From: levene@aplpy.jhuapl.edu (Robert A. Levene)
Subject: Re: Christianity vs. the Jews
Organization: Johns Hopkins University
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 92 22:08:27 GMT

In article <6626@pdxgate.UUCP> a0cb@rigel.cs.pdx.edu (Chris Bertholf) writes:

>Actually, the algorithm I have seen from these people is more like:
>
> 1. We are trying to maintain the cultural elements of Judaism and would
>    like the OCR communities support in that endeavor.

Mr. Bertholf has some serious misconceptions about the goals of
"Jews for Jesus" and similar groups.

Cultural, shmultural, their goal is to convince Jews
to practice Christianity and accept its tenets.  

Vijay's booklet is rather mediocre, I've seen much better
stuff posted to Usenet in alt.messianic.


Time for a repost...

-------- REPOST

Here are some self-descriptions of two Hebrew-Christian
missionary organizations, "Jews for Jesus" and the "Union
of Messianic Jewish Congregations."

The first report was obtained by Jews for Judaism, and was 
reprinted in one of their counter-missionary brochures.
The second report was a public post to Usenet.  (Partial header
reproduced.  Full header available upon request.)

Their words speak for themselves.


---------- From "Jews for Jesus"  -----------------------------------
|
| What evangelical Christians should know about
|                           JEWS FOR JESUS;       [the "O" in FOR is
|  A C0NFIDENTIAL REPORT:                           a six-pointed star -RL]
|    _not_ to be distributed to Non-Christians
|
| \    / HAT WE BELIEVE...
|  \/\/
|
|     While others are content to call themselves "inter-
| denominational" or "interfaith," we define ourselves
| as evangelical fundamentalists and we seek the coop-
| eration of individuals and Christian bodies  which
| can be so described by their work.  Though we will not
| allow ourselves to be committed to any one segment of the
| church, we believe in affiliation with a local church and
| in accountability to the church for service and discipline.
|
|     We feel that we are an arm of the local church.  The
| calling of those who minister with Jews for Jesus is
| primarily that of evangelists, and we're always mindful of
| the fact that we should not usurp the authority of the local
| pastor.  As we effectively win and disciple Jewish people,
| we feel that they should either take their place in a local
| church of evangelical character, or establish a congrega-
| tion and call their own minister.  We feel it is our duty to
| aid the church at large, and we consider ourselves as a
| church, we believe in affiliation with a local church and
| in accountability to the church for service and discipline.
| tion and call their own minister.  We feel it is our duty to
| aid the church at large, and we consider ourselves as a
| working arm of the body to gather in the Lost Sheep of the
| House of Israel.
|
|-------------------------------------------------------------


|------------- From the "UMJC" ------------------------------- 
|
| From: Harvey.Smith ... (Harvey Smith)
| Subject: Doctrinal statement of the UMJC and
|          the Messianic Jewish Computer Net.
| Message-ID: <139891.2A95C447@paranet.FIDONET.ORG>
| Date: 21 Aug 92 17:01:06 GMT
| 
| As Messianic Jewish believers we believe:
| 
| 1. That we are a part of the universal body of Messiah comprised of both
|    Jews and Gentiles and consider Biblical Christianity to be Biblical
|    Judaism.
| 
| 2. We believe Yeshua Hamashiach, the Jewish way to say Jesus Christ, is the
|    Promised Messiah, was born of the Virgin Miriam(Mary), lived in Israel
|    ministered to the Jewish People, chose 12 Jewish Apostles, fulfilled
|    the prophecies of the Tanach,(Old Testament), taught the precepts of
|    God, died for our sins on the cursed tree (cross), shed his blood for
|    everlasting atonement, and rose from the dead the third day, to be both
|    Lord and Messiah.  We believe in Him was the fulness of God in a body.
|    (His diety). We express this Unity as a Tri-Unity. One God expressed
|    in three personages. We believe He is coming again soon to rule over
|    the nations of the world for 1,000 years after which, there will be
|    a new heaven and a new earth, with its capitol city being Jerusalem,
|    whose foundations will have the names of the twelve Jewish Apostles
|    of Yeshua, and the gates having the names of the 12 tribes of Israel!
| 
| 3. We believe that we are to help bring Messiah back by sharing the good
|    News with the Jewish People reconciling them back to their God and
|    Messiah.
| 
| 4. our eschatology is as fortold in Matt. 24, Revelation etc..
|    Most are Pre-Millenial without dispensationalism.(overlaping
|    dispensations).
| 
| 5. We relate to many different denominations and fellowships, some MJ
|    congregations are Baptist, some Pentecostal, some Charismatic, some
|    Lutheran etc..  Being an Evangelical is the covering that we best
|    relate to.
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Robert A. Levene     Internet: levene@aplpy.jhuapl.edu
  "/  //  / /"         Bitnet:   RXL1@APLVM
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