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Monday, April 23, 2012

Does Jews For Jesus, And Do Similar Groups, Actually Proselytize? The Answer Is That...

They sometimes but rarely do. Let's first look at what proselytize means:


Definition of PROSELYTIZE

intransitive verb
1
: to induce someone to convert to one's faith
2
: to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
transitive verb
: to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause
— pros·e·ly·ti·za·tion  noun
— pros·e·ly·tiz·er  noun


Jews for Jesus does not intend to "induce someone to convert to one's faith" or "recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause"-- that is not up to them. "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase." So goes the same for any other Messianic Jew and G-d, although Jews for Jesus does indeed intend to-- as they state-- make the Messiahship of Yeshua (Jesus) unavoidable.


When they proselytize is when they go into places where they're unequivocally unwelcome, unless they are called to go there by G-d-- but whether they are called is disputable as well. For, "when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"


Most haredim in haredi shtetlach are preconceivedly exclusive, private, and unwelcoming of Messianic Jews-- so why Jews for Jesus does enter neighborhoods like Crown Heights and Northwest Baltimore, unless invited, is one aspect of Jews for Jesus that I question.


In conclusion, Jews for Jesus (and similar groups) proselytize only when they go into places where they are clearly unwelcome and not called to go. Otherwise, they do not do or intend recruiting or inducing regarding Messianic Judaism. 

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