Why Even Pretend?

I often receive e-mails from various members of the Messianic movement trying to claim that their movement is truly Jewish, deny connections to Christian denominations and attempt to erase the Christian founding of their movement.  However, sometimes there are truly eye-opening articles that are published that give you an idea of what Messianic "Judaism" is really about.  Let me give you a few quotes from the Baptist Press on the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship.  The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship is made up of approximately 40 Messianic congregations:

"The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship, now recognized as an official ethnic and language ministry of the North American Mission Board, will gather in Orlando, Fla., to discuss plans for church planting among Jewish populations in the United States.

The fellowship's annual meeting will begin with a Shabbat service on Friday, June 11, at 7 p.m. in Salon 1 and 2 on the second floor of the Rosen Centre Hotel. The group also will have a booth in the exhibit hall during the June 15-16 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.......

This year marks the second time the Messianics have had a booth in the SBC exhibit hall, and this year it is sponsored by the North American Mission Board. Their presence at the booth, the group says, is one of the most successful ways they have been able to partner with Southern Baptist churches for strategic outreach to Jewish people.

"We're excited about the opportunity to get together with our brothers and sisters in the SBC and talk about our ministry and our outreach to Jewish people," Saffle told Baptist Press. "We're excited about what the Lord is doing, growing the number of congregations. We're working with missionaries around the world to help reach Jewish people for Christ."

Ric Worshill, vice president of the fellowship, said Messianic ministers are meeting more frequently to discuss with NAMB a process for Messianic church planting and evangelism. For instance, in March, 16 people gathered in Indianapolis at the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana to network and dialogue about Jewish evangelism in the state.

"SBMF is on the move," Worshill said, noting several new church plants in the past few years.

Saffle said that at the Orlando meeting they'll discuss some of the effective ways they've found to reach Jews, and a representative from the International Mission Board who currently is serving in Israel will speak to the group."

I can tell you from experience that members of SBMF churches have sworn up and down to me that they are truly Jewish congregations.  But why even pretend?  Why not be honest and say the truth....that they are members of a church. 

http://www.bpnews.net/printerfriendly.asp?ID=32798 

Baptist Press reports the messianic fellowship is "now recognized as an official ethnic and language ministry of the North American Mission Board." - See more at: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/southern-baptist-mission-board-sponsors-exhibit-for-messianic-jews-cms-12579#sthash.qV41yFS3.dpuf

 

The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship, a ministry formed in 1990 to preach the gospel to Jews, will for the first time have a booth this year in the exhibit hall at the Southern Baptist Convention. - See more at: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/southern-baptist-mission-board-sponsors-exhibit-for-messianic-jews-cms-12579#sthash.qV41yFS3.dpuf

The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship, a ministry formed in 1990 to preach the gospel to Jews, will for the first time have a booth this year in the exhibit hall at the Southern Baptist Convention. - See more at: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/southern-baptist-mission-board-sponsors-exhibit-for-messianic-jews-cms-12579#sthash.qV41yFS3.dpuf

The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship, a ministry formed in 1990 to preach the gospel to Jews, will for the first time have a booth this year in the exhibit hall at the Southern Baptist Convention. - See more at: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/southern-baptist-mission-board-sponsors-exhibit-for-messianic-jews-cms-12579#sthash.qV41yFS3.dpuf

The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship, a ministry formed in 1990 to preach the gospel to Jews, will for the first time have a booth this year in the exhibit hall at the Southern Baptist Convention. - See more at: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/southern-baptist-mission-board-sponsors-exhibit-for-messianic-jews-cms-12579#sthash.qV41yFS3.dpuf

The Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship, a ministry formed in 1990 to preach the gospel to Jews, will for the first time have a booth this year in the exhibit hall at the Southern Baptist Convention. - See more at: http://www.ethicsdaily.com/southern-baptist-mission-board-sponsors-exhibit-for-messianic-jews-cms-12579#sthash.qV41yFS3.dpuf