Common Questions to Tzedakah Ministries
I heard a pastor recently
speak on how the church is now the True Israel. What did he
mean by “True
Israel” and is he correct?
Aren’t Jewish people
saved by Moses and the Old Testament while the rest of us are
saved through Jesus and the New Testament?
Why should believers
in Jesus read the Old Testament? Isn’t the Old Testament
unnecessary now that Jesus has come?
During the opening scene of The Passion
of the Christ, why did the Satan figure use a snake? Was
he trying to scare Jesus?
I had a friend asked me
once what happened to those who died in the Holocaust and I
didn’t know what
to say. What is the best answer for this impossible question?
How should churches and Christians respond
the horrific reality of the Holocaust?
When a Jewish person becomes a believer in
Jesus, should they attend a church or a Messianic congregation?
What does it mean to be Kosher observant?
What is Tzedakah Ministries' position about the present leadership [of Israel] giving land away to appease the Muslim world? Is God going to sit still when they give away the "Holy Mountains of Israel?" What will the wrath of God be upon those nations pushing for the giveaway of the covenant land? - Dr. Gayle, Oklahoma
How do I explain to my Jewish friends the concept of the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist? - Susie, Texas
When is the next year for the observance of Jubilee on the Jewish calendar? -- Dan, Arkansas
Where did the Star of David come from? Where did it originate? -- Susie, Texas
When and how will the Third Temple be rebuilt? -- Susie, Texas
Is there a feminine equivalent of "Abba?" -- Valarie, Arkansas
In history has anyone ever purchased the Temple Mount, legally and not as a spoil of war, besides King David when he bought it from Arunah the Jebusite? Does this purchase of the site by David not provide more legal standing to ownership than any other nation? Valarie, Arkansas
Is there a difference between "Messianic Jew" and "Jewish Believer" or "Completed Jew?" Is there a such thing as a "Jewish Christian?" -- Michelle, Georgia
I have a question about a Jewish Issue. How can I ask it?
I heard a pastor recently speak on how the church is now the True
Israel. What did he mean by “True Israel” and is he
correct?
I am always cautious to criticize a local pastor but unfortunately
he is wrong. What he was teaching is called Replacement Theology
(also known as supercessionism) – the idea that the “Church” replaced
Israel and the Jewish people as God’s Chosen People. And
while on the surface it sounds good it ignores the reality of
God’s
unconditional covenant with the Jewish people.
The covenant that
God made with Abraham in Genesis 12, 15, 17 (see also parts one and two in Tzedakah Moment’s “Whose
Land Is It Anyway?”) was unique in several ways. First,
Abraham had nothing to do with the covenant agreement because
God did all the work (Genesis 15). Secondly, while there are
many covenants found in Scripture this is one of the few that
has no conditions to it. Israel and the Jewish people broke promises
to God (i.e., Deuteronomy 29 and 30) and they were punished for
their disobedience. However, the eternality of their chosen nature
is unconditional because they did nothing to deserve it and they
could do nothing to keep it. An excellent theological article
on this subject is Craig Blaising’s “The Future of
Israel as a Theological Question” in the September 2001
issue of the Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society.
A book which masterfully defeats the idea of replacement theology
but, unfortunately, hedges on the importance of Jewish evangelism
is The God of Israel and Christian Theology by R. Kendall Soulen.
Aren’t Jewish people saved by Moses and the Old Testament while the
rest of us are saved through Jesus and the New Testament?
The concept of believing that there are two ways to heaven – one
for the Jewish people and one for everyone else – has been around
for a long time and it has been wrong for a long time as well. Dual covenantalism
is based, I believe, primarily on the idea or hope that God will not judge
the Jewish people because of their failure to believe in His son. There
is no place, however, in Scripture that teaches that God had two ways
of salvation.
Jesus came to the Jewish people as a Jewish man to save His Chosen
People. He taught in John 14:6 that no one can come to God except through
him. Peter preached before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:12) that there is
no other name [Jesus] whereby men could be saved. Many try to use Romans
11:26, “And so all Israel shall be saved:” as a means of
proving that the Jewish people will be saved. However, this ignores
the context of the rest of Romans 11.
