Why do Messianic 'Jews' insist on calling themselves Jews, when they are not?

Because most people are ignorant of the fact that over 97% of them were never Jews to begin with, and they LIE about it.

The Messianic "Jewish" movement was begun by Southern Baptists and has nothing to do with real Judaism whatsoever.

Most people do not know any of that.

EDIT: TO CHRISTIANMAN: According to Torah law and Judaism, a Jew is a person who was born from a Jewish mother, or a person who converted following Torah law and procedure for conversions.

Messianic "Jews" have done neither. They are Gentile Fundamentalist Christians.

EDIT: Rui, no they are not Jews, and they never were.

To Serendipity: Sorry, you and your book dont get to redefine who is a Jew. God already gave in the Torah the definition of a Jew. One who is born of a Jewish mother, or who converts to Judaism following Torah law for conversions. That's it.

EDIT: To Beloved Apostle Paul: Yeah and as soon as Jesus died without having fulfilled even ONE of the ACTUAL prophecies for the Messiah given in the Torah, almost all of the REAL Jews left. This is why it became a Gentile movement so quickly. Our Jewish Messiah fulfills the prophecies, or he isnt the Messiah, and that does not include the church-invented "second coming".

in step with hazard because of the fact there is not any genuine definition of the word Jew? The Israeli government are nevertheless grappling with a sensible definition of the word Jew. traditionally Christians got here out of Judaism yet for the 1st few years all christians observed as themselves Jews and christianity became into seen a sect interior of Judaism (and in assessment with say the essenes of the ineffective sea scrolls, the 1st century christian sect became into no longer all that distinctive from different sects interior of judaism on the time taking advantage of the actual courting the Jewish faith had with the Roman government taking area in case in point a nicely earned exemption from many of the merciless religious standards like accepting statues of Roman deities of their temples/synagogues or having to pinch some incense and say "Caesar is Lord", it is the reason being excluded style the Jewish community by utilising their community synagogue became into so frightening for Christians). there have been a pair of historic breaking factors, the remainder of the Jewish community distanced themselves from Chrstianity suited from the commencing up, yet formally denounced the christian faith in the direction of the top of the 1st century with an genuine proclamation that Christians have been no longer seen Jews, regrettably I ignore the call of that ruling and could be immensely grateful if somebody can call it. plenty later while Christianity became the popular faith of the Roman empire, christianity distanced itself from Judasim and adjusted from being persecuted to actively persecuting different faiths. That being stated whilst we communicate many christians see themselves because of the fact the authentic jews and function accomplished so in the process christian history besides the incontrovertible fact that throught christian history many have additionally sought to entice clean differences between christianity and judasim, no longer least of all Jesus who besides the incontrovertible fact that he became into (in accordance to the christian faith) completely jewish in that he stored torah, he himself taught that new wine can't circulate into old wineskins, pointing to the inevitable destroy with judaism.

Perhaps because there is no official definition of the word Jew? The Israeli authorities are still grappling with a useful definition of the word Jew.

Historically Christians came out of Judaism but for the first few years all christians called themselves Jews and christianity was considered a sect within Judaism (and when compared with say the essenes of the dead sea scrolls, the first century christian sect was not all that different from other sects within judaism at the time taking advantage of the special relationship the Jewish faith had with the Roman authorities enjoying for instance a well earned exemption from many of the harsh religious requirements like accepting statues of Roman deities in their temples/synagogues or having to pinch some incense and say "Caesar is Lord", this is why being excluded form the Jewish community by their local synagogue was so frightening for Christians). There were a couple of historical breaking points, the rest of the Jewish community distanced themselves from Chrstianity right from the beginning, but officially denounced the christian faith towards the end of the first century with an official proclamation that Christians were no longer considered Jews, sadly I forget the name of that ruling and would be immensely grateful if someone can name it. Much later when Christianity became the favorite religion of the Roman empire, christianity distanced itself from Judasim and changed from being persecuted to actively persecuting other faiths.

That being said even today many christians see themselves as the true jews and have done so throughout christian history although throught christian history many have also sought to draw clear distinctions between christianity and judasim, not least of all Jesus who although he was (according to the christian faith) fully jewish in that he kept torah, he himself taught that new wine cannot go into old wineskins, pointing to the inevitable break with judaism.

In fact, there was a believing remnant that did believe that Jesus was the Christ, and they were TRUE Jews, meaning that they were direct descendants of Jacob, who God re-named Israel. If a person embraces Judaism, (although at present, it is a dead religion) that does not make them a Jew. Even in the days of Christ, that person would have been merely a Jewish proselyte.

There were 3000 souls, who were also TRUE Jews that believed that the Lord Jesus was Messiah, added to the Kingdom church on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost filled the believers in the upper room in Acts 2.

So, if you were trying to prove a point, you are wrong. A person CAN be a Jew, and believe that Jesus was Messiah. There were REAL Jews that did just that.

