Most Messianic Jews, like other deeply spiritual people who have chosen other paths, felt at some point in their lives a longing, an emptiness that they sought to fill by seeking God. After much prayer and reading of the Bible, they made the decision that the path to God is through Yeshua. Unfortunately, it is a decision that alienates some Messianic Jews from their families and communities. The decision is seen as a slap in the face to their loved ones who always stood by the statement that "Jews do not believe in Jesus."

What leads to this soul search, some experts argue, is a need to fill a gap in their lives caused by a lack of spirituality. Perhaps these Jews grew up in homes where God was never discussed, where a few holidays were haphazardly thrown together, or where Judaism was presenting in such a way as being in general so unappealing, that Messianic Jews looked elsewhere.

This is a reasonable argument. After all, every day hundreds of Jews convert to other religions, many of which are false religions (cults) or Eastern faiths like Buddhism. Apparently, these Jews are indeed looking for something to fill their lives. But what sets Jews who become Messianic apart is the fact that they are remaining within the Biblical faith. They are still maintaining their Jewish identities, combined with faith in Yeshua. Messianic Jews have not "converted" to another religion -- they are still Jews first and foremost.

It is true that some Messianic Jews have a Jewish background that was lacking, to say the least. Some Messianic Jews find a renewed, and in some cases, brand new sense of identity and practise of their Jewish backgrounds after accepting Yeshua. They find themselves to be completed Jews in all areas -- a Jew practising God's Torah and a Jew who has found salvation in Yeshua. As well, not all Messianic Jews have secular backgrounds to begin with. Orthodox Jews, even Rabbis -- Jews who are comfortable with Judaism and have a strong background in the Laws and Torah -- have become Messianic.

Rebellion generally refers to a stage of one's life that one eventually outgrows. Which of us have not rebelled in our adolescent years? If someone accepts Yeshua then later turns his or her back on Him in their lifestyle or professed beliefs, I honestly do not think they were a true Believer in the first place. However, if someone who accepts Yeshua sticks with their faith for the long haul, then rebellion is not an accurate explanation. Rather, these people are being led by the God's Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit) into a personal relationsip with God that is life-changing and powerful.

These people know that faith in Yeshua means being ostracized by their peers, and possibly affecting their livelihood if they run a business with many Jewish clients. Why would they choose this for no other reason than to merely go against the grain? It makes no sense. Only God can make someone turn their life around, no matter what the consequences.

That said, there is no evidence that Jews who accept Yeshua have any sort of mental problems or deficiencies than Jews who don't. I myself have been accused by one family member as "seeing spaceships." There is no reason a Jewish person who accepts Yeshua has any more problems than a Gentile who accepts Him. If there was, there would sure be a lot more mentally ill people in the world than there currently are!

Frankly, the same a lot of these false arguments applied to Messianic Jews could very well refer to Jewish people who become Ultra-Orthodox. There are families who feel their child has joined a cult, and are shunned from family get-togethers. "They apparently missed something growing up;" "They are just doing it to spite their parents;" "It's a phase they are going through." I have heard all of these statements referring to Jewish people from secular backgrounds who now worship God through Rabbinical Judaism.

We are completed Jews who have found fulfillment in Yeshua Ha'Moshiach. We are not rebelling against our Jewish heritage or else we would assimilate into the Gentile church. We are Messianic Jews, woshippers of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Copyright 2002