Are Non-Messianic Jews Legalists?

I was writing a blog entry on Valentine's Day. Then this came up.

Nicole Maratovah Czarnecki

about an hour ago near Baltimore

sees almost every day, if not every day, why Non-Messianic Jews have an excuse to laugh at us: our hypocritical, out-of-bounds legalism. For example, as much as I love Samuel Rodriguez, there is no way that I'm letting him get away with connecting Ash Wednesday to Tammuz. Even if (as his legalistic friend alleges, and he realleged) the sign of the Cross is connected to Tammuz and a costume thereof (of which I have never seen nor heard), the Church redeemed it. Ever heard of tikun-ha'olam? We don't implement it, though we have the strength given to us by Yeshua Ha'Mashiach; and then we wonder why Non-Messianic Jews find us to be hypocrites who have no real interest in tzedek.

Yo veo casi todos los días, si no todos los días, por qué Judios quién son no Judios Mesiánicos tener una excusa para reírse de nosotros: nuestra hipócrita, fuera de límites legalismo. Por ejemplo, por mucho que me encanta Samuel Rodríguez, no hay manera de que yo voy a dejar que se salga con la conexión del Miércoles de Ceniza a Tamuz. Incluso si (como su amigo legalista alega, y él re-alegó) la señal de la cruz está conectado a Tamuz y un traje del mismo (de la que nunca he visto ni oído), la Iglesia ha redimido. ¿Has oído hablar de tikún-Haolam? No lo ponemos en práctica, aunque tenemos la fuerza que Ha'Mashiach Yeshua nos da, y luego nos preguntamos por qué Judios quién son no Judios Mesiánicos encuentran que somos hipócritas que no tienen ningún interés real en tzedek.

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  James Walker I thought non-messianic Jews *are* legalists... why would they fault legalistic messianics for being legalists?
  
  Furthermore, even your NT says:
  
  Matthew 6:16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
  
  Where does having a clergyman paint black cross on your forehead as a sign of starting a fast, and go telling your friends what you gave up for lent, fit in even with the above commandment of your messiah?
  
  Thus, I'm not following your logic either from the Judaism side, or Messianic side.

  27 minutes ago · Like
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  Nicole Maratovah Czarnecki Firstly, many Non Messianics follow the spirit of Torah as opposed to the letter--even if they do not believe in the inerrancy of Torah or the rest of Tanakh, much less in Yeshua as Masiach. In fact, Reform Judaism is very clear: "This early radicalism was mentioned in the 1885 Pittsburgh Platform, which dismisses "such Mosaic and rabbinical laws as regulate diet, priestly purity and dress" as anachronisms that only obstruct spirituality in the modern age. The platform stressed that Reform Jews must only be accepting of laws that they feel "elevate and sanctify our lives" and must reject those customs and laws that are "not adapted to the views and habits of modern civilization."" (Jewish Virtual Library)
  
  Reform Judaism continues this thinking today: " Some institutions are considered to be a product of the cultural milieu and societal norms of the ancient Near East when the Hebrew Scriptures were written down, and do not speak to our lives today. In addition, Reform Jews do not ascribe to the Mishnah and Talmud the same authority which Orthodox Jews do. While the Talmud and law codes guide the lives of Orthodox Jews, it is more accurate to say that they inform the lives of Reform Jews." (http://urj.org/ask/questions/orthodox/
  

  

  )
  
  Reform Judaism even mentions that Judaism is, or at least should not be, "frozen in time". Therefore, legalism would be--for example--following some "societal norms of the ancient Near East when the Hebrew Scriptures were written down"--giving over a slave's wife and children to his owner unless he has ear awled into a door. 
  
  Besides, Yeshua made a New Covenant, not a "Renewed Covenant". The Old Covenant remains for Non-Messianic Jews (which Karaites like yourself and others frankly get). The New Covenant and the spirit of the Old Covenant are for the Messianic Jew.
  

  
  

  Orthodoxy - URJ
  

  

  urj.org

  16 minutes ago · Like · Remove Preview
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  Nicole Maratovah Czarnecki Secondly, the intent is looked at. People who explain why they have crosses on their heads are certainly not looking for praise for doing it.

  15 minutes ago · Like
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  James Walker And how many ancient Jewish Christians rejected the Law in favor of Catholic traditions? Any sources, my friend? Ebionites or Nazarenes - they both rejected the trinity, were divided on the virgin birth, and united on the binding authority of the Torah. This is proven through documents from the 2nd century onward. Modern Messianic Jews, however, are the opposite, in most cases - being mainline evangelical protestants in beliefs and practice. How do you account for this?

  11 minutes ago · Like
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  Nicole Maratovah Czarnecki I can account for that many modern Messianic Jews heed the warnings in the Apostlic Letters--since the Apostles were writing down warnings about apostasy and legalism like that of the Ebionites and Nazarenes, which has nothing to do with Catholicism unless you consider that Non-Evangelical Catholics learned well from the Christian-in-name-only cults. By the way, Maccabees is not a part of Tanakh or Brit Chadashah.

  7 minutes ago · Like
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  James Walker It's our history, just as the German Reform movement and German holocaust a century later is part of our history

  6 minutes ago · Like
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  Nicole Maratovah Czarnecki The Reformation has nothing to do with the Holocaust. Martin Luther either fell away or was a Christian in name only.

  5 minutes ago · Like
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  James Walker where does the word legalism even appear in the NT?

  5 minutes ago · Like
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  James Walker German Jewish Reform

  5 minutes ago · Like
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  James Walker He believed Jesus is Lord, and you can't say that without having the Holy Spirit, right? So whoever calls on his shall be saved, etc.

  4 minutes ago · Like
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  Nicole Maratovah Czarnecki So, Reform Jewish children are at fault, too? I see. G-d must be a sick G-d to punish children because of Reform Judaism. Look; s*** happens; life happens; the Holocaust had nothing to do with Reform Judaism. Also, not everyone who says "L-rd, L-rd" will enter Heaven; and some who do will still have been fallen away.

  3 minutes ago · Like
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  James Walker It's a covenant, with consequences. It's basic Bible

  about a minute ago · Like
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  Nicole Maratovah Czarnecki Covenant with consequences for innocent children, like my cousin Fredi, too? I see. So, Fredi, who was Orthodox, was thrown against a fence or burned in a furnace because of what Reform Jews in Germany did. Your thinking is sick, James.

The conclusion is that Non-Messianic Jews who follow all 613 mitzvot of Torah aren't legalists, because they have to follow all 613 mitzvot; whereas Messianic Jews who follow all 613 mitzvot, if they even are really Messianic, are legalists. Again, a New--not a Renewed--Covenant was made.

PS Good luck following Torah, James. Know that having fallen away is not a nice place to be in--you're still saved, but you will lose reward--the New Testament says that.