Summertime....and the livin's Jewish

Last evening my bride and I participated in a Bat Mitzvah for a beautiful 14 year old young woman named Atalie. It was a transformational event in this woman's life. She eventually stood up and said: "Today I am a woman". It was electrifying to see a youth become an adult, right before our eyes.All the signifficant people in her life came and spoke life into her. It was truly amazing.

In America, we seem to simply not allow our kids to officially become adults, do we? At least not so that we as a whole community, embrace them as such.

Hence some would say we have a lot of American men wondering for years: "Hey, do I really have what it takes to be a man?" Or we have big girls, looking for approval from those same guys by selling out their femininity, hoping some surogate for their dad will say to them: "You are beautiful. You are an adult."

In Judaism it is just not a question. The culture knows when the switch is made...as do the newly-minted adults.

For those who are frequent readers of the blog, you know how much the customs of Israel mean to me. My bride and I a decade ago renewed our marriage vows in Israel via a Jewish 7-Blessings Wedding Service on the Mt. of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane . Rabbi Daniel Fink helped me in the writing of them, by giving me a wonderful book on the Wedding Feast.

Our youngest son had his Bar Mitzvah three years ago on his 13th birthday. The Jewishness of Jesus made this event so memorable for all the men in attendance, including my son.

Christianity cannot and must not distance itself from the beauty of Judaism. Embracing Jewish traditions helps deepen our faith as believers in Yeshua.

Den

Comments

[Dennis Mansfield]

Cynthia,
You are not far from the Kingdom of God.

Your questions are honest. Your perspective, quite conventional from a normal Christian point of view.

Could it be that the Jewish roots of Christianity will eventually result in the Jewish fruit in eternity?

In other words if God didn't capriciously choose Abraham, Isaac and Israel/Jacob in the Old Testament AND if HE did not capriciously choose words about eternity in the book of Revelation, then what do you make of us celebrating the Feast of Booths in Heaven? What about other Jewish Feasts that we will celebrate in eternity?

Our salvation is not dependent on what we do or do not do, right? It is the Messiah's actions...and HIS calling. He chooses us...and we either respond or do not, correct?

Since the word covenant is synonymous with testament, we are FORCED into acknowledging our Jewish roots every time we even say New Testament...and the Jewish fruit, as well.

You are not far, Cynthia.
Keep searching...
Den

[Cynthia Jones]

Will you please tell me the scriptures from the New Testament where Jesus told us to stay close to "the Law" of Judaism which he had come to fulfill? Have I missed the part where he reminded us to keep the Festivals, Feasts, etc.?

I realize that he said that not one thing would ever pass from the Law, but I think of it like my mortgage. The bank NEVER let me off the hook, however, it was PAID IN FULL, and I now no longer owe that debt. Isn't that what Jesus did for us?

Maybe I'm just horribly confused, but if he died on that cross so that my sins would be forgiven, then WHY would I want to return to my indebtedness. Wouldn't that be like continuing to send the bank a payment every month even though I no longer owed the debt?

As I read it, it was those of the Judeans who preferred to stay under the Law, rather than take Jesus up on his offer, who were so deeply offended by his message of no longer needing to be under the law - weren't they the ones who called for his crucifiction? And didn't they hate their fellow Judeans who believed in him as the long awaited Messiah?

And don't they still? How does Israel today respond to Messianic Jews?

It just seems to me that there is something wrong with saying that those of us who love Jesus should continue to honor those who do not, and even join them in their "Lawful" rituals. It seems deeply disrespectful to our Lord and Savior. Personally, I can't bring myself to do that.

I can continue to love ALL people without acquiescing to them.