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What is Messianic Judaism? |
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In Messianic Judaism, we believe that Yeshua (known by many today as Jesus) is the Messiah and is the Son of G-d. This is not as uncommon among the Jewish people as many would have you think. The talmidim (disciples) of Yeshua, during His ministry, were Jewish. The writers of the New Covenant (Brit Chadasha) were Jewish. There were also scribes and religious leaders who accepted Yeshua as Messiah. Many Gentiles also came to accept and understand that Yeshua is the Messiah, but to do so, they had to understand the significance of a Jewish Messiah.
Early on, the believers in Yeshua as Messiah were considered a sect of the Jews, and worshiped in the local synagogues. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., and over the next several hundred years, the Roman authority sought to segregate the Gentile believers from the Jewish believers in Yeshua. Upon the pain of death the citizens of Rome were forced to worship the pagan gods of the land. As antisemitism and hatred was the attitude of the day, the Gentile believers began to withdraw from the synagogues and meet secretly. In 325 C.E., during the council of Nicea, Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, was successful in separating the Jewish influence of the faith and declared the state religion of Christianity. It was also at this time that Rome changed the day of worship from Saturn's Day (Saturday) to Sun's Day (Sunday).
Antisemitism had work to effectively drive a wedge between Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah. As Christianity grew, it drew away from its Jewish roots and adopted pagan practices. Christian scholars are clear that Messiah was not born on December 25, but still, this day, marking the day of the birth of the Sun god, is still considered the most holy day in Christendom. The First-Century believers never considered December 25 to be a holy day. Yeshua never observed it. Christendom also changed the day of the resurrection of Yeshua. By Biblical accounts, the resurrection must occur after Passover. This is because Yeshua ate the Passover with his talmidim before being arrested and crucified. Yet, Christianity has changed the resurrection day so it always falls on the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the Spring Equinox. In many years, this day, named for its pagan goddess Istar (Easter), falls a full month before or after the Passover.
Also after the destruction of the Second Temple, the Rabbi's created Rabbinic Judaism. This was not the faith that the Holy One, Blessed be He, gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, as that faith requires atonement at The Temple for the forgiveness of sin. It is an attempt to carry on without The Temple. Without knowing Yeshua as Messiah, there was no other way.
In these later times, the Holy One, blessed be He, has brought about a move upon the Jewish and Gentile people and many are once again accepting Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah and worshiping the Holy One together in spirit and in truth. Yeshua, and the First-Century believers did not kept the pagan practices of Rome. They observed Judaism as given to Moses on Mount Sinai. As Messianic believers we too shun the pagan practices of Rome (such as Christmas and Easter), but rather we keep Torah observance, and as such we keep the sacred Jewish calendar and observe all of the appointed times as prescribed in Leviticus chpater 23.
Therefore, Beit Tzion is a congregation of both Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua Messsiah. As we have mentioned above, following Yeshua is Jewish. This began 2000 years ago when the talmidim (disciples) of Yeshua - namely Kefa (Peter) - preached in the temple in Jerusalem:
Early on, the believers in Yeshua as Messiah were considered a sect of the Jews, and worshiped in the local synagogues. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., and over the next several hundred years, the Roman authority sought to segregate the Gentile believers from the Jewish believers in Yeshua. Upon the pain of death the citizens of Rome were forced to worship the pagan gods of the land. As antisemitism and hatred was the attitude of the day, the Gentile believers began to withdraw from the synagogues and meet secretly. In 325 C.E., during the council of Nicea, Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, was successful in separating the Jewish influence of the faith and declared the state religion of Christianity. It was also at this time that Rome changed the day of worship from Saturn's Day (Saturday) to Sun's Day (Sunday).
Antisemitism had work to effectively drive a wedge between Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah. As Christianity grew, it drew away from its Jewish roots and adopted pagan practices. Christian scholars are clear that Messiah was not born on December 25, but still, this day, marking the day of the birth of the Sun god, is still considered the most holy day in Christendom. The First-Century believers never considered December 25 to be a holy day. Yeshua never observed it. Christendom also changed the day of the resurrection of Yeshua. By Biblical accounts, the resurrection must occur after Passover. This is because Yeshua ate the Passover with his talmidim before being arrested and crucified. Yet, Christianity has changed the resurrection day so it always falls on the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the Spring Equinox. In many years, this day, named for its pagan goddess Istar (Easter), falls a full month before or after the Passover.
Also after the destruction of the Second Temple, the Rabbi's created Rabbinic Judaism. This was not the faith that the Holy One, Blessed be He, gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, as that faith requires atonement at The Temple for the forgiveness of sin. It is an attempt to carry on without The Temple. Without knowing Yeshua as Messiah, there was no other way.
In these later times, the Holy One, blessed be He, has brought about a move upon the Jewish and Gentile people and many are once again accepting Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah and worshiping the Holy One together in spirit and in truth. Yeshua, and the First-Century believers did not kept the pagan practices of Rome. They observed Judaism as given to Moses on Mount Sinai. As Messianic believers we too shun the pagan practices of Rome (such as Christmas and Easter), but rather we keep Torah observance, and as such we keep the sacred Jewish calendar and observe all of the appointed times as prescribed in Leviticus chpater 23.
Therefore, Beit Tzion is a congregation of both Jewish and Gentile believers in Yeshua Messsiah. As we have mentioned above, following Yeshua is Jewish. This began 2000 years ago when the talmidim (disciples) of Yeshua - namely Kefa (Peter) - preached in the temple in Jerusalem:
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...let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah––this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake! (Acts 2:36 CJB)
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We study and follow the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant), because it is the word of G-d.
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All Scripture is God–breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living…(2Timothy 3:16 CJB)
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At Beit Tzion we understand that all believers are either re-attached or grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel (Romans ch. 11) Yeshua said,
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I AM the Way––and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 CJB)
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We therefore share equally in our faith, not causing separation based upon one's heritage.
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The same teaching is to apply equally to the citizen and to the foreigner living among you. (Exodus 12:49 CJB)
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If these things seem foreign to you, then I encourage you to seek out the Word of G-d and the historical truth. I also invite you to join us and learn more about the Biblical observance of Messianic Judaism and Yeshua the Messiah.
Blessings in the Name of Yeshua,
Richard Kennedy
Messianic Rabbi
Updated 2/1/2013
Mailing Address: PO Box 212243, Chula Vista, CA 91921
Phone: (619) 518-5802
Phone: (619) 518-5802