Depends on how you define what a Jew is? Orthodox Jews do not follow the Messiah. Messianic Jews are not Orthodox Jews. There are other sects of Jews. So I think you need to define what a Jew is. So, what is a Jew?

Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

* Gorry there is a perfect example. The dude had a DREAM and now he thinks he's Jewish when no branch of Judaism would consider him Jewish under any terms. He's a Xtian, his mother and father were Xtians, his grandparents were Xtians = ineligible to be Jewish.

He can't figure out that Judaism isn't a race and he doesn't practice Judaism.

U find 'messianics' use that argument a lot - that its a race and they can't help but be Jews even though fewer than 20% were EVER Jewish.

Most are either self deluded or intentionally deceptive.

Rayz is attempting to mislead other

All branches of Judaism agree - 'messianics' aren't Jews.

the most liberal branch sees them as an ongoing danger that must be stood against

We should be much stricter in our relationship with "Messianic Jews" than with other Christians with whom we continually attempt to establish good interfaith relations. The normative Christian churches are known for their beliefs and practices and are easily distinguishable by our people. Although they may continue to seek some converts from Judaism, most Churches have not pursued active missionary activities in modern times. Directly the opposite is true of "Messianic Jews." They have established a vigorous missionary presence and often seek to confuse Jews about the nature of their religion. They have frequently presented themselves as Jews rather than Christians through misleading pamphlets, advertisements, and religious services. We should do everything in our power to correct these misconceptions and to maintain a strict separation from anyone connected with this group.

Romans 2:28-29 (King James Version)

28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Orthadox Jews are observant Jews, and part of a religious movement that goes back centuries. All Jews consider them to be Jewish, and practitioners of Judaism. They aren’t waiting on any rescuciated divinity—their conception of HaMashiach follows Jewish prophesy—he will be a mortal man who will fulfill a series of signs within a single lifetime.

The Messianic “Jews” are Christians, part of a Christian movement that goes back to the 1960s. They claim to practice Judaism, generally because they use Hebrew in their worship and celebrate the Christian version of Jewish holidays…but that is not Judaism. Christian groups fund many of their churches, and their outreach groups are led by Southern Baptists. Their theology is 100% Christian. Orthadox, Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionalists, not to mention the state of Israel, consider them to be Christians, and not Jews. They draw on Nazi-era anti-Jewish propaganda to harass Jews as a part of their ‘ministry movement.’ Jews have, for millenia, defined themselves using primarily religious criteria…anyone born to a Jewish mother is Jewish, anyone who converts to Judaism is Jewish, and those who chose to worship a god other than the one of Judaism is considered an apostate, and no longer a part of the Jewish community.

And make no mistake—Messi beliefs are not compatible with Judaism. Jesus did not fulfill one Messianic Prophesy, let alone all of them—aside from being born a Jewish man. Even the New Testament itself provides conflicting geneologies tracing him to David. It goes beyond the selection of an unlikely Messiah, however—this has happened several times in Jewish history, and those who have done this are not considered apostate. The problem is that Messi beliefs violate several tenants of the Jewish religion—that G-d is one, that G-d cannot be man, rejection of human sacrifice as atonement for sins are just a few of them. To accept those is to reject Judaism.

To argue that Christianity is a progression of Judaism, that the Christian covanent is an adaquate replacement of the Jewish one, is replacement theology….a bigoted set of beliefs that the Christian Church has used as a justification for the suppression of Jewish populations in Christian lands in the past. Basically, Replacement Theology argues that the Christian Covanent with G-d is a new covanent, that G-d has rejected the Jews for being obstinant and rejecting Jesus, and that the Christians are the new Chosen. No longer G-d’s chosen, the Jews have no reason to continue existing.

The notion that one can be ‘ethnically Jewish, religiously Christian’ derives from xenophobic anti-Jewish bigots in Germany during the 18-19th centuries. The Jews were assimilating into German society, and German society was secularizing….religion was losing its sway as a medium for anti-Jewish bigotry. Bigots being bigots, just can’t stop hating people when their excuse dries up, sought another excuse. They found one in the notion that Jews were a part of a racial group—the Semites, who were not a true race, but were part of an amoeba-like racial-cultural entity that ’sucked in’ other races, wherever they made contact with them (they were therefore a threat to the Aryan race). So, Jews never fostered the idea that one could be ‘ethnically’ Jewish…only those who have had our worst interests at heart.

Jews are not alone in protesting this deception. Countless Christian groups, including the Presbyterians and clergy from the Prodestant, Catholic, and Orthadox branches of Christianity have condemned their behavior.

Peace

Most are racist and bigots,

Muslims believe that Jesus pbuh is the Messiah but we are not Christians.

"Christian" may have various definitions, the main defining belief is that Jesus is the Son of God and the atonement of sin, I don't know if Messianic Jews believe that but if they do then they would be more Christian than Jewish. If not then I dont see why you should want to redefine what itt means to be Jewish or even a Messianic Jew, is it that much of a threat to you? I dont see why foreign money is something so treacherous either, Zionists have never complained about it before.