benning@uunet.uu.net (01/16/91)
Brother and Sisters in Jesus, Here is an option I wanted to throw out to anyone who is locked into a Marriage where there is a Believer and a non-believer and the non- believer is Jewish. This can also apply to a marriage where the believer is Jewish and the spouse in a non-believing-gentile. -Look up the local Messianic Synagogue, (see yellow pages under synagogue -Messianic). Just a few years ago there were only a hand full of Messianic Congregations. Today there are around 110. And the number is growing. Don't be fooled by the bad press, the number of Jews who are coming to Jesus as their Messiah is Quite large. The number grows each day. For me it has been a blessing from Heaven! And I will admit that at first I was not real sure about "Messianics" because of the "Judaizar" stamp. I spoke to them a few times and tested the waters. For the most part, the congregation was 75% Jewish believers. They invited us out for a Chanukah service to meet some of the folks. It was then I knew I had found my home. Now I will admit, you will need to adapt to the place in some ways but your beliefs will remain intact. It's not a "cult" that will indoctrinate you into the "true" Christian way like JW or CLS. And ther is no FAITH by WORKS either, though there is real focus to follow the laws as much as possible. NOT to be rightous, but because if they are G-d's laws, they can't be bad. It is just a place where Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah can go and worship and be believers as Jews. Paul said in I Cor 7:17-19 to remain where you were when you were saved. If you are a Jew, don't try to become un-Jewish. The main difference is that Messianic Jews recognize the New Covenant more as a Jewish book than the "gentiles scriptures." In most cases you will meet on the Shabbat (Saturday). The last "seder" is done with matza, not bread or wafers. The children learn to read and write hebrew (adults also in some cases). As a gentile believer in Jesus, I found that when He made me into a new creation, the one thing that really stands out is my heart has been made Jewish. But for me (and others in my congregation, Jew and Gentile alike) the Messianic Congregation has done wonders because neither my wife or I try to "pull" the kids in opposite directions. I have made a commitment to bring my children up as Jews who believe in Jesus. My wife found this to be an acceptable compromise, and she also is drawing near to the reality of Jesus being the Messiah, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. I hope this helps someone. Bruce Benning