Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
For Christians — Engrafted by Trust into the True Vine
For Jews — Keepers of the Oracles of Eloheim
Hebrew Names of the Books of Scripture
Guide to Definitions and Terminology
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1. What Is A Messianic Believer?
A Messianic Believer is a Torah observant person (Jew or former Gentile) who has come to believe in Yeshua as Mashiach. We believe that one does not have to give up being a Jew to accept a Jewish Messiah. Thus, we still study the written Torah, keep Jewish tradition, etc.

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2. What Is A Messianic Congregation?
The congregation is called a Kehillat (assembly). A Messianic assembly meets in a Shul or Synagogue on Sabbath, and for all Biblical holidays.

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3. Why Use Different Terminology?
In a Messianic fellowship, literature, and computer forums you will notice the use of terminology which is different than that used by the rest of the Body of Messiah. In most cases this terminology is more accurate (and Scriptural), and is used so as not to offend our Jewish brothers and sisters who are not believers (or put a stumbling block in the path of their learning about Messiah). Here are a few examples:

	Yeshua: This is the Messiah's original, Hebrew name (יֵשׁוּעָ). It would be the name his mother, Miriam, called Him. His name was transliterated into Greek as "Iesous" and later into English as "Jesus." Yeshua is the more accurate, and reminds us of His Jewish lineage.
	Messiah: Although the Anglicized version of the Greek term "Christos" is more commonly used to describe Yeshua, the original Hebrew concept is described by the Hebrew word "Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ)" which is transliterated into English as "Messiah." Since the term "Christ" has also been used for millennia in the persecution of the Jewish people, we always use the term "Messiah." Also in witnessing the fact that Yeshua fulfills all of the requirements and prophecies of Messiah, it makes more sense to use that term.
	Synagogue or Congregation: The word translated "church" is the Greek word ekklesia (the called out ones). Stephen in Acts 7:28 calls the children of Israel "the church in the wilderness". A "Synagogue" is a gathering (Greek sunagoge) of believers for study or worship. "Congregation" is a more generic term.
	TaNaKh: This is the correct, original name of the books of the Bible commonly called the "Old Testament." It is an acrostic made up from the first letters of the three parts: Torah תּוֹרָה (Law), Nevi'im נְביאִם(Prophets) and Ketuvim נְביאִם(Writings).

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4. Why Do Messianic Believers Keep Kosher?
Yeshua taught that the Torah has not been abolished. All commands of God, including the food laws given to the Hebrews in Vayikra and elsewhere are still in effect.

You might further ask: "Doesn't the vision the Kefa received in the New Testament about the clean and unclean animals have HASHEM commanding him to take and eat? Can you explain how this fits it with keeping kosher? Also, what about when the disciples are told to eat whatever is put before them?"

Did Kefa then fall upon and devour a meal of pig's flesh, carrion (also forbidden by Torah), and maggots (also forbidden by Torah)? Of course not. P'shat (plain sense reading) here is not complete — a text out of context is a pretext.

Acts 10:17 17Now while Kefa wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

  Kefa is obviously disturbed by this vision that SEEMS to be telling him to violate a statute given by God in perpetuity.

Acts 11:17 17If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on Lord Yeshua Ha'Mashiach, who was I that I could withstand God?

This is the point — Kefa was not to call unclean what HASHEM had called clean — witness the mikvah. This is meant for purity — quite literally, Cornelius and his followers had become clean by HASHEM in Kefa's presence; hence, Kefa could not deny them the Mikvah in the name of Yeshua. Also:

Acts 10:1-2 1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

To "fear" God means to be in reverence to Him and His word.

Do the following verses proclaim HASHEM calling pork, shrimp, and maggots "Clean?" Then the unclean "foods" are still unclean. Did Kefa immediately begin to eat a ham sandwich? The point here is that Kefa was not bound by the teachings of P'rushim Rabbis, but by the word of God. It was felt that as the homes of Gentiles contained Idols, graven images, orgies, and unclean things, one could not enter the home of a Gentile undefiled. Therefore, this verse teaches rather not about Kashrut, but about

“Do not call unclean what God has called clean.”

Since we know from Scripture that God does not change, has no variance or turning, he has already defined for us what constitutes food. There is nothing in Scripture to change that. There are many who think that God sometimes changes His mind ... Scripture says otherwise. Good thing, too — what if He changed His mind about how we are saved?

