The essence of the NT has nothing whatsoever to do how you worship. Judaic tradition is just that -- a man-made tradition. There is nothing holy about it. Whether I cross myself or not has no bearing on the orthodoxy of my faith.
Judaism and Christianity are mutually exclusive because Christianity recognized the Word in Jesus; Judaism rejected and still rejects Him.
A Jew is considered a Jew even if he is an atheist. A Jew is not considered a Jew if he becomes a Christian. Why? because one does not have to be observant to be a Jew. One only has to lead a righteous life to be acceptable to God. Jews do not believe that man is in need of salvation. To a Jew, Messiah is a a mortal man who will appear to restore Israel (a state) as a dominant kingdom on earth.
But a Christian Jew, by definition, accepted different theology, just as a Jew who converts to Islam is no longer a Jew but a Muslim. As far as Judaism is concerned, he is no longer considered a Jew. Judaism and Islam identify nationality, customs and God's laws all as one and the same. It is Judaism (or Islam) that makes God's laws and man-made traditions one and the same.
Some Christians associate the manner of worship (a man-made tradition) as holy and confuse it with faith. Worship is a manner of expressing praise to the Lord and must not be confused with faith or theology.
Christians have no concept of a Christian "nationality". We differentiate between man-made culture built around faith and faith which is universal. One does not cease being a German if he become an atheist, but he ceases to be a Christian.
Christ did a lot more than just restore the concept of righteousness, my friend. But the bottom line is this: let Judaism be what Judaism is. Christ gave the world a new covenant that should not be confused with the old one.
If there is any confusion between God's laws and man-made traditions, between salvation and works of the law, it is what the NT teaches us to not do.
Another excellent post !
How about you? Do you believe you have entered into the new covenant?