nice words... My fling with Christianity ended with a thud, I asked the pastor at the end of services, {it was about you must be saved to go to heaven} I asked, "hey My father was a good man, kind to his wife, good to his children ,honest, hard working and had a strong belief in GOD, " so I asked " My father was not a Christian does that mean he is in hell"? the answer was yes, if he was not saved he is in hell, I spun on my heel and that ended that.

if he was not saved he is in hell, I spun on my heel and that ended that.

well what do you think is the criteria for heaven and where do you get this criteria? Being good? How good? Can we ever be good enough? Who's the judge?

If someone asked me the same question I would say my own children are not going to heaven if they don't know Jesus. I base it on the revealed word of God and the evidences that support this word.

I think there is no greater priviledge than a Jew that finds Christ. After all Christ came for his own first and turned to the Gentiles only after being rejected by his own nation.

Besides, you never want to base any belief on man's opinion but need to do some reading, prayer and investigation into the matter thoroughly before making such a big decision as to following Christ or not. Maybe in this instance deep down it gave you a reason not to investigate further; an excuse to wash your hands of the matter.

The book of Matthew was written for the Jews, especially for a Jewish audience. Have you read it? Compare it to the Jewish OT especially Isa 53 and Psalm 22.

I knew a Jew who was convinced Jesus was who he claimed to be when he started reading the Jewish OT carefully.

Hey, I bet you could read the whole thing in a night or two. errrr....Matt and the two other referenes. The rest of the OT would take a bit longer....lol.

Just like life.....it's not what you know but who you know that matters.

Thanks for your responses. This is a tough one to reconcile with my kids. They've all been baptized (saved, as it were), and here's Pop-o, who goes to the church, discusses the teachings of Christ with them, supports them in their spiritual pursuits, yet ain't saved himself. "Are you going to Heaven, Pop-o?" "I don't know, I hope so, but I don't know."

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I've read the book of Matthew. And, I've read Isa 53, and the Jewish perspective I've read is that the servant is Israel (the chosen people) and not Jesus, as many are inclined to interpret. Also, I have a Jewish Study Bible, which is 10 lbs and 4,500 pages, so even the simplest Psalms have pages of notes. So, wish me luck as I dive into Psalm 22.

Also, I agree with your comment "you never want to base any belief on man's opinion but need to do some reading, prayer and investigation into the matter thoroughly before making such a big decision." Before becoming Jewish, I was a complete absolute atheist. Then, something unexplainable, truly wonderous happened, and God revealed himself to me, and I was no longer an atheist. There was no amount of explanation that could make me believe, and now there is no amount of convincing that would make me not believe. Faith has very little to do with reason.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Shalom

I've read is that the servant is Israel (the chosen people) and not Jesus, as many are inclined to interpret.

I know that interpretation you speak of. But that did not come into play until after the rejection of Christ. In the days of Christ they were looking for the one that would fit those descriptions in both Isaiah and Psalms as well as the other OT prophets.

Be careful with notes even. Because again, it's man's interpretation. Compare scripture with scripture. That's how your eyes will really open wide. For instance look at Ps 22 and compare with Ps 69. Both speak of the suffering Christ in the hands of wicked men.

Also compare Ps 22 to Matt 27:35,39,43,46, etc.

"I don't know, I hope so, but I don't know."

it just may be that he wasn't assured or convinced of his salvation. Sometimes we have to leave matters like this in God's hands and not worry. We will not always know for sure on this side of eternity if a loved one is there or not. We have to have faith that God is indeed God and knows what he is doing. What we need to concentrate on is our own relationship with God. Do we have one?

Grace & Peace
KFC

I'd love to know how an atheist becomes a Jew. That sounds interesting. Just remember.....Jesus was a Jew too!!!!

ya know LW, I don't think I've met (in this case listened to) anyone with a more critical spirit than you. I'm not sure what your beef is with me but just about everything I put on here gets a condemning comment from you. You know the saying.....if you can't say something nice.....

