After reading Dr. Mitch Glaser, some of the issues I have been wondering about this Jews for Jesus movement has become more transparent.
That is not to say that I am against this ministry under Christ. Their commitment to evangelism is still quite remarkable.
However, their push for identifying Jews as a superior key in God's kingdom is disturbing. They do not have "church" service, they have gatherings. It also appears to me from the article that they do not like the verse "not all Israel are Israel".
Is Glaser saying that all Israel are Israel? Some of us even got confused as to what exactly is a Jew these days. I've seen Chinese wearing Yarmulke and considering himself Jewish. I've also heard that Jews are those who could trace their bloodline to Abraham. So is it about ethnicity? choice? or something else?!
It is more of a national (Israel) pride for Glaser to stand on his view.
I did not use the word superiority in my blog. The word used in Hebrew is bachar…to choose or be chosen. Read through Dt. 7:7-8
The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers…
Further passages include Romans 11:25-29 and of course the foundation passage in Genesis 12:1-3.
God chose the Jeiwsh people for a purpose - this did not make Jeiwsh people superior. It simply means that God has a plan to bless the world through the Jewish people - and through the Jeiwsh Messiah and that until His plan is completed, the Jewish people still fulfill a special role in His purposes.
I'm amazed at your resourcefulness at finding my site so quickly, Dr. Glaser.
You are right, that you did not say "superior". I did not say that you did, it was my insinuation.
I was aware that you are aware of the verses you just quoted. And yes, I agree to "To the Jews first...", but the Jews was first and that has past, biblically and historically. But I supposed I should elaborate.
I do not equate you with the Pharisees. Though I do question your view on the Pharisees, on their enmity against Christ historically within the last 2 thousand years. Consequently, I am not referring to the state of sinners universally.
My chief issue is on the identity of Jews today. As I described in my entry above. There are even dissensions among Jews of today as to who is truly Jewish. For example, today some orthodox Jews do not recognize Israelites as Jews and vice versa.
Yes, the term Zionist comes to mind. But I am a simple man with simple language.
I do not intend to abolish Jewish identity. But to bring all scripture on Jewish identity against Romans 9:6, I think it is going too far.
I will still take those verses you have mentioned as a "mystery". I will not conclude now that Israel in Romans 9-11 refers to today's Jews. Maybe so, maybe not. Therefore, I cannot take any custom or rabbinical stories of the Jews post-apostolic time too seriously; I'll be open minded about them, but not gullibly.
I've known a few "Jewish" Christians who are aware but yet do not associate themselves with the Chosen People Ministry. Some of whom are more closed minded than I in this. Mainly, because of the different principles as to what laws Messianic Jews still have to abide. Thus, as they claim: Not by grace alone. I am aware of the defense against this and I may even be with you on it.
The thing is, being chosen is one thing. But it is easily tempted to take that as superiority, as the ancient Jews did. Yes, the Roman Catholics did that, they are obviously culpable too, but that's not the focal point so we need not go there. The matter at hand is will we allow history to repeat itself again.
There could still be more to say, but bottom line, the way I see it, as long as there is some sort of segregation between Messianic Jews and Christians (Gentiles), I will still have a problem with it. Segregation ecclesiastically. Such as "We don't call ours 'church'", "we don't see church history as gentiles do", etc...I suspect you would have more examples than I. Yes, I know you wouldn't mind attending gentile churches, etc. but that's not the point, so we need not go there.
This sort of "I am the big brother" attitude, I am the chosen one to bring blessings to others, may be biblical, but as you said, that is fulfilled, not replaced by Christ as a Jew. There is no need to have a renewed sense of it among today's Jewish nation, the whole nation has been focused on Yeshua, not the whole nation anymore. There is a new "upgraded" sense though, again, not a replacement, that this identity of being chosen now, is for all Christians, Jews or gentiles. As Edith Schaeffer eloquently said "Christianity is Jewish". That plainly means I can claim myself to be Jewish as well. If you want to say I am not "Messianic Jew", because I was not born in a Jewish family nor follow Jewish custom, fine. It is just like saying, I'm not a Californian, no big deal. We are still all Americans. I consider myself adhering to Old Testament laws as Messianic Jews do, regardless of the discrepancies you may find, hence, I am Jewish.
So, my conclusion is this, yes I am still very joyful for the Chosen People Ministry to keep up the good work in evangelizing to the Jews. Also I do believe the ancient Hebrew culture is the cause of Christianity. The Hebrew culture has the most direct influence on the Jewish culture today but the two cultures are not the same. We still benefit from such tradition kept among Jews. But because of Yeshua, we are all chosen now. All the same. There is no distinct line between all Christians. Therefore, Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians, though are all acceptable terms today, are in the same allegories as men and women, Black Christians and White Christians, etc. Any attempt to change this allegory between Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians (such as "the Chosen-Chosen Ones/Christians" vs. "the chosen Christians", No, I didn't say you said this, just an example), would be, as I would insinuate, a push for superiority.
I Hope that clarifies.