Facts About Jews for Jesus (my comments in purple)

Jews for Jesus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Jews for Jesus is an Evangelical organization founded in 1973 by Martin Rosen, also known as Moishe Rosen an ordained Baptist minister, with a goal of converting Jews to Christianity.

Their official mission statement is "to make the messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide", and the organization claims to be "one of the most extensive evangelistic outreaches to Jewish people in the world today". They have also sent their members as far as Ukraine and Russia.

According to its Executive Director, Jews for Jesus has many non-Jews in administrative and staff positions but deploys "only front-line missionaries who are Jewish or married to Jews". <http://www.jfjonline.org/about/corevalues/core4.htm> However, some of the missionaries identify themselves as Jewish when in fact only their spouse, father, or grandfather is Jewish, and these missionaries would not be considered Jews in most of the communities they evangelize.

Jews for Jesus is rejected as "un-Jewish" by Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism and by other messianic Jewish groups and by many Christians. Its critics charge that Jews for Jesus is Jewish in name only, due to the organization's lack of Torah observance and a statement of faith indistinguishable from those of other Evangelical para-church groups.

The Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, an umbrella organization that includes Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran and Presbyterian church groups, has condemned Jews for Jesus as promoting activities "harmful to the spirit of interreligious respect and tolerance". The conference also denounces the group's "deceptive proselytizing efforts", stating that when practiced on "vulnerable populations" such as the young or the elderly, these efforts are "tantamount to coerced conversions". <http://www.adl.org/special_reports/jews4jesus/christian_responses.asp> The Rev. Clark Lobenstine, a Presbyterian minister and executive director of the Conference, has stated that his group condemns Jews for Jesus and other messianic Jewish groups by name because they "go beyond the bounds of appropriate and ethically based religious outreach". <http://www.rickross.com/reference/jews_for_jesus/jews_for_jesus30.html>

The Board of Governors of The Long Island Council of Churches voiced similar sentiments in a statement that "noted with alarm" the "subterfuge and dishonesty" inherent in the "mixing [of] religious symbols in ways which distort their essential meaning", and named Jews for Jesus as one of the three groups about whom such behavior was alleged. <http://www.adl.org/special_reports/jews4jesus/christian_responses.asp>

The Christian Scholars Group on Christian-Jewish Relations, consisting of 22 Christian scholars, theologians, historians and clergy from six Christian Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church, issued a statement in September 2002, "A Sacred Obligation: Rethinking Christian Faith in Relation to Judaism and the Jewish People", offering ten positions "for the consideration of our fellow Christians". Among them the following are listed: "Christians should not target Jews for conversion. Christian worship that teaches contempt for Judaism dishonors God."

The Boca Raton News newspaper wrote in November 2003 article County Jewish organizations protest evangelical attempt <http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&category=LOCAL%20NEWS&prid=6689>:

"The JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) is deeply disturbed and distressed, however, with the practices of these so-called ‘Hebrew Christians’ that demean Judaism by suggesting it is not as valid a faith as that of the proselytizer. These groups have undertaken an aggressive and deceptive campaign of proselytizing to the Jewish community, targeting our most vulnerable members, including the frail elderly and college students, with the intent to convert them to Christianity."

Jews for Jesus defends its actions against these charges, stating:

"If a person believes the Bible and believes that Jesus is the only way of salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9,10) and then that person declines to tell a Jewish friend about Christ, it indicates one of two things. Either that person has decided that the Jews are not worthy of the gospel, in which case he would be a racist, an anti-Semite and a hater of people instead of the lover of people that God wants him to be. Or perhaps he has judged the gospel as being unworthy of the Jews in which case he has trivialized the passion of Calvary and the awesome significance of Christ's resurrection." [5] http://www.jfjonline.org/about/targeting.htm

Is "Jews for Jesus" a cult?

Most Hebrew/Christian groups, like Jews for Jesus, do not fit the specific definitions of cults. However, many of them use cult-like tactics in their recruitment.

