THE TRADITIONAL JEWISH RESPONSE TO CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES by Yisroel C. Blumenthal
What is the role of the Messiah?
Judaism believes that the Messiah will be a human king. In
the time of the Messiah there will be universal peace. The
temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. The Jewish people will
return to the land of Israel. In the time of the Messiah everyone
on earth will be united in their worship of the God of Israel.
The Messiah will lead all of mankind in service of God.
Christianity believes that the Messiah is a human god.
Christianity believes that the chief role of the Messiah is to
die. Through the death of the Messiah the world is redeemed
of its sins. According to Christian theology, the Messiah will
come a second time. When the Messiah returns, then all those
who worshipped him will be rewarded, while those who
rejected him will be punished.
These are the basic differences between the two belief
systems. Judaism and Christianity differ on their
understanding of the essence of God, the teachings of Moses,
atonement, and the role of the Messiah. Judaism and
Christianity have different beliefs concerning these basic
matters. Only one set of beliefs can be true. Christian
missionaries spend much energy in an effort to convince Jews
that the Christian belief system is the one which is correct. All
the arguments of the missionaries are wasted on the
knowledgeable Jew.
In order for the Jew to be convinced that his belief system is
correct, he must be sure that the testimony of his nation is true.
If the Jewish nation is bearing true witness, then any belief
system which runs counter to their testimony must be false. If
the Jewish people are telling the truth when they testify that
God revealed Himself as an absolute unity, then any belief
system which denies the absolute unity of God must be false.
If the Jewish people are telling the truth when they testify that
Moses taught them a living teaching (Torah), then any belief
system which denies this fact must be false. It is not necessary
for the Jew to examine the testimony of other belief systems to
know that Judaism is true.
For the Christian to be convinced that his belief system is
true, it is not enough to be sure that the Christian scriptures are
reporting actual events. In order for the Christian to know that
his belief system is correct, he must also determine that the
Jewish nation is bearing false witness. For if the Jewish nation
is telling the truth, then even if Jesus performed all the
miracles which the Christian scriptures claim for him, he
would still be a fraud. If indeed God revealed himself at Sinai
as an absolute unity, then anyone who advocates worship of a
trinity is advocating idolatry. No miracle, no matter how
spectacular, can serve as justification to worship an idol. In
order to be an honest Christian one must be convinced that the
Jewish people are bearing false testimony.
Judaism believes that the Messiah will be a human king. In
the time of the Messiah there will be universal peace. The
temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. The Jewish people will
return to the land of Israel. In the time of the Messiah everyone
on earth will be united in their worship of the God of Israel.
The Messiah will lead all of mankind in service of God.
Christianity believes that the Messiah is a human god.
Christianity believes that the chief role of the Messiah is to
die. Through the death of the Messiah the world is redeemed
of its sins. According to Christian theology, the Messiah will
come a second time. When the Messiah returns, then all those
who worshipped him will be rewarded, while those who
rejected him will be punished.
These are the basic differences between the two belief
systems. Judaism and Christianity differ on their
understanding of the essence of God, the teachings of Moses,
atonement, and the role of the Messiah. Judaism and
Christianity have different beliefs concerning these basic
matters. Only one set of beliefs can be true. Christian
missionaries spend much energy in an effort to convince Jews
that the Christian belief system is the one which is correct. All
the arguments of the missionaries are wasted on the
knowledgeable Jew.
In order for the Jew to be convinced that his belief system is
correct, he must be sure that the testimony of his nation is true.
If the Jewish nation is bearing true witness, then any belief
system which runs counter to their testimony must be false. If
the Jewish people are telling the truth when they testify that
God revealed Himself as an absolute unity, then any belief
system which denies the absolute unity of God must be false.
If the Jewish people are telling the truth when they testify that
Moses taught them a living teaching (Torah), then any belief
system which denies this fact must be false. It is not necessary
for the Jew to examine the testimony of other belief systems to
know that Judaism is true.
For the Christian to be convinced that his belief system is
true, it is not enough to be sure that the Christian scriptures are
reporting actual events. In order for the Christian to know that
his belief system is correct, he must also determine that the
Jewish nation is bearing false witness. For if the Jewish nation
is telling the truth, then even if Jesus performed all the
miracles which the Christian scriptures claim for him, he
would still be a fraud. If indeed God revealed himself at Sinai
as an absolute unity, then anyone who advocates worship of a
trinity is advocating idolatry. No miracle, no matter how
spectacular, can serve as justification to worship an idol. In
order to be an honest Christian one must be convinced that the
Jewish people are bearing false testimony.
Read more at http://natzrim.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-traditional-jewish-response-to.html#htpxc2VthcLDbGbY.99
Why are there numerous stories in the torah of people who sinned, and were forgiven through prayer and repentance – WITHOUT A SACRIFICE, such as David in 2 Sam 12:13, or the city of Nineveh in Jonah – and not a single story, ever, of someone who sinned and gave a sacrifice in order to be forgiven?
Why do Christians never mention verses like Hosea 14.2 or 1 Kings 8:44-52 or 2 Sam 12:13 or Lev. 5:11-13 or Ps. 32.5 or Isaiah 6.6-7 which demonstrate that one does not need a blood sacrifice to have their sins forgiven, or verses like Proverbs 21.3 or Psalms 40.6 or Hosea 6.6 or Psalms 69:30-31 or 1 Sam. 15.22 which say clearly that God actually PREFERS other methods of atonement to blood sacrifice, or Jeremiah 7:22-23 which goes so far as to say that God NEVER EVEN COMMANDED US ABOUT SACRIFICES???
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