From: Bill.Carlson@p0.f18.n104.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Bill Carlson)
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: Interfaith Marriage: Jew/christian
Date: 9 Sep 92 14:23:08 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:104/18.0 - Midrash, Denver CO


          -=> Quoting Elisabeth S. Davidson to All <=-
   ESD> From: esd3@po.CWRU.Edu (Elisabeth S. Davidson)
   ESD> Message-ID: <18iqsdINNol5@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
   ESD> I really need your help!  Does anyone know of a newsgroup where
   ESD> Interfaith Marriage Jew/Christian is discussed?  How about the
   ESD> raising of children in a Jewish/Christian home?  I would really
   ESD> appreciate any, and I mean ANY resource you could direct me to!
This would be an excellent news group for such discussions.  Here is
something I have on disk about, (somewhat), this issue; though it may
not all apply.  Any further questions, feel free to ask....
***********************************************************************
... these views aren't necessarily official UMJC/MJCN dogma.
The first consideration is to marry someone of the same "faith" who is
a Believer in Y'shua/(Jesus) as Messiah,  {Some of these views might
sound strange to some of the Gentile Brethern on here, but oh well}, be
they Jewish or Gentile.  But that isn't the end of the considerations
either.
Examples of Jewish men marrying Gentile women with a positive result:
     Ruth and Rahab.
Examples of Jewish men marrying Gentile women with a negative result:
     Soloman and his wives; & the women that Ezra sent packing :-)
The difference in these two cases above, is that the women in the
first example embrased Judaism, in the second example they were still
in their pagan religion.  And in the second example, neither were
their children considered Jewish, in the first ex. they were.
Now, we are told by Rav Sha'ul/(Paul) that whatever state you are
in when you are called, therein you must remain circumcision/
uncircumcision.  Some Messianic Shules might conclude that the only
exception to this would be a Gentile marrying a Jew, in which case
SOME might allow the Gentile to become a proselyte; (others wouldn't
though).  -The reasoning being that they are becoming one flesh.
     Often in Rabbinic Judaism, you will see the gentile converting,
but then in no way practicing Judaism once they are married, -& more
more important is practice from the heart than conversion in the flesh.
     Which brings up the next point, Observance Judaicly speaking.
By the Biblical examples, it is NOT kosher for a Jewish person to
give up their Judaic Observance.
Therefore, when a Jew marries a Gentile, the Gentile cannot impose
their level/lack of Observance on the Jew.  -(example, saying that
he/she may no longer keep kosher, etc...).  But by the same token,
the Jewish person may not IMPOSE their level of Observance on the
Gentile, -(example, you HAVE to keep kosher -[said to the Gentile]).
-As long as the Gentile spouse is living by the Mitzvot/Commandments
of the B'nai-Noachim/(children of Noah) as a Righteous Gentile, -[as
they are now in Messiah Y'shua].  (Of course, that makes it almost
impossible to keep Rabbinic kosher, but it is still quite possible to
maintain personally a Biblical kosher.)
     However, it doesn't stop there.  The Gentile is allowed, in
freedom as led of the L-rd, to practice the Judaic Injunctions. And
needs to maintain at least as much of an atmosphere in the household,
so that they are not a hinderance to the Jewish's spouses observance.
     If only the father is Jewish: in Reform and Messainic Judaism,
your children would still considered Jewish, in Conservative and
Orthodox -no.  {And, the Reform and Messianic stances can be shown from
Scripture by the father determining the status of the children/
household}.  And you'd all still be allowed to make Aliyah to Israel,
but for purposes citizenship, only the Jewish father is considered
Jewish.  [perhaps many of the Israeli citizens would consider your
children Jewish though].
     Finally, it would be your responsibility as the Jewish spouse to
see to it that your children are brought up in the faith of our
fathers, (and since you are a Believer), that expression being Biblical
Messianic Judaism.
... 012Think not that I am come to annul the Torah or the Prophets:210    
--  
Bill Carlson - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
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