There are a lot of beautiful similarities and consistencies between Jewish and Christian thought. And it's only natural - Christianity stems from Judaism, both historically and spiritually.

What we don't talk about so often... are the awkward similarities. The similarities that exist which a "plain reading of scripture" (which so many Christians claim to favor) would cast some suspicion on. If you are a Christian who accepts the revelation of God in Jesus, there are a number of ideas and viewpoints rooted in the Old Testament which you might expect to shift, evolve, or at least become highly qualified once confronted with Jesus in the New. Jesus set this precedent himself throughout the gospels, and the early church continued in his ethic under his own instruction to "bind and loose" by the Spirit with "the keys to the kingdom."

So, without further ado, I present:

AWKWARD SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JUDAISM
AND MODERN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY

1) Believes the Old Testament revelation of "God the Father" is better, more extensive, and more ultimately binding than the "The Father and I are one" of Jesus or the unwrapping of that by the rest of the New Testament.

2) Believes victory comes through physical violence, war and conquest to accomplish the purposes of God.

3) Believes itself to be a persecuted minority awaiting rescue, rather than a victorious entity embodying God's mission of rescue to the whole universe.

4) Believes God's kingdom is primarily something to be awaited, and thus remains yet NOT-inaugurated in any dynamic sense here on earth.

5) Believes that God's "blessing" (favor, solidarity, etc) is primarily found with the wealthy, the powerful, the influential and well-regarded...

6) Believes Messiah's next coming (whether 1st or 2nd) will be tribal and nationalistic, and will prominently feature the literal sword of violent retribution.

7) Believes the church is a parentheses in the story, and that Israel as a bloodline / physical nation remains distinct - the ultimate hinge upon which the world still pivots in the timeline of God.

8) Contrary to even the Old Testament prophets and the Mosaic Law of "an eye for an eye," believes the nation of Israel to be above reproach in its provocation and/or escalation of violence.

9) Also contrary to even the Old Testament prophets and the Mosaic Law, believes that Israel maintains its identity as Israel even when many of its people do not desire to follow God or the Law.

I'm sure I could continue to add to this list as more similarities strike me... but the point is what it is. I don't think I need to unwrap it or explain it.

But it is unfortunate how little of Jesus is allowed into the equation by so many Christians. The difference is, the Jews have an excuse, because they are not the ones who claim to follow or worship Jesus.

Christians, are you listening?

Comment

John Cooper, and "What is Happening in Christianity"

Despite criticizing the motivations of others, John Cooper is the only one who stands to benefit from the things he’s communicating to the same target audience.

THE STORY OF "THE WOMAN AT THE WELL" NO ONE EVER TOLD YOU...

...Where could one such as her ever worship? She wants to know. Truly. Jesus is the only learned Jew she has ever felt safe to ask. And in response, Jesus treats her like a serious and worthy theologian. As he honors her capacity for understanding, he elevates her and all women along with her. He drops the most significant teaching on worship in all of scripture on her alone, there at the well. The entire, sweeping theme of the New Testament and covenant, and the implications of everything else he does and says, he lays out plainly for her. He doesn't shroud it in parable. He can see she's ready for the fullness of light to shine. He tells her that worship is ultimately without ritual or rite. That it is found in spirit and truth at the very core of a person. That, whether in Jerusalem or at Gerizim, such temples are already obsolete. This means that people are the very temple of God. And this suggests to her she has as much access to God as some self-important high priest who loathes her. And she always has.

WE ARE NOT WAITING ON REVIVAL. REVIVAL IS WAITING ON US.

People have been pleading with the ceiling for revival for decades. For as long as we've had this American culture of Christianity, they've been attempting to stoke this fire and make something happen. Something lasting and real. They've sung and prayed and wept for it. Hundreds and thousands and millions of them – at altars and in tents and stadiums, in conferences and crusades and every other kind of service imaginable, they've been crying out for revival. And it has never been enough. But they keep telling us to try again, try harder, pray more. And maybe this time our withholding God will answer. Maybe. (Judging by the past, though, probably not.)

Of Course You're "Worthy"

You hear a lot in Christian circles about how "unworthy" we are. You hear a lot of it in Christian music, too. And this idea of our unworthiness is one that's meant to champion God's goodness and grace... But it's misleading. It's misleading because, while God's love and goodness may not be something we have to earn or deserve, that doesn't mean we aren't "worthy" of it. Here's something important that we often forget when it comes to "worthiness": the one giving the gift is the one who decides whether the one receiving it is worthy.

