10 Facts About Messianic Movement and Jewish Christians

The Messianic movement of Jewish Christians has become a force of charity and controversy in Israel. Made up of Jewish believers in Jesus, their numbers have grown to nearly 20,000 in Israel and an estimated 1 million in the United States.

Each year, the Messianic movement donates about $95 million in aid for Israel. But tension builds when Jewish Christians work to convert Jews.

Here are a 10 facts about the Messianic movement:

1. Messianic Jews believe Jesus is Israel's Messiah promised in the Old Testament. But they refute the notion that their Christian belief means they are no longer Jewish, a longstanding view among churches and synagogues.

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2. In 1972, Jewish Christians adopted the name Messianic Jews.

3. Historically, Jewish Christians joined traditional Christian churches. But in the last few decades, the once-scattered groups of Jewish believers in Jesus have united into an international Messianic Movement. There are now more than 200 congregations in the United States and about 500 worldwide.

4. In 1982, the movement formed the Jewish Alliance of American and the International Alliance of Messianic Jewish Congregations. The alliances send missionaries into various countries including Israel to provide aid and teach Christian religious beliefs.

5. The movement’s push to convert practicing Jews to Christianity is a source of tension, especially in Israel. In 2008, a group of Orthodox Jews in Tel Aviv burned 200 New Testaments that had been distributed by Messianic Jews, according to CNN.

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6. Messianic Jews practice the traditions of Judaism. They observe Jewish holidays, honor the Sabbath, and prepare and eat food that is kosher.

7. The group identifies with the first Christians who were for the most part Jews. They refer to Jesus as Yeshua, which is the Hebrew name. They use the Hebrew term Messiah instead of Christ, which stems from the Greek Christos. Both Messiah and Christ mean Anointed One.

8. Christmas and Easter are not celebrated by Messianic Jews because there is no directive to do so in the Bible, or Scriptures.

9. Messianic Jews believe both the Old Testament and New Testament are Scripture.

10. On a lighter note, country singer of “Rhinestone Cowboy” fame Glen Campbell is a practicing Messianic Jew. The Messianic faith welcomes people from every background, Campbell told Reuters in 2008.

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