Hashivenu, Messianic Judaism, and Christianity - RepostedBy David T. E. S. Cooke
January 4, 2006
An article with this title was first posted February 9, 2005. After receiving some critical and angry responses over what was said, we decided to temporarily remove the article from the TJM web site. This gave us the opportunity to interact with those involved in Hashivenu, evaluate their position, and reconsider our statements as necessary. After corresponding with Dr. Stuart Dauermann, the president of Hashivenu, we feel the need to clarify some of the statements we have made. However, the root of our concern remains the same, as the following article will bear out.
At the heart of the Christian faith is the message of the Gospel - the Good News of redemption, peace, joy, and eternal life in Messiah Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are wholeheartedly committed to sharing this Good News with all people - Jewish and Gentile alike. This is not only our duty (Mark 16:15), but it is also our desire. We yearn for people to hear the Gospel and receive Messiah as Lord and Saviour. We especially yearn for the Jewish people to accept the One who loved them so dearly, and who made it a point to visit them first among all nations. This is why we persevere in our mission in spite of opposition, rejection, and even persecution. For Messiah has said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16).
In our efforts to share the Good News, two priorities are absolutely essential: We must not compromise the life-giving message of the Gospel, and at the same time, we must communicate that message in a variety of ways to reach a variety of people, language-groups, and cultures. As Messiah Jesus lowered Himself to our level to meet with mankind face-to-face, so we must meet with the unbelievers around us on their level in meaningful and relevant ways (see Philippians 2:5-11). Thus we are to "become all things to all men" (1 Corinthians 9:22), while we truly "hold fast the pattern of sound words...in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:13).
We must not stand above our neighbours, but come alongside them, all the while upholding the truth. |
These two priorities of
fidelity to Jesus and
relevance to people have an important application in our outreach to the Jewish community. As we relate to and communicate with modern unbelieving Jews, we must understand their circumstances, their felt-needs, and their concerns. We ought to take account of their perspective and background. However, we must also be diligent to present the truth of Messiah Jesus, the offence of the Cross, and the call for repentance and faith.
"Messianic Judaism" is a movement that has sought to balance fidelity to Jesus and relevance to people since its modern emergence in the 1970s. Messianic Judaism involves Jewish and Gentile Christians sharing the Good News of Jesus in Jewish contexts within the Jewish community. They emphasize the Jewish roots of Christianity, the Jewishness of Jesus (Yeshua), and the importance of God's dealings with Israel. They connect with Jewish culture and tradition in their worship, teaching, and activities. Most call their churches "Messianic synagogues," most call their pastors "rabbis," most speak and sing in a Jewish style. Yet, as they do this, there is always a risk that the emphasis on "Jewishness" may intrude on the centrality of Jesus and His message. Some in Messianic Judaism are doing a better job of guarding against this than others.
Recently, a new movement has arisen called "Hashivenu." Hashivenu is an offshoot of Messianic Judaism that seeks to identify itself with modern, unbelieving Judaism in a new and radical way. Though it acknowledges the centrality of Jesus, it appears rather unbalanced in its approach. Hashivenu expresses its methodology in this way: "We seek an authentic expression of Jewish life maintaining substantial continuity with Jewish tradition." It is this "substantial continuity with Jewish tradition" that tips the scales and threatens to take Hashivenu far afield from the heart of Christianity.
1
Hashivenu sees itself as another branch of Judaism. |
Modern, unbelieving Judaism is a diverse entity. It includes orthodox, conservative, reform, and even secular branches. Though there are huge areas of disagreement across these branches, all are adamant in excluding any Jewish group that accepts Jesus as Messiah and the New Testament as Holy Scripture. Hashivenu, however, courts the approval of these branches of Judaism. It seeks to be welcomed as a sister, co-equal branch. This is expressed in its "core values," particularly core value number one: "Messianic Judaism is a Judaism, and not a cosmetically altered 'Jewish-style' version of what is extant in the wider Christian community."
2
Hashivenu seeks to go beyond being relevant and hopes to identify itself as being one with unbelieving Judaism. Not only is this futile given Judaism's feelings towards Christianity, but this is also misguided. Unbelieving Judaism is a deviation from the truth: it is far from what true, Old Testament Judaism was all about. Old Testament Judaism pointed the way to Messiah, it heralded the message of salvation by repentance and faith in Messiah, and it ultimately reached its climax in the arrival of Jesus 2,000 years ago. Believers in Messiah have a oneness with such a Judaism; but they can never be one with the unbelieving religion of today's branches of Judaism. Believers in Messiah, whether Jewish or Gentile, have become a part of a new people: We are joined together as members of one Body - Christ's Body - the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13).
By downplaying its Christian theology and emphasizing its unity with unbelieving Judaism, Hashivenu inadvertently waters down the Christian message. It gives the appearance of being willing to minimize salvation through faith in Jesus in order to win respectability among unbelieving Jews. This is seen in Hashivenu's statement: "We are not the sole valid expression of Judaism with all else a counterfeit."
2 This gives the impression that there are other God-honouring expressions of Judaism besides
Messianic Judaism, which alone accepts and upholds the truth of Messiah. If so, Jesus and His work is not particularly important or necessary for Jewish people to become true, spiritual Jews (see Romans 2:28,29). As a result, many souls may be lost and condemned through the miscommunication of the exclusive nature of the true Christian message.
Jew and Gentile Christians are one in Messiah Jesus. |
Hashivenu also goes too far by setting itself apart from other Christians in the Body of Christ. In Hashivenu's opinion, all
other modes of Christian thought, speech, and prayer have no place in Messianic Judaism. "Jewish" patterns must instead be followed. Hashivenu states: "We were saying that we no longer saw ourselves as Christians-Presbyterians, Baptists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals, etc.-who happened to come from Jewish ethnic backgrounds. Instead, being 'Jewish' is, for us, a fundamental religious category." There is a reluctance to connect religiously with Gentile brethren and, thus, Hashivenu begins to re-build the "wall of separation" that Jesus has already broken down (Ephesians 2:14).
Hashivenu also elevates the teachings of unbelieving Judaism while de-emphasizing Church teachings. They say that Messianic Judaism should "avail itself of the insights of both institutions"
2 - both Church and unbelieving Judaism. The benefit of this is highly questionable given the fact that much in the rabbinic writings is unbiblical and even anti-Christian!
In Hashivenu's attempt to enter the Jewish context, they have crossed over an all-important line. They are out of balance. As Christians, we must remember that Jesus alone is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6).
True Judaism is the religion of Jesus (Yeshua), the Messiah and King of the Jews! The false branches of Judaism that we see today are based largely on rabbinical teachings, cultural customs, or various human interpretations that stray significantly from the message of the Old Testament. Though there is much still in modern Judaism that points the way to Messiah, ultimately, as a world system, it denies the Lord and obscures the truth. Satan is pleased with this situation, no doubt, and would love for Christians not to intrude. However, as recipients of Messiah's great salvation, we must seek to take the Good News of Messiah to His ancient covenant people without compromise. This must be our heart's desire, for it is only as Jewish (or Gentile) people believe in Jesus that they will be saved!
View an open letter concerning Hashivenu from David Daniels, the Director of The Toronto Jewish Mission:
An Open Letter on Hashivenu.
Read about why we removed David Cooke's original article. See:
Hashivenu, Messianic Judaism, and Christianity - Removed.