Dual covenantalism has grown in popularity since the end of World
War II. The silence of many Christians in the face of Holocaust horrors
has caused many to feel awkward and guilty about bringing up the issue
of salvation. Dual covenantalism has become the easy answer to those
who want to avoid the impossible questions regarding the Holocaust.
However, we as believers in Jesus must remember that our job is to
share the Gospel regardless of circumstances and events. We must witness
to the Jewish people and the world that Jesus is the only way to salvation
and the only hope for eternal joy and happiness.
Why should believers in Jesus read the Old Testament? Isn’t the Old
Testament unnecessary now that Jesus has come?
I once heard a preacher say that a person doesn’t need to read
the Old Testament to understand the New Testament. Nothing could be further
from the truth!
The New Testament is not simply the fulfillment the Old Testament but
is the living embodiment of the Tenach (Hebrew term for Old Testament).
Jesus himself said he came not to abolish but to fulfill the law (Matthew
5:17-20). But if a person had not read the Law how would they know what
Jesus had come to fulfill?
The sacrificial system found in Leviticus lay the symbolic picture for
the ultimate sacrifice that we call Good Friday. Hosea tells
the story of betrayal but ultimate love and forgiveness through the adultery
of Gomer and serves as a real illustration of God’s love for Israel and ultimately
for all His children. Micah gives the location of the Messiah’s
birth. Zechariah foretells the triumphal entry we remember as Palm Sunday.
Song of Solomon tells the love story of Solomon and his bride.
39 books which foreshadow the story of Jesus followed by 27 books which
tell the story of him. The Old Testament is extremely important
and should be read daily. So the next time you get bogged down in Leviticus
on your plan to read through the Bible in a year, remember that Leviticus
tells the story of redemption – a redemption that we all need.
During the opening scene of The Passion of the Christ, why did the Satan
figure use a snake? Was he trying to scare Jesus?
We must remember that while the movie, The Passion
of the Christ, was
excellent it was still just a movie. However, I appreciated
the symbolism of the snake because Mel Gibson was bringing to light the
very first prophecy found in Scripture – Genesis 3:15.
After Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,
and God was detailing the punishments for their disobedience.
In the midst of the punishments, God offered a promise – that through the seed
of the woman would come someone (the Messiah) who while having his heel
bruised by the snake, would crush the serpent’s head.
And so when Mel Gibson had Jim Cavaziel, who portrayed Jesus, step down
on the serpent’s head shortly before his arrest, he was illustrating
a prophecy that would become reality in a few short hours. Now just who
was the baby in Satan’s arms is a whole other question . . .
I had a friend asked me once what happened to those
who died in the Holocaust and I didn’t know what to say. What is the
best answer for this impossible question?
Impossible question is an understatement! Theologians and ministers have
debated this question for years. Most have tried to avoid it (or resorted
to dual covenantalism) because no matter how one answers it, someone will
be offended.
In fact, a few years ago on Larry King Jim Bakker stated that he
believed everyone who died in the Holocaust would be in heaven because
he could not see how God could send anyone who suffered such a death
to hell. To say that his response created a firestorm would be an understatement.
Because then how do you explain John 14:6 and Acts 4:12 which clearly
state that no one can come to God except through Jesus?
This impossible question creates an impossible conundrum. I had a
very dear friend who survived the Holocaust but I still begged him
to believe in Jesus because I want his to be the third face I see in
heaven after Jesus and my dad. Was I being insensitive or cruel by
sharing the need for a personal relationship with Jesus to him after
all that he had been through? No, in fact I was illustrating my deep
care, love and compassion by telling him that while the memories of
those horrible years would not go away until he died, he could still
find hope, meaning and peace through Messiah Jesus.
So to answer the question. The only way that any human will enter
the gates of heaven is if we have a personal relationship with the
Messiah Jesus (John 14:6). And the cruelest thing that we could do
is not to tell everyone we meet about the love and mercy and compassion
of Jesus. A Messiah who bore our pain, understands our grief and can
give us comfort for our hurts. From a skinned knee to the worst that
man can do to man, Jesus is the only answer for all of us.
How should churches and Christians respond the horrific reality of the
Holocaust?
