"Dear Rabbi Rich,
I am a Gentile with two school age daughters.  I am very involved in the Messianic Jewish Ministry.  My children see and feel my commitment and wish to be involved as well.  We attend a Baptist church with a large extended family and I believe this is very important for my daughters.  However, they want to be a part of the faith of their savior especially concerning holiday traditions.  I want them to have a heart for the Jewish people, but I do not want them to become confused about who they are.  What do you think?

Perplexed Parent "

 
Dear Perplexed Parent,
Your instincts are correct.  You want your girls to grow up with a clear religious identity while  appreciating the good things Messianic Judaism has to offer.  Here¹s how I suggest you proceed:
First, keep attending your Baptist church.  You and your daughters are blessed to have a congregational home where many other family members attend.  Fewer and fewer modern people have the wonderful privilege of worshipping God along side of aunts, uncles, grandmas and grampas.  I can hardly imagine a setting that would do more good for today¹s youth.  So, sense the privilege and stay put!
Second, bring your family to Messianic Jewish events as time allows.  A particularly meaningful holiday for Jews and Gentiles is Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles.  The prophetic meaning of this Fall festival includes the nations of the world streaming up to Jerusalem to worship the King (see Zechariah 14 for the full picture).  Here Jews and Gentiles worshipping together before the reigning Messiah presents a beautiful picture of the coming age.
Some holidays such as Rosh Ha Shanah and Yom Kippur are very intimately Jewish in their nature and scope.   These are best observed by the Messianic Jewish community and Jewish guests.
Finally, teach the girls exactly who they are. They are Christians.  Messianic Jews are Jewish people who embrace Yeshua (Jesus).  Christians are Gentles who do so.  Simple, clear and unambiguous.  Such clear boundaries are exactly why children need as they seek to understand their places in our very complex world.  It is good to be a Christian.  It is good for Jews to live as Messianic Jews.   God is the author of the uniqueness among people.  He has painted creation with many different colors and brush strokes. And he smiles when his children celebrate their “specialness” and love others in theirs.
Teach these things to your girls.  Let them observe your growing love for the Jewish people and the people in your church.  They will likely achieve what you so deeply desire for them.

Rabbi Rich
 

 click here  to return to Table of Contents

or click here  to return to Home Page