Witnessing to Jews

[evangelist6589]

I have sent letters to Jewish temples before only to be ignored. So I got a better idea and that is to build a relationship through email, and usually emails are not ignored. But I am not all that familiar with Judaism. What type of questions should I ask them? How should I engage them with the gospel? I could pull out my copy of More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell but I seriously doubt they would read the book, or engage in the evidences presented.

 

[Salty]

..., and usually emails are not ignored. ....

Do you know how many emails I delete without even opening - and of the ones I do open - many more are quickly deleted. Methinks many others do the same.

How about building some relationship by meeting people in person.

As far as the beliefs of Judaism - I would suggest you meet some Messianic Jews in Denver.

 

[Baptist Believer]

But I am not all that familiar with Judaism. What type of questions should I ask them? How should I engage them with the gospel?

(1) You need to be familiar with Judaism, including the various strains of it that you are likely to encounter. You need to go in as a learner first, and find out what they believe.
(2) You need to understand that Jewish folks have endured a long cultural history of assaults on their faith, as well as blatant anti-Semitism, by persons and authorities claiming to be "Christian." As a result, you have less cultural credibility as a Christian than you would have if you were witnessing to a pagan.
(3) In my opinion, engaging a Jewish person with the gospel is simply pointing out how Jesus fulfills the Law of Moses and completes the promises of Abraham. Of course, to do this you have to have a rich understanding of what they actually believe.
(4) Conversion of Jews (or anyone else from a different faith community) takes time. There is also intense cultural pressure not to convert. I have a friend who converted from Judaism about 20 years ago and was disowned by his family for about five years until one of the more secular relatives realized that my friend had not actually abandoned his heritage, just fulfilled it in a different way. He is back in connection with his family, but the relationships are still strained.
(5) I have nothing against Josh McDowell, but his apologetics books are actually quite weak. If you are a believer and you want your faith strengthened, they are of some use. However, if an unbeliever is knowledgable and skeptical, McDowell may convince them that Christianity is not especially deep nor actually answer the burning issues of the soul.
(6) If you are not truly interested in committing yourself a long term discipling arrangement where you can genuinely demonstrate before them a life of stability and consistency where the power of God is active and continuously present (that's what it is going to take), DO NOT engage in evangelism with Jews. You will only make it harder for others. Sending letters, handing out tracts and books, and well-meaning but ignorant claims about Judaism vs. Jesus can be spiritually dangerous for your hearers.

 

[JonC]

I have sent letters to Jewish temples before only to be ignored. So I got a better idea and that is to build a relationship through email, and usually emails are not ignored. But I am not all that familiar with Judaism. What type of questions should I ask them? How should I engage them with the gospel? I could pull out my copy of More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell but I seriously doubt they would read the book, or engage in the evidences presented.

First and foremost - I think you need to work with your church. God puts us in places for a reason, and I belive we are to be faithful to God where we are. What I mean by this is that your church may develop specific missions to a certain demographic within their area much more effectively than someone working apart from the church. I admire your zeal, but we don’t function apart from the church (we are members of a body). You are saved to do good works and to function as a member of a body, not to go it alone.

That said, you would witness to Jews the same way that you would witness to any other non-Christian peoplegroup. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Far too much time and resource has been wasted on developing evangelistic methods to reach specific groups with the gopsel message. Sure, we learn of the other’s objections to help. Certainly we learn of their customs so as to communicate effectively. And we need to know what following Christ will cost so that we can let them know the cost. But when you sit down with any lost person your goal should be reaching them through the love of Christ with the gospel of Christ rather than dismantling their faith.

A side note – like Catholicism (and, unfortunately, Christianity), for the majority of it’s lay practictioners Judaism is probably just as much (if not more) a tradition that people feel born into than it is a faith.

