The following is a snippet from a series of emotional emails that a reader sent to me. It has been reprinted with her permission. I share it not to create controversy, but to clarify. I think this is a very sensitive topic that many people are afraid to address.
“My name is Bethany and I have been subscribing to your blog since 2015. Since I’ve been reading for so long, I feel like I know you. I am intrigued by your ideas and it’s obvious you are genuine, but I worry so often that you are missing out on life’s greatest gift: Jesus Christ.
Christ unifies us. I pray that you will come to know Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the Messiah for all mankind, not just Christians. I wish that Jews could see what they’re missing. Jesus is here for you, for everyone. All you have to do is be born again and you will become whole through His love. Jesus is the only truth.”
Because Bethany and I have discussed this at length, in a respectful and honest way, I think she’s being sincere. (I receive enough hateful comments to know the difference.) When someone approaches me politely, I am willing to provide an equally polite answer.
Throughout my life, I have heard similar statements. When I was much younger, it would upset me. At this stage of my life, it doesn’t concern me one bit, because I don’t need other people’s approval. I am secure in myself and my faith. Their opinion, their faith, and their truth does not determine what I believe.
Jews and Christians have many things in common. We both acknowledge the same God, yet we interpret Him differently. Every human being has a soul and each soul will connect with God in their own way. There isn’t one road; there are many and each one is equally valid.
While I would never claim to know all the answers, I am positive that Judaism is right for me and other religions are not. What is right for another person, I would never dare to say, because it’s none of my business and quite frankly, I don’t care.
I do not need Jesus Christ. He is not my Messiah. He is not my truth. He is not, in any way, a part of my belief system. Why? Because I am Jewish and that is not part of the Jewish faith. I have never felt that I’m missing out or inferior because of it.
If someone wants to believe in Jesus, that’s perfectly fine, provided it’s their free will. There is no lack of literature regarding Christianity and any curious person can access it, for free, anywhere, at any time. I seriously doubt there is a member of the Jewish community that has not heard about Jesus at some point. I am not confused, or misinformed, or rejecting “the truth” as other people may see it. I believe my way and they can believe their way.
I understand that for many Christians, spreading the Gospel is huge. They knock on doors, send flyers in the mail, and dispatch missionaries all around the world. They feel “it” and they want others to feel the same.
Judaism is the complete opposite—we don’t advertise, we don’t encourage conversion and faith is always regarded as a private matter. It’s a “Live and Let Live” attitude, which is the best way to be—no force, no coercion, no judgment.
Open dialogue and constructive discussion is great. Anyone who is firm in their own faith should welcome it. Jews and Christians should be friends, not enemies. Interfaith activities are important, and if each side is there to listen, rather than instruct, we can learn so much. We should have an open door policy, in our houses of worship and our homes, and welcome others.
I am not offended by Bethany’s statements and I hope she isn’t offended by mine. But there is nothing she can say, nothing anyone can say, that will change my mind about Jesus Christ. If thousands of years of persecution, an Inquisition, Pogroms, and a Holocaust hasn’t dissuaded the Jewish People, nothing will. We’ve made our choice and we’re not budging. Please let us go; I promise we’ll be fine.
You were too nice. She needs to mind her own frickin business. It’s not cool to say that stuff to anyone. Insulting and moronic.
She’s shaking her head over the loss of “your eternal salvation” and praying for you daily. “Only through Me can you come to my Father”. They see us as not only doomed but damned, while they get into Heaven, and honestly pity us……… Don’t you , ,Bethany?
I’m not sure if it’s pity or confusion or disgust, but some folks really can’t handle our faith. So sad!
Yes, that IS sad, especially when you consider that their Lord and Saviour was, himself, Jewish.
I truly don’t understand why they think we need to change. We don’t ever impose Judaism on others. It’s just odd and unnecessary.
As Sara said…Bethany should mind her own dumb business – who is she to tell a Jew to accept Christ? what a nerve!
Wow! I’m a Christian and I don’t pity you. The animosity from the commenters is unsettling. Bethany seems like a nice person who cares. I have Jehovah’s Witnesses come up to me often and while I’m not interested, I am polite to them and we both go on our ways.
Yes, Bethany seems like a nice enough and sincere person. You say she cares…..can you elaborate, Mindy, on exactly what you believe she cares about? Thanks.
I am polite, but firm. I don’t want to be converted. Most people don’t. It’s fine if someone wants to share their faith, so long as the other party is interested.
I find that kind of so-called “evangelism” incredibly arrogant. I know that my faith is true for me but I would never presume to tell anyone else what they should believe. A person’s relationship to God (or lack thereof, because I have many atheist friends I dearly love and whose minds I never try to change) is perhaps the most personal thing there is and to me it’s just plain wrong to infringe on that. How can any of us be so full of ourselves that we feel we have the right to tell someone that their faith is somehow imperfect or incorrect?
Agreed! I have many friends and even relatives that believe differently than I do. I respect their right to their own feelings and ideas and just ask the same in return. Anyone who claims to know the only way or the real truth is the most confused of all.
I thought you did an excellent job explaining yourself.
I really appreciate that, thank you!
Isaiah 45:5 I am ADONAI; there is no other; besides me there is no God.
I agree completely, of course. But nobody should be forced to believe against their will.
I am Christian and I respect your belief, but I believe she had good intentions even if it id not come across that way. I believe the only way to heaven is through Christ and I would want the people I care about to be saved. It just shows she cares.