Messianic Judaism

Judaism is a religion that has been thought to be reserved for those who believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. While Christians celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of the Messiah Jesus the Christ, Jews are still awaiting the arrival of the Messiah God promised them in the Old Testament, or Torah. There is another Sect of Jews who have more in common with the Christians than most people realize; the Messianic Jews. This sect has accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah, while yet practicing the traditions of the Orthodox Jews. Many Christians and Orthodox Jews alike have a difficult time receiving them or understanding their stand as it relates to God. Messianic Jews are in the middle. They are not Jewish enough because they accept Jesus Christ, and they are not Christian because they continue in the Jewish practices. Many Christians seem to have the idea that they have a monopoly on Christ, not recognizing that Jesus was a Jew and his primary purpose was to come for the Jews. Although the practices of the Messianic Jews are different from those of Christianity, many Christians could greatly benefit from the teachings of Messianic Judaism.

I had the opportunity to sit through a Messianic Jewish service, and interview a member of the congregation. The members of Kehilat Meshiach greeted me and my husband with open arms. They were very kind and accommodating. The synagogue which is located at 717 E 7th St. in Upland California was actually a church that the congregation shared with a Hispanic Christian church. This worked out perfectly for both congregations because the Christian Church worshipped on Sundays, and the Jewish Church worshipped on Saturdays. We were asked our names and what brought us there to worship with them on such a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I explained our intentions, they gave me a Jewish Hymn Book called the Siddur Hadash and showed us to our seats. The service soon began with an opening prayer in English and in Hebrew. We soon began praise and worship. It was very different than anything I had ever experienced before. There was one lady playing a piano in a very high pitch singing at this same very high pitch while the congregation looked on. Eventually the people began to stand and join in. Some of the songs were in English, but many of them were in Hebrew. We did a lot of call and response from the Siddur Hadash in English and in Hebrew. It was very similar to a Catholic service. We did two prayers while facing east to Israel, and had a time to remember family members who had past on before us. Just when I thought the minister was about to begin speaking or preaching, he called two men from the congregation to the cabinet to pull out the Torah. He instructed us to take our Bibles or those who wear wearing tallits to take whichever one you had, touch the Torah, and kiss the Bible or Tallit which ever you had. He explained this was a very important portion of the service, and we should be jubilant while partaking in it. The same lady began to play a very high pitched happy song and everyone danced as the two men carried the Torah around the room. The Torah was then taken back to the platform and after we said a pray it was placed back into the cabinet. The Rabbi used the Complete Jewish Bible as a reference to his message. It was very interesting reading a book from in my view back to front. The message was very inspiring, and much like many messages I heard before in the Christian church.

Once the service was over I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the members in passing and ask them questions. I wanted to know if the beginning of the service, meaning everything before the Rabbi gave his message, was a form of praise and worship. I was informed yes and they called it the Liturgic portion of the service. Many gave me their story of how they came to be a Messianic Jew. Most were Christians seeking more than the hustle bustle, slab it grab it, sew where you want to go mentality of the mainstream Christian mega churches they had come from. There were some who were Jewish from birth and had an experience with Christ so decided to continue in Judaism recognizing Jesus as Messiah. There was one lady that stuck out because she didn't look like any of the other people in the room. She was a black lady who looked to be in her early forties. Once I began speaking with her she informed me that she was in her late fifties. Her name is Ethel Gardner; she has been a practicing Messianic Jew for ten years now. She caught my eye because I too am a black woman, and traditionally black church looks so much different than what I had just experienced in the Messianic Jewish Synagogue. My first question was how did you end up in a Messianic Jewish church. Her answer to me was simple. "I wanted a real experience with God, not the Pastor, not the Deacon, but with God." She stated that she had been involved in organized religion for 30 years, and in 20 of those 30 years it seemed that the church had pushed God to the back burner." Ms. Gardener who is a mother three children and Grandmother of two was very candid in expressing her distaste for where "the church" has gone. She explained, "Many of the scriptures that many pastors quote have been completely taken out of context, they lack understanding of the true meaning of God's word. It seems many ministers in the church are more concerned with their personal agendas, that God is no longer welcome in the church." Ms. Gardner tells of the day she last stepped foot in a Christian church she said, "I had come out of the church and I felt worse than I had when I went in. Back in 1992 my only son died in a car crash when he was only 17 years old. I was told by all of the Christians Ð''he's in a better place, or what did you do, you must have done something wrong.' Although his death happened a few years prior I still mourned my son, and wanted some hope of the pain going away. I had always gone to the church, but being in the church just didn't help any more." She stated, "This day I walked out of the church and made the decision I'd never go back. I sat in my car a cried out to God. I told him if what I am getting in Church is all you are about, then I no longer want it, but if there is more to you please show me and I will serve you forever. I cried for two hours in my car waiting to hear from God. I spoke those words out of pain knowing that there had to be more to God than what I had been experiencing. When I decided to drive away my cell phone rang. It was a friend of mine asking me to come to her church service. I immediately told her I could not go. She would not take no for an answer. She told me it wouldn't be like anything I had ever experienced. She explained that she had become a Messianic Jew. I laughed. I said I'm sorry I believe in Christ. She said