic Judaism is that one should adhere to the oral Talmud unless there is a reason to do otherwise.

[edit] Immersion

The Messianic Jewish view of baptism is much more closely aligned with the traditional Jewish mikvah. Highly prevalent is the belief that John the Immerser was not founding some new religious practice but was simply performing the very ancient Jewish ritual of immersion in water (tevilah). Due to a lack of resources, most Messianic congregations are simply not able to observe the various water purifications commanded in the Torah such as the one required after a woman's menstruation.

[edit] Liturgy

[edit] Torah reading

Hebrew Torah scrolls are used in Shabbat services if the congregation has a scroll. Like Rabbinic Jewish synagogues, most Messianic congregations and synagogues hope to obtain a Torah scroll at some point, but many are small and lack the funds to afford one. Messianic Jewish congregations observe the traditional Jewish annual reading cycle for Torah and Haftorah, although a minority may try to practice the more ancient three-year cycle that would've been the norm in the 1st Century. They also read accompanying portions from the B'rit Chadasha (Hebrew for Renewed Covenant, commonly recognized as the New Testament). David Stern's arrangement for these readings is popular.

[edit] Jewish song and prayer

Messianics recite or cant traditional Jewish prayers such as:

  • Brit milah (covenant of circumcision) is performed for Jewish male babies.

[edit] Holiday observances

[edit] Shabbat

Worship services are generally held on Friday evenings (Erev Shabbat) and Saturday mornings, as Messianics recognize that the Sabbath is an eternal covenant between God and the children of Israel (Exodus 31:16).

[edit] Biblical holidays

Messianics observe Biblical festivals and other days significant in Jewish history, including:

[edit] Non-Jewish holidays

Celebration of holidays such as Christmas and Easter are discouraged by Messianic Judaism, although it is very common for Messianics to have Christian relatives. The main issue with Christian holidays are the alleged pagan origins and the lack of apparent basis in Torah. As such many Messianics feel that these holidays lack significance to God. The same argument applies to Sabbath vs. Sunday worship. Those that practice non-Jewish holidays, to preserve family unity for example, generally do so in a secular manner.

[edit] Kosher observances

[edit] Biblical Kosher

The mainstream position within Messianic Judaism on keeping kosher is that the practice is commanded in the Torah and thus is to be observed. Some debate whether or not Gentiles should observe kosher eating, but the most common opinion is that they should.

Another reason cited by Messianic Jews is that when confronted by an Orthodox or Conservative Jew the first question often asked is, "Do you keep kosher?"

[edit] Kashrut

Many Messianics separate the kosher laws outlined in the Torah and the kashrut dietary laws of Orthodox Judaism. The latter is often considered optional. For instance, the prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother's milk is sometimes cited as having no meaningful relevance to the Rabbinic restriction prohibiting eating any mix of milk and meat in the same meal.

[edit] Gentiles

The practice of Gentiles keeping kosher depends on the Messianic congregation in question, although the most common belief is that Gentiles should keep kosher.

[edit] Judaica

Messianics display Menorahs and Stars of David rather than crosses. Many wear kippot (skullcaps), fringes on their clothing (tzitzit) and, during Sabbath worship a tallit (prayer shawl). More Gentile Messianics are wearing tallit and tzitzyot than previously. The donning of tefillin is becoming more common.

[edit] Terminology

[edit] Clergy

Clergy ordained by a recognized seminary or organization are usually called rabbis. A leader of a congregation that has not yet been ordained may be called a teacher, Congregational Leader, or a pastor.

[edit] Biblical personages

Biblical personages are often referred to by their Hebrew names or presumed Hebrew names, e.g.:

  • Yeshua - Jesus
  • Yochanan - John
  • Sha'ul - Paul/Saul of Tarsus
  • Shimon Kefa - Simon Peter (Cefas)
  • Moshe - Moses
  • Yesheyahu - Isaiah
  • Miryam - Mary

[edit] “Christian”

Most Messianics oppose being called “Christian”, and do not consider themselves Christians. This is largely due to the fact that Messianic Judaism consciously differs from Christianity in various matters such as Torah observance, Hebraic mindset, the question of a triune God, and the general view that belief in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah does not represent a departure from the synagogue.

[edit] Congregation

Messianic Jews call their places of worship congregations, synagogues, kehilat (Hebrew for congregations), fellowships, shuls, or Beit Knessets rather than churches.

