I just became a Messianic Jew.

Thanks for the encouragement! I have received very mixed reviews from those Christians I have thus far told about this. One Christian has cut off all contact with me whatsoever, so that all emails I send to him bounce back. Another Christian told me that I have thrown away Jesus Christ by throwing away Christianity, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. And, another Christian tried to evangelize me. Um....yeah...I still worship Yahshua (Jesus, in Hebrew), but now from a Jewish perspective. Same Messiah. I just take a different approach to worshipping Him now. My mother, a Christian, has been very supportive. And, most of my Christian friends, well, I have not yet told about this change-over. I can only handle so much discussion and so many questions at one time, you know. You are very right about the rich Jewish heritage and history. I know the Christian side to this, and now I am learning the Jewish side. It has been amazing to learn about how Yahshua has been the fulfillment of the Torah, the prophecies, and the festivals of Judaism. It has been amazing to see how the Old and New Testaments complete and fulfill each other. Really, come to think of it, the Old and New Testaments are not separate and apart from each other, at all. They are the same testament of Yahweh's (G-d's) redemptive plan for Jews and Gentiles. And, it is very true that Yahshua was a Torah-keeping Jew, and so were the early disciples. He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. Going this route has been very much an eye-opening and learning experience, to say the least. I had no idea that so many Christians would be so up in arms and defensive about my having done this. I'm not exactly an Orthodox Jew now. I still have the same Messiah as before. He is still my Savior, Redeemer, and Lord. I don't see what the big deal is about it. I have not rejected Him. I have just gone back to the Jewish roots of the faith. I wonder if one of the reasons why some Christians, the ones I have already told, are so upset about this, could be because of some deep-rooted anti-Semitism? Do you have any perspectives on this? I'm kind of puzzled, in a way.

I personally have never understood anti-Semitism. Maybe the ones who are upset don't fully understand what you have chosen to do. You are just finding the roots and the history to the life that Jesus led and grew up in...you are not refusing Him as Messiah.

Some people do not understand how anti-Semitism, like racism and other evils, can run so deep that we are often not even aware of it. And, many people have the idea that to embrace Judaism means to reject Yeshuah (Jesus). However, just like there were Jewish followers of Jesus during His time on earth, there are Jewish followers of Jesus now. The whole idea of all Jews rejecting Jesus is completely and utterly false. Some Jews call us Christians and not real Jews, but we celebrate many of the Jewish festivals, many of us eat kosher, and many of us love the Torah. I, personally, do not eat any pork. I am very new to all this, and so I do not yet know how to make a matzah ball, and there are many things I still do not know, but I am learning as I go along. I am still learning what is and isn't acceptable to do on the Sabbath. I don't know how to make a Passover meal. There is really A LOT to learn! But, I'll get it down eventually as I continue to study all this.

Thanks! Will do. My nick there is now Organic Fair Trade Coffee. I changed it last night.

I think this whole room is forgetting about paul's encounter and his reaction to the Judaizers in the New Testament. That might be why some of your friends are against you being a Messianic Jew. The law was for law breakers. The purpose of the law was to identify sin and to act as a school master until the Messiah came and brought a Spirit that would engrave the Law on our hearts. Now we are not expected to be conscious of the law. But we are expected to be righteousness-conscious, walking according to the Spirit. Being directed by the spirit. The Law cannot do that. Only one's fellowship with the Holy Spirit can do that. Once somebody understands this there's no reason for him or her to label themselves as a Messianic Jew. Just be a believer in Christ and walk according to the Spirit's instructions. That's the most important part. That's what you'll be judged for in the end. -0-

I am glad that most of your friends have understood your new path. And any "friend" that became hostile is not a good friend.Take Care.

It is my personal belief that a lot of the split between the two religions stems from the fact that many Christians have forgotten that fact. He celebrated the Passover, even. I am just going back to the same Jewish roots of my faith that Yeshuah (Jesus in Hebrew) practiced. I have great respect for Judaism and our traditions and festivals, and I have great respect for Yeshuah. I see my choice of religion as a way to sort of combine the two. A lot of Christians say that they believe that it is not Christianity, per se, that saves, but following Yeshuah as Messiah, Savior, and Lord, and so it makes no sense why some of my Christian friends have gotten up in arms, and some of them dowright hostile, when they have found out that I have turned Messianic Jew, and yet some others have been very accepting of my transition. Whether or not I celebrate Passover or Easter, or Channukah or Christmas, Yeshuah (Jesus) is always the same. I have not abandoned my Savior in this transition. I wish that this rift between us would cease to be.

I don't think she said her religion is Judaism, and I don't think she is here anymore, so I guess it really doesn't matter...lol