What About Messianic Jews?
Speaking with PremierChristianity.com, Dr. Richard Harvey, interim UK director of Jews for Jesus, says the new report contains “a lot of good”—such as encouraging more repentance—but he takes issue with some points. People should read the entire document, he recommends, rather than rely on sound bites.
Harvey agrees that increased anti-Semitism within politics, society, and churches “needs to be counteracted,” but he says Mirvis’ request that Christians stop sharing the gospel is unrealistic. “My Chief Rabbi is Rabbi Jesus,” says Harvey, “and he said to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, beginning with the house of Israel.” He acknowledges, however, that Christians must share that message in a “far more loving and sensitive and relevant” way—with Jewish people and “with everyone else.”
Harvey says the report largely ignores Messianic Jews, which he calls “the missing link between the church and Israel.” He adds, “When Judaism and Christianity parted company, in a way the truth was divided, and Messianic Jews are the missing link to that truth.”
Sensitive outreach to Jewish people, says Harvey, involves careful use of language—including the avoidance of loaded terms such as “mission” and “evangelism.” He recommends emphasizing the good news that “we found the Messiah…and he calls us to be his followers, his disciples, and the best way is just to show the love of the Messiah to everyone we meet.” In other words, Harvey notes, “I would say be more like Jesus.”