One Wish: Solomon, David & Desire

The desire of David reflected in some beautiful things and progressed the discussion for the whole world. Where his son desired wisdom above all else and wrote proverbs, David desired to sense the nearness of God... and he wrote songs. A whole lot of them. It could be reasoned that David saw himself as an ambassador joined with the move of God, while Solomon saw himself as a diplomat working for God. These two ideas persist to this day. Many still beg God for wisdom and seem to labor as though they were going it alone, while many others simply live with God and focus on declaring God's faithfulness to sustain and beautify all things. Many see God in the compartments, and focus on making big shows and displays of faith and piety for God... But many others see God with them always and everywhere - even down in the muck, when they're at rock bottom and have nothing to give.

things i learned while sleeping

My subconscious mind was narrating something I already understood to be true. Over and over, it was weaving an image of what I needed to come to grips with in myself. The smallness of the System I had known to address the bigness of the world. The smallness of God as I had known God... The dream was an invitation to something bigger. It was a declaration of the position I was learning to take outside the world as I had known it. It was a manifestation of my growing heart to be accounted with outsiders and those on the margins. Mine was a nightmare which helped point me toward greater light and greater truth. And it didn't leave me alone until I was truly ready to wake up.

JUDAISM & CHRISTIANITY: A TALE OF AWKWARD TWINS

AWKWARD SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JUDAISM
AND MODERN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY

1) Believes the Old Testament revelation of "God the Father" is better, more extensive, and more ultimately binding than the "The Father and I are one" of Jesus or the unwrapping of that by the rest of the New Testament.

2) Believes victory comes through physical violence, war and conquest to accomplish the purposes of God.

3) Believes itself to be a persecuted minority awaiting rescue, rather than a victorious entity embodying God's mission of rescue to the whole universe.

4) Believes God's kingdom is primarily something to be awaited, and thus remains yet NOT-inaugurated in any dynamic sense here on earth.

5) Believes that God's "blessing" (favor, solidarity, etc) is primarily found with the wealthy, the powerful, the influential and well-regarded...

6) Believes Messiah's next coming (whether 1st or 2nd) will be tribal and nationalistic, and will prominently feature the literal sword of violent retribution.

7) Believes the church is a parentheses in the story, and that Israel as a bloodline / physical nation remains distinct - the ultimate hinge upon which the world still pivots in the timeline of God.

8) Contrary to even the Old Testament prophets and the Mosaic Law of "an eye for an eye," believes the nation of Israel to be above reproach in its provocation and/or escalation of violence.

9) Also contrary to even the Old Testament prophets and the Mosaic Law, believes that Israel maintains its identity as Israel even when many of its people do not desire to follow God or the Law.

SOCIAL: Connect. SHARE. INTERACT.

THE FEED

social and stuff

JUDAISM & CHRISTIANITY: A TALE OF AWKWARD TWINS

AWKWARD SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JUDAISMAND MODERN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY

1) Believes the Old Testament revelation of "God the Father" is better, more extensive, and more ultimately binding than the "The Father and I are one" of Jesus or the unwrapping of that by the rest of the New Testament.

2) Believes victory comes through physical violence, war and conquest to accomplish the purposes of God.

3) Believes itself to be a persecuted minority awaiting rescue, rather than a victorious entity embodying God's mission of rescue to the whole universe.

4) Believes God's kingdom is primarily something to be awaited, and thus remains yet NOT-inaugurated in any dynamic sense here on earth.

5) Believes that God's "blessing" (favor, solidarity, etc) is primarily found with the wealthy, the powerful, the influential and well-regarded...

6) Believes Messiah's next coming (whether 1st or 2nd) will be tribal and nationalistic, and will prominently feature the literal sword of violent retribution.

7) Believes the church is a parentheses in the story, and that Israel as a bloodline / physical nation remains distinct - the ultimate hinge upon which the world still pivots in the timeline of God.

8) Contrary to even the Old Testament prophets and the Mosaic Law of "an eye for an eye," believes the nation of Israel to be above reproach in its provocation and/or escalation of violence.

9) Also contrary to even the Old Testament prophets and the Mosaic Law, believes that Israel maintains its identity as Israel even when many of its people do not desire to follow God or the Law.

AWKWARD SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JUDAISM
AND MODERN EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY