Good News for Whom?

Carol:

Re: Your comments

Absolutely, I agree. Jews have to come out of the closet and take their books with them. Let there be light. I've found that some Christians are quite interested in Jewish self-understanding, even to the point of being annoyed that their previous instruction led them to believe that Judaism was the equivalent of the "Old Testament."

Enough with diffidence.

The irony of both Christianity and Catholicism is that they know absolutely nothing about the faith they presume to have replaced.

Part of the problem resides with us Jews, who continue to try to translate Judaism in terms they "know" and that we think they will understand.

Hence, one sees such abominations as "the Jews believe in Yahweh," a nineteenth-century German scholarly construction, having nothing to do with the observance of Judaism.

It is up to us, either to get back into the conversion business or to patiently explain the rudiments of Judaism to them, once they start extolling.

Where did you get the idea that all Christians are stamped out as with a cookie cutter? While we share certain beliefs we have many different ways of worship.

Thank you, Rabbi. I agree. I'm a Jewish interfaith activist in Memphis, TN. I was very impressed with much of the Evangelical statement, e.g. the reference to "the freedom, justice, peace, and well-being that are at the heart of the good news of Jesus"; I can't help but recall that Jesus was Jewish. As a Muslim friend says to me frequently, "There are good people in all religions - people who believe in loving the one God, and loving their neighbor. If we could get together on that and not worry about the minor differences, we could make a great difference in the world."

I recently had occasion to attend a Presbyterian Sunday School one morning, and a Muslim Sunday School the same evening. The texts were different - one a parable from the New Testament, the other a parable from the Koran. But the lesson was identical in both classes: it is appropriate for the believer to pass on the message (of belief) to people, but not appropriate to force the issue. Whether the recipient accepts the message is in the hand of God.

I've seen enough good works done by enough Christians who clearly love their neighbor that I'm not offended when they tell me how the message of Jesus inspires them in that direction. I'll listen when a Christian tells me how Christianity will help the poor, the sick, the stranger. I'm much less interested in hearing that non-belief will cause me to go to hell, or long lectures on the need for forgiveness of sin (which I surely need but can receive from God my own Jewish way, thank you.)

I must admit to being more comfortable in some ways with Islam, which shares the Jewish position that good Christians, good Jews, good Muslims, all go to heaven (in the Jewish phase, "the righteous of all nations have a place in the world to come.")

I often wish Jews were better at spreading the values we have learned from God, and in accepting others into our midst. In the meantime, I give considerable credit to those Christians and Muslims who have been effective at spreading the good lessons of love of God and love of neighbor taught by all three faiths. I'm delighted to see Christianity spread by those who live and spread the Gospel of caring for the sick, the elderly, the poor, the stranger - in ways that address the problems of this world rather than merely "selling tickets to heaven" to those who will profess belief.

Rabbi Hirschfield, your even-handedness is appreciated, and I agree with much of what you say here. Here's where I don't quite though:

You write, "...the fact remains that they do affirm their belief that their faith in Jesus is the only complete truth and the only means through which one can be saved."

"...But the fact is that every tradition or culture which imagines that ultimately everyone must be like them ends up doing some pretty dangerous things."

Their affirmation of their faith in Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life is not the same thing as them imagining that everyone must be like them. Catholic me, like them, thinks I'm right, but I in no way think that everyone else must be like me, and I am well aware that I am not omniscient. It'd be nice if they did share my faith, for their own salvation (in my opinion), but it is not for me to decide or vainly attempt to influence God's plans for other people; my own actions are plenty for me to worry about!

Rabbi said "their belief in it does not bother me" It should as they go after the weak, young, and old of those belonging to Judaism. "spreading the News is not always about conversion" It is about destroying thy neighbor. That was why they were sent into the world, and out of Israel. Their existence in the Israel pollutes the Holy Land.

Followers of Jesus,

"shadow of death light is sprung up"

But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

"let the dead bury their dead."
"as he taught in Capernaum."
"he came and dwelt in Capernaum"
"Galilee of the Gentiles"
"The people which sat in darkness saw great light"
"shadow of death light is sprung up"

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.