“Silence is golden.” This is an old cliche we have all used,
usually when we are babysitting a rambunctious toddler. Unfortunately,
silence is not always golden and sometimes it can kill . . . even kill
millions of innocent victims of the Holocaust.
And the greatest crime of Christian churches during World War II,
as it relates to the Holocaust, was an almost worldwide silence. In
1938, the S. S. St. Louis attempted to dock in New York with 938 Jewish
refugees from Germany on board. The president and the Christian church
in America turned their back on these desperate individuals fleeing
from a madman and they were forced to return to Europe. While a few
survived because there were granted entrance into England, most relocated
to Holland and the Netherlands and were swallowed up in the evils of
Nazism. In fact, 95% of the passengers of the S.
S. St. Louis did not
survive the war.
Therefore, Christian churches must both acknowledge and seek forgiveness
from the Jewish people for the silence and the apathy which were the
primary ingredients for the demise of 2/3 of the Jewish population
in Europe. If the church in Germany had stood up in 1933 and said no
to the machinations of a madman, Hitler would have been a 90-day wonder
and a mere footnote in history. But the church in Germany for the most
part did nothing to stop the deaths of millions. And for this shame,
they (and we) will have to answer.
Obviously there were exceptions to the silence – Corrie ten
Boom, the nation of Denmark and Dietrich Bonhoeffer fought against
the silence. But there were far too many “Christians” who
did nothing and pretended to see nothing even while their neighbors
and friends disappeared forever.
And I personally believe that genuine contrition, while standing
firm on our belief that Jesus is the only way to God, might be one
of the first steps to reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel. For
they must first see our hearts to know that we care about their souls.
When a Jewish person becomes a believer in Jesus,
should they attend a church or a Messianic congregation?
This is a much debated question in the world of Jewish evangelism. For
some the answer is simple – a Messianic congregation – in
order for a Jewish believer to retain his sense of Jewish identity and
his Jewish heritage. For others, a Messianic congregation creates nothing
but a dividing wall between Jewish and Gentile believers and we should
all worship together in the bonds of the love of Messiah Jesus.
I personally think the answer on either side of the issue is not
so cut and dried. I attend a church on Sunday morning but I also attend
a Messianic congregation every Friday night. I grow in my walk with
God and strengthen my relationship with fellow believers in both settings.
I believe that is possible because both places of worship are grounded
in the Word of God and dedicated to reaching all people, Jew and Gentile,
with the message of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
And that is why I believe to be the key. Is the place of worship,
church or congregation, a Bible-believing and teaching place where
a Jewish person can grow and become mature in their faith. I have attended
churches where the power of God was not present but I have also attended
Messianic congregations who were spiritually weak and depended upon
the trappings of Messianic Judaism as their appeal.
Therefore, wherever a Jewish believer attends is not the issue but
the lessons learned is key. What are these lessons? First, the place
should be focused on the Word of God. Second, it should be a place
where both Jews and Gentiles can come together to worship their Lord
and Savior. Third, and this should never be forgotten, the place of
worship should be one where a Jewish believer does not feel as if he
must abandon his Jewishness at the front door and that is unfortunate
reality in many churches today.
I probably have not answered the question but that is because there
is no simple answer to this question except to say that the focus should
not be on the where but the discipleship and growth learned. Two excellent
but diametrically opposed books on this subject is Baruch Maoz’ Judaism
is Not Jewish: A Friendly Critique of the Messianic Movement and How
Jewish Is Christianity?: 2 Views on the Messianic Movement edited by
Stan Gundry and Louis Goldberg.
What does it mean to be Kosher observant?
There are a lot of perceptions and misconceptions regarding what it
means to be kosher and why the idea of kosher observance is important
to Jewish life. The most common understanding of keeping kosher is to
not eat pork because in Biblical times there was not a way to properly
cook pork. And while there might be some validity to that idea, the Bible
brings out the full meaning of why God commanded the Hebrew children to
keep “kosher.”
