Jewish and Christian leaders launch countermissionary campaign [Fighting "Jews for Jesus" people]

Jerusalem Post ^ | Aug. 27, 2003

[yonif]

B'nai Brith Canada today announced the launch of a campaign to inform members of Toronto's Jewish community about the activities of "Jews for Jesus."

Calling it the "Proud to be Jewish" Campaign," B'nai Brith's goal is to warn members of the Toronto Jewish community about the presence and methods of the missionary group and to advise them of their rights.

"This isn't about free speech," said Rochelle Wilner, president of B'nai Brith Canada. "Targeted missionizing, especially when done in a manner calculated to deceive the unsuspecting, is offensive to our community. Christianity is not a branch of Judaism it's a different religion altogether, and any attempt to portray it as anything but a different religion is subterfuge. "The term 'Jews for Jesus' makes about as much sense as 'Baptists for Buddha' or 'Catholics for Krishna,'" she said.

"We didn't want this to be just another lesson in how to answer," said Frank Dimant, executive vice president.

"Some in our community are simply not capable of countering missionaries because they have received little formal Jewish education.

"We want members of our community to know that they don't have to defend Judaism to Christian missionaries they have an absolute right to not be subjected to these ministrations in the first place."

Dr. Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College and a leader in Canada's evangelical Christian community, spoke as well. "As a committed Christian I support the idea of preaching Christianity, but preaching Christianity under the guise of Judaism to those who are in fact seeking Judaism, is plainly wrong," said McVety.

"We unequivocally denounce any and all deceptive tactics."

[yonif]

Ping.

[fishtank]

"I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is
the power of God to salvation,
to the Jew first,
then to the Gentile."

A famous Jewish person wrote that.

[MEG33]

I can just close the door,turn the radio to another station,throw away a letter,hang up the phone.There is no danger to someone committed to their faith.I've done these things.

[Nonstatist]

Baptists for Buddah ! Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

[Dataman]

"The term 'Jews for Jesus' makes about as much sense as 'Baptists for Buddha' or 'Catholics for Krishna,'" she said.

The Apostles were Jews. They were Jews for Jesus. The early Church was mostly Jewish. They were Jews for Jesus.

It seems a bit queer that an allegedly Jewish person can't (won't?) understand that.

[montag813]

It seems a bit queer that an allegedly Jewish person can't (won't?) understand that.

YEs, but it is very deceptive to try and trick Jews into conversion instead of an honest presentation and plea for their salvation. "Jews for Jesus" is no different from Scientology in its approach.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

It's EEEEEEEEE-vil Christianity again, the scourge a little more tolerable than Islam...

[xm177e2]

"This isn't about free speech," said Rochelle Wilner, president of B'nai Brith Canada. "Targeted missionizing, especially when done in a manner calculated to deceive the unsuspecting, is offensive to our community. Christianity is not a branch of Judaism it's a different religion altogether, and any attempt to portray it as anything but a different religion is subterfuge. "The term 'Jews for Jesus' makes about as much sense as 'Baptists for Buddha' or 'Catholics for Krishna,'" she said.

What about "Jews for Buddha?" I don't recall the Jewish community ever getting worked up about the trend of liberal Jews to explore things like Buddhism.

Anyway, if there were "Muslims for Kali," I'll believe just about any combination of religions.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Calling it the "Proud to be Jewish" Campaign," B'nai Brith's goal..."

If another group pulled this, it would be 'supremecist'.

[pgyanke]

Christianity is not a branch of Judaism it's a different religion altogether, and any attempt to portray it as anything but a different religion is subterfuge. "The term 'Jews for Jesus' makes about as much sense as 'Baptists for Buddha' or 'Catholics for Krishna,'" she said.

