LCJE Bulletin Issue 101, September 2010

Networking Jewish Evangelism

LCJELausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism Networking Jewish Evangelism From the Coordinator Jewish Evangelism in Cape Town 2010

LCJELausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism I am anxiously waiting to see how the question of Jewish evan- gelism will be treated – and not least what will be written in the LCJE Bulletin official statement from the Lausanne Movement’s third world Issue no. 101 conference, on October 16–25 in Cape Town. September 2010 Jewish evangelism will hardly be an issue that takes up much space in the plenary at the conference in Cape Town. LCJE can © Lausanne Consultation on live with that. It is pretty certain that we will have four so-called Jewish Evangelism “dialogue sessions,” where we invite other participants to dia- Editor: Kai Kjær-Hansen logue about themes related to Jewish evangelism. The chal- Linguistic editor: Cindy Osborne lenge is, of course, that we get interact with others and not just Design: Chris Skjøtt ourselves. The themes and speakers for the four dialogue sessions are as Printed by: Yorke Printe Shoppe follows: Lombard, IL 60148 1. Evangelism in the State of Israel Moderator: Tuvya Zaretsky Published February, May, Speakers: David Zadok, Dan Sered, August, and November and Rachel Goldstein-Davis Individual membership US $25 2. Comparing Notes – Discipleship Issues Affecting Mes annually; subscription US $15; sianic Jews (MJ) and Muslim Background Believers (MBB) payable to LCJE Moderator: Susan Perlman Speakers: Richard Harvey and Grant Porter Our bankers are: 3. Contemporary Trends in the Worldwide Messianic Den Danske Bank Jewish Movement SWIFT-address:DABADKKK Moderator: Kai Kjær-Hansen Reg.no. 3652 Speakers: Mitch Glaser and Lawrence Hirsch Account no. 4803086338 IBAN: DK6430004803086338 4. How to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Or cheque drawn on a Danish Moderator: Bodil F. Skjøtt bank and sent to LCJE/Kai Speakers: David Brickner, Wayne Hilsden, Kjær-Hansen (address on back and Salim Munayer cover) Prayer for these dialogue sessions will be appreciated. If the statement from Cape Town touches on the political situ- CONTENTS ation in the Middle East, Zionism included, I expect a balanced statement. At any rate, I expect from Cape Town a clear and 2 From the Coordinator unambiguous affirmation of Jewish evangelism. I cannot possibly 3 Moishe Rosen’s imagine anything else. Farewell Letter ______4 An Elder Statesman 6 A Tribute to Moishe Rosen Moishe Rosen died on May 19, 2010, at the age of 78. In the 7 Moishe Rosen and LCJE 10 Evangelising the Jews latest issue of the LCJE Bulletin, no. 100, he spoke to us through 14 The Fact of Failure his “Deadly Competition.” His fingerprints on the San Francisco 21 Second Borough Study Group’s work in 1979 prior to the founding of LCJE in 1980 Park Symposium was also mentioned. In this issue we will, in various ways, com- 24 What Is the Missing memorate him and his great importance for LCJE. Component in World We will begin with his Farewell Letter. Evangelization? 27 LCJE Meetings Kai Kjær-Hansen 2 Moishe Rosen: April 12, 1932 – May 19, 2010

Moishe Rosen’s Farewell Letter He, being dead, still speaks (Heb. 11:4).

From the Memorial Service on June 1, 2010 Dear friends,

If you are reading this, it means that I have gone on to my reward. As I write this, I can only think of what the Scriptures say, and that is, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither have they entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Well, I have a big curiosity and by now, I know. I don’t suppose that I will be writing you any new material, but there are a few articles in the works that might still come through.

As I go, I feel that I have left a number of things undone. I think everyone must feel that way. There were words of appreciation that I looked for an occasion to express, but they didn’t come. There were words of regret that I would have expressed to others. And there were words of encouragement that I had for all who were believers.

I’d like to encourage you to stay with Jews for Jesus. I was the Executive Director until 1996. Many things have changed. Some of them definitely for the better and others that I can’t say were for the worse, but things that I would not have thought to do. Nevertheless the core of what Jews for Jesus stands for is still central.

As I go, one of the things that concerns me deeply is how much misunderstanding there is among believers. I never thought I would live to see the day when those who know the Lord 3 and are born again were supporting the efforts of rabbis who, frankly, not only don’t know Christ, but don’t want to know him.

To be an honest ministry, it can only come from the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit can only indwell those who have the new birth and are born again. Therefore, I would urge you to think very seriously before you support any “ministry” that involves Jewish people and doesn’t actually bring the gospel to the Jews.

Likewise, I am concerned over something else that I never thought that I would see or hear and that is, Jews who have become believers in Jesus and have important positions in minis- try yet feel that their primary purpose is to promote Jewishness and Judaism to the Jews.

I hope I can count on you to show love and respect for the Jewish people, but Jewish- ness never saved anybody. Judaism never saved anybody no matter how sincere. Romans 10:9–10 make it clear that we must believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus in order to be saved. There are no shortcuts. There is no easy way. Within Juda- ism today, there is no salvation because Christ has no place within Judaism.

Aside from these concerns, I want to say that I feel as I have always felt that we stand on the edge of a breakthrough in Jewish evangelism. Just a little more. Just another push. Just another soul – and we will have reached critical mass where we begin generating that en- ergy that the whole world might know the Lord.

I would also encourage you to be faithful to those Bible-teaching, Bible-preaching churches that give spiritual food. More than ever, the church needs faithful members who can be an example to the young people coming in. Maybe there are some features about your church that keep you from being enthusiastic – look around and see if there might be a better church for you. If there is, join it and enjoy it. If your church is doing a lot right, then stay where you’re planted.

