Y Not I

Well, I have finished the book, Postmissionary Messianic Judaism, Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People by Mark S. Kinzer, and here are my final thoughts on the book and the movement that it has come about using it’s conclusions.

First of all, I think there is no doubt that the book is well written and researched. It does use the language of theology which includes a large number of words that might be unfamiliar to the average reader (I certainly had to spend some time looking up some of the words). Even though it is a bit difficult to read, I do think it is a good book to read and one that I would recommend to Messianic Jews. It provides a great resource of the history of the early Church and the early Jewish believers and what transpired over the centuries since the time of the Yeshua, as well as to the rise of modern day Messianic Judaism. It also provides a good defense of Messianic Judaism as a valid form of Yeshua faith, and expresses rather convincingly the differences between Jew and Gentile when it comes to things like the Torah and the commandments of God.

However, I think the book makes some large leaps of logic, that I, myself am not persuaded to make. I think the connection of Yeshua and Israel in Isaiah 53, for example is, for one thing, playing into the hands of Rabbinic Jews who call Yeshua faith a false faith. If, as many Jews think, Isaiah 53 is about Israel, then how does it paint such a perfect picture of Yeshua? It seems to me to water down such an important piece of Scripture and give rise to doubts. I just do not see, as Kinzer does, that Romans 11 is indicating that connection.

I also think the book looks at the rise of Rabbinic Judaism as something that Godly men came up with. However, to me I do not see it this way. I think the Rabbi’s were well intentioned, but wrong in their basis and thus wrong in their execution. I have a great deal of difficulty seeing the Rabbi’s who totally and complete reject Yeshua as the promised Messiah of God, to be serving the same God and working His purposes. One of the things the book tries to persuade in is that God wanted Rabbinic Judaism as part of His purposes so in this end days it can be brought back together with the Church as part of the “all Israel will be saved” prophecy of Romans 11. Does this mean that these Rabbi’s, Rambam, etc, etc. have found salvation via another source other than faith in Yeshua, or does it mean that God used those who appear to be lost, and would be assumed to be in a place of torment and gnashing of teeth, etc., for the Holy purpose of bringing forth a Godly system of how to walk and act. To me something does not jive there, and I just cannot accept Rabbinic practice as anything more than what I see it as today. Something that can be nice and it can be bad. It has portions that I can use as good traditions and modes, but one in which I ultimately have absolutely zero obligation to in any way of form. I totally reject the authority of the Rabbis and do not at all see them as bringing forth the Torah, but rather see them as constantly perverting the Torah. I see it no different than I think the differences Yeshua had with the Pharisees of His day. Rabbinic Judaism to me seems to be full of extras that I find burdensome, more than spiritual. I find, for one small example, the need for a Rabbi to come to my home and check my muzuzah parchment for readability to be a money making endeavor, as no one reads the parchment, as it is encased in the muzuzah. Dividing commandments down in such a way as can only make a lawyer smile, to me does not seem to be the will of God. It does not seem as the way Yeshua lived, walked and taught His disciples, but does seem to be what He argued against. How can I therefore accept this same behavior as an authority to me on the Word of God, especially when they reject the Word become flesh. Call it supersessionism if you like, but I plainly call the Rabbis as wrong and lost.

I also think the conclusions and suggestions going forth are what I would label as “pie-in-the-sky.” I think the idea that the Rabbinic Jews would in any shape or way welcome Messianic in, as long as they stop missionary activity to be far far overly optimistic. While I think it would be nice to bring the Church to Israel and then Israel would come to the Church, I do no think the conclusions Kinzer comes up with are realistic.

So, while it is an interesting and in some ways important read, overall I think Postmissionary Messianic Judaism is more dangerous than needed. The most interesting part of the concept though is that of the obligation of Jews to keep Torah. I am always curious about the actual meaning of obligation. If a Jew does not keep Torah, then do they receive salvation? I think it brings up the question of works and their place in our faith. In my view, Jews should keep Torah, but they are free to choose and do whatever they wish. I think if God is truly writing His Law on our hearts, then we would natural want to do that which is written on our hearts and thus do it. This to mean seems different than obligation, although through both the Laws are being kept, however one seems to be as part of a relationship and the other is as part of an obligation.

Of course obligations can be kept as part of a relationship. If I keep an obligation to do something I really do not wish to do for my wife, I do so out of the love of our relationship. In that manner I can see the obligation to keep Torah, however that obligation is not something that most people accept right off the bat. It usually takes time in any relationship to develop the love and trust to a point where obligations are something that are done virtually unquestioned. However, it seems to me, that Kinzer is writing of an obligation that appears to be more one that is enforced through something like training, rather than as part of a growing relationship.

It was a wonderful and delightful read, but I do disagree with the conclusions. From my poll, it seems as if it was close to a 50/50 split between those, like me who see PMJ as something dangerous and those that feel it is something that is needed. I will leave the poll up for a few more days (especially as I decide what to ask next), so vote if you haven’t and leave any comments you feel would add to the discussion.

B”H