Judaism is the religion of the Jews. Judaism begins with Abraham and one can find his story recorded in Genesis. God formed a covenant (promise) with Abraham and it involved:
- A People - God told Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. Abraham was an old man when God said this to him. (Gen 12:2; 15:5)
- A Place - God promised Abraham and his descendants a homeland. Canaan is the region now known as Israel and Palestine. (Gen 17:8)
- A Purpose - The purpose of using Abraham and his descendents was to teach the world about the one true God. (Gen 12:3)
The Jews have always been called "God's chosen people" and with good reason.
"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt." - Deuteronomy 7:6-8
The Messiah
Jews have been awaiting the arrival of the Messiah for centuries. They expect the Messiah to not only be a Savior for the Jews, but also a blessing to all humanity. Many Jews are looking for a military Messiah, along the lines of King David, who would bring victory. This is what people were waiting for and expecting in the Messiah. Jesus did not fit the description to them. The majority of Jews at that time, and still today, have rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Jewish officials at that time ruled Jesus to be be a Messiah imposter and they were not allowed to teach about Him. Some did accept Him as the Messiah based on the prophecies about the "suffering servant" and they believed that His kingdom that would be established was spiritual. The Christian church was initially comprised of Jews that believed Jesus was the Messiah. Many Jews believed that one could not be a Christian without first becoming a Jew. Peter's vision in Acts 10 and his explanation in Acts 11:1-17 lead to the following conclusion:
"When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." - Acts 11:18
Some Jews even view the Messiah as a time period of prosperity and not an actual person.
Rules & Writings
It was God's plan to use the Jews to demonstrate His principles on how to live. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. These commandments showed how humanity was to relate to God and the rest of humanity. These however are not all the rules for a Jew. There are 613 commandments (mitzvot) in the sacred writings of Judaism. Some are positive (things to do), some are negative (things not to do) and some refer to Temple procedures. The Temple does not currently exist. The Torah is the name of the entire Jewish Bible. The Written Torah, Tanakh, is what Christians call the Old Testament. It contains the same 39 books but just in a different order and some even combined (i.e. - Samuel is one book not two). It is arranged as the Law, Prophets and Writings. The closest thing to a widely accepted explanation of Judaism is found in the writings of Moses Maimonides. These are what he considered to be the basics of the Jewish faith:
- God exists and is the sole creator.
- There is only one, unique God.
- God has no bodily form or shape.
- God is eternal.
- We should pray to God and to Him alone.
- The words of the prophets are true.
- The prophecies of Moses are true, and He is the greatest of all the prophets.
- The Written Torah (Tanakh) and the Oral Torah (Teachings of the Talmud) are true.
- The Torah is not subject to change, and there will never be another Torah from God.
- God nows the thoughts and deeds of every person.
- God will reward those who are good and will punish those who are wicked.
- The Messiah will come.
- The dead will be resurrected.
With all these rules the predominant view of Judaism is that it is very legalistic. Just like any other religion it can be legalistic. The term halakhah describes the relationship between Jewish people and their laws and customs. Halakhah literally means "the path that one walks". Jewish people do not view their laws and customs as being bound by chains in a prison. No, they view their laws and customs as a tool to provide religous significance to their everyday acts. Getting dressed, eating, etc now have a religous meaning to them. Jews do not see themselves as being burdened down by rules but a way that God can be glorified. Living a life according to these rules and customs reminds a Jew of their faith.
Sects
There are three main sects (divisions) in Judaism.
- Orthodox Jew - Oldest and most conservative branch of Judaism. They strictly adhere to all the laws, customs and practices. Every word of the sacred text is considered to be divinely inspired and mandatory.
- Reform Jew - This is the most liberal and more permissive side of Judaism. This is many of the Jews in North America. Basically, they follow the ethical laws of Judaism and that is about it. They do not adhere to the customs. They use English instead of Hebrew. Musical instruments are permitted and so are female rabbis. Instructions from God are progressive and can be changed.
- Conservative Jew - This is actually what most would consider moderate. It retains much of the tradition while making accommodations for contemporary lifestyles.
A Religion or A Race
Judaism was within and for a specific bloodline (Abraham). However, even a person outside the blood-line (gentile) can be a Jew. A person doesn't even have to believe in God to be a Jew. Many Jews do not believe in God and just practice the faith out of a sense of heritage. Judaism also requires no certain DNA to be a Jew (like many other races). They are more than a religion or a race. They are a nation. This refers to the universal connectedness amongst Jews. They would describe themselves as "the Jewish people" or "children of Israel".
Recap
- God - He is the powerful ruler of the universe. He is loving and just. There is a tension between the nearness and the fairness of God, but hummanity can communicate with Him.
- Humanity - People are basically good because they are created in the image of God. They have the ability to make ethical choices and are responsible for their actions.
- Sin - Although people have a good nature, they have an evil inclinationthat may lead them astray.
- Salvation and Afterlife - This is not well developed. Your eternal existence is determined by your moral behavior and attitudes. God offers forgiveness to those who repent and atone for their sins through positive action. You are responsible for leading a moral life while here on earth; any judgement in the afterlife is best left to God.
- Morals - The desired pattern for behavior is addressed in Jewish literature. Morality is based upon the good of the community and social justice. Marriage and children are valued.
- Worship - This is a major part of life. Rituals and cermonies play an important role. Jewish worship is prayer-centered.
- Jesus - Some recognize that He was a great teacher of morality. Most consider Him to be an imposter Messiah.
Judaism and Christianity
What is the difference? Christians accept Jesus as the Messiah and most Jews do not. The Israeli Supreme Court has even ruled that Jews who believe in Jesus as Messiah are not Jews under the law, which grants citizenship to all Jews. Jews that have accepted Jesus as the Messiah consider themselves to be completed or fulfilled Jews. Personally, As I read the Bible I see how God's chosen people have not been perfect. This gives me hope. However, just like Christians today, they have constantly been in a cycle just like they were in the book of Judges.
Discussion
- Why did Jesus not fit the expectation that Jews had for the Messiah?
- Other Questions/Comments.
Bickel, Bruce and Stan Jantz. World Religions and Cults 101. (Harvest House Publishers: Eugene, 2002), 41-58.
