Jews for Judaism Denounces WEA Statement Defending the Targeting of Jews
Jews for Judaism International denounces as offensive the March 28, 2008 statement the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) that defends the targeting of Jews for conversion to Christianity and reaffirms that Jews need Jesus for salvation.
WEA is a global ministry described as a network of churches in 128 nations that have formed an evangelical alliance, with over 100 international organizations, representing more than 420 million evangelical Christians.
WEA claims in its statement that it deplores the use of deception and coercion. It also considers "good and right... those ministries specifically directed to the Jewish people."
Jews for Judaism founder, Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz calls these claims hypocritical. "You can't deplore deception and coercion," he says, "and at the same time call 'good and right' ministries who attract converts by masquerading themselves as traditional Jews, misquoting and fabricating Jewish sources and using fear of damnation as a form of coercion."
WEA also states that they "reject the notion that it is deceptive for followers of Jesus Christ who were born Jewish to continue to identify as Jews."
All Jewish denominations agree that the bible teaches it is idolatrous for a Jew to believe that God exists as a trinity and becomes incarnate in bodily form. A Jew who maintains these beliefs separates himself from Judaism and cannot identify himself as a Jew until he denounces these false beliefs and reconnects to his heritage.
According to Rabbi Kravitz, "To avoid this association with idolatry, Messianic Jews intentionally and deceptively fail to divulge that they believe Jesus is God incarnate and part of a Trinity when they proclaim that he is the Messiah. This is exactly what "Jews for Jesus founder Moishe Rosen advises in his book, 'Share the New Life with a Jew.' To quote Rosen, 'Don't get sidetracked for the moment with discussions of the deity of Christ and the virgin birth... Important as these may be, correct theology is not what will save your friend.'"
Jews for Judaism is dedicated to exposing deception and helping Jews reconnect to their heritage. For more information contact Jews for Judaism at 310-556-3344 or via email at [email protected].