 

[Deacon]

Here in NE Philly we have a lot of churches and synagoges. I counted those along my commute into work years ago when I worked in Philly and there were around 50, many of them synagogues.
My first professional job was at Albert Einstein Medical Center, formerly the Jewish Hospital.
I've worked and evangelized among the population for decades.
Be prepared for a long term evangelization.
Be prepared to minister with service more than preach with words.
Make friends with them, discuss the scriptures that interest you and get their perspective. LISTEN AND LEARN
Plant seeds in their lives.
Don't expect your words to have immediate results (or even results in a few years)
God will bless you and may open their hearts in his time.

Above all, don't be a hindrance to those that have spent time ministering with them over the years and condemn them.

Rob

 

[evangelist6589]

First and foremost - I think you need to work with your church. God puts us in places for a reason, and I belive we are to be faithful to God where we are. What I mean by this is that your church may develop specific missions to a certain demographic within their area much more effectively than someone working apart from the church. I admire your zeal, but we don’t function apart from the church (we are members of a body). You are saved to do good works and to function as a member of a body, not to go it alone.

That said, you would witness to Jews the same way that you would witness to any other non-Christian peoplegroup. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Far too much time and resource has been wasted on developing evangelistic methods to reach specific groups with the gopsel message. Sure, we learn of the other’s objections to help. Certainly we learn of their customs so as to communicate effectively. And we need to know what following Christ will cost so that we can let them know the cost. But when you sit down with any lost person your goal should be reaching them through the love of Christ with the gospel of Christ rather than dismantling their faith.

A side note – like Catholicism (and, unfortunately, Christianity), for the majority of it’s lay practictioners Judaism is probably just as much (if not more) a tradition that people feel born into than it is a faith.

Unfortunately my church does not do evangelism with Jews.

 

[evangelist6589]

Here in NE Philly we have a lot of churches and synagoges. I counted those along my commute into work years ago when I worked in Philly and there were around 50, many of them synagogues.
My first professional job was at Albert Einstein Medical Center, formerly the Jewish Hospital.
I've worked and evangelized among the population for decades.
Be prepared for a long term evangelization.
Be prepared to minister with service more than preach with words.
Make friends with them, discuss the scriptures that interest you and get their perspective. LISTEN AND LEARN
Plant seeds in their lives.
Don't expect your words to have immediate results (or even results in a few years)
God will bless you and may open their hearts in his time.

Above all, don't be a hindrance to those that have spent time ministering with them over the years and condemn them.

Rob

No I won't be like Martin Luther who condemned the jews.

 

[evangelist6589]

(1) You need to be familiar with Judaism, including the various strains of it that you are likely to encounter. You need to go in as a learner first, and find out what they believe.
(2) You need to understand that Jewish folks have endured a long cultural history of assaults on their faith, as well as blatant anti-Semitism, by persons and authorities claiming to be "Christian." As a result, you have less cultural credibility as a Christian than you would have if you were witnessing to a pagan.
(3) In my opinion, engaging a Jewish person with the gospel is simply pointing out how Jesus fulfills the Law of Moses and completes the promises of Abraham. Of course, to do this you have to have a rich understanding of what they actually believe.
(4) Conversion of Jews (or anyone else from a different faith community) takes time. There is also intense cultural pressure not to convert. I have a friend who converted from Judaism about 20 years ago and was disowned by his family for about five years until one of the more secular relatives realized that my friend had not actually abandoned his heritage, just fulfilled it in a different way. He is back in connection with his family, but the relationships are still strained.
(5) I have nothing against Josh McDowell, but his apologetics books are actually quite weak. If you are a believer and you want your faith strengthened, they are of some use. However, if an unbeliever is knowledgable and skeptical, McDowell may convince them that Christianity is not especially deep nor actually answer the burning issues of the soul.
(6) If you are not truly interested in committing yourself a long term discipling arrangement where you can genuinely demonstrate before them a life of stability and consistency where the power of God is active and continuously present (that's what it is going to take), DO NOT engage in evangelism with Jews. You will only make it harder for others. Sending letters, handing out tracts and books, and well-meaning but ignorant claims about Judaism vs. Jesus can be spiritually dangerous for your hearers.

What a stupid and unbiblical thing to say. No wonder you and me do not get along.

 

[Baptist Believer]

What a stupid and unbiblical thing to say. No wonder you and me do not get along.