[edit] Terminology

Messianic congregations prefer usage of the original Hebrew for various names and places (or an English name that has less emotional baggage), not only for the Tanakh but for primarily New Testament names. This is to reinforce the Messianic Jewish Hebraic mindset but is also done so as not to offend Jews. Examples:

  • baptism - immersion, going into the mikvah
  • baptize - immerse, go into the mikvah
  • Christ - Messiah, Mashiach
  • church (building) - synagogue, Beit Knesset
  • church (people) - congregation, kehilat (Hebrew for "congregation"), body of the Messiah, body of believers, followers of the Messiah, believers
  • church (services) - shul (Yiddish for "school"), worship services
  • Cross - tree, execution stake
  • crucifixion - death, execution, nailed to a stake, hanging on a stake
  • evangelize - tell the good news
  • gospel - good news, or Besorah.
  • Holy Spirit - Ruach HaKodesh
  • Jesus - Yeshua *
  • Jesus Christ - Yeshua haMashiach, Messiah Yeshua
  • John the Baptist - Yochanan haMachbil, John the Immerser
  • Lord - HaShem, Adonai
  • New Testament - Apostolic Writings, Brit Chadashah (Means Renewed Covenant)
  • Old Testament - Tanakh
  • Pentateuch - Torah

[edit] References

[edit] Books

  • Brown, Michael (2000). Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: General and Historical Objections. Baker Books. ISBN 0-8010-6063-X. 
  • Brown, Michael (2000). Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Theological Objections. Baker Books. ISBN 0-8010-6334-5. 
  • Brown, Michael (2003). Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Messianic Prophecy Objections. Baker Books. ISBN 0-8010-6423-6. 
(Per Brown, a fourth Answering Jewish Objections volume is in preparation)
  • Chernoff, Yohanna (1996). Born a Jew ... Die a Jew. The Story of Martin Chernoff, A Pioneer in Messianic Judaism (paperback), Miller, Jimi, 1st ed. (in English), MD, USA: EBED Publications. ISBN 1-884369-39-1. 
  • Fischer*, Rabbi John, ed.; The Enduring Paradox: Exploratory Essays in Messianic Judaism pub. Messianic Jewish Resources International (July, 2000); ISBN 1-880226-90-1

(* Earned degrees: B.S. in Bible, M.S. in Communications, M.A. in New Testament, B.J.S. in Jewish Thought, Ph.D. in Education/Religion--Dissertation: The Development of a Core Curriculum for a Messianic Jewish Yeshiva, Th.D. In Judaic Studies--Dissertation: Messianic Services for Festivals and Holy Days)

  • Juster, Daniel, Th.D.; Growing to Maturity: A Messianic Jewish Guide pub. Union of Messianic Congregations; 3rd ed. (1987); ISBN 0-9614555-0-0
  • Kinzer, Mark Ph.D. (publisher: Brazos) Postmissionary Messianic Judaism (November 2005), ISBN 1-58743-152-1
  • Stern, David H., Ph.D., M.Div. (publisher: Messianic Jewish Resources International)
  1. Messianic Jewish Manifesto (May, 1988), ISBN 965-359-002-2
  2. Jewish New Testament Commentary (October, 1992), ISBN 965-359-011-1
  3. Complete Jewish Bible (June, 1998), ISBN 965-359-015-4


[edit] Online

[edit] Video

  • Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue. (New release weekly) Video of Saturday morning worship service [DVD, CD or audio cassette]. Dallas, Texas, USA: Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue.  (see Notes)
  • Rabbi Martin Waldman[7] (Instructor). (2005) Messianic Overview of the Tanakh] [DVD (recorded course)].  (see Notes)
Notes: DVD's not sold on BHS website.[8]
  Although the main topics of the courses varied, all discussed

current Messianic religious practices to varying degrees.

[edit] Notes

  1. ↑  The "prayer over the children" excerpt is a bit atypical. The person who excerpted the videos indicates that since December 1999 when he started attending, this is the only time the prayer was done by a child rather than one of the congregation elders.
  2. ↑  Michael L. Brown, Ph.D. in Semitic Languages, evangelist, Messianic apologist, author
  3. ↑  Seth Klayman, M.A., Ph.D. candidate in Judaic Studies, Duke University; Congregational Leader, Sha'arei Shalom Messianic Congregation, Cary, NC
  4. ↑  Daniel C. Juster, Th.D., Executive Director, Tikkun Ministries International; author; former Congregation Leader, Beth Messiah Congregation, Gaithersburg, MD
  5. ↑  Russell Resnick, past president, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations
  6. ↑  Martin Waldman, Congregation Leader, Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue, past president, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations
  7. ↑  Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue may be contacted by phone or mail or by email through its website but it does not sell the DVD sets through the website. Courses are 20 class hours, seminary level and require books not included with the course materials.

Category:Religious behaviour and experience Category:New religious movements Category:Messianic Judaism

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