I don’t expect that Jews for Jesus will be undergoing any turmoil because of my demise. For many years, the leadership has been in competent hands, but this is a time when there needs to be some encouragement. The executive director and the staff need to hear that you intend to continue standing with us.

Anything done for Christ will last. Anything you do to help and encourage Jews for Jesus at this time will have lasting effects on all of us. So instead of saying “good bye,” I’ll just say, “Until then – I’ll see you in the sky.”

Moishe

Moishe Rosen – An Elder Statesman of Jewish Evangelism By Tuvya Zaretsky, President of LCJE

In the Jewish community, Jewish evangelism. your friends, and pick your Moishe Rosen was regarded Moishe never accepted Jew- enemies even more carefully.” as a controversial figure. He ish opposition to the gospel His Jewish opposition was far earned that reputation for his as what he called “enemy- less gracious. Some sought to unwavering commitment to ship.” He often said, “Choose deny him Jewish “status.” 4 They scornfully said, “Did you quoted Paul’s words, “But you, There, he served as a member know that their founder is just be sober in all things, endure of the “mini-consultation on a Baptist minister?” hardship, do the work of an reaching Jewish people.” Two That was allegedly meant evangelist, fulfill your minis- significant outcomes for the to imply that Baptist affiliation try” (2 Tim. 4:5 NASB). field of Jewish evangelism and Jewishness are mutually He pressed the battle to came from that gathering. exclusive. However, no one bring the gospel to his own One was Lausanne Occasional can deny the genuine Jewish people and stood his ground Paper #7: Christian Witness pedigrees of stalwart Baptists for the cause of Christ. When to the Jewish People, edited like Hyman Appleman, Jacob the opposition called him “just by C. David Harley. The other Gartenhaus, and Moishe a Baptist,” he simply respond- was the establishment of a Rosen. ed, “Yes, and this Baptist is a unique mission network, the I heard about Moishe in Jew who loves Jesus.” Moishe Lausanne Consultation on 1971, as the Jews for Jesus insisted that any focus should Jewish Evangelism (LCJE). movement was first captur- be on the Messiah Jesus and Today, LCJE is regarded as ing notice in the U.S. Jewish not on his Jewishness. the most successful special press. He was convinced that Moishe was married to Ceil interest committee in the the American Christian com- for over 50 years. He came whole international Lausanne munity in general and Jewish to faith as a young man. He network. Moishe Rosen’s com- missions in particular had received ordination through mitment to that network and become complacent about the the Conservative Baptist As- the cause of Jewish evan- need for a forthright testimony sociation and the Conservative gelism has received well-de- to Jewish people. He insisted Congregational Christian Con- served acknowledgement and that Jewish people needed ference. Over time, he was appreciation. to know about Jesus, even if widely recognized as a sage Moishe often said that the they protested, because there elder statesman in the field of best measure of our efforts is “no other name” by which Jewish evangelism. at Jewish evangelism comes anyone can be saved. In 1974, Moishe Rosen from our opposition. An Moishe was so compelled received an invitation to par- Israeli historian said it clearly, by the courageous convic- ticipate in the Lausanne Con- “Rosen’s achievement was tion of his own faith that he gress on World Evangelism, not in creating a new mis- charged into the forefront an international gathering of sionary agenda, but rather of the Jewish opposition in missiologists, theologians, and in using new strategies and the early 1970s. A few in the churchmen. It was an honor means that made the mission Jewish mission establishment that Moishe deserved, but more effective in achieving its rallied with him. That hap- couldn’t afford. The demands goals.” 1 pened just as the Lord raised of leading the newly chartered Thanks be to God for a up a new generation of young Jews for Jesus organization Jewish “Baptist minister” Jewish believers. They insisted prevented him from taking like Moishe Rosen. His love on being identified as Jews time away. However, he fully for Messiah Y’shua (Jesus) who love Jesus in spite of understood the historic and gave him the courage to be a establishment Jewish voices strategic significance of the stalwart missionary and a wise that tried to deny validation of Lausanne movement. elder statesman in the field of their Jewishness. As a result, six years later, Jewish evangelism. He encouraged a new gen- in June 1980, he attended the eration of Jewish missionaries Consultation on World Evan- Tuvya Zaretsky to be bold and steadfast. He gelization in Pattaya, Thailand. [email protected]

1 Yaakov Ariel, Evangelizing the Chosen People: Missions to the Jews in America 1880–2000 (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2000), 219. 5 A Tribute to Moishe Rosen By Jim R. Sibley, LCJE Coordinator for North America

