I’ve just read an opinion piece printed at the Jerusalem Post, and I felt compelled to comment on it, as it is full of straw man fallacies, and misinformation. Here is the article: How to reply when the doorbell rings… First, the author twists the idea of a Triune God into polytheism…which is very odd because Christians proclaim “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one” Deut. 6:4 And, we are careful to note the use of the plural noun Elohim for “God” and the use of echad for “one.” This is important because, unlike the word “yachid” in Hebrew, which denotes a completely single unit; echad can be used when there is a unity of things comprising a single unit. The word yachid is never used in connection with God. There is indeed only one God, not three; He is triune in Nature, but there are not three Gods, there is only One!
Also, the idea was presented that Christians try to claim that Judaism and Christianity are exactly the same; this is not true, I’ve never heard a Messianic believer, or a Christian make that claim. Christianity has its roots in Judaism, and Jesus is the awaited Messiah of Judaism. Jesus was Jewish as were His earliest disciples. To have a true understanding of Christianity, one must study and come to understand that Christianity is basically pointing to the fact that the Jewish Messiah has indeed come, and through Him, there is a new covenant, a new way to righteousness buy the fulfillment of the old law by Jesus (Yeshua, which was His Hebrew name), and His sacrificial death, His role as the Kinsman redeemer, and our Passover, etc…
As for there not being a Son or mother of God; I agree with the “mother” part, as Mary was the mother of Jesus, she carried God in her womb and gave birth to Him; but God has no beginning. Also, the language used is a nod to humanity’s limited understanding. The Lord has to reveal Himself in a way that our minds can comprehend, and also take into account the fact that we are stuck in a limited “dimensional” understanding. Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. There is little doubt that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, and the idea of being begotten is to help underline the fact of His divinity. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. And that leads to the point that Jesus is indeed God’s word made flesh, or the wisdom of God; Jesus:God’s Wisdom is a good write up that connects this aspect of Christ back to Old Testament, Jewish understanding, in support of the Trinity.
There was also a claim that Messianic Jews are not persecuted; this is a deliberate falsehood as far as I can see. There have been many interviews, and even documentaries done on the treatment of Messianic Jews living in Israel; they are often persecuted for Jesus’ sake. For one example, see this Time article: Israel’s Messianic Jews Under Attack… Also, those coming to a belief in Jesus as Messiah often get labeled “Traitor” by their own people, and many are disowned from their own families. You can read it in the author’s tone that he does not believe that one can come to a faith in Jesus, and still be Jewish…that has to be a slap in the face to our Messianic Jewish brethren.
In the comments section, there are even more misunderstandings; Christians realize that Jesus was born a Jew, lived a Jew, and died a Jew…He also resurrected as a Jew, albeit He is also the Light of the Gentiles, and He would have had a glorified body. Also, there is the false idea that the gospel, and the evidence for Christ only comes in the New Testament. This is patently not so; the gospel message, and the prophecies pointing to the Messiah are also found in the Old Testament. In fact, this is made plain in New Testament scriptures that point out that the OT was what was available as evidence for Jesus fulfilling the prophecies, and also by conversion stories shared by modern Jewish believers; many come to faith in the Messiah Jesus precisely because the OT scripture points straight to Him.
You can’t read the article and not sense the underlying anger in the words…and while not excusable, is understandable given the persecution the Jewish people have faced, some of that persecution was carried out by those labelling themselves Christian. It is a very sad thing that many Jewish individuals don’t examine the claims of Christ through logic and OT scripture, with an open heart and eyes, but rather through (understandable) emotion; it is sad for He is their awaited Messiah. What prophecies He did not fulfill during the time He walked the earth, He will indeed fulfill at His second coming. The Jewish people still hold a special place in God’s heart, according to scripture, and He will fulfill His promises to them.
