Responding to Frequently Asked Questions

So I was toying with the idea of including a FAQs section.  Here is something I just came up with.  Let me know if anything should be changed.  Then, after the changes are made, I'll add a FAQs tab at the top of the screen.

Here's what I just came up with after breakfast:






IDENTITY:

Who is a Jew?

There is both a subjective view and an objective view.  The subjective view is that Jewishness is communally defined.  In this approach, a Jew is determined by various communal entities:  (1) the modern State of Israel; (2) sects of Judaism (e.g. Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Messianic).

The objective view says that Jewishness is not established by any particular communities viewpoint but rather it's established only by G-d.  This view fails to take into account the Torah's authorization for religious leaders to take the lead in establishing certain matters of Torah.  For example, Deuteronomy 17 allows judges in each age to settle difficult areas of Torah.

This question "Who is a Jew" should be limited to answering the question of communal identity as it relates to Jewishness.  It should not be used to explain one's obligation to Torah.  This is because the term "Jew" means different things to different communities.  So for practical reasons, when discussing one's obligation to Torah, one should speak contextually to a specific community (e.g. New Covenant community) in order to avoid confusion.

Who is an Israelite?

Contextualization is very helpful when answering this question.  As relating to gentiles in the New Covenant, gentiles become citizens in Israel when they accept Yeshua as the Messiah (Eph 2).  This means that gentile Believers in Yeshua are Israelites.  However, this is a narrow context.  This doesn't imply that gentiles are Israelites in the context of the modern state of Israel or in non-Messianic sects of Judaism or even in certain sects of Messianic Judaism.  The only known communities that accept gentiles as Israelites are (1) One Law Messianic communities and (2) certain Hebrew Roots communities.

Does the New Covenant change one's identity?

Yes.  Membership in the New Covenant involves joining the kahal of Yeshua (the community of Believers in Yeshua).  For Jews, this adds a level of identity without replacing the former identity.  For gentiles, this replaces the former identity completely.  Gentiles become members of Israel for the first time.

PRACTICE:

Who is bound to follow the Mosaic Torah?

Anyone who is covenanted or covenants to follow Mosaic Torah.  The question then is (1) who is covenanted involuntarily; (2) who is covenanted voluntarily; (3) what are the sources of the law for the covenants.

The family is the most fundamental form of government.  For many, this will determine one's status with regard to the Israeli Covenant (i.e. Sinaitic or Mosaic Covenant).  Source of law:  Written Torah and local authorities.

The religious community is another form of family.  In this way, a given community can "adopt" a non-family member into the family.  This is seen in ritual proselyte conversion in religious Jewish communities.  Source of law:  Written Torah and local authorities.

The New Covenant community is yet another family.  In this family, Yeshua adopts individuals who consent to following Him.  When individuals consent to following Yeshua they take on the responsibility of following the Torah of the New Covenant.  Source of law:  Written Torah and local authorities.

Should there be different practices for Jews and gentile converts under the New Covenant?

This question can only be answered by the local community--specifically, the elders who are tasked with establishing halacha (standards for practice).

Where should I go for religious services?

Wherever the Ruach guides you to go.  Ideally, the answer would be "Messianic communities."  But there is no ideal community.  And hence we must seek the guidance of the Ruach.

Where can I find a guide to Messianic halacha?

The One Law movement is working on this.  Hopefully, we'll set up an archive from which local leaders can view a range of options and decide according to the needs of their particular community.  Inevitably, this process will involve adopting many traditional customs associated with first-century Messianic Judaism.

The MJRC has also developed a halachic code but it tends to follow the approach of the Reform movement.  It leads to a style of practice that virtually mirrors your average Reform synagogue--except for the fact that they belong to the New Covenant and thus incorporate teachings from the New Testament.