Baruch Maoz is a Jewish Christian, and he writes to address Messianic Judaism in light of the New Testament teaching of the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ. It’s an unusual book, and given his personal interest and experience in the subject we were eager to talk to him about his book.
Books At a Glance (Fred Zaspel):
What is the concern you are addressing in your book?
Maoz:
I saw the primacy of Christ being obscured and sufficiency of Christ being challenged by the teachings and practices of the Messianic Movement. These make things Jewish the arbiter and focus of spirituality rather than Christ. They also divide the body of Christ into the enlightened and the unenlightened, thereby denying grace as the basis of fellowship and of spiritual advancement.
Books At a Glance:
In your book you emphasize that when a Jew becomes a Christian he/she does not cease to be Jewish, and you make the careful distinction between Jewishness and certain aspects of Jewish customs. Explain the problem here and how all this is important to this discussion.
Maoz:
Judaism is a religion that purports to spring out of the soil of the OT but whose links to the OT are tenuous at best. It is, rather, the product of rabbinic tradition that has intruded itself between the believer and the word of God by claiming exclusive interpretive authority and by developing doctrines and practices that are non-biblical, some of which are contra-biblical.
Jewishness is a nationality, framed by a history and a culture, with cultural norms, myths and customs. Most of these have been informed by Judaism, but none are limited to Judaistic norms.
Books At a Glance:
What does the apostle Paul mean when he says the gospel is for “the Jew first” (Rom.1:16)? And what are some implications for this discussion?
Maoz:
I understand Paul to be saying that the Gospel was first covenanted to the Jewish people and that it therefore is addressed to the nation in a way that it is not to other nations, that its relevance is more obviously and more directly related to the Jewish people, and that it makes a direct call upon that nation.
Books At a Glance:
You insist on the unity of Jew and Gentile in the church, and you also insist that “the existence of a visible, identifiably Jewish body of Christians within the body of Messiah is not in conflict with the gospel.” Explain for us how this distinction is important in this discussion.
Maoz:
Nationalities and cultures are not erased by the Gospel; they are challenged and sanctified. Jews remain Jews just as Americans remain Americans and the French remain French – with an added twist: if I understand Paul rightly in what he wrote to the Romans, God’s covenant faithfulness to Israel in the teeth of their stubborn sin is confirming testimony to the Gospel as being God’s power to save all and any and his grace in so doing. God made a covenant with Israel such as he did not make with any other nation. The glory of his grace has to do with his bringing both Jews and gentiles into one body on the grounds of that grace, bestowed because of the virtues of Christ’s sacrifice and by the powerful, saving, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Books At a Glance:
How, then, can Jewish Christians remain Jewish without denying the gospel? How is Jewishness reflected in your own home and church? And what counsel would you give a new Jewish believer in Christ?
Maoz:
Fred, you’ve slipped a number of questions under one caption. Let me answer them one by one.
Jewish Christian can remain Jewish without denying the Gospel at least as much as Americans can remain American. The Gospel does not constitute a denial of nationality, even when it denies the validity of nationalism. As to a continued Jewish identity, that is an affirmation of the faithful righteousness of God. As Paul put it: the faithfulness of God is demonstrated in that the Gospel addresses the Jews first, and then the gentile.
Jewishness is reflected in my home and church in cultural terms, all enlisted in the service of the Gospel, examined and modified by the Gospel. I celebrate the national feasts at home (they are all home- and family-oriented). At church we speak Hebrew and have a kind of interest in the OT uncommon in churches where our fellow-Jews do not constitute a majority. But our church is NOT a Jewish Christian church. It labors to be Christian and to welcome all without distinction.
Advice for new Jewish Christians: rejoice in Christ. Love him warmly. Obey him truly. Love his people and love your own people.
Books At a Glance:
In brief, what counsel would you give a “Messianic Jew”?
Maoz:
Don’t be one. Be a Christian.
Books At a Glance:
Can you suggest a helpful approach to preaching the gospel to Jewish people?
Maoz:
Get to know your OT, not just so as to proof text but so as to understand its theology – and then approach Jews with such an understanding combined with gracious humility. Remember: the church has a good deal of shameful history to live down.
Books At a Glance:
What suggestions can you give to a dominantly Gentile church regarding “making church comfortable” for Jewish Christians?
Maoz:
Treat Jews in Christ as fellow Christians. Allow them to be themselves, not museum pieces. Don’t be threatened by their maintaining their national customs in the context of their homes, and don’t think they necessarily understand the Bible better just because they’re Jewish. Beware of unintended negative terms when preaching (for example, “the Jews” in contrast with “the apostles” – the apostles were Jewish too).
Books At a Glance:
How can we pray for you and the work of the gospel in Israel?
Maoz:
I never know how to answer that question. Should I say, “in English”? or “earnestly”? I put out a monthly newsletter and use FaceBook as a blog. Subscription to my newsletter is free by writing to languageservices4u@gmail.com. My website carries articles and other information at www.themaozweb.com. Any interested are welcome to “friend’ me.