This article was written by a Jewish man who is a born again Christian. He is not involved in the Messianic Judaism movement for the reasons he states in the following article. Due to its length, I will be posting it in several smaller posts.
Here is a short biography of Dr. Mark Robinson, the author of this article, "Doctrinal Dangers In The Messianic Movement"
By Mark Robinson
DOCTRINAL DANGERS IN THE MESSIANIC MOVEMENT
The last 40 years have seen a great turning of Jewish people to Jesus. With this influx of Jewish believers into the body of Christ an old movement has been resurrected.
1 This movement, Messianic Judaism, emphasizes the Jewish background of the believers and their desire to identify with the larger Jewish community.
Having served in Jewish missions for 28 years, I rejoice that many of my "kinsmen according to the flesh" have found their Messiah. I am troubled, though, by the doctrinal errors of the movement. Can any movement that is doctrinally in error on many issues remain true to our Lord and the Bible over time?
DEFINING MESSIANIC JUDAISM
The Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations defines Messianic Judaism as "...a movement of Jewish congregations and congregation-like groupings committed to Yeshua the Messiah that embrace the covenantal responsibility of Jewish life and identity rooted in Torah, expressed in tradition, renewed and applied in the context of the New Covenant."
2
Dr. Bruce Stokes, vice-president of the Association of Messianic Believers, states, "the development of the Hebrew Christian movement into Messianic Judaism has brought about several significant changes in the theology, lifestyle and expectations of today's Messianic Jew. The most significant change has been establishment of Messianic congregations as normative for Messianic Jews and Gentiles of like mind."
3
HISTORY OF MESSIANIC JUDAISM
Present-day Messianic Judaism has its origins in the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America (HCAA) which was established in 1915. At the 1973 biennial meeting of the HCAA in Bradenton, Florida, there was an effort to change the name to Messianic Jewish Alliance of America. This change did not take place until 1975 but 1973 can be looked at as the first organized attempt to begin the modern-day Messianic Movement. Then in 1975, Phil Goble, a Gentile believer, published Everything You Need to Grow a Messianic Synagogue. American Board of Missions to the Jews (now Chosen People Ministries) reviewed the manual and attributed the beginning of Messianic Synagogues to Goble.
4
Presently there are more than 300 Messianic congregations5 throughout the world. The majority of these congregations are located in the United States. Some Jewish believers will drive many miles, passing good Bible believing churches, to be part of these congregations.
Endnotes
1 The eminent Hebrew Christian David Baron wrote an article titled "Messianic Judaism; or Judaising Christianity" in the October 1911 issue of The Scattered Nation warning about Messianic Judaism in his day.
2 From the 23rd Annual UMJC Conference, July 31, 2002. UMJC
website,
UMJC
3 Stokes, Bruce, Messianic Jewish Life, The Messianic Congregational Model: What Should It Look Like?, Jan.- Mar. 2001, Vol. LXXII, No.1, page to.
4 The Chosen People, Messianic Synagogues Commentary, Vol. LXXXI No.5, page 14, Jan. 1976.
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