“WHAT’S MISSING IN JEWISH MISSIONS TODAY?”
by Fraser J Harding
INTRODUCTION
As I approach this subject matter I am aware that the title has a bearing on a number of spheres of influence, of which, each has a variety of subgroups. To explain, there are at least five particular spheres of influence namely:
1. Individuals and groups which are involved in Jewish Missions
2. Messianic Jewish congregations in the Diaspora
3. Messianic Jewish congregations in Israel
4. The Christian Church at large
5. The broad Jewish community
Each of those spheres is different from the others, and each one has diversity in constitution, operation and opinion. Each one indeed may have a different interpretation of what constitutes “Jewish Mission”
The other point I would make is because of the way the question is framed, presupposes that the answers will be of a negative nature. Whereas I know that there is a lot that is good and positive.
To assist me in preparing this paper, I decided to ask the question “What’s missing in Jewish Missions today?” to a number of people with whom I am in relative close contact. I did not ask those from within our own ranks, but rather sought wisdom from others who represent a certain level of interest in the subject: Each of these folk has exposure and relationship with Jewish Missions (as I interpreted the term namely - individuals/organisations involved in evangelism to the members of the Jewish community).
These people were representative of:
· Leaders of Jewish Missions (in the UK),
· Christian Pastors (in UK & Australia)
· Messianic and Christian Pastors (in Israel)
· Various grass roots individuals
I did not define “Jewish Mission” to them (it was not defined to me).
How I propose to deal with this subject, in the first instance is provide you the responses I received. (You may not agree with them, but they do offer some food for thought). Then I will endeavour to tackle the question by giving some personal input and posing some further questions.
I. SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO THE QUESTION
I will categorise them under the following headings – ‘methodology’, ‘message’ and ‘matters of a sundry nature’. So, according to my responders – ‘what’s missing?’
A. Methodology
1. The practice of ‘earning the right to speak’ into the lives of Jewish people by building trust and friendship – a longer term process.
2. The use of history as a springboard. Some Jewish believers are very impatient and too easily scorn the ‘softly softly’ approach.
3. The inclination to reach out to the Jewish people from a perspective of “their prophetic future” rather than (or only) on the basis of their “covenantal past”.
4. Overcoming the temptation of importing ‘western Protestantism’ with a Jewish veneer instead of remaining faithful to the covenant.
5. Prayer in ‘binding the strong man’.
B. Message
1. Preaching the uncompromising message of ‘Repentance’
2. Placing Yeshua at the centre of the life of all believers both Jew and Gentile. The Jew/Gentile divide is secondary to the question of whether we have life or not.
3. Explaining the Gospel in a Jewish context in order to see Yeshua as the promised Jewish Messiah.
4. Clarification of the lines between Jew and Gentile, because God blesses certain differences knowing that the two are equal before God but with different roles.
5. Clear presentation of Jesus as Divine, instead of being tempted towards tendencies such as:
(a) Modern Ebionitism (the acceptance of Jesus as a prophet but rejecting His divinity)
(b) Adherence to Rabbinic rather than Biblical authority (i.e. adherence to Talmud, Mishna, Gemara etc)
(c) Dual Covenant Theology (the view that Jews must keep the Law of Moses, whereas gentiles must convert to Christianity or alternatively accept the seven laws of Noah).
C. Matters of a sundry nature
1. Transparency and accountability with regard to finances.
2. Respect of other missions including Christian Zionist organisations.
3. Coordination of the various Jewish and Christian pro-Israel organisations. There is a perceived confusion about aims and relevance of the multiplicity of organisations.
