The 2nd Annual Young Messianic Jewish Scholars and Leaders Conference took place at University of Pennsylvania on June 1-3, 2003. It was an event that encouraged and enabled the next generation of Messianic scholars and leaders. The conference also cultivated a growing community through dialogue and relationship building that will impact the future of the Messianic Movement, the Jewish community, and the Church. The sessions generated many discussions as we explored Jewish identity, Biblical and Messianic studies, and issues facing our generation. Sessions included the following:
Jonathan Kaplan “A Taxonomy of Contemporary Jewish-Christian Relations”
Seth Klayman “Sukkot from the Bible to the Mishnah: The Pivotal Role of Zechariah 14”
Gabriela Reason “Shaping the Future of Messianic Judaism: the UMJC/MJAA Debate over Evangelicalism” [Forthcoming publication in the next issue of Kesher]
David Rudolph “Why did Paul Sacrifice in the Temple? How Scholars have Interpreted Acts 21:17-26 through the Centuries”
Russ Arnold “How Then Should We Pray?: The Functions of Messianic Jewish Liturgy and the Issue of Chosenness.”
One issue among many that has been raised by young messianic scholars and leaders relates to how some Jewish mission leaders have perceived the Messianic Congregational Movement. This is an area that should be of particular interest to the International LCJE community. Often this voice of concern has claimed that a growing number of Messianic congregations are becoming too ‘traditional/ Rabbinic’, are not holding to a sound theological system (Lutheran, Baptist, etc.), or are accused of losing their focus on what really matters, such as the Messiah or Jewish/Gentile unity.
It can be challenging for Evangelical Christians to be deferential to others in their development of praxis and theology, especially when we feel that we have the ‘right’ theology and approach.
One evangelical, Mark Strom, helps us evaluate how we exclude views and people that appear to not fit within our systems. Mark writes,
“It is critical for evangelical theologians and preachers to feel that they are right. Think of how the vocabulary of certainty works in evangelical conversations. The following terms and expressions (and their antonyms) occur commonly and convey a sense of self-evident rectitude: right, correct, evangelical, truly evangelical, proper, perfect, full-on, godly, solid, true, absolute, strong, objective, sound, reliable, inerrant, robust, complete, infallible, inspired, assured, biblical, spiritual, reformed, truly reformed, powerful, holy, confessional, mature, orthodox, rigorous, exegetical, convicted, committed, the original meaning, the Greek means, ordained, licensed, authoritative, submissive, theological, doctrinal, loyal, called, sanctified, covenantal, authorized, ideal, faithful, pure. These terms occur in conversations covering every facet of evangelical life and underscore the pervasive ideals of rectitude and certainty” (Reframing Paul: Conversations in Grace and Community, Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2000).
We invite the International LCJE community to partner with us in fostering a spirit of dialogue on these issues and encourage messianic Jews to develop within their own social, cultural, and religious community context. We ask because we desire for our conference to become a place to build bridges between the Messianic Congregational and Jewish Missions Movements. Please prayerfully consider these concerns of young messianic leaders and scholars. Thank you for your love for our people.
The 2004 3rd Annual Young Messianic Jewish Scholars and Leaders Conference will be announced soon. For more information about contributing or attending the conference, you may contact Jason Sobel, the Spiritual Leader of Sha’arei Shalom, and staff member of Chosen People Ministries, at gatesofpeace@aol.com or (919) 602-7733.
The following organizations offered generous support for the conference: Chosen People Ministries, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Messiah Now, and Echad: Penn and Drexel’s Messianic Jewish Spiritual Movement.
Andrew Sparks
messiah@messiahnow.com