JEWISH CHRISTIANS?

In the October 5 issue of the Star-Telegram, Yosef Hodakov wrote that he was "shocked and extremely disturbed" that the leader of Congregation Beth Yeshua was quoted in an article on Rosh Hashanah. He said that this congregation is a "Christian organization" and not a "Jewish one."

I am not a member of that congregation, but I do not understand Hodakov’s shock in this matter. Suppose that the congregation’s leader and many of the members are actually Jewish? Suppose that they do observe Rosh Hashanah. Is it not possible for a Jew to believe in and follow Jesus as the Messiah? Does he thereby become less of a Jew? Not at all. He is simply a Jewish Christian or a Christian Jew.

This is why the Christian apostle Paul could affirm, "I am a Jew" (Acts 22:3) and "I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin" (Romans 11:1). Just as Paul could be a Jew and an Israelite (as a physical descendant of Abraham his forefather), as well as a Christian, so a physical Jew today can become a follower of Jesus the Messiah and not lose his status as a Jew.

After all, we must also remember that Jesus Christ (Yeshua ha Masheahch) Himself was a Jew!

Richard Hollerman
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram)