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From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 1997 11:16 PM To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup Subject: Re: Should Christians convert to Judaism To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com From: Ben Goodwyn Subject: Re: Studying Jewish History At 12:30 AM 8/1/97 +0000, you wrote: > >Please remember that we encourage you to study the Jewishness of the Gospel for that reason, >and not to convert you to Judaism of today. The Judaism of today is NOT that of 2000 years ago. It has "evolved" into a different >religion---just as Christianity has "evolved" into something that it didn't start out with. ================================================================================= Eddie: You mentioned above that the Jewish and Christian religions have changed a lot from 2000 years ago. Since Christianity was just beginning approximately 1950 years ago, I assume every one realizes that Messiah was an adherent of Judaism. Under Torah, one can not not create a new religion (Deu 4). Granted the temple with all its services and sacrifices are no longer with us, but how has Judaism evolved into a different(new) religion? In other words since Messiah was a Jew, an adherent of Torah and Judaism, how has Judaism change over the last 2000 years to make it a religion which is no longer viable for conversion. You did not exclude conversion to Christianity even though you admit that this religion has changed also. In my opinion a great deal more than Judaism. I am having difficulty understanding why an individual should not convert to Judaism, but yet is encouraged to convert to Christianity which has changed even more than Judaism? Shalom --------------------------------benGoodwyn From Eddie: ************** Ben, I did not write the above comment that Judaism TODAY is NOT 100% as it was in the 1st century but it is true. Many of those who have studied the 1st century very extensively like Dr. Ron Moseley of the Arkansas Institute of Holy Land Studies and Dr. Brad Young who wrote, "Jesus the Jewish Theologian" and those with them who have studied at the Hebrew University in Israel for many years have researched that there may have possibly been as many as 24 different sects of Judaism in the days of Yeshua (of course just like Christianity they have their different doctrines and beliefs). Of those, only the Pharisees survived. The ancestors of the modern day Orthodox Jew are the Biblical Pharisees. Even Judaism today is divided. There is a GREAT difference between an Ultra-Orthodox Chassidic Jew and a Reform Jew. Reform Jews do not believe that the Torah is divinely inspired and came from God, do not believe in a literal Messiah, do not believe the covenant that God gave to Abraham it eternal and relevant for today, do not believe in keeping kosher and endorse homosexuality and abortion. Is this Biblical Judaism ??? Some of the teachings in Judaism prior to the 1st century about the Messiah have been covered up by the Rabbi's over the years to ensure that the Jewish majority didn't believe in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah. I would like to refer you to a book entitled, "The Messiah Conspiracy" by Philip Moore. Regarding "conversion" to Judaism or Christianity ... a TRUE follower of the God of Israel does not "convert" to Judaism or Christianity. A true follower of God is a BIBLE BELIEVER. In being a BIBLE BELIEVER, you will discover TRUTH'S in Christianity and truth's within Judaism. Biblically, "conversion" takes place in the HEART. One does not "join" Christianity or Judaism as a "club" like other organizations in society. Why not convert to Judaism? We have had this conversion on this newsgroup many times in the past. Have you not read the arguments? A MAJOR reason not to convert to Judaism is that Judaism as a formal religion DOES NOT accept THE Messiah. What good is it to follow a religion that DENIES the Messiah when the Messiah is EVERYTHING! In Psalm 40:7 and Hebrews 10:7 it states that the "volume of the book" (the ENTIRE Bible) was written about HIM yet Judaism does not recognize Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah. You gain NOTHING if your "trade" Messiah for your "roots" and Judaism. Traditional Orthodox Judaism places the ORAL law above the written law. We can go on and on ... a "Christian" / BIBLE BELIEVER who has a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the God of Israel and knows WHO the Messiah is (Yeshua/Jesus) and is led by the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit understands that "converting" to a religion that does not even recognize the Messiah is UNTHINKABLE. As I have also stated on this newsgroup, I am engaged to be married to an Ultra-Orthodox Chassidic Jew who believes that Yeshua/Jesus is Messiah. She WILL NOT "convert" to Christianity and I WILL NOT "convert" to Judaism. However, she accepts that Yeshua/Jesus is Messiah and lives an Ultra-Orthodox Chassidic lifestyle. I have accepted Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah and have embraced my Hebraic Roots. Jewishly, you LIVE your faith. That is what we are going to do and that is what I encourage all members of this newsgroup to do also. But, to "convert" to Judaism because Christians celebrates Dec 25 as the birthday of Yeshua/Jesus even though its origins are pagan is totally obsurd. What the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit is doing ALL OVER THE WORLD is awakening believers to the ROOTS of their faith and how they need to understand their Messiah, the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven and the scriptures from a more Jewish understanding (but necessarily according to today's rabbinical Judaism) while EMBRACING Yeshua/Jesus as MESSIAH. Therefore, for a believer in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah to "convert" to Judaism is UNTHINKABLE. As it states in the TORAH in Deuteronomy 10:16 as it is written: "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your HEART ..." The New Covenant as stated in Jeremiah 31:33 is as follows: "But THIS shall be the COVENANT that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my TORAH in the INWARD PARTS and write it in their HEARTS ..." In Deut 6:4-5, the SHEMA says: " ... and you shall love the Lord thy God will all thine HEART ...." What God desires is a HEART relationship not "converting" to Judaism when one is shown some of the errors in Christianity. Let's be BALANCED and STUDY and UNDERSTAND that there are errors in Judaism as well. So, let's EMBRACE our MESSIAH (Yeshua/Jesus) and seek to have a PERSONAL HEART RELATIONSHIP with the God of Israel not "convert" to a religion based upon the God of Israel. Let us also embrace our Hebraic Roots as believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah but do so IN BALANCE. In this, God will be well pleased with us. *********************************************************************************
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