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/web/faq/faq_cmi04.html

What characteristics define a cult?

Cults, or more specifically, destructive cults, are characterized by the following differences from mainstream groups:

1. In religious cults the leader is the central focus of belief. In mainstream religions, G-d is the central focus.

2. Cult recruitment includes deception and concealment of identity and requirements of affiliation. Mainstream groups use no deception and new members are fully aware of the teachings and expectations before they make a commitment.

3. Cults use mind-control techniques and forms of hypnosis to indoctrinate followers. Emotional needs are exploited and people are held psychological hostages through peer pressure, guilt, and fear. Mainstream groups do not resort to unethical means to persuade members.

4. Leaders of cults make their own rules and laws which are often contrary to the rules and laws of society. They often reframe criminal acts (cheating, lying, stealing, even murder) as the will of G-d. Mainstream groups uphold and value the laws of society.

5. Cults separate and alienate people from family, friends, and society. Mainstream groups value healthy involvement with family, friends and society. 6. Cults are self-serving, often amassing financial fortunes for the leaders at the expense of the followers. In mainstream groups, leaders serve the people and contribute to the welfare of society in general.

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/web/faq/faq_cmi01.html

How do Christians feel about "Jews for Jesus" groups?

A number of sensitive Christians have condemned the deceptions of groups like "Jews for Jesus." Other Christian individuals and groups have been less sensitive to Jewish community concerns, and Christian churches continue to spend over $250 million annually in the United States alone to convert Jews to Christianity. Most of the missionary and conversionary groups are affiliated with Protestant denominations

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/web/faq/faq_cmi11.html

Missionary Tactics

A GUIDE TO MISSIONARY TACTICS

This guide is intended to teach you about the tactics used by missionary groups and cults.

The tactics of missionaries and missionary groups may vary, but there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind that will be helpful in dealing with them.

CAMOUFLAGE

Some missionaries attempt to develop a rapport with their subject without divulging their own religious affiliation. If you are not sure about the religious identity of the stranger who begins talking to you about religion, ask him directly if he is a believer in Jesus. Be suspicious of an indirect answer.

Don't be deceived by any outer signs of Jewishness, such as a "Chai" necklace or a Star of David. They are worn to make Jews feel more comfortable by making the speaker seem less "Christian". For the same reason, missionaries are coached by their superiors to avoid using words such as "Christ" or "saved" or "baptize" when speaking to Jews, in order not to arouse suspicion.

ASSUMING SUPERIORITY

When talking to a Jewish person about religion, a missionary may attempt to elicit as many "I don't know" responses as possible, in order to establish his superiority in matters of religion. Don't allow yourself to be intimidated!

Remember, the missionary has studied Jewish beliefs for the sole purpose of leading Jews to Christianity. Keep in mind that he is not speaking to you in order to exchange ideas, but rather to lead you away from your religion. If you want to learn more about the Jewish Bible, do so from someone who doesn't have hidden motives. Therefore, feel free to simply end the conversation and walk away.

However, some of you may want to listen to their arguments and then learn the Jewish response, in order to be better prepared for future encounters. The following pointers should give you a basic idea of what to look for.

DECEPTION

The missionary may tell you that he (or a Christian friend or acquaintance) was once an Orthodox Jew, or that he had a solid Jewish education, a traditional Jewish family life, etc. This is almost always a lie, so don't let him fool you. The hidden message that he is attempting to convey is that he came to believe in Jesus after knowing and overcoming all of the Jewish objections, and therefore, why should you bother to check it out?

He may drop certain Yiddish phrases or talk about the details of his "traditional" Jewish upbringing, in order to lend more credence to his story. In fact, his "memory" is often the result of careful coaching.

Usually, all that is necessary to expose this type of hoax is to ask him about various small details of Jewish life that any observant Jewish child would know, and see how he responds. In almost all cases, he will begin to hedge about the extent of his "background" and "Jewish knowledge". Unfortunately, most Jews are themselves not knowledgeable enough to be able to expose this type of deception.

