CHRISTIANS SHOULD USE THEIR HEAD AND THINK

Hugh Fogelman

 

 

Let me begin with a quote from the New Testament, from an epistle written to non-Jews.

 

 2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your ownselves… This is a very good idea to prove to ourselves that what we believe is true.

 

Let me ask you three questions.

 

(1) To which religion would a person be a member if he did the following?

  • Was circumcised on the eighth day.
  • Kept Sabbath from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
  • Attended a synagogue regularly.
  • Kept the Biblical Festivals such as Passover, Hag Ha Matzah (Unleavened Bread), Shavuot (Pentecost), Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkoth (Tabernacles) and Hanukkah.
  • Was a citizen and friend of Israel and believed Israel is the example for all non-Jewish people in the world
  • His Bible contained the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings ONLY!
  • Quoted passages as authoritative from the Mishnah (the Oral Law).
  • Taught that Deuteronomy 6:4 was the most important commandment.
  • Wore a tallit and phylacteries in religious services
  • Did not eat unclean foods
  • Taught the eternalness of God’s Covenants and His Laws
  • Taught that faith without works is no faith at all
  • Taught that salvation is more concerned with events in the here and now than what occurs beyond the grave

 

I suppose that most of you came up with the same answer.  You don't have to be a scholar to recognize that one observing such a faith does not practice Christianity―he holds to the teachings of Judaism.

 

__________________

 

 

My second question:

 

(2) To which religion would a person be a member if he did the following?

 

·        *Keeps the Sabbath on Sunday which is the legacy of Sun worship today.

·        Attends a church which most likely rejects most things Jewish.

·        Keeps Easter and Christmas which were pagan festivals made to look religious to those who don't know the difference.

·        Carries a Bible containing an Old Testament and a New Testament which ironically contradicts the Old.

·        Stresses a person's beliefs over his actions.

·        Teaches that people had to be "saved" by acknowledging a creed or an established set of beliefs in order to go to heaven.

·        Teaches that they are not under the law and that the Law has passed away and they are under grace.

·        Teaches that you can eat anything…even Biblically unclean foods

·        Teaches that the church had replaced Israel as God's people and sees itself as the fulfillment of prophecies given to Israel.

·        Attaches no special significance to circumcision

 

I bet you got the right answer again – a Christian.

 

__________________

 

 

My last question:

 

(3) To which religion did Jesus belong: Christianity or Judaism? Jesus:

 

  • Was circumcised on the eighth day.
  • Kept Sabbath from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
  • Attended a synagogue regularly.
  • Kept the Biblical Festivals such as Passover, Hag Ha Matzah (Unleavened Bread), Shavuot (Pentecost), Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkoth (Tabernacles) and Hanukkah.
  • Was a citizen and friend of Israel and believed Israel is the example for all non-Jewish people in the world
  • His Bible contained the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings ONLY!
  • Quoted passages as authoritative from the Mishnah (the Oral Law).
  • Taught that Deuteronomy 6:4 was the most important commandment.
  • Wore a tallith and phylacteries in religious services
  • Did not eat unclean foods
  • Taught the eternalness of God’s Covenants and His Laws
  • Taught that faith without works is no faith at all
  • Taught that salvation is more concerned with events in the here and now than what occurs beyond the grave

 

The answer to the above question (#3) is a simple matter of logic as attested by the New Testament itself. Jesus was a Jew, not a Christian and he was certainly not both. An amazing discovery for any Christian is the fact that there is simply no evidence that Jesus ever renounced Judaism and quit being a Jew. Also, Jesus [not Paul’s or John’s] teachings never indicate that he wanted any Jew to renounce Judaism and join a new religion, such as invented by Paul.

 

The book of Acts provides some very valuable information long overlooked by most Christians. Paul's return to Jerusalem and his meeting with the leaders of the "church." Is recorded in Acts 21:17-25. Keep in mind that these were the men who had been personally taught by and lived with Jesus and their words provide some very enlightening information. The translation given below is based on a cultural and historical methodology. Your translation most probably reflects the doctrines of the Roman church and therefore may differ.

 

"You see, brother (referring to the Apostle Paul), how many thousands of Jews have become faithful (observant). All of them are zealous for the Torah (Law). They have been informed that you have taught the Jews of the Diaspora to not keep the Torah, that they should not circumcise their children or live according to the Jewish religion.... Take these men and do the following... so that everybody will know that there is no truth in these reports about your teachings, but that you yourself are living an observant life-style and keeping the Torah."

 

Carefully look at Paul's actions for they cause Christianity many problems.. After being ordered by James to take several men with him to the Temple, he paid for their animal to prove that he was an observant Jew by bringing blood sacrifices and sin offerings necessary in finishing his Nazarite vow.

 

Christians should THINK and ask – why did the brother of Jesus, Peter and John, who knew Jesus best, have to go to the Temple to offer animal sacrifices? Does not Christianity claim that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for mankind? If not, according to Christianity, why was he ordained to die for the sins of the world? Or, perhaps that idea and concept was added three hundred years later by the Council of Nicaea, led by ex-pagan Gentiles? Did they know more about Jesus than his brother and two closest disciples? THINK!!!

 

Examine Paul's actions, after being ordered by James to take several men with him to the Temple. You are confronted with two possibilities:

 

a.  Paul intentionally deceived the apostles and the Jews in Jerusalem; or,

b.  Paul's image and/or the teachings attributed Paul may have been altered by the Roman Church a hundred or more years later.

 

THINK -  Did Paul intentionally deceive the apostles by faking his true beliefs when bringing sacrifices in the Temple after Jesus’ death?

 

THINK -  If Paul did deceive them, could you put much confidence in his teachings at other places in the New Testament? Remember he already has said that he can become anything to anyone to prove his argument and accomplish his goals.

 

THINK - On the other hand, if Paul's words were changed by the Roman Church could we base our foundational beliefs on forged documents?

 

Would a Christian church require a Jew to renounce or stop practicing Judaism if he or she wanted to become a member? It is glaringly apparent that neither Jesus, nor his apostles, nor the Paul of Acts 21, would be allowed to join a Christian Church the likes of which we see today. On the other hand, it is also clear that Jesus would not participate in any religion that not only opposes, but also is actively dedicated to destroying the religion of God’s chosen people!

 

Gentile Christianity has for centuries felt it was given a mandate from God to “save the world.” This is the goal and stated mission of Christianity. Just ask the Southern Baptist Convention who a couple of years ago, vowed to win every Jew to Jesus by the year 2,000. The Jewish convert must renounce his Judaism, agree to accept the doctrines of Christianity and oppose any religion that opposes Christianity.

 

Instead of a physical holy war (Jihad), Christianity has engaged in a doctrinal holy war. Christianity is an exclusive religion with their members  not allowed to simultaneously practice Islam, Buddhism, Judaism or any other religion. Therefore, if Christianity was to attain its goal of "getting every person on the face of the earth to believe in Jesus," including all the Jews, Judaism would be totally destroyed and cease to exist. If this were ever to happen, and I pray it does not, then Christianity would have the dubious honor which Hitler, in vain, tried to achieve―namely the eradication of not only the Jewish people from the face of this planet, but the total destruction of the true faith of Jesus―Biblical Judaism.

 

This would accomplish something that the crusaders, the inquisition, Hitler and a number of others have failed to accomplish.