Restoring the Jewishness of the Gospel, Dr. D. H. Stern
Jan 1, 2015 6:40:34 GMT -8
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Post by alon on Jan 1, 2015 6:40:34 GMT -8
It is always good to read Dr. Stern's works, and this book has some good information and insights. However Dr. Stern is a Jew, and he is jealous of their culture. He does not believe Gentiles should take on the full mantle of 
. He also believes Messianic Judaism will repair the rift between Christians and Jews.
Part of this is because he gets his history wrong. Christianity was, according to all the early church fathers, never Jewish. They hated Judaism with a passion! As anti-Semitism is addressed in some denominations and churches, feathers may be smoothed. But the fundamental differences are too great to be reconciled. There is no historical or doctrinal basis for a "reconciliation."
I agree with him that we should try and address these issues where we can. But our role as Messianics is not to be peacemaker but to convert Christians and convince Jews of the fact of Yeshua as Messiah! This is the kind of thing Yeshua was talking about:
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
We are to, as Rabbi Hillel said, "Rightly divide the word of truth." (I know, but Rav Sha'ul was quoting Rav Hillel-- nothing new in the New Testament, remember?)
I'd recommend the book. It is short (79 pgs), but has some good stuff in it. However I'd only say to read it if you are thoroughly grounded in the history of MJ and the "church" and in what you believe as a Messianic proselyte. Otherwise you could get some very wrong impressions on those topics from his writings.
Dan C
. He also believes Messianic Judaism will repair the rift between Christians and Jews.Part of this is because he gets his history wrong. Christianity was, according to all the early church fathers, never Jewish. They hated Judaism with a passion! As anti-Semitism is addressed in some denominations and churches, feathers may be smoothed. But the fundamental differences are too great to be reconciled. There is no historical or doctrinal basis for a "reconciliation."
I agree with him that we should try and address these issues where we can. But our role as Messianics is not to be peacemaker but to convert Christians and convince Jews of the fact of Yeshua as Messiah! This is the kind of thing Yeshua was talking about:
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
We are to, as Rabbi Hillel said, "Rightly divide the word of truth." (I know, but Rav Sha'ul was quoting Rav Hillel-- nothing new in the New Testament, remember?)
I'd recommend the book. It is short (79 pgs), but has some good stuff in it. However I'd only say to read it if you are thoroughly grounded in the history of MJ and the "church" and in what you believe as a Messianic proselyte. Otherwise you could get some very wrong impressions on those topics from his writings.
Dan C