In the same vein, the missionary might tell you that he knows the Jewish objections to his arguments, and will then proceed to show how such objectives are ill-founded. Don't expect to hear the real Jewish response from such a source.

LOVING US TO DEATH

Don't be taken in by the "good cop - bad cop" routine. This routine involves a "bad cop" who threatens the subject, and a "good cop" who protects him from the "bad cop". The subject is so grateful to the "good cop", and so worried about losing the good-will of his protector, that he invariably shows his appreciation by telling the "good cop" what he wants to hear. In similar fashion, the "good" Christian talks about how much he loves Jews, Israel, bagels and lox, etc., while denouncing the "bad" Christians who hate and persecute Jews. A Jew with any knowledge of Christian anti-Semitism will feel grateful to the "good cop", and may automatically judge him to be a friend and reliable ally. Watch out for hidden motives behind such "friendship".

COVER-UP

At the outset, the missionary will talk about his belief that Jesus is the messiah. Many Jews don't find out until later, often after they have joined a Hebrew-Christian group, that their fundamental belief is that Jesus is G-D. Any talk about "the messiah" or "son of G-D" is merely a cover for that belief, basic to both fundamentalist Christianity and Hebrew-Christians. However, since such a concept is repugnant to most Jews, this most basic belief of Christianity is glossed over as much as possible when missionaries talk to Jews.

THE NUMBERS RACKET

Don't be impressed by the claim that Christians have 50, or 100, or 300 "proofs from the Jewish Bible" that they are correct in their claims about Jesus. As proof after proof is shown to be meaningless, the missionary will hide behind his numbers, as if to say: "Well, we have so many more proofs, what's the difference if you can disprove some of them". He will attempt to "split the difference" with you: "Well, even if half our proofs prove nothing, we still have another 25 or 50, or 150". Remember, all of their proofs can be shown to be untenable. Keep in mind that a faulty point is not worth 50% of a good point, or 25%, or 10%. It is worthless. The simple mathematics are: 50 x 0 = 0, 100 x 0 = 0, 300 x 0 = 0.

CIRCULAR REASONING

Very often, the reasoning used by Christian missionaries is circular. That is, the "proof" only points to Jesus if you believe in him in the first place, and therefore is no proof at all.

Let us take as an example the words of Isaiah 11:2; "And the spirit of the L-rd will rest upon him (the messiah), the spirit of wisdom and understanding...". This verse refers to the messiah, but it does not identify him. The followers of Jesus chose to attribute this verse to him, and it subsequently became one of the "proof-texts" to support the claims of Christianity.

One way to test such verses is as follows: Pick a figure that neither you nor the missionary believes to be the messiah. (It can be George Washington, Reverend Moon, or your great- grandfather.) Then see if the "messianic prophecy" would point to the figure in the eyes of anyone who believed him to be the messiah. If it can be used that way, the verse obviously proves nothing.

MISTRANSLATION

Be aware of the problem of mistranslation. A person who is not familiar with Hebrew (or with the Hebrew text of the Bible) can be lead to accept a mistranslation of the Bible which puts a Christian "twist" on a verse that never had such a meaning in the original. If you can't check it out yourself, talk to a reliable person who can. Remember, it is no coincidence that the Jews of past generations, who were much better versed in the original Hebrew Bible, never had any serious problems refuting Christian missionary arguments.

QUOTING OUT OF CONTEXT

Often a verse will be quoted to you that has been taken entirely out of context. When the entire chapter that contains that verse is read, it becomes clear that: 1) that the verse is not a messianic prophecy, and/or 2) the prophecy could not possibly refer to Jesus.

USE THE PROPER RESOURCES!