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5. You Mean You Keep the Law? Why?
The word "Law" comes from the word "nomos" used in the Greek Septuagint translation of the TaNaKh. The word used in the original Hebrew is the word Torah תּוֹרָה which literally means "teaching". We keep the teaching because God and Yeshua told us to. And if it makes any more difference, Rabbi Sha'ul told us to also. 

This is a much more complex issue than can be answered here in a few lines — however, suffice it to say that most Christians assume when we try to keep the Torah that this means you can earn your salvation. This is not the case. The story of Abraham teaches just as belief leads to righteousness, obedience leads to blessing.

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6. Why do Messianic Believers Keep the Sabbath? How is it different than Orthodox Judaism?
The Torah-Observant or Messianic Believer keeps the Sabbath very much like non-Messianic-Orthodox Jews. Scripture says to make it holy, to not work, and to hold a sacred assembly. Making the Sabbath holy means to set it apart — apart from the work week, and apart from "the world." There are some 39 activities that break the Sabbath, and we avoid these. Many do not watch television, listen to the radio, or travel on the Sabbath. They spend the rest of the day after synagogue (the sacred assembly) resting, napping, talking about Scripture, having family times, etc. Sabbath starts on the sixth day of the week (Friday) at sundown . So the way a family keeps the Sabbath starts with the lighting of Sabbath candles and the special Sabbath dinner. This is a very special family time, which starts with prayers, special Sabbath songs, reading of certain scriptures (like Mishlei 31 about the virtuous wife), and blessing the children.

The Sabbath ends on the seventh day of the week at sundown with the lighting of the Havdalah candle and reading of scripture concerning Gods provision. This is the start of the work week, so after it is over it is traditional to greet each other with "Shavuah Tov" which means, "Good Week." It is important to note that in most cases Messianic Believers follow the concept that it is permissible, if necessary to get to synagogue to drive a car on the Sabbath, but only to go to synagogue. This is allowed when necessary to participate in a sacred assembly in compliance with the command of God.

Vayikra 23:3 3For six days labor may be done, and the seventh day is a day of complete rest, a holy convocation, you shall not do any work; it is a Sabbath for HASHEM in all your dwelling places.

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7. Why Can't You Guys Just be Christians?
We call ourselves Messianic because the term comes from the Hebrew word Messiah. Messiah means "the anointed one of God". The word Christian comes from the Greek word "christos" which means simply "the anointed one". The answer is: Are you asking why can't we act like Gentiles (Goy)? Because we're not. If we are worshipping the God of Yisra'el, and reading Hebrew Scripture, and believing in a Hebrew Messiah who came to Yisra'el, then why must we act like a Gentile?^*

So you might ask, "Why are you so different from Christians. Don't we both read the same Bible?"

According to Rabbi Sha'ul:

Corinthians Rishon 10:11-12 11Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Since that people lived, nothing has changed. Believers in Yeshua stumble and fall the same way as the children of Yisra'el did in the wilderness and beyond. Our response question is, "Why do you read the Scriptures and not do what is written?"

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8. But You're Not Jewish!
Yes we are! Jews remain Jews. Gentiles have become adopted sons, 

Galatiyim 4:4 4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law (Torah), 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

and have become what Sha'ul calls "Jews inwardly".

Romiyim 2:28-29 28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Where is it written Jews are no longer Jews? The Renewed Covenant? No, because Rabbi Sha'ul said:

Philippians 3:3-6 3For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Messiah Yeshua, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Yisra'el, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

If Rabbi Sha'ul years later is still a Jew, then so are any Jews who come to faith in Yeshua as Messiah! Does the TaNaKh say Jews are no longer a Jews? Such a thing is impossible.

Mal’akhi 3:6 6You are the children of Yisra'el; you have not ceased to be.

When a person is adopted into a family, they take on the name of their family. God's name (י^.ה^.ו^.ה) is part of the word Judah (יהודהה) from which the word "Jew" is derived. Through Messiah Yeshua (Lion of Judah) you have been adopted and had the Father's name placed upon you. You as a member of the body of Messiah Yeshua are a member of the tribe of Judah. We will enter the New Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate (Judah) behind the Prince. We have the same inheritance as the first born. Because of this inheritance we can leave the Father but the  Father can never leave you.

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9. Aren't You the Same Thing as Jews for Jesus?
No!

