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International
Messianic Issues
- False
Messianic Jews
Winter 2000 Issue 210
This
is not an easy subject to write about; it is controversial, yet I consider it
imperative to make the following comments. In the last couple of years the
Messianic Jewish Alliance of Mexico (AJMM) has become aware of a growing number
of “false Messianic Jews”. For this reason we are alerting our readers to
this irregular situation.
Usually, these false Jews are characterised by altered first or last
names. They invent Jewish lineages, or claim connections to the
“converso-Jews” (marranos), as well as practising other types of deceit.
After a little investigation, however, one finds that their claims are
fictitious.
Quite apart from the web of lies these people weave, why are they so
caught up with pretending to live culturally as Jews, even creating artificial
“Messianic associations” that have nothing to do with the Messianic movement
ministerially constituted on a world-wide level by the International Messianic
Jewish Alliance?
These pseudo Jews perturb and hurt other Gentiles since they are usually
guilty of Judaizing. This is an activity that the AJMM strongly opposes in
accordance with the Sacred Scriptures, which disapproves and condemns these
heretical manifestations of faith.
We find such a case as described above in Acts 15. When the Gentiles
first began to recognise that Yeshua was the Messiah the leaders of the
Jerusalem church composed letters to make it clear that it was not necessary for
them to become Jewish, nor for them practice Jewish rituals and festivals. The
new believers could continue to live as Gentiles but not so as to ignore
holiness nor the doctrines delivered to them: “Therefore my opinion is that we
should not put obstacles in the way of the Goyim (Gentiles) who are turning to
God. Instead, we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things
polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled and from blood.”
(Acts 15:19-20, Complete Jewish Bible). It is necessary to bear in mind that God
is no respecter of persons (Deuteronomy 10:17). The Eternal loves the non-Jew
just as much as the Jew, irrespective of His plan and purpose for each
individual and each nation.
Although our people are known as the “Chosen People”, God does not
“play favourites”. To believe any such thing shows a plain misunderstanding
of God’s character, essence, and attributes. If the Lord elected us, it was
for the purpose that we would be those entrusted with His blessed message, the
Bible. This, coupled with the fact that the one who would redeem Israel, as well
as the whole of humanity, of their sins - the Messiah - would come from the seed
of the Patriarchs. In order to understand this, we should look at the words of
God addressed to the first patriarch, Abraham: “By your seed shall all nations
be blessed” (Genesis 22:18).
If we observe the divine calling for our people from a correct
perspective, it remains clear that there is no reason to justify the unnatural
and aberrant posture of such “false Messianics”. When these people to
disguise themselves as Jews they stand contrary to the divine will and
constitute an affront to the diverse denominations of Judaism.
Gentiles have lived in the midst of Israel throughout history. A few
personages come to mind: Ruth and Uriah, as well as “many of the Gentiles”
in Esther 8:17. We remember, however, that total assimilation requires a calling
from God, something that does not usually happen with the persons and groups
mentioned above.
We accept the great responsibility that, as Messianic Jews, we have to
share the message of the Messiah with the rest of our brothers of the House of
Israel (Matthew 10:6). Nevertheless, we are careful not to harass the non-Jew,
nor to “Judaize” them, nor to place on them anything else that would cause
them to stray from holiness and the grace to which we have all been called.
This phenomenon of “false Jews” is nothing more than a delusion. It
has nothing to do with either the Messianic movement or the national alliance.
If anyone has questions or doubts regarding this article, I would graciously
encourage them to contact the AJMM, and we will gladly clear up whatever doubt
or worry they may have.
“Watch out, so that no one will take you captive by means of philosophy
and empty deceit, following human tradition which accords with the elemental
spirits of the world but does not accord with the Messiah.” (Colossians 2:8)
Miriam
Levy (Guadalajara)
(Translation by Nick Amic from AJMM’s “Chalutzim”
magazine Issue 28)
Miriam
Levy is on the executive of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Mexico (AJMM)
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