Lev. 11:44a states, “For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore
sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy.” And verse
45 reemphasizes the concept of holiness when it is written, “For I
am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God:
ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” The idea of kosher was,
therefore, intended to set the Israelites apart from the other
nations for the purpose of being holy and able to be used by God as a
light to the nations
Today the idea of Kosher has become monopolized by rules and regulations
and the idea of holiness appears to have been lost among the
minutiae of observance. Separate dishes, different refrigerators for milk
and meat products, and professional slaughterers (shochets) are among
the methods used today to make sure that a Kosher observant individual
does not accidentally eat something wrong. Unfortunately the command for “separateness” seems
to have been lost in the effort to be diligent to man-made regulations.
I personally keep a modified Kosher diet in the sense that I avoid pork
products and do not eat milk and meat products (i.e., cheeseburgers) in
public. I do not do this because I think that I must but because I do not
want my personal desire for a ham and cheese sandwich to be in any way a
stumbling block to someone hearing the gospel(1 Cor. 8:1-13). And perhaps
that is the truest sense of Kosher observance that we all must maintain.
What do you think?
What is Tzedakah Ministries’ position about the present leadership [of Israel] giving land away to appease the Muslim world? Is God going to sit still when they give away the “Holy Mountains of Israel?” What will the wrath of God be upon those nations pushing for the giveaway of the covenant land? – Dr. Gayle, Oklahoma
Talk about a loaded question. Is there a way to answer this landmine of a question without offending someone? Probably not! However, the only way to answer it is through the words of the Bible and so that is how it will be answered.
First, the Holy Land belongs to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For while Abraham had two primary sons – Ishmael and Isaac – the promise of the Covenant was destined for the son of Sarah and not the son of Hagar. With that being said, we must recognize and affirm that God loves and cares for the children of Ishmael and His salvific gift of the Cross was for both of Abraham’s children and for those of us as well who are not Jewish.
Again however, Genesis 12, 15, and 17 specifically state that the land belongs to the Jewish people. For a more detailed Scriptural explanation of this truth, go to the “Tzedakah Moment” archive (www.tzedakahministries.org/tzedakah_archive.htm) and check out the three-part series called “Whose Land Is It … Anyway?”
To summarize the three-part series, the Scripture clearly teaches that the Covenant begins and ends with the descendants of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-11)). Abraham obeyed and left the land of Ur but there were times when he tried “to help God out” (i.e., Lot, Hagar/Ishmael). Genesis 17 is when God reveals the whole nature of the Covenant plan to Abraham and that the miracle of the birth of Isaac to a 90-year old woman is a part of it. This covenant is recommitted in Genesis 22, 25:19-34; 26:18-25; and 35:1-15 and clearly shows the lineage of the Covenant is through Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, the land belongs to the Jewish people.
Now as to the other part of the question(s). I do believe that God will judge the leadership for trying to find peace at the expense of the promises of God. Human peace is fleeting. The peace which God promises and ordains is eternal. Trying to appease those who have no real concern for Israel will only lead to further concessions and further strife – internal as well as external. If you doubt that statement, just ask Ehud Barak why he is still not the prime minister of Israel.
I want to be careful with the last part of the question because I do not want it to be interpreted in a way that I do not intend. Instead I will answer it from a historical perspective. What has happened to every modern nation (after AD 1400) that has caused loss or damage to the Jewish people? Great Britain in 1290 expelled the Jewish people from England and almost immediately went through the trauma and crisis of King John and King Richard. During the rule of Oliver Cromwell, the Jews were allowed back into the land and for almost 300 years, the sun “never set on the Union Jack.” In 1938, Great Britain through the White Paper rejected the Balfour Declaration of 1918 and since then the country has experienced a steady decline in world influence. In 1492, Spain expelled the Jewish people from the land and were leaders in the Inquisition in which thousands of Jewish people were killed. In 1588, Great Britain destroyed the Spanish armada and Spain has never regained its world prominence. For hundreds of years, the Jewish people of Poland were given relative freedom and power and Poland while being a pawn between East and West was still considered one of the intellectual giants of Eastern Europe. In 1939 when they were invaded, the Polish people turned a blind eye as 3,000,000 of their fellow countrymen were led to the slaughter and for that they endured 45+ years of Soviet occupation. I could go on but I think you know what I am inferring with my answer. God does remember those who hurt the “apple of God’s eye.”