Charles Spurgeon reminds conservative evangelical, I old soldier of MacArthur’s us that the occupation of speak for many when I say, barracks ballad, Moishe has the good soldier is war, and “Thank you, Lord, that your now closed his time of service, Moishe was a soldier – one servant was not only focused but unlike that soldier, Moishe who fought against anything on evangelism, but was also will not simply fade away. The that would keep his Jewish faithful to your Word.” first missionary to the Jewish people from the knowledge of Finally, I want to conclude people, the apostle Peter, said salvation. While love of coun- with a personal word. It was this: try often motivates a soldier to my privilege to know Moishe “Blessed be the God and give his last ounce of strength for almost three decades. I Father of our Lord Jesus to the cause, for Moishe it was had already read his published Christ, who according to his a dual love – a love for Ye- materials, and within my first abundant mercy has begot- shua, the Messiah, and a love years in Israel, I met Moishe ten us again to a living hope for the Jewish people. on a fact-finding mission through the resurrection of First of all, as Coordinator he organized. Later, Tuvya Jesus Christ from the dead, of the North American chapter Zaretsky channeled Moishe’s to an inheritance incorruptible of the Lausanne Consultation teaching to me when I was at and undefiled and that does on Jewish Evangelism, I pay a very teachable point in my not fade away, reserved in tribute to Moishe on behalf of ministry. Later, of course I heaven for you, who are kept his many friends and co-work- would hear his presentations by the power of God through ers in this network of organi- at LCJE meetings and have faith for salvation ready to be zations, congregations, and personal conversations with revealed in the last time” (1 individuals, all involved in Jew- him. Like so many of you, I Pet. 1:3–5). ish evangelism. As a network, have learned from him. I have Surely Moishe has already we would not be what we are been challenged by him. And heard the Lord’s, “Well done, today had we not had the I have been encouraged by good and faithful servant; support of Moishe Rosen. He him. you were faithful over a few was an encouragement from Douglas MacArthur famously things, I will make you ruler the beginning and a support said, “I still remember the re- over many things. Enter into for many others who labored frain of one of the most popu- the joy of your lord” (Matt. beside him in other ministries. lar barracks ballads . . . which 25:21). He always helped us keep our proclaimed most proudly that focus on evangelism as our old soldiers never die; they Jim R. Sibley first priority. He was greatly just fade away.” And like the [email protected] loved and will be greatly missed. Secondly, having, myself, been involved in Jewish minis- try through the Southern Bap- tist Convention for more than a quarter of a century, it has given me a great deal of sat- isfaction that Moishe always stood for biblical truth. You didn’t need to wonder about his doctrine. He believed the Bible was God’s Word and was the authority for all of life. He took some courageous stands David Brickner, Moishe’s successor, at the Memorial Service for sound doctrine, so, as a 6 Moishe Rosen and LCJE Some reminiscences By Kai Kjær-Hansen, International LCJE Coordinator

LCJE has now existed for Thailand, in June 1980 for this mini-consultation with thirty years. Who knows the Lausanne Movement’s Jews and Christians would what an international net- “Consultation on World break before the ending of work like LCJE would have Evangelization” (COWE), the conference. This did not looked like without Moishe where he participated as a happen. We clicked straight Rosen, the founder of Jews “consultant” in the Mini-Con- away, we had the same ob- for Jesus? But anyone with sultation on Reaching Jewish jectives. Through prayer and the merest insight into People. discussion and delegation of LCJE’s history will readily ac- The group was small, tasks according to talents, knowledge Moishe’s impor- indeed the smallest of the we managed to produce the tance for the establishment various mini-consultations in document “Christian Witness of LCJE in 1980 and his later Pattaya; in attendance were to the Jewish People” (see commitment to this network. 18 persons. www.lcje.net). It lasted with undiminished Some of us, for example Friendships were formed strength all through these myself and Ole Christian that have lasted ever since. 30 years and right up to his Kvarme (later LCJE presi- At the bar in the hotel swim- death. Through proclama- dent), had never before met ming pool (sic) the discus- tion, papers, and discussion Moishe in person – or any sions would continue. They he helped us all stick to other individuals related to were so intense that I did LCJE’s purpose: Jesus for the Jews for Jesus organi- not discover that the key Jews. zation, for that matter. We to my safe was stolen from Up through the 1970s he had only heard about them, my trousers at the pool, and saw clearly, as director of and mostly from people with a false signature the Jews for Jesus, the need for who were not particularly thief emptied my safe of a new international network enthusiastic about them. So all – money, airline tickets, for organizations and agen- beforehand, we were a little and passport. Moishe readily cies involved in Jewish mis- skeptical. But our anxiety stepped in and lent me 100 sion. Therefore he became was put to shame. There dollars so that I could get involved in the study work was a rumor that some of to Bangkok after the confer- which preceded the Laus- the organizers of the confer- ence and sort things out. anne Movement’s consulta- ence expected/feared that One thing was that in Pat tion in Pattaya in 1980. He left his clear fingerprints on the report that emerged from the San Francisco Study Group in 1979, which we covered in the last issue of the LCJE Bulletin, no. 100.

