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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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