How do I explain to my Jewish friends the concept of the spirit of Elijah and John the Baptist? – Susie, Texas
Malachi 4:5 gives the prophecy that Elijah will come before “the great and terrible day of the Lord.” John the Baptist in responding to the direct question regarding whether or not he was Elijah answered that he was not (John 1:21, 26-27). But yet Jesus (Matt. 11:14) stated that he was Elijah. Is this a contradiction? Did John not realize who he was? Is this a testimony to the possibility of reincarnation? The answer to all three questions is “No!” The ultimate answer, therefore, can be found in Luke 1:17 in which Zechariah is given the prophecy that John will be one who has “the spirit and power” of Eljah.
The Bible would never teach reincarnation (Heb. 9:27). And so it is important to recognize that the “spirit” of Elijah illustrates that John was to be the fulfillment of the Malachi prophecy, because his authority and testimony of judgment for sins was reminiscent of Elijah’s work while he was alive. Elijah sought to return the people back to God (1 Kings 18) and John had the same ministry because he was a forerunner to the Messiah. The Messiah we know to be Jesus of Nazareth.
When is the next year for the observance of Jubilee on the Jewish calendar? -- Dan, Arkansas
The Biblical command regarding the Year of Jubilee was first given in Leviticus 25. The rule(s) of the Sabbath year is that not only were the Jewish people supposed to plant for six years and allow the land to lay fallow for the 7th year (25:3-7) but that seven sevens were to be counted off and once every fifty year would be a time of Jubilee. In this year of Jubilee, all servants were to be freed and it was to be a time when no work in the field was to be done (25:8-17) because God wanted them to understand that the land was only given to them because the Land is God’s to give and to do with what He pleases (25:23). And one of the reasons given for their 70 years in Babylon can be inferred in 2 Chron. 36:21 due to their inattentiveness to the Jubilee rules. There is question according to the International Standard Biblical Encyclopedia (ISBE) whether the years of Jubilee were observed after the return from exile in 536. However, other sources believe the observance continued (www.creation-answers.com/chronoj.htm).
Now as to the question of the timing of the next year of Jubilee, we can answer it concretely as well as spiritually. First the concrete date setting has to begin with an approximate date of the Exodus. I personally set the date early at around 1445 BC and not the traditional date of 1290 BC (another question for another day). If the rules surrounding Jubilee were established at around 1443 or 1440 BC, then between now and then there should have been 69 observances of Jubilee (50 x 69 = 3450 – 1440 = 2010). So one could set the next year of Jubilee at 2010. Another option is the view that sets the date for the last Jubilee at 2001/2002. Another source (www.ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/196/Q3/) sets the date for the next Jubilee at 5765 on the Jewish calendar which corresponds to 2005 on the modern calendar. Therefore, depending on dates and giving oneself a year or two either way. The timing on God’s calendar for the next Year of Jubilee would be/is within the first decade of the 21st century. Hmm, interesting. One side note is that most Jewish people do not practice the Sabbath year or the Year of Jubilee (see above weblink); however, the Lubavitch sect of Hasidim in Israel are preparing for the Year of Jubilee and this can be found in Robert Eisenberg’s work, Boychiks in the Hood.
Now as to the spiritual answer, this is also subject to one’s interpretation of eschatology. And I am not touching that one with a 10-foot pole! But the important thing to remember is that there will be a year in which the ultimate and final Jubilee is found in Israel because the King has come and brought true and lasting peace to the land. And for my personal eschatology, that time could begin even 7 years from today. But again, I am not touching that one with a 100-ft. pole!
Where did the Star of David come from? How did it originate? – Susie, Texas
This question caused me to do a great deal of research because I believe for many the Star of David as a symbol for the Jewish people has just been long accepted. Today this star (also known as a Magen David) is the centerpiece of the Israeli flag. Unfortunately, Hitler and the Third Reich used this star (either in yellow or blue and white) to set the Jewish people apart for extermination. So regardless of whether for victory or death, the Star of David seemingly represents the Jewish people.