Encounter with Moishe in Pattaya 1980 Accompanied by members of his young staff, Susan Perlman and Jhan Moskow- itz, Moishe came to Pattaya, Pattaya 1980: In the picture the 18 official participants of the Mini-Consultation on Reaching Jewish People - together with two spouses. 7 taya we produced a booklet this. wife Kirsten and I would stay about Jewish evangelism. A The paragraph reads: overnight in Susan Perlman’s different and more impor- “It is sometimes held that home. tant thing was that we were in virtue of God’s covenant setting up a new network, with Abraham, Jewish people which was to become the do not need to acknowledge Lausanne Consultation on Jesus as their Messiah. We Jewish Evangelism (LCJE). affirm that they need him as The participants in other much as anyone else, that mini-consultations may have it would be a form of anti- had the same intentions, but Semitism, as well as being as far as I can see, LCJE is disloyal to Christ, to depart one of the few – perhaps the from the New Testament only – network to emerge pattern of taking the gospel from Pattaya 1980 which is to ‘the Jew first . . .’ We Moishe & Kirsten in still functioning thirty years therefore reject the thesis San Francisco 1992 later. that Jews have their own covenant which renders faith We were met in the airport LCJE: Close to Moishe’s in Jesus unnecessary.” by Moishe. I was rather heart surprised. Who was I? But I LCJE was close to Moishe’s The first time I partici- was appreciative that a boss heart; there are may exam- pated in a North American of his caliber took time to do ples of that. Over the years LCJE conference was in 1990 something like that, which Jews for Jesus has made a in St. Louis, and Moishe put again showed that LCJE had considerable financial con- me, the international coordi- a special place in his heart. tribution to LCJE’s economy. nator, to the test in his own The car in which he picked He gave his staff time off to rather surprising way. us up had a license plate help develop LCJE; at first When I came into the lob- saying Y’shua. Such a name especially Susan Perlman, by, he was conversing with obliges, of course! Later on who besides being LCJE’s some participants. When he we had a van at our dispos- “associate coordinator” also saw me, he began to criti- al; it was to be driven to Los produced the first LCJE Di- cize, in no uncertain terms, Angeles – a gift from Jews rectories in the 1980s. some financial dispositions for Jesus to a small Jewish In 1989 Moishe participat- made by LCJE before my mission society there. Apart ed in Lausanne II, in Manila, time. In retrospect I know from seeing the West Coast, the Philippines. In this Bul- that I learned something we spent a couple of days letin there is a reprint of his about money and account- being considered Jews for contribution “Evangelising ability, for which I am grate- Jesus people, since the van the Jews – An Overview,” ful. It also needs to be said bore the name of the orga- which was delivered as part that although Jews for Jesus nization. Nothing but friendly of the Jewish evangelism over the years has been the waving, no contempt and no track at Lausanne II. Out biggest financial contribu- spitting. of this conference came the tor to LCJE’s economy, as Manila Manifesto. It was not international coordinator I Moishe’s unignorable without discussion with the have never felt that this fact presence. organizers that we had an made Moishe expect special Moishe was an eager partici- important paragraph about treatment. pant in the North American Jewish evangelism included. The first time I came LCJE meetings. People lis- With a few others from the to San Francisco as LCJE tened intently, but I some- Jewish evangelism group, coordinator was in 1992. It times had the feeling he was Moishe had a big share in had been arranged that my annoyed that he was 8 small group of seven in- was a towering figure. dividuals related to LCJE Moishe turned up at the produced the document conferences. The North “Jewish Evangelism: A Call American LCJE conferences to the Church.” But what began in 1984; he only use is a document if it is not missed a few, and that be- distributed and read? So at cause of illness. Perhaps this not challenged for his often the North American meeting is what has made the deep- provoking statements. This in San Francisco in 2005 I est impression on me when was the kind of “respect” he tried to promote an advance I think of him and LCJE. Not could easily forgo. Some- sale of the document. I was only did members of his staff times his contributions were relatively successful and had come to the LCJE conferenc- also too long. I remember a “sold” almost 2,000 copies es, he himself came – even conversation with him over when Moishe got up and said after he stepped down as breakfast sometime in the that he did not believe in director of Jews for Jesus ’90s. He began by telling me the use of such documents – in 1996. He wanted LCJE to that he had talked too much and then on paper! I replied be the place where mission and too long during the that the participants that leaders at the highest level previous day’s debate, and very morning had visited in their respective organiza- that the moderator should Jews for Jesus’ publications tions met. have stopped him! What department where, over the The last LCJE meeting in self-knowledge! years, tons of broadsides North America that Moishe One of items at the busi- – a kind of document – had participated in was in Phoe- ness meetings at the North been produced. And that nix, 2009. But he made his American meetings was, es- he himself had helped draw voice heard through the pecially through the ’90s, the up documents about Jewish paper “Deadly Competition question of where to hold evangelism. Whatever the in Christian Ministries to the the next year’s LCJE meet- reason, the advance sale Jews and Its Shadow on the ing. This caused a very lively stopped; but perhaps the Future,” which was read at debate, not least thanks to time for the session was up? the LCJE CEO conference in Moishe. For a European like France, June 2009, and the me it was quite surreal that Moishe was there conference in Atlanta, March such matters were decided This is not the place to 2010 (published in LCJE Bul- in that way, but I have to give a detailed evaluation letin no. 100). admit it was highly enter- of Moishe’s importance for The person that has some- taining. I wonder if anyone Jewish evangelism in the thing at heart, which Moishe but Moishe could suggest a 20th century. There is plenty had, does not fail what he casino hotel in Las Vegas as of material to work with. He loves. So big was the venue for the following year’s LCJE meeting. When he first made the suggestion, it was turned down. But he insisted. In 1995 the meet- ing was held at a good hotel in Las Vegas – we were spiri- tually enriched, and some of us a few bucks poorer. I have to say that Moishe could also be annoying. At the Lausanne Movement’s Forum 2004 in Pattaya, a Moishe at his last North America LCJE conference in Phoenix 2009. 9 Moishe’s love for LCJE that a “The Fact of Failure” was LCJE would have been couple of months before the read out – and is printed in poorer without Moishe. I for international LCJE confer- this Bulletin. one have been enriched by ence in Hungary in 2007, he It ends with the words: him. No one is perfect. Per- reprimanded me for not hav- ‘Robert Kennedy once fection belongs to the world ing invited him as a speaker. said: to come. Moishe knew that, His health condition was ‘Only those who dare to which a first – or second such that we in the program fail greatly, ever achieve – reading of his paper clearly committee had deemed it greatly.’” shows. irresponsible to invite him. It does not require sophis- All honor to Moishe’s For health reasons he was ticated exegesis to see that memory. also unable to participate in Moishe includes himself in the international conference this. Kai Kjær-Hansen in Finland, 2003. His paper [email protected]

This paper was delivered as part of the Jewish Evangelism track at Lausanne II in Manila, 1989

