A German rabbinical student (above) reads the Torah. Many Jews find the message of 'Messianic Judaism' misleading and even insulting to all religious people. CARSTEN KOALL/GETTY IMAGES

The Messianic movement is not part of Judaism

Date published: 4/15/2007

THE PAST SEVERAL decades of American history have witnessed a dramatic rise in secularism, the belief that a clear separation should exist between religion and public life. So far, this trend has had mixed results. On the one hand, secularism promotes diversity, open-mindedness, and tolerance of other religions and cultures, encouraging people to be more accepting of those who are different.

On the other hand, secularism has led many to believe that religion is no longer relevant to their modern lives. Most American religious institutions are feeling the negative repercussions of the rise of secularism, so now is the time for Americans of all religious backgrounds to work together to solve this problem by demonstrating that religion is an important part of modern life.

Sadly, one small Christian sect has chosen to undermine this effort by using dishonest tactics to convert Jews to Christianity. This sect, known variously as "Messianic Judaism," "Jews for Jesus," or simply "Messianism," differs from other forms of Christianity in two ways. First, Messianics observe some Jewish holidays and cultural practices, such as dietary laws (kashrut). More importantly, though, Messianics refer to themselves as Jews, not Christians, in an attempt to lure Jews to Christianity.

Of course, most religious movements in America are looking for ways to reach out and bring in more members. However, instead of doing something constructive, like reaching out to the nonreligious, this Christian movement is using a dishonest approach to simply "steal" members of another faith. This has offended even many Christians, such as the Rev. Clark Lobenstine, who told The Washington Post that the Messianic approach goes "beyond the bounds of appropriate and ethically based religious outreach."

According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Messianic movement refuses to be honest about its Christian identity in an effort to spread a "deceptive message: that Jews who accept Jesus as the son of God and their savior remain Jewish." Even a brief look at the history of the Messianic movement proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the ADL's characterization is accurate.

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Date published: 4/15/2007