I'll let you finish. Please do.

I've tried to make peace with you but you have rebuffed that so I kept my promise to avoid all contact with you. I would appreciate the same.

BTW a Christian is one that follows Christ. Christ was not a Christian. He was a JEW.

To be more specific....
Acts 11:26b says "and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

All right you two... I will pull this car over! And I'm not kidding!

Buddha--I really like your work. This piece was especially moving to me becasue my daughter is in a "mixed marriage". She is LDS and he is Pentecostal. However, they worship together as a family (or at least they will when he returns from Iraq). The fact that my son-in-law supports my daughter and prefers family unity to religious debate is one of the things that I love most about his character.

If you and I don't meet in this life, let's get together for a piece of pie in the next, OK?

Maggie

nice words... My fling with Christianity ended with a thud, I asked the pastor at the end of services, {it was about you must be saved to go to heaven} I asked, "hey My father was a good man, kind to his wife, good to his children ,honest, hard working and had a strong belief in GOD, " so I asked " My father was not a Christian does that mean he is in hell"? the answer was yes, if he was not saved he is in hell, I spun on my heel and that ended that.

See, and that is precisely the wrong response (by the preacher), Moderateman (although it is all too common. I can point you to numerous verses that indicate that God is a just God, and that, frankly, I can't tell you whether he's in heaven or not. But I can assure you that God would never send a person to Hell if they truly tried to live consistent unto their faith.

In short, my best answer would be "I don't know. Only God knows. While I am certain that Christ is the only SURE way to heaven, I am equally certain that there will be a number of people in heaven from whom the name of Christ has never escaped their lips.

Buddah...nice piece as usual.

I think it is wonderful you are so loving and giving with your family.

You are Jewish and have an insight into Jewish rituals that can really deepen your children's understanding of Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. I learned a lot about the Jewish religion from a Messianic Jew. And it really made the scriptures come to life...I hope you share your knowledge with your kids when they are ready. Even if you don't believe Jesus is Messiah...what a gift that would be to them.

Shalom.

I can kinda understand where you're coming from. My boyfriend and I, while both Christian, have very different views. I'm Presbyterian, but am pretty liberal on my views of religion as a whole, and he is a die hard Catholic. But we work it out, he goes to my church when he visits me, and I got to his when I visit. We look at it as an interesting experience to different cultures, and we respect each others views, even if we do not always agree. Thank you for another lovely and thoughtful piece.

and you wanted to bring the nails to my crucifixion...hahahaha

Johnny

LW

the energizer bunny has nothing on you....you just keep going, going, going......

I noticed you did not respond to my answer to your retort about Jesus being a Jew but chose only to attack my character.

Typical...... and not the first time you've done this.

I choose not to play your games.

Hello Dear Friends,

See what happens when I try and post something on 6-6-06? Thanks for all your kind comments, and for remembering that respect and tolerance for differences go a long way in helping keep this a civil society, as well as a friendly blog.

To paraphrase Ms. Mitchell and Rodney King (forgive the strange pairing): can't we all just get along around a nice piece of pie?

I wish you all well on your spiritual journeys, and I send each of you my blessings for shalom bayis y tambien paz en su corazon.

Next time I'll write on a controversial topic,
el Moskowitz

I'm just reading your piece Mr. Moskowitz. Too bad you couldn't have remained annonimous as you say. It's like when some people can eat the bread and drink the wine and some cannot. Christian churches have this thing (at least some of them) where you have to confess or tell your story as a part of fellowshipping. I think if someone doesn't choose to share it shouldn't be seem as if it's the end of the world. That's why I prefer the nondenominational churches, less friction and more acceptance. Who cares by what means you get to God or how you worship Him, as long as you do!

El Buddah,

Thanks for sharing. I take it that you are Sephardic?

Shalom Aleichem mi amigo?

LW, I often wonder how you view me here in the community of JU. I know I started out on this similar mission and have since resorted to focusing more on my own life and how I live n treating others. If you are willing I am willing to listen.