Christians and Jews
Should Christians share Jesus with Jews?
posted by Tom Arthur at 10:26 PM
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
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8 Comments:
Share?
I find Ellen Davis helpful on this one. My best understanding of her work is that the answer is essentially no for Gentile Christians. Because for most of history a Jew experiencing the "sharing" of Jesus has meant s/he might be killed.
It seems more helpful to adopt Carter's posture of humility and stop seeing this thing as our possession and our birthright with which we must "share" with a world that is damned.
Id est (thanks Wilson) the promises to the Jews still stands and we have been graciously brought in.
The idea that there are people who I can't talk to about Jesus seems problematic to me. Yes, that "talking" ought to be done with significant humility always. Always. No mater what person or group I'm talking to. I haven't been convinced by Dr. Davis' answer.
I don't know Carter's position so you're going to have to flesh it our further for me to grasp it. An appeal to Carter doesn't cut it for me yet either, especially since I don't know what he says.
If the promises to the Jews still stand, how do we understand John 14:6 and other exclusive/particular texts?
Yes. I don't think historical mistakes are an excuse. The task given in Acts is to preach the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. If in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile, then I see no reason why any Christian should not take the Gospel to Jerusalem and Judea.
The talk of birthright is to miss the point. It's about call.
What Tom said about John: "No one comes to the Father but by me." Jesus said that. We should probably take it seriously.
Finally, even if we think we know what the hell Romans 9-11 is about, shouldn't we want to share the Gospel in hopes that even Jews could enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised he came to bring?
I wonder has anyone had any experiences in this?
I have a Jewish neighbor and we've had a bunch of great, honest conversations and he's actually come to hear me preach. I'm going to synagogue with him next month sometime. Howard would be mad at me if I didn't tell him that I actually do believe that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel. I believe it, he doesn't, we both realize this, and we can still talk about it. In a way these conversations are evangelical, both ways, and neither of us mind. Is this out of bounds? Why?
PA,
1. we missed you in class
2. I think your example is totally in bounds and does not conflict at all with my thoughts. Once again it is not that we are to pretend that we do not have a particular belief. What I am not comfortable with is, post-Davis/Carter especially, is how the language of sharing and mission is employed with regards to Judaism. Your example has at the basis friendship and mutual study. It is not you clinging to a Jesus that is your own, with no connection to the people Israel, to be shared with your friend so that he will not go to hell.
Matt Marston articulates this better than I via's Carter's Christology so I am waiting for him to pick up where I'm missing.
3) My own story is my friend from high school/ college who was once a practicing Jew/ actually became a Christian for a while in high school as a high school with me eagerly supplying C.S. Lewisisms hoping to score one for the home team. He is now agnostic but convinced me to take a class on the historical Jesus in college that got me on the religious studies trajectory and lined me up unknowingly toward a divinity school.
4) I apologize for calling you a Marcionite in OT class.
Phil,
I see no problem with your actions.
Graham the difference, perhaps, is that I do believe that there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ and I do therefore sense an urgency in "sharing" the Gospel with Howard: not because I'm certain I'm in an he's out, but because I am certain that we're all out apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ. And so with Tom I cannot countenance not telling someone this good news. I simply think that, in the case of Jews as in all cases, we have to wise as serpents and innocent as doves in our approach. We need to be prudent but even more we need to be praying.
I vaguely remember you calling me a Marcionite but I can't remember the exact circumstances... did it involve a conversation about the Trinity and the OT? In any case I of course accept the apology.
Excellent points well taken.
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