However, this does not answer the question but after a lot of research, I can give you a historical and religious answer. But be aware that not everyone will agree with the answer and in fact I do not even think this is the whole or final answer on the subject.
Historically, there is no evidence that King David ever used this as a symbol for himself or for the Jewish people (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_David). Legends abound but no concrete evidence for the origination of the symbol. Some legends link the star to Solomon’s Ring which was supposed to be a force that would ward off evil spirits. Of course, this should be seen as strictly legendary and a more likely solution to the first usage question has been answered by Rabbi Shraga Simmons (www.judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_starofdavid.htm). Rabbi Simmons speculates that during the Bar Kokhba rebellion (AD 132-135) the shields used by those who fought off the Romans were designed in triangle shapes that were meant to lock together so that the rebels would protect each other from the Romans.
Actual historical evidence to a Star of David being used by someone dates only as far back as a 3rd century (AD) tombstone in Southern Italy. A Tanakh (Old Testament manuscript) from the library of Rabbi Josef bar Yehuda ben Marvas in Spain has been found which dates to the 1300s. And during the Middle Ages, one can find various mentions of a Star of David used by different European countries for various reasons – some positive and some negative. However, this is the extent of the historical evidence that I was able to find that I felt was fairly reliable.
Religiously, the Star of David is wrapped in some controversy. The most common and earliest usage of the star in a religious sense is through the workings of Kabbalah and specifically the writings of Judah Hadassi (12th century), specifically Eshkol ha-Kofer. For more information on this theory visit www.judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_starofdavid.htm and www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_David. Today some Orthodox Jews and Haredi Jews will not utilize the symbol because of its “association” with the magic of Kabbalah or because of its influence on Zionism.
In other words, the Star of David is truly symbolic of the Jewish people but as in much of Jewish thought and literature there is confusion as to its origin and disagreement over its usage. But perhaps Rabbi Simmons summarized best how the Magen David should be viewed, “So whether it is a blue star waving proudly on a flag, or a yellow star in a concentration camp, the Star of David stands as a reminder that for the Jewish people … in God we trust.”
When and how will the Third Temple be rebuilt? Susie, Texas
I am actually glad that you wrote this question because I just finished a paper on Daniel 9:24-27 which answers some of these questions. If anyone would like to receive a copy of the paper, please email me at info@tzedakahministries.org and I will “snail” mail it to you.
Now back to the question – In order to understand why the 3rd Temple must be built, a little background must be given on the first two Temples. Solomon’s Temple (the first one) was destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians and Nebuchadnezzar but as a result of Judah’s sin and arrogance (read Jeremiah, Ezekiel, any of the Old Testament prophets). The second Temple was built by Herod (and it was probably something of a remodeling job of Zerubbabel’s [read Haggai] because the Temple built after the return from exile was not magnificent in the least) but only completed in AD 64. Six years later the Temple was destroyed by General Titus and all attempts to rebuild it (such as during the Bar Kokhba rebellion) failed because of political and social reasons but above all because it not the right time as set by God.
I am not sure as to the exact timing of the rebuilding of the Third Temple but I personally believe that it will be rebuilt during the Tribulation period and then desecrated by the Antichrist at the mid-point of the tribulation (see Daniel 9:27). This 3rd Temple that is to be rebuilt is not the final Temple because it will not be built in honor of God or Messiah Jesus. The final Temple is described in Revelation 20-21 and it is something that is so far beyond our imagination that even John’s words cannot describe it adequately.
However, if you are interested in the current plans by various strands of Orthodox Judaism to rebuild the Temple, go check out www.templemountfaithful.org and www.templemount.org/tempprep.html. It is interesting and heartbreaking all at the same time because these groups are desperate to rebuild a place of sacrifice little realizing that the final sacrifice for humanity’s redemption occurred on a hill called Golgotha in AD 29/30.
Is there a feminine equivalent of “Abba”? Is there a Jewish name for mommy? Valarie, Arkansas
This is a simple and loaded question all at the same time. The Jewish name for mother is “em” or “emah.” Simple right? However, the next question that I usually get asked after this is some variation of this, “Can God be both our father and mother?” This is the loaded question. Because no matter how I answer, someone will think that I am supporting something that I am not. Can’t win. But I will try my best to answer it within the limits of wisdom that God has given me and the keyboard that I am typing on at this moment.
