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Orthodox Rabbis Issue Groundbreaking Declaration Affirming 'Partnership' With Christianity

A group of prominent Orthodox rabbis in Israel, the United States and Europe have issued a historic public statement affirming that Christianity is "the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations" and urging Jews and Christians to "work together as partners to address the moral challenges of our era."

"Jesus brought a double goodness to the world," the statement reads. "On the one hand he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically" and on the other hand "he removed idols from the nations," instilling them "firmly with moral traits."

This year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the declaration issued in 1965 by the Second Vatican Council, which marked a watershed in Jewish-Christian relations.

In language unusual for its day, Nostra Aetate stated that "God holds the Jews most dear," stressed the great "spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews," and condemned "hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone."

Now, a group of Jewish leaders has responded in kind, expressing their desire to accept "the hand offered to us by our Christian brothers and sisters."


http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/12/17/orthodox-rabbis-issue-groundbreaking-declaration-affirming-partnership-christianity/

www.cjcuc.com

Quote from: DaveW on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 06:51:52
Orthodox Rabbis Issue Groundbreaking Declaration Affirming 'Partnership' With Christianity

A group of prominent Orthodox rabbis in Israel, the United States and Europe have issued a historic public statement affirming that Christianity is "the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations" and urging Jews and Christians to "work together as partners to address the moral challenges of our era."

"Jesus brought a double goodness to the world," the statement reads. "On the one hand he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically" and on the other hand "he removed idols from the nations," instilling them "firmly with moral traits."

This year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the declaration issued in 1965 by the Second Vatican Council, which marked a watershed in Jewish-Christian relations.

In language unusual for its day, Nostra Aetate stated that "God holds the Jews most dear," stressed the great "spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews," and condemned "hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone."

Now, a group of Jewish leaders has responded in kind, expressing their desire to accept "the hand offered to us by our Christian brothers and sisters."


http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/12/17/orthodox-rabbis-issue-groundbreaking-declaration-affirming-partnership-christianity/

www.cjcuc.com

Partnership with the Vatican is not partnership with Christianity.

What is your opinion on this?

Perhaps this is the crack in the dam that will eventually bring the whole structure of anti-christianity mentality among Jews to collapse.

The implication is that in a few generations the 2 religions will merge.  I see that as a long way off - but reestablishing something God intended from the outset.

The problem is we can't unite Truth and error and say it's of God.

Quote from: LexKnight on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 10:59:29
The problem is we can't unite Truth and error and say it's of God.

Oh, but so many do and will continue to do so.

Quote from: LexKnight on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 10:59:29
The problem is we can't unite Truth and error and say it's of God.

Which do you see as which?

I see plenty of truth and error on both sides of this one.

Quote from: DaveW on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 11:44:47

Quote from: LexKnight on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 10:59:29
The problem is we can't unite Truth and error and say it's of God.

Which do you see as which?

I see plenty of truth and error on both sides of this one.

Can you expound?

Quote from: DaveW on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 11:44:47

Quote from: LexKnight on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 10:59:29
The problem is we can't unite Truth and error and say it's of God.

Which do you see as which?

I see plenty of truth and error on both sides of this one.

Fully agree, though unfortunately I'd have to say more error than truth.

I don't believe the Lord has fully cast out the biological children of Israel, but they can't expect to unite with The Way (and that's generous of me calling Christianity The Way), yet still remain in their Judaism mindset. What is true of the Gentile brethren would be just as true for the Jewish brethren.

But with that said... If it'll lead more to examine the Scriptures as to whether Jesus is the Christ they're looking for, I'd be happy.



[edited to fix code]

Quote from: DaveW on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 08:15:55
Perhaps this is the crack in the dam that will eventually bring the whole structure of anti-christianity mentality among Jews to collapse.

The implication is that in a few generations the 2 religions will merge.  I see that as a long way off - but reestablishing something God intended from the outset.

Crack in the dam?  One can only hope, Dave. 

There are serious questions about what exactly is being accepted.  Protestant Christianity is having serious problems, primarily that of irrelevance and identity.  Much of it is becoming humanistic - trading its focus upon Yeshuah for political correctness.  On the other hand, Judaism retains a vivid sense of what is appropriate with regard to approaching God in worship and in truth. 

One example of note is the growth of membership in Messianic Judaism from the influx of former Protestants.  Another is devotion to Torah as a gift from God.  At the same time at least three Protestant denominations have rejected the Bible as the exclusive revelation of God to man (Presbyterian, Lutheran & Episcopalian).

Consult legitimate statistical organizations such as PEW.   Numbers don't lie.  Active membership in Protestant denominations is dwindling at a rapid rate.  If not reversed in some dramatic fashion, in two generations there won't be any Protestant churches to speak of.   Catholicism retains a sense of legitimacy, of what is appropriate in religion and of respect for God and His place in the life of man.  Protestantism has already lost it.

If Judaism waits long enough the whole discussion about acceptance will become academic because Protestantism will be only a footnote in history.

and that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Quote from: DaveW on Mon Dec 21, 2015 - 06:51:52
Orthodox Rabbis Issue Groundbreaking Declaration Affirming 'Partnership' With Christianity

A group of prominent Orthodox rabbis in Israel, the United States and Europe have issued a historic public statement affirming that Christianity is "the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations" and urging Jews and Christians to "work together as partners to address the moral challenges of our era."

"Jesus brought a double goodness to the world," the statement reads. "On the one hand he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically" and on the other hand "he removed idols from the nations," instilling them "firmly with moral traits."

This year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the declaration issued in 1965 by the Second Vatican Council, which marked a watershed in Jewish-Christian relations.

In language unusual for its day, Nostra Aetate stated that "God holds the Jews most dear," stressed the great "spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews," and condemned "hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone."

Now, a group of Jewish leaders has responded in kind, expressing their desire to accept "the hand offered to us by our Christian brothers and sisters."


http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/12/17/orthodox-rabbis-issue-groundbreaking-declaration-affirming-partnership-christianity/

www.cjcuc.com

Historically the church has been the greatest persecutor of Jews.   If 'christian' government is included then these persecutions exceed even those of Muslim nations.

Historically the church has been the greatest purveyor of error and discrepancies of Biblical text.  Because of constant bickering and warring amongst the several christian denominations, which were basically control issues not theological ones, the intent of Mosaic Law as well as the message of the Prophets has been diluted if not completely expunged from Christendom today.

Historically the church has betrayed its divine mandate to spread the good news of Y'shuah, replacing it with a kind of religious autocracy.   Salvation is free they say, but when one becomes a member one is instantly required to submit to a tax/tithe for the rest of one's natural life.  The essence of spiritual freedom is thus lost in the demand for donations and allegiance to a particular sect or denomination.

Y'shuah as moshiach has been universally denied by Jews, while the Law He came to fulfill has been denied by Christians.  There remains a kind of traditional religious chasm that separates the two.   Only the second coming of Y'shuah can bridge that gap. 

Until that time comes, there will be many false messiahs upon the world stage, including but not limited to the person of Isa foretold in Islamic eschatology.

The bottom line here is that the words of the apostle Paul quoted in his letter to the Romans (3:11) "There is no one who understands and no one who seeks God."

It's all politics as usual.  In such an atmosphere no one wins and no one agrees with another.

and that's me, hollering from the choir loft...