Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!ittvax!ittral!pellegri From: pellegri@ittral.UUCP (Dan Pellegrino) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: Christian Jews Message-ID: <500@ittral.UUCP> Date: Thu, 17-Jan-85 14:24:46 EST Article-I.D.: ittral.500 Posted: Thu Jan 17 14:24:46 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 19-Jan-85 00:48:49 EST Lines: 40 This is the way I see it. Please correct me if I'm wrong. A Christian, by definition of the term, is a follower of Christ. Jews are a *race* of people chosen by God. Scriptures clearly state that only certain genealogies of Jews could become priests (Levites, I believe) others kings, etc. Scripture states that the Messiah must come from the lineage of David. Heredity, lineage, etc. is of tremendous importance in scripture. The covenant was with Abraham and his *descendants*. These things indicate that people are born as Jews and, furthermore, each is from a specific division or tribe of Jews. (This doesn't mean Orthodox vs. Reformed, etc. but, rather, Tribe of Benjamin, Tribe of Judah, etc.) Although a person could convert to Judaism, a person that is born a Jew is a Jew. I have known a number of people that profess to be Jews but have no religious side to their lives at all. Some do not even acknowledge the existence of God, much less keep his commandments. Yet they tell me they are Jews. This, plus many scriptures, lead me to believe that those born as Jews are simply members of a race or genealogy of people chosen and separated by God from the rest of the human population. Hereditarily, all are either Jews or non-Jews (gentiles). (Note: This is not intended to be an oversimplification of an important part of God's plan, nor is it intended to refute the fact that many Jews are very serious about their spiritual lives.) A Christian, however, had to become a Christian. I don't believe that one can be born a Christian because to truly be a Christian one must be a follower of Christ and, therefore, one must be old enough to have an understanding of what following Christ entails. True Christianity is something that each individual must attain. An individual can be born into the tribe of Benjamin, for example, - born a member of a race that God set aside long ago - born a Jew, and they will always have their genealogy, their "Jewish blood". They are born and forever a Jew. Now, if one of this chosen race - a Jew - believes that Jesus is the promised Messiah of God and is a follower of Jesus as the Christ, then that person is *also* a Christian. That person is a Christian Jew. Dan Pellegrino (born of Italian descent and a gentile whether I like it or not.)ittvax!ittral!sysdev!pellegri