And that, sir, is why you should not attempt to evangelize Jewish people. You don't know what you don't know and condemn others for trying to be helpful.

By the way, YOU are the reason we don't get along. You attack without knowledge, make false claims, and generally hold what I say in contempt. I responded courteously and with the best advice I can give and you claim it is "stupid and unbiblical" instead of thoughtfully responding to any issues you might have with what I have written.

Pathetic.

 

[evangelist6589]

And that, sir, is why you should not attempt to evangelize Jewish people. You don't know what you don't know and condemn others for trying to be helpful.

By the way, YOU are the reason we don't get along. You attack without knowledge, make false claims, and generally hold what I say in contempt. I responded courteously and with the best advice I can give and you claim it is "stupid and unbiblical" instead of thoughtfully responding to any issues you might have with what I have written.

Pathetic.

Hogwash! When you tell me not to evangelize that is hogwash.

 

[Aaron]

I have sent letters to Jewish temples before only to be ignored. So I got a better idea and that is to build a relationship through email, and usually emails are not ignored. But I am not all that familiar with Judaism. What type of questions should I ask them? How should I engage them with the gospel? I could pull out my copy of More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell but I seriously doubt they would read the book, or engage in the evidences presented.

LOL. Paul gave up on them. So did Luther. The SBC and Al Mohler were called Nazi's for targeting Jews for evangelism.

They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them hear them unless you're a glutton for punishment.

 

[Aaron]

(6) If you are not truly interested in committing yourself a long term discipling arrangement where you can genuinely demonstrate before them a life of stability and consistency where the power of God is active and continuously present (that's what it is going to take), DO NOT engage in evangelism with Jews. You will only make it harder for others. Sending letters, handing out tracts and books, and well-meaning but ignorant claims about Judaism vs. Jesus can be spiritually dangerous for your hearers.

Yep.

 

[Salty]

Sounds like someone needs an attitude adjustment

 

[Don]

Sounds like someone needs an attitude adjustment

Nope. All he did was create another "I wrote a letter" thread, knowing full well it would get a rise out of folks. The attitude adjustment belongs on those of us who keep responding, allowing him to continue in his "victim" status from "all his critics."

 

[Deacon]

There are some opportunities for witness among the Jewish people that are more promising than others.

In my area we have a large number of Russian Jewish immigrants.
Most of them are Jewish in heritage only, not having the opportunity of being raised with any religious upbringing. They areJews because that was what their parents and grandparents were - but for that they are agnostic or atheists in practice.
Some have a desire to connect to their heritage but don't feel comfortable attending synagogue.
Making a connection with that heritage is important.

The church I attend offers special services that connect these people with the religious holidays and begins connecting them to their Messiah.

Members of our church from a Jewish Middle East heritage work with them.

Rob

 

[evangelist6589]

There are some opportunities for witness among the Jewish people that are more promising than others.

In my area we have a large number of Russian Jewish immigrants.
Most of them are Jewish in heritage only, not having the opportunity of being raised with any religious upbringing. They areJews because that was what their parents and grandparents were - but for that they are agnostic or atheists in practice.
Some have a desire to connect to their heritage but don't feel comfortable attending synagogue.
Making a connection with that heritage is important.

The church I attend offers special services that connect these people with the religious holidays and begins connecting them to their Messiah.

Members of our church from a Jewish Middle East heritage work with them.

Rob

My church does not so how can I witness to them? Send emails? Write letters? Or maybe when I go out witnessing God may open a door.

 

[JonC]

Unfortunately my church does not do evangelism with Jews.

The exclude the Jewish or do not target specific demographics?

 

[evangelist6589]

The exclude the Jewish or do not target specific demographics?

They do not do any evangelism except with Vbs unfortunately.

 

[Aaron]

My church does not so how can I witness to them? Send emails? Write letters? Or maybe when I go out witnessing God may open a door.

All I ask is you wear a body cam and post the videos on YouTube.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Hogwash! When you tell me not to evangelize that is hogwash.

If that's what you got out of what I wrote, you are deceiving yourself.