This post first appeared on Kineti and is authored by Judah Gabriel Himango, one of Tabernacle of David’s teachers.
In a new episode of the Messianic Walk podcast, John McKee and I discuss his take on the mission statement for Messianic Judaism.
His statement, part of John’s coursework in Messianic studies, is formulated like this:
Today’s Messianic Jewish community has the widescale conviction that it composes “the end-time move of God.” This is based in the Biblical conviction that it is actively involved in the salvation-historical trajectory of “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26). A massive salvation of Jewish people is to be regarded as “life from the dead” (Romans 11:15). Given the Apostle Paul’s magnanimous burden of the salvation of his kinsfolk—“I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood” (Romans 9:3, TLV)—everything that today’s Messianic movement does, should be with the expressed purpose of trying to enhance the mission of Jewish outreach and evangelism! Today’s Messianic movement was specifically raised up by the Lord to proclaim the good news of Israel’s Messiah to the Jewish community, and emphasize that they do not have to assimilate into a much wider non-Jewish Christianity to properly express faith in Him.
Many non-Jewish Believers, with a sincere and genuine love for the people and Scriptures of Israel, have been legitimately called by the Lord to be active participants and co-laborers in the salvation of Israel, along with Messianic Jewish Believers. Many of these people are to be regarded as modern-day Ruths, whose loyalty to Messianic Judaism is steadfast to the point of dying with their Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters (Ruth 1:16-17). They have a distinct role to play, in provoking non-believing Jewish people to Messiah faith (Romans 11:11). More importantly, as Jewish and non-Jewish people come together in a special and unique unity, in Messiah Yeshua, they should be representing the “one new man/humanity” (Ephesians 2:15)—a testimony and snapshot of the greater redemption to come to the cosmos in the eschaton (Ephesians 1:10).
-John McKee
John and I discuss this vision in detail:
- Is the Messianic movement really the end-times move of God? Why we say it is, and what Biblical reasons we have for making that claim.
- Are there other reasons to serve in the Messianic movement besides theology about the last days?
- How and where the movement has diverged from the original vision of Jewish outreach, both good and bad.
- Is the Messianic movement a more authentic Christianity?
- Why the Messianic movement views assimilation differently than Christianity. (And how we know God doesn’t want Jews to disappear or lose their Jewishness.)
- The Ruth calling: the role of non-Jews in the Messianic movement
We hope this episode will give some clarity around the movement’s purpose and calling, and how you, fine Kineti reader, may be called to serve in the Messianic movement.
You can subscribe to the Messianic Walk podcast on your iPhone, Android, PC, or Mac here.