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10. How Does Your Church Differ From Mine?
This question shows the ignorance in which we as believers operate. We don't go to ekklesia (church), WE ARE THE EKKLESIA (the called out ones). We do exactly as the first believers did in the first century, we go to a synagogue (assembly). You'd be amazed at the differences. We attend a Messianic Synagogue, which is very similar to an Orthodox Synagogue. Indeed, the stated goal of the fellowship which we support is for Orthodox Jews to feel perfectly at home in our shul. We sing our prayers and praises in Hebrew, following the Jewish tradition. We read the Torah portion on Sabbath, Just as Yeshua, Sha'ul and the other Jews have for thousands of years.

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11. What Does the Pastor Do?
The office of the Pastor is one of the five fold ministries bestowed by Yeshua on all believers. We have Congregational Leaders who lead us through the discussion of the Torah. Most Messianic Synagogues or Congregations either have rabbi or Congregational Leaders. They also have Shammash (or Gabbai, depending on the culture of the synagogue), a person who calls readers to the Torah, and a Chazzan or Cantor, who sings the prayers.

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12. Do You Celebrate Christmas and Easter?
No! Christmas and Easter are both adaptations of pagan festivals. Christmas takes place on the day of a feast called Saturnalia that happens to be a pagan feast to the Roman god Saturn. Easter takes the place of a celebration honoring the false Babylonian fertility goddess Ishtar. Anyone doing the math will see from Ur that Yeshua was born during Chag Sukkot. We celebrate the Holy Days commanded by God, which are all either Scriptural, or are of Scriptural origin (the exception being the modern Holy Days, which are historical in nature). Please follow the links for more information on Christmas and Easter.

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13. Why do Messianic men wear the kippa (yarmulke)? 
Why do they cover their heads with the prayer shawl, when Rabbi Sha'ul said to the Corinthians that it is a shame to a man to pray with his head covered? Conversely, he states it is likewise for a woman to pray with her head uncovered.

Corinthians Rishon 11:10 10For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Vayikra 13:45 45And the person with tzara'at in whom there is an affliction — his garments shall be rent, the hair of his head shall be unshorn, and he shall cloak himself up to his lips; he is to all out:  ‘Contaminated, contaminated!’

According to Scripture, to be bareheaded was a sign of uncleanness. The High Priest was never to uncover his head. Therefore, we must understand Sha'ul to be talking about something else. Since the topic at hand is the veil, we see that he is saying men are not to wear a VEIL. If Sha'ul contradicts the word of God, then his writings must be thrown out. Man may never contradict God. However, Sha'ul does not contradict, but rather is addressing the subject of covering one's face, not head. We know Yeshua went around with his head covered ... can I do any different?

Corinthians Rishon 11:7 7For a man indeed ought not to cover (veil) his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

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14. Why do Messianic Rabbis Still Refer to Themselves as Rabbi?
Doesn't the New Testament strictly prohibit such in Scripture and isn't it likewise forbidden to call any man "Father".

Mattit'yahu 23:8-12 8But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Messiah, and you are all brethren. 9Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Messiah. 11But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The B'rit Chadashah DOES NOT forbid calling oneself or being called Rabbi — this verse is highly misunderstood. This is a form of two Rabbinic style arguments (Gezirah Shavah and Ki Devaro) argument by analogy, and “It is written...” The point of a Gezirah is never the opening example, but rather the concluding words. The entire point of the illustration is the last words: ^12“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted..” Do you refer to your male parent by his first name, or a patronymic? To do otherwise would violate the commandment “honor your father and mother.” If the Bible thus calls my father and my mother as father and my mother, shall I not do the same? (Incidentally, this is also a Gezirah Shavah/Ki Devaro argument...). As for being called Rabbi, Yeshua was called Rabbi at least a dozen times. The point is not "do not be called rabbi, father, or teacher" but rather, do not exalt yourself or be proud — the roles men wish to play are already being fulfilled by God.

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15. What Has the "Messianic" Movement to do With the 144,000 of the Apocalypse?
It is clear that the 144,000 will be Messianic Believers — 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel. However, not every Messianic is one of the 144,000. You'll know them when the time comes (interesting observation— in the Christian Movie "Thief in the Night", they show one of the 144,000. He is obviously Jewish.

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* An interesting observation: The name of Handel's most famous piece of work is Handel's Messiah. Not Handel's Christos!

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Web Author: Azayel ben Hillel
Date Last Changed: Sunday, August 16, 2009
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