A Destiny of Mutual Blessing and Appreciation
When I speak about a heritage being biblical I am asserting that understandings and traditions are coherent with the biblical revelation. This of course, includes more than practicing what the Bible teaches us to do, which is essential.
With regard to the streams of the church, there is much enriching content that truly coheres with the biblical revelation. There are different enriching traditions that enhance life in wonderful ways. There is also the heritage of poetry, hymns, weddings, holidays, stories of saints and theological and ethical writings. There is much variety in different streams. Not all is coherent with the Biblical revelation.
In regard to the Jewish people there is so very much enriching content that coheres with biblical truth. We find this in the traditions of Jewish prayer, circumcision for Israel, Holy Day observances, weddings, poetry, ritual traditions, theological and ethical writings, good applications of Scripture, stories of holy men and women and so much more. Describing some of the best features of both the Synagogue and the Church with some adequacy would take a large book. However, it is important to make sure that what is affirmed is really in accord with the Scriptures, which is also practiced on the Messianic side of the Church in different measures. In addition, due to common origins there is an overlap of tradition that is often not perceived.
There is an overlap of church and Jewish tradition that is quite important. This was pointed out sometime ago in The Sacred Bridge by Eric Warner. The synagogue was the predecessor of the gatherings of the church. The readings of the Psalms, the Hebrew Bible and some of the liturgy was taken from the Synagogue. In addition, Lous Bouyer in his classic book Eucharist, shows how the most ancient liturgy for celebrating the Lord’s Supper (he believes from the Apostles) was derived from interweaving the texts of the ancient faith confession of Judaism, the Amidah (a great confession of faith/prayer from the first century in the form of 18 blessings), the Grace After Meals, and parts of the Passover Seder Liturgy. I can testify that the tradition of renewal through the Messiah’s Supper is full of power and meaning. Of course, this is part of Messianic Jewish celebration.
If we would learn to study and really appreciate the heritages of Judaism and Christianity where they are biblically coherent, we would find wonderful mutual enrichment and a deeper knowledge of one another.
In summary, the church and Israel are part of one another’s identity. Israel is the nation that has given birth to the church and will forever be connected to it. The church was born from Israel and is tied to Israel through Yeshua and the Messianic remnant and will forever have its identity in that connection.
The church and Israel have a shared mission to the nations while the Church has a special mission to Israel. Israel’s mission to the church is to call the church to a more accurate self-understanding through a contextual understanding of the Bible. Finally, the church and Israel are meant to understand their biblically coherent traditions so that they will be mutually enriched by the understanding of one another’s heritages.
Dr. Daniel Juster is the Director of Tikkun International, a network of congregations and ministries in Israel, the United States and internationally. He was a honors graduate from Wheaton College and received an M. Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary. Dr. Juster was the founding President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. He pastured two Messianic Congregations in the US from 1978-2000. In recent years, he and his wife Patty have resided near Jerusalem. Dr. Juster is an author of several books on Messianic Jewish theology, and apologetics and serves on numerous boards furthering the Messianic Jewish Movement with the church. For more information, visit tikkunministries.org.
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