Evangelising the Jews - An Overview By Moishe Rosen, Founder of Jews for Jesus

God’s Formula for World kinds of people who are I believe that the principle Evangelisation most likely to be the object of the church bringing the This is probably going to be of our evangelistic efforts: gospel to the Jew first is the dullest of all papers! I firstly, those who are already even more important than am not going to speak about within the framework of a the souls of the thirteen and the overview of the work Christianised society, who a half million Jewish people which is being done. I think are near and dear to us; and in the world today. For this that others are going to do secondly, those who are in principle is the very soul of that – and that is where the remote primitive areas, who the church; and the church exciting things are happen- fit best the traditional image puts its own soul in jeopardy ing, where people are reach- of people who need mission- when it finds a “better” way ing people, souls reaching aries. to do something, rather than souls. But I want to speak following God’s appointed in terms of the significance To the Jew First . . . way. of Jewish evangelism to the But God’s formula is to church. bring the gospel to the Jew The Power of God God has a formula for first. Paul tells the church at Paul speaks of the gospel as world evangelisation. That large: “I am not ashamed of the power of God. When we formula, if followed, will the gospel for it is the power talk about power, we might have the gospel going forth of God unto salvation to compare it to something like in power; and there will not all who believe, to the Jew gunpowder. The ingredients be a segment of any society first and also to the Greek” of gunpowder are nitrates which remains unaffected. (Romans 1:16). and sulphur separated by The formula has to do not so I wish it were a Gentile carbon. When ignited by much with the ingredients as bringing this message, a spark, an explosion is with the sequence in which because it will sound as caused. To employ this they are added. though I’m speaking on be- chemical metaphor for a mo- At present, there are two half of my own people. But ment, the church 10 bringing the gospel to the Jewish people results in an explosion. It is not an explo- sion which is destructive to either, but it is an explosion which moves mountains, a loud explosion which can be heard far and wide. But the problem is that the church doesn’t like explosions. They are too loud. They unleash too much power. Power can be dangerous. But the anal- ogy of an explosion is good when one thinks in terms that do not necessarily spell destruction. James Ken- From the left: Kai Kjær-Hansen, Ole Christian Kvarme nedy launched a powerful and Moishe Rosen in Manila, 1989. programme which has been widely used in different parts No “Hidden People” to Christ have already eas- of the world called “Evange- At Lausanne II you’ll hear ily come – and in turn they lism Explosion.” people discussing “un- are preaching to their own Now I don’t know whether reached” peoples and “hid- “brethren after the flesh” in anyone would inquire of den peoples.” But the Jews Africa, South America, Asia, either the nitrates or the sul- are neither unreached nor and throughout the world. phur if they would consider hidden. They are reached, But with hindsight, we the idea of exploding! I do but not touched. They are can see that the church has know that in its encounter not hidden, because there’s made a mistake. We looked with the church, the Jewish hardly been a people since for easily reportable, highly community does not want the time of Abraham whose visible victories instead of that kind of catalytic interac- comings and goings have digging in and doing the tion. But is that any reason been so carefully observed toughest part of evangelism. why the church should shrink by outsiders. The Jewish Thus the spiritual muscles from that kind of interaction people are not hidden but of the church have grown with the Jewish community? they are hiding – hiding their flabby. We grabbed all the The basic misperception hearts. easy victories and now won- which underlies today’s dia- As we enter the last de- der why we are unable to logue between the two com- cade of the second millen- win any more. munities is that both parties nium of the Christian era, have common interests. But we must face a simple and Strategising for Victory the interests of the Jewish obvious fact. I wish I could Those who are competent in community bear no relation say this to everybody at project analysis tell us that to the imperatives of the Lausanne. That is that the the correct way to proceed great commission. One can church has had all of its easy is to use the initial energy to talk of a Judaeo-Christian victories! The missionaries get the toughest accessible heritage, but that is nothing have won almost all of the part of the task done at the more than a public relations easily winnable people! Most beginning. When we start ploy! of those people groups who with the easy part of a job were going to come easily and then move on to