4. People involved in reaching out to the Jews compared with many years ago.
5. Understanding by Christians about Jews e.g.
(a) The age-old accusation about them being “Christ killers”
(b) The belief that they are already saved
(c) The problem of anti-Semitism from within the church
(d) The implications and affect of the Holocaust
6. Dialogue with current church leadership with respect to their . (lack of) understanding of messianic Jews
II PERSONAL RESPONSE
I have to say that I am feeling a bit like Paul when he expressed in Ephesians 3 -, ‘I who am less than the least of all saints’, and therefore do not really feeling qualified to respond with authority about ‘What’s missing in Jewish Missions”. So I am going to draw on a few of the responses and offer just three things:
A. Youth
One of my responders suggested that what is missing in Jewish Missions is “people”. I would definitely agree with that, but with a further qualification – what’s really missing in Jewish Missions is young people. I know there are some exceptions, but it seems to be one of our greatest challenges.
Although it is somewhat speculative, it is possible that the twelve disciples were quite young – maybe under 20. Only one is mentioned as having a wife namely Peter – which means he may have been twenty plus. There’s the story in Matthew 17:24-27 when the disciples entered into Capernaum and needed to pay a tax. Jesus instructions to Peter were to go catch a fish and use the money in its mouth to pay for the two of them. According to the requirement of the day, only those who were over 20 years of age were required to pay the tax fee……. ....which may indicate that Peter and Jesus were the only ones over 20. It is thought that John may have been only about 17. We don’t really know, but what we do understand is that the average life age in the Roman era was around 40 – 50 years.
Be that as it may, - what’s missing in Jewish Missions in practical terms is – YOUTH! So my response is in the form of a question “How do we effectively engage the youth in this ever important commission?”
The second point I am going to call:
B. Tolerance
I have to say that I find myself resonating with a couple of points under ‘methodology’, viz
1. The practice of ‘earning the right to speak’ into the lives of Jewish people by building trust and friendship – a longer term process.
2. The use history as a springboard. Some Jewish believers are very impatient and too easily scorn the ‘softly softly’ approach.
Brief Testimony
I was converted to Jesus at the age of 18 through the death of my father and immediately became radical in witnessing, and had to slowly learn that people generally are put off by the annoying ‘nagging’ of someone breathing down their neck about Jesus. I was a slow learner.
At age of 27 and at the peak of my career in Management and Accounting I received an unmistakable call into the ministry and thus entered into Theological training. Upon completion and subsequent ordination into the Baptist Denomination, at the age of 30, I joined an Evangelistic Ministry “Ambassadors for Christ” and spent the next phase of my career leading Gentiles into the Kingdom.
My first visit to Israel was in 1969 (example of bailing up Jews to witness to them about Jesus at the Western Wall).
My first real encounter with Jewish community was in 1979 when at that time as a Pastor in a Baptist Church in the Wollongong region I wanted to understand more about the Passover in order to teach my flock.
In 1989 I joined a Christian Zionist movement and within a short time became its President. The aim of this group was to help Christians build a bridge of understanding to the Jewish community and to show them “unconditional love”. It was effective to a point, but I had eventually to leave it because of personal frustration in relation to my evangelistic heart. This lead me form my own ministry GNFI which ultimately lead me to PFI. (Explanation)
Having travelled that road, I can appreciate both sides of the situation. I believe that the Christian Zionist movement is valuable, though lacking. It is like going fishing with the best bait in the world for a certain type of fish, but with no intention of ever catching the fish simply dangling the bait in front of them. But it gave me the pathway into understanding the Jewish people and brought me to the place I eventually needed and wanted to be. Without it, although I would have the heart, I would probably not have the understanding.
So my question is “How best can we relate to each other in an attitude of love and understanding and work together where possible?” After all, we are all on the same side at heart. It would also be beneficial to try to be in deed.
Finally,
C. Prayer and reliability on the Holy Spirit
We all know that the most important aspect of our life in Christ is prayer. We all know that it is only the Holy Spirit that can change the human heart of both Jew and Gentile. We all know that it is only the Holy Spirit that can and does miraculously lift the veil of blindness from the unregenerate spiritual sight. We all know that we can convert no-one, for that is only the work of the Spirit.
My question is, “Am I prepared – are we all prepared – to simply be the obedient instruments in whatever Jewish Mission we are involved, to allow the Holy Spirit the right of passage to do His work with His people in His time?