Forgive my ignorance on the subject but I have a couple questions about practices of Christians. I recently took a position as nanny for a Jewish family and I know a lot of things that they do that we as Christians don't and it confused me b/c from Judaism came Christianity.
1) Y don't we encourage our children to lean Hebrew? The children I am currently nannying are learning Hebrew b/c it is the language of their ppl and I was thinking aren't there people my people?
Girl sad as it is some of us aren't teaching our children to learn anything cuz we is so ignant ourselves. For real tho. (For those that the shoe fits only) If we spend our hard earned $$ on items whose value decrease rapidly versus education etc then wait on somebody to help us out...
Anyway, let me move on before I find myself banned. I have had a desire for quite some time now to learn Hebrew. I find it presents not a different picture (for all who are on the lost in translation theory bandwagon) but certainly a more colorful, descriptive picture of those same events. What little I have learned so far I do share with others who are like minded. I certainly plan on taking some courses that relate to this and think learning Hebrew is a wonderful idea. Largely cultural, but still understanding history is always very enlightening and relevant to today's events IMO.
2) Y don't we have to keep kosher? When I first started working for them they told me they were kosher and they explained it to me. I went a little further to research and both the passages in th bible its in leviticus and Deuteronomy. I asked my father why we don't have to do it and he told me "When Jesus came he made NEW laws of the land and therefore we don't have to follow the old ones" so then I said if thats the case why do we live by the 10 commandments...he told me something but to be honest the answer was sufficient enough for me.
Unless they are Messianic Jews(it doesn't sound as if they are), the jewish ppl I know do not believe Jesus was the promised Messiah. They are still waiting on his arrival. Jewsih ppl do not read the New Testament. to do so would equate to blasphemy and result in being disowned from one entire cultural family. That is how they will be deceived by the anti-christ in the future. Your dad was in the range of that with his explanantion. Jesus came to complete the laws. He came to enhance and clarify not do away with. We are still following the 10 commandments. When you study the very detailed behaviors that are involved in each ceremony/ holy day it becomes very clear that they all point to the arrival and life events of Jesus. It is fascinating stuff! Man was never able to keep the laws in perfection on our own. We had to have many years of examples of that human shortcoming so that when Jesus did arrive and complete things, we could clearly see how much we needed him. He was/is our high preist. He was the only one able to tear the ceremonial veil previously separating us from a holy GOD in the temple so that we could resume communing with GOD the Father. As far as being kosher is concerned, certainly their dietary choices will not cause harm to anyone. In Acts 11 there is a scripture that explains why we have choices as to our diets(There is another passage in the bible that plainly says if you eat meat keep eating it if you don't don't and don't try to make others do what you do. I can't recall where. Maybe someone else will chime in). There is a bigger meaning from that passage dealing with gentiles and jews but on a smaller note we know that God made everything and as such everything in moderation, with much prayer, is fit for consumption. If we pray and ask God might he tell us something we individually should avoid? Yes. Why can some ppl smoke like chimneys and have no health issues? Why do some tolerate alcohol better than others? God made us so he knows us. Who knows better about the design? The designer or someone else? What your body or spirit etc can handle mine might not. We cannot try to make something he has dealt with us on (within reason now y'all) a new law for all and condemn others when they participate in that activity. Case in point, during a fast this year God wanted me to stop drinking soft drinks. I do not know if that is permanent or for a season. I can tell you that any soft drinks, even when consumed accidentally cause me to become violently ill. We all know too much of anything can be bad. We all know soft drinks in general are bad for you. Does that mean that I should condemn anyone around me who drinks one? Whatever you eat, bless and sanctify your food and go on. If God can create a universe, he can tell you when you have had one too many ribs if you ask and listen.
3)Y don't we participate in Passover.... I am reading a book to the children called my first Passover and it celebrates Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. Now I learned this story as a child but I was wondering why we don't celebrate it like they do?
In most cases, ppl have not been taught to observe the high holy days. As I learn better I try to do better. I have started observing these days. There are some threads here about that too in the CF. See, although there is nothing wrong with them, Christmas, Easter, and some other holidays we observe are not biblical. On the other hand there are ceremonies and holy days God commands us to observe. He himself observed them while he was here even though he would be the completion of those things. I encourage those who want to to observe them to learn and do so. We have such a rich history as believers. Plenty of ppl still perish b/c of lack of knowledge though.erplexed
I just wanted to ask a couple questions. I not trying to offend anyone I consider myself a devoted Christian and I was wondering about the practices of Jews and Christians. If you are a Christians on here who actually does these things please explain why and if you don't could you explain why you dont. Sorry for the LONG post!