11 the difficult part, we have a – which has been altogether But even if a Jew marries tendency to quit because our too self-congratulatory about a Gentile and does not live progress becomes slower. achievements long before near a Jewish community, Slower progress seems to the task was even underway. he or she is not as open as indicate failure. Hence, we Reports of progress usually a Moslem in the same life think that the work is send- bring accolades for the mes- circumstances. The Jewish ing us failure signals when senger who brings the good people as a whole have been it is only signalling that it news. more exposed to Christianity needs more effort. Back in 1954, the Baptist than any other people but Now please don’t misun- Church had a slogan, “A remain unimpressed with derstand me when I talk million more in ’54.” What the message. To this day, about a pattern for world happened when we didn’t the Jews continue to be a evangelisation. I’m not talk- get the extra million? We gospel-resistant people. ing about shortcuts to easy quietly forgot the slogan. To- Just as the apostles victories. Just as there is no day, some are talking about started by taking the gospel easy path to sanctification, fulfilling the great commis- to the Jews first, if we plan a so there is no easy way to sion by the year 2000. These strategy which will reach the world evangelisation. We people take new Christians Jewish people, then we have must recognize that the and crush them under their a strategy which can reach task of evangelism consists false expectations. We know anyone! essentially of bearing the that such slogans shouldn’t cross. The higher we lift that be taken seriously: but new The “Devilish Camel of cross, the more we have to believers, who are full of zeal Universalism” exert ourselves and pay the to win the world for Christ, Where the proper formula price in energy. And who end up defeated because of world evangelisation is likes the shame, the re- they were set impossible followed, the Body of the proach? goals. Nothing is going to Messiah consolidates its Sometimes people tell me get done easily. strength; but when it takes they are doing a good job supposed shortcuts, it builds because their local rabbi A Gospel-Resistant weaknesses into the struc- seems to like them. But if People ture. I feel that where the that rabbi knew who they At the time of the early church has a wrong view were, it would be his duty church, the Jews were prob- of its relationship with the to withstand them. I ask ably the most gospel-resis- Jews, it has made itself myself, is this a stupid rabbi tant people. I would say that vulnerable even in the area or a stupid missionary? And I is still true today. The fierce of doctrine. A weak view of say, “Did you tell him about resistance of the Moslems the role of the Jewish people Jesus yet?” has been noted, but this leads to a weak theology. A How one starts a task resistance is found only low view of Jewish evange- shapes the worker as much among those Moslems living lism leads to a defective mis- as the work. Beginning with the Moslem community. The siology. Carried to its logical the difficult section of the intermarried Moslem is a conclusion, the reluctance work sets a flow and an en- prime candidate for conver- to evangelise Jews leads to ergy pace and prepares one sion. The Moslem student is universalism. for the resistance one might usually more open than the What I might describe as encounter. Starting with the Jewish student. A Moslem the “devilish camel of uni- difficult part gives reason- no longer dependent on the versalism” is trying to sneak able expectations of prog- Moslem community tends to into the camp of the church ress. Reasonable expecta- be open – as in the case of and it has poked its nose tions of progress have been the Turkish immigrant work- into the Jewish tent first. lacking in the western church ers in Germany, for example. The camel that I have 12 in mind is a two-humped Doing the Right Thing By comparison to the Jew- camel, each hump suppos- Up until now, when the ish community, evangelical edly containing a different church has endeavoured Christian communities are covenant. The two-covenant to evangelise the hidden culturally impoverished. The heresy is being pushed peoples, the unreached or church can’t give medical aid under the church’s door by the unchurched peoples, it to the Jewish people! The the rabbis, who are eager to has dealt for the most part church can’t feed hungry prove that the evangelisation with those whose cultures Jews. There are poor Jews, of the Jewish people should seemed inferior. All too but we take care of our own. stop. Let the Jewish people often, instead of bearing the So there is but one thing to follow the law, they say. But message of the Messiah, be given to the Jews. That is where is the temple? Where missionaries came bearing a knowledge of the person are the sacrifices? The law the benefits of a westernised of Christ. doesn’t call for sincerity society. What should have alone. Those who hold to the been ancillary services, such Is Jesus Enough? Koran kill people because as the provision of educa- Then the church must con- they are sincere. The Ayatol- tion, medicine, agriculture, front itself with a question. lah was perfectly sincere and so forth, were used as Is Jesus enough? when he issued a death door-openers in the hopes The importance of Jewish warrant for Salman Rushdie. that the gospel would get evangelism goes far beyond Sincerity is not enough. through. The results were the spiritual needs of the At Willowbank last April, disastrous. I am not speak- Jewish people. There was a fifteen theologians gathered ing against providing medical time when the church came together from all parts of the care, or feeding the hungry; to a crossroads in terms of globe under the sponsor- but I am speaking against its procedures. One sign ship of the World Evangeli- putting the secondary first. pointed to the easy way, the cal Fellowship to rebuff the I’m speaking against doing other to the “right” way. The two-covenant theory and to the good thing rather than easy way went downhill and reassert that Christ is the the right thing. was smooth. The right path only way of salvation. Nev- And what happens when offered obstacles and was a ertheless, there are people the church faces the Jew- climb. But when the church at this conference who will ish community? These reached the fork in the road, question whether or not the door-opening goodies just there was no decision neces- Jewish people need Christ in don’t work. For the Jewish sary. For it had already been order to be saved; and not community already has a determined that the short- many will accept that there superior social structure. In est, easiest path to evange- is cause to give priority to any country where the Jews lism was the right one. bringing the gospel “. . . to live as a minority (with the Now we must begin the Jew first” as a continuing exception of Moslem coun- backtracking – past the point process. tries), the Jews represent a at which we coasted on to By not following God’s much higher percentage of the easy way. In turning programme for worldwide physicians, educators, and around, the way back to the evangelisation – that is, artists than the rest of the right way will continue to be beginning with Jerusalem population. They tend to uphill. But God helps us and – we not only develop a bad be disproportionate in their strengthens us to go uphill. theology because of weak influence, prominent as opin- That is the right way. foundations, but we also ion leaders. develop poor missiological Moishe Rosen practices.

13 At the Seventh International LCJE Conference in Helsinki, Finland, 2003, Moishe Rosen had planned to give a paper “The Fact of Failure”. Because of physical infirmity he had to cancel his participation. At the conference LCJE’s president, Tuvya Zaretsky, read out the paper. Moishe Rosen’s paper from 2003 is both challenging and self-critical and still worth considering.

The Fact of Failure By Moishe Rosen

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Mat 6:14,15).