Most rabbis spend their time studying the positive aspects of Judaism to teach to their congregants, and therefore may not be familiar with the "curve-ball" approach of missionaries. If you need advice concerning a problem of this sort, get in touch with people who are familiar with the tactics being used and who know how to deal with them.
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http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/web/faq/general-tactics.html

So lets see, a group that uses deceit to gather followers. Sounds pretty hateful to me.

 

“So lets see, a group that uses deceit to gather followers. Sounds pretty hateful to me.”

Some missionaries have absolutely no shame and will go to any lengths to try and get Jewish souls. There are missionaries in Israel posing as protesters for Gush Katif so they can mix in with the Jewish protesters and then missionize to them. At a time when Israel is divided and on the edge of disaster and these people only care about getting Jewish trophies. Jews for Jesus stand for the total destruction of Judaism.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=86611

 

A Jew for Jesus is a Christian...

It's okay to be a Christian. It's a perfectly good way to live your life.

But if you're a Christian, call you're self a Christian, not a Jew.

 

No, they're Christian Jews. A mix of both. They're just Jews that believe in Y'shua. -It's not a change, but a fulfillment of their belief. Christians don't follow the extra stuff in the old testament, Messianic Jews do.

Y'shua was a Jew. His apostles were all Jews, who were finally there to witness the fulfillment of their scriptures. Or did they, just because they saw him ascend, become Christian?

If a Christian sees a fulfillment of his scriptures, would he automaticly be something else?

A good example of one of those Jews would be Peter:

Acts 10:9-16

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."

14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."

15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.


A Christian Omnivore would have said: " Yes, LORD!!! I'll take that food! Yum!! Thank you so much LORD!"

 

How about a fulfillment of Judaism?

 

Judaism is complete and eternal all on it's own. It needs no other religion. Devarim 13 warns us to not follow that which was not taught by the fathers and grandfathers. Christianity (yes Messianics too) follow things outside the bounds of Torah and it's laws. Therefore it will be seperated forever.

And if Messyantics aren't christians how come over 80% of you are Goy christians?

 

Huh?

And what do you mean with Judaism not needing another religion? Messianics are Jews who believe that Y'shua's their Messiah prophecied in scripture.

Fulfillment, not change.

 

Jews for Jesus was started by the southern baptists. The baptists! Probably the most anti-Jewish denomination out there. There are nearly a dozen denominations that have messianic churches across America. all under the guise of Jewish shules. The whole messianic church wasn't even started until the 60s and 70s.

Nearly 80% of the messianic movement are not even Jewish. They are GENTILES. If the messianic movement was simply a movement of Judaism that thinks Jesus is the messiah then they wouldn't still think him divine, or as g-d. They would also have at least some under standing of what the Jewish Moshiach would do and be when he comes. Nearly all of which Jesus was not.

When you learn Judaism from Jewish frum Jews things become much clearer than when learned from the baptists. Go to jewfaq.org and start your education about Jews FROM Jews.

 

I find it interesting that the only person who's arguing in favor of them is a Christian. Not an insult, just an observation.

 

A christian who believes everything in the bible literally happened, and that the Earth is 9,000 years old.

 

I apologize if i came off a bit harsh. Think of it this way, when a Mormon comes knocking on your door and tells you that there is more to your new testament and the Book of Mormon is the final way and answer. Well that's what Jews and Noahides feel like when christians come along and try to explain how Judaism, after thousands of years is suddenly all wrong.

 

Because I know of some.

But by many Orthodox Jews, I'd doubt many here would be in favor here, since that'd be supporting the NT...

Not meant harshly, I don't support the 'Last testament' either! ^^;

 

Judaism ain't wrong.

 

Wow, you really love us Christians, eh?

 

I, personally, think they're more like a cross between both.
I can't really put them in either catagory, to be honest.

Well, I'm not gonna go nit-picking about if they're Jews or Christians ( or just plainly Christian Jews ).

But one could just concider it a Jewish 'cult', no?

JW's are for us Christian cults (since they seem more new-age to us)

 

If you were a Christian that did not believe everything in the Bible literally then what kind of Christian would you be?