Pop quiz:

1. Jesus was a...

a. Buddhist
b. Krishan
c. Muslim
d. Jew

2. The apostles were...

a. Buddhists
b. Krishas
c. Muslims
d. Jews

3. The prophets who foretold Jesus's coming were...

a. Buddhists
b. Krishas
c. Muslims
d. Jews

4. The many disciples who followed Jesus were...

a. Buddhists
b. Krishas
c. Muslims
d. Jews

5. Jesus taught in...

a. Mecca, Medina, and the Saudi peninsula
b. India and the far east
c. America
d. Jerusalem, synagogues and the surrounding community

[cookcounty]

How are the in-your-face tactics of Jews for Jesus "deceptive"?

A) They are (according to the rabbis) Jews. (though not very proper Jews).

B) They are "for Jesus."

---How could they possibly be more straightfoward?

[Dataman]

YEs, but it is very deceptive to try and trick Jews into conversion instead of an honest presentation and plea for their salvation. "Jews for Jesus" is no different from Scientology in its approach.

You've got to be kidding. There is no need to trick anyone into belief. Leave that to evolutionists and cults. JFJ is legit, and Jay Sekulow vouches for them.

[wideawake]

"The term 'Jews for Jesus' makes about as much sense as 'Baptists for Buddha' or 'Catholics for Krishna,'" she said.

If Buddha were a disciple of Charles Spurgeon who had come up with a radical persepctive on the Westminster Confession or if Krishna was a highly controversial Catholic theologian this statement might make sense.

Apparently she does not understand that Jesus and his disciple Paul were born and raised as Jews and considered themselves to be faithful Jews.

To the best of my knowledge Buddha did not think of himself as a Five Point Calvinist and Krishna was never baptized catholic.

[lews]

What is it that defines wether one is Jewish? Is it a religion or a nationality?

Is it possible to not believe in the Jewish religion and still be a Jew?

I've heard many Jewish folk refer to themselves as non-practicing Jews. According to the logic of those in this article that is not a valid position.

[Revolting cat!]

Baptists for Buddah ! Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Naw, too exclusionary! I prefer Hooray For Everything!

(Credit the Simpsons for this one!)

[fishtank]

5. Jesus taught in...

a. Mecca, Medina, and the Saudi peninsula

b. India and the far east

c. America

d. Jerusalem, synagogues and the surrounding community

There are a lot of whack jobs out there who would answer this question with: e. All of the above.

[cookcounty]

I'm all for education about being Jewish. I once spoke with a college-educated jewish woman who told me:

"Jesus wasn't Jewish!"

"Are you sure?" I asked

"He couldn't be," she explained. " He was catholic.... Everybody knows his mother was Mary!"

[Toonces T. Cat]

"It seems a bit queer that an allegedly Jewish person can't (won't?) understand that."

You have no idea!...LOL As a Messianic Jew that accepted Christ as his Lord and savior almost 30 years ago, I regularly witness to other Jews. Because I have Christ in my life does not mean that I have ceased to be a Jew. I am just a complete Jew whose Messiah has arrived.

Conveying the concept of a Trinity to a practicing Jew is much akin to banging your head against a brick wall. It can be done, but it's gonna really hurt. It is a concept that is absolutely antithetical to Jewish teaching. The most essential of prayers, the Shma...in English for you non-Hebrew literate types...goes:

Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord.

...as in not three. Trust me it is a difficult concept to convey to someone that has been taught all their life that such an idea is heretical.

As for me, God had to kick me in the head three times before I figured it out. I've always felt that if he was willing to give me two extra shots, then the least I can do is try to bring other Jews into the fold.

-Toonces

[MarkL]

The Apostles were Jews. They were Jews for Jesus. The early Church was mostly Jewish. They were Jews for Jesus.

It seems a bit queer that an allegedly Jewish person can't (won't?) understand that.

No disrespect is intended, but can one be Christian without acknoledging the divinity of Jesus? Or if one rejects that belief? When one disregards the main tennant of faith, one is no longer an adherant to that faith.

One of the main tennants of Judism is that the messiah has not come, and we're still waiting for that event. When one acknowledges that Jesus is the messiah, then that person has abandoned his faith for another. I'm not saying that it's right or wrong. Just stating a fact.

It doesn't matter what one was before the acceptance of a set of beliefs in a faith. What matters is what one is now...

Mark