Messianic Traditions: Identity Crisis
Jewish, Ephraimite, or Gentile
Identity within Messianic Judaism
Historical Until recent decades, Messianic Judaism was largely limited to Jewish believers in the Messiah. However, in those recent decades, Messianic Judaism and Hebrew Christianity has mixed together and grown considerably. Large numbers of people and congregations have sprung up around the world in a short time. This mixed group is not well defined and people are struggling to learn their identity in the groups.
Jewish Identity Within Messianic Judaism, there exists a strong social pressure to become 'Jewish' in both culture and worship while still maintaining belief in the Messiah. However, this neglects that the Nation of Israel was originally made up of the twelve tribes plus people from other nations and that worship was based around the Temple. Furthermore, it neglects that modern Jewish culture has formed during the last two thousand years and is not the same as what would be found in Old Testament times. Becoming 'Jewish' is not a necessity to becoming a believer in the Messiah.
Ephraimite Identity There also exist, within Messianic Judaism, those who desire to become part of Israel by claiming descent from the lost northern tribes. This is difficult, if not impossible, to prove and is sometimes claimed on faith alone. There are some prophecies about the reunification of the Northern and Southern Tribes of Israel. However, some groups overemphasize this concept, attempt to make these prophecies come true today, or make theories of how it will occur in the future. In the extreme, these groups claim a superiority to the tribe of Judah. This type of attitude separates the people rather than uniting them in the Messiah.
Gentile Inclusion There is a general belief in Orthodox Judaism that the keeping of the commandments is something only for the Jewish people and not for the gentiles. This concept sometimes carries over into groups within Messianic Judaism. This produces a two level system of believers with one group keeping and the other group not keeping all of the commandments. Yet the commandments and laws are for all of the Almighty's people and are His instructions for living life.
One Body There is no distinction between Jewish, Ephraimite, and gentile believers in the Messiah. All are one body in Messiah and all are part of the Nation of Israel because all believers are part of the Almighty's people.
Todd Elder is a believer in the Messiah who wants to help people understand Scripture and know the message of Salvation. For more information from the Messianic Traditions series, please visit the
website http://www.exploringsalvation.info and look under 'Scripture'.
Additional Information
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