Looking at the assigned text the times when we comfort- Missionary Davidson is found —“Forgive us our sin as we ed ourselves with the beliefs on the beach having slit his forgive those who sin against of manifest destiny. own throat. us,” I like the translation Like many upright, up- To someone of his moral that uses the word “tres- tight people he fears moral standard he has failed. And pass.” Perhaps it is a flaw in contamination coming from in one version of the story my personal theology, but I others. He is particularly in he rapes her, in another ver- think that we can really sin conflict with Sadie Thomp- sion he seduces her. How- against God. And even if we son, a local prostitute. He ever whatever the version, wrong our fellow man it is fears that she will con- Somerset Maugham’s had in still a sin against God. taminate the military forces. mind to paint Davidson as a Think of the world’s notion Davidson, like a good mis- missionary failure. He used of the sins of missionaries: sionary, confronts her to do his influence to do the das- When we consider mission- battle with her sin. tardly thing he condemned ary failures we are more He uses his influence with with his preaching. likely to think of characters the authorities to have her Now, that is the way that like Reverend Alfred David- confined to her room and the world views missionary son in Somerset Maugham’s threatens her with depor- failures. And undoubtedly, play and novel called Rain. tation back to San Fran- sometimes we give in to Reverend Mr. Davidson is cisco. (There are underworld gross sin. However, most a stereotype of a missionary. figures from whom she of our failures are not that On the island of Pago Pago fled that threaten her life). way, and I would like to talk he has won many “natives” Davidson demands that she about the almost invisible to Christianity as well as repent. She flaunts herself, missionary failures. winning some of the soldiers mocks him and yet strangely Perhaps for the contem- that are stationed there. He listens and comes around to porary missionary it would is the picture of the upright seeing herself as a sinner in be better to pray—forgive yet uptight minister. He has need of God’s grace. us our failures as we for- great influence with all who In Sadie’s repentance give those who fail in their admire his uprightness and she is as pure as snow and duty toward us. I think that respect the good works he as sweet as fresh rain, her one of the problems in our has done. He is the very im- newness of life makes her profession of bringing the age of missionary success in completely innocent again. gospel to the Jewish people Yet it does not work out. is that we are loathe to 14 In the company of Moishe at the Fourth International LCJE Conference, Zeist, Holland, 1991. recognize and admit our I let myself be fooled for ness and achievements and failures. years believing that there do many other things to were tens of thousands of avoid facing our failures. Fooling Ourselves About Russian Jews who came Some ministries are careful Achievement to faith in Y’shua. I have to have goals so large that I read many of the mission- no less rejoicing that it is nobody expects them to ary magazines and I hear only a couple of thousand. meet those goals and that is glowing reports and witness- Nevertheless many who their way to avoid admitting ing encounters that thrill my were reported as coming failure. When one is commit- soul. David Barrett in the to Christ just didn’t make it ted to reaching all the Jews World Christian Encyclopedia and are not even on the way of Paris the task is so daunt- tells us there are 300.000 to being saved. Most of the ing that no one would expect Messianic Jews and I want reports of Russian Jews be- success. to stand up and cheer. We ing saved were exaggerated On the other hand there seem to have great reason and tragically, some were are those who will announce to be encouraged. entirely false. Just knowing no goals and then whatever But when I go about about the exaggeration and is accomplished can be con- seeking those Jews who that it is accepted as being sidered a success. For some, have come to faith in Christ; true by my colleagues in the best way to avoid failure when I look for them I don’t Jewish missions makes me is to not attempt anything find them and I’m sure the feel like a failure by belong- that could result in failure. reason I don’t find them is ing to a profession that need It would be improper because they are not there. these exaggerations. I am for us as missionaries to At least not in the huge ashamed of us. set up a plan which has a numbers we are given. I feel goal of a certain number of like a party pooper or like I Failure and Goals people to be saved through am making rain on the Mes- Ministers and ministries find an outreach ministry. God sianic Parade. I want them it most difficult to admit is has already decided on that to be there, I want the glow- that we failed. We will seize number and how he will use ing stories to be true. I need on the most remote possibil- us to reach those who are to to believe that the cause to ity to avoid having to make be included in the remnant. 1 which I have devoted my life the admission that we failed. Nevertheless, it is impor- is worthwhile. We overstate our effective- tant for us to have goals of 15 intent and extent if we are A radio or television pro- religious leaders of his time to gauge what we are truly gram over a station or net- “whited sepulchers and accomplishing. These goals work directed to Evangelical vipers”. Some might have must be based on what is Christians is not Evangelism. thought he went off the realistically possible. Those It is not the same as going deep end when he was not goals tell us how to proceed face to face with unbeliev- received after the “triumphal and train us to use our ef- ers. entry” and he entered the forts to achieve what is pos- Leading tours to Israel temple to deal violently with sible. Those goals also need is not the same as going the money changers and tell us not only whether or to Israel to tell the Jews of sheep sellers. As a celebrity, not we have failed but need Israel about Y’shua. If such he was on a downward path to show what needed to be tours are done as an adjunct so far as popularity was done differently. to the ministry of telling concerned. Because the nature of Jews about the savior it is But he was not a failure the church is to extend certainly valid. But it cannot because people failed to see grace, and because so little be an “instead of”. who he was and what was is expected in the field of Telling Jews about Jesus is being offered. His way of Jewish Evangelism, we don’t tough, even the most tactful dealing with rejection was demand or direct enough people might set off an emo- not to accommodate himself efforts from ourselves. We tionally explosive reaction. to what the people could know that our fellow Chris- It is not just Jewish People regard as being a politically tians want to think well of who dislike Jewish Evange- wise ruler. He was true to us. They overlook the fact lism. Modern Commentary himself and to his principles that we exaggerate. They at- says that it is wrong to try to but most of all he was true tribute nobility to us whether convert anyone. to Calvary which was to be or not our attitudes and ac- To be ignored and have his Coronation and Victory. tions are all that noble. We our message rejected might can count on that grace and seem like a dreadful failure Fellowship of Failure perhaps presume on it. but on the other hand if There is something that is Another way to fail which Calvary enabled the resur- generally true about profes- will usually not be noticed is rection then being rejected sional associations, which is to attempt to do a “ministry” might be the key to success. this: we either accuse each which is easier and less than other—that is to say we what God has called us to or Jesus and Failure announce the wrong do- less than what our organiza- Jesus was a failure as the ing and the