First, and foremost, I believe the best and only thing we can do is to refer to God in the masculine sense. For while there are passages in which a more maternal side of God appears (Hosea 13:8 is one metaphorical example), the overwhelming Biblical evidence is that while God is not restricted or bound to our understanding of gender, our understanding of God is best seen through the use of male-oriented language. To refer to God using female pronouns is at best disrespectful and at worst, something which approaches the blasphemous. Those who try to be so gender inclusive in regards to God lose the essence of what Scripture wants to teach us. God is our Father who sent His Son to die for our sins. And in fact, Jesus himself teaches us how to address God through the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), “Our Father,” and through the agony of the cross, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
In history has anyone ever purchased the Temple Mount, legally and not as a spoil of war, besides King David when he bought it from Arunah the Jebusite? Does this purchase of the site by David not provide more legal standing to ownership than any other nation? Valarie, Arkansas
Excellent question! And one that is impossible to answer in just a few short lines … but I will try. David purchased the threshing floor of Arunah (also spelled Aranuah in 2 Samuel 24 and Ornan in 1 Chronicles 21) in order that he might make sacrifices to God and stop the plague that had killed 70,000 men in one day. A plague caused by David’s sinful act of conducting a census that was not ordered by God.
If you go back and read the passages in 2 Sam. and 1 Chron., you will see that the Angel of the Lord was stopped in the conducting of judgment at basically the “front door” of Arunah’s property (2 Sam. 24:16). David then went to Arunah’s home to build an altar to God in thankfulness for God’s sparing of the people. David went to buy and Arunah attempted to give. David refused to offer a sacrifice to God that cost him nothing and then purchased the threshing floor from Arunah for six hundred shekels of gold.
The next time we see mention of this threshing floor is in 2 Chron. 3:1. Solomon begins the construction of the Temple on the site where David purchased the land so that he might seek forgiveness from God for his sin. The site was purchased by David, king of Israel, and therefore one could assume that the land therefore belongs to the descendants of David – the Jewish people.
And only if the answer was that simple – ownership determining property rights. However, it is not that simple because the land and the spot have been subjected to many rulers since AD 70. However, the final question which must be asked and answered is to whom did God intend for it to belong? For that answer one can refer to not only 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, one can also go back to Genesis 12, 15, 17, and 22. Genesis 12, 15, and 17 refer to the covenant established between God and Abraham regarding the land and his descendants through Isaac. Genesis 22 refers to the binding of Isaac (an archetype I believe of Jesus’ sacrifice). And where did this event in chapter 22 take place, somewhere on Mount Moriah or the place where King David purchased from Arunah a place for sacrifice and a place which would know be known as the Temple Mount.
Is there a difference between "Messianic Jew" and "Jewish Believer" or "Completed Jew?" Is there a such thing as a "Jewish Christian?" -- Michelle, Georgia
Jewish people who believe in Jesus go by many terms -- and it usually depends upon the preference of the person. Messianic Jew or Jewish believer is synonymous in many respects. Some might disagree and focus on the fine point difference that Messianic Jews are more culturally observant in Jewish practices (i.e., keeping Kosher, wearing a kippah) than Jewish believers. They would be mostly correct but the two terms are really synonymous at their most basic level and it is really an issue of preference. The term "Completed Jew" has been used in the past but is out of vogue because it can cause such a negative reaction in the Jewish community who do not yet believe in Jesus as Messiah. The reason for the reaction is that they perceive that they are being marked as "half Jewish" and this is an offense. Therefore, Tzedakah Ministries and myself personally avoids using this term. And of couse there are Jewish Christians, and in fact many who prefer Jewish believer will often also use the term Jewish Christian. And besides all of that, let me list a few Jewish Christians -- Matthew, John, Peter, Thomas, Paul, etc. It is not wrong to use the term Jewish Christian because it is a response to those who inaccurately say that if a Jewish person become a Christian, a person automatically stops being Jewish.
If you have a question you would like to have answered, please write to
amy@tzedakahministries.org or
fill out the form below.
|