error of those tions are chartered to do. world sees things. Thou- who share our callings, or For example if we have led sands came to hear him we excuse each other and our friends and supporters and were enthralled with reinforce the rationalizations to believe that we are doing his message but at the end for our failures. But we come Jewish Evangelism and have only dozens remained and to something like the Laus- no schedule which brings us that included his mother and anne Consultation on Jewish into encounters with Jews siblings. His meteoric rise to Evangelism to be with others who need Christ, we might popularity began when he like us. If there is anywhere look like we are successful was thirty and he was a “has that we can find people who but we have actually failed. been” three years later. The know our problems and Teaching the church about triumphal entry might be yearnings it should be here. her Jewish roots and show- seen as his comeback trail. We need to be here to speak ing Christ in the Passover He was a gifted communi- frankly to one another and might be worthwhile but cator and one can imagine encourage each other to they are only tangentially re- that he was thought to lose good works. I will not insult lated to Jewish Evangelism. his cool when he called the you by saying the things that 16 Veterans from Pattaya 1980 at the Sixth International LCJE Conference, New York, 1999. From the left: Erwin J. Kolb, Ole Christian Kvarme, Susan Perlman, Jhan Moskowitz, Moishe Rosen, Haya and Menahem Benhayim, Kai Kjær-Hansen and Louis Goldberg. I frequently say to church have that. Other years you ing the number of tracts we people when I am looking to have less and some years distributed, numbers of visits recruit involvement. I need you have more. Emmanuel we made, numbers of people to be with people who un- Gittell was the only one who that came to our events and derstand the angst and the gave me a number, a single classes. love-hate relationship I have digit. He said of himself, “If But you know what? Even with my burden and calling. I can win one solid convert at that it was possible to One of my earliest prob- a year I feel that I am on compromise our goals. We lems of the ministry was to track.” could hand out the best find reasonable expectations. Now I do not know if you literature in a lackluster way Success in Jewish Evange- think one convert a year is to which people did not re- lism has always been an a lot or little, but the num- spond. If our visitation goals elusive and poorly defined ber is irrelevant. However, were low, we could go see target. How could I know it meant a lot to me that people who would welcome when I might hit the mark Emanuel Gittell gave me a any visitor because they when I didn’t know what the number. A number is some- were so lonely. You can’t mark looked like, how far thing I can do or at least try have goals for integrity or away it was, and in what di- to do; it is something I can enthusiasm! rection I should be pointed. aim at. When it came to our One of the hardest things One of the things that events, well, any Ingather- for me was to develop realis- made Jews for Jesus dif- ing, Camp, or Bible Study tic expectations in the work. ferent was that we set up could be filled out with Gen- Back in 1957 when I first goals. We could not decide tile helpers in the ministry. became a missionary, one on a number for converts But, hey, we weren’t the thing that was extremely dif- because that was entirely only ones doing this: At the ficult for me was to develop up to the Holy Spirit. Nev- training for Billy Graham reasonable expectations for ertheless, we knew that Crusades weren’t we taught work. contacts came when we that when the invitation I was serving with the handed out tracts, and if we was given, the counselors American Board of Missions were teaching the gospel in and advisors should move to the Jews and I asked love, people would attend forward first. If you were around about some figures our bible studies and wel- an Advisor or Counselor, did and the figures that they come our teaching in their you ever have the experi- gave me were nil. I was told homes. From those contacts ence I did which is when you that some years you have there would be converts. get down to the front almost this and some years you We could set goals regard- everybody there had 17 on a counselor’s badge or an mit that we are failures, that Is there any commentary advisor’s badge like you? Yet our hope is not happening, on the Great Commission those who saw us from the that in fact not very many which tells us we ought to back only saw a great crowd Jews are coming to faith do go into all the world and going forward. It is not that you suppose that God in his promote our ministries and those crusades had number mercy might use our failure raise funds so that we can goals but the goal was get- to bring forth blessing and preach the gospel to the ting crowds going forward to success? lost? I don’t think so. Why receive Christ. not just go and preach and We knew that there were Facing Failure disciple and just count on many more counselors and If one is not ready to face God providing? I am trying advisors going forward than failure they are not ready to to make the point that we people to make decisions but see success. In the early for- often confuse doing the task we did it with some notion of ties, Europe was a conflagra- with gaining the enablement. “priming the pump”. Those tion. Nazis seeking to estab- The horse draws a cart bet- of us who create illusions of lish themselves as the super ter than the cart can push success are the real failures race were determined to the horse. in ministry and that is why enslave or exterminate those Has anyone here ever felt we have such a good fel- regarded as the lesser races. the extreme frustration that lowship. We all know, that They found the Jews to be a comes on me and makes me it isn’t happening the way particularly odious group and want to shout: “Let’s stop that it should but if you don’t they strived for the annihila- talking all around Jewish tell on me, I won’t tell on tion of all Jews from the face Evangelism and just get out you. We excuse one another of the earth. They almost and do it!” I am not accus- and hope that some day, in succeeded. With German ing you of wrongdoing I am some way, we can fulfill our efficiency the genocide was not excusing you because calling and really bring Jews almost complete. The Jewish whatever I might accuse you to Christ. communities of Europe as of, I find myself more guilty Much of what people think well as the northern Mediter- because I feel I have had a about evangelism and mis- ranean countries were left better opportunity. sions is at best inaccurate in ashes. But from those and at worst untrue. But ashes came the beauty of Is- Failure as a Facilitator those of us who are profes- rael. Unless the horrendous If we let God use our fail- sionals in the field have not holocaust motivated Jews ures, He will use them to really attempted to explain only a few idealists from the help us along to successes. clearly and plainly what the diaspora would have chosen In a sense sometime God field is like. Maybe we should to return to our ancestral uses evident inadequacy to be sharing our disappoint- home. Beauty from ashes is gain the greatest victories. ments with our supporters God’s formula for success. A good example of that is as well as our victories. Jay We need to see that the en- found in the case of Gideon’s Johns said: “Failure should deavor of Jewish Evangelism band. We are not told how be our teacher not our un- by Institutions like ours has many Midianites were ar- dertaker”. been a disaster and a waste. rayed against Gideon but I think that if we were Reality causes repentance, God told Gideon that his forthright in telling that we repentance is a return to army was too large. are finding difficulty in stick- righteousness which enables Now if Gideon thought that ing with what God called us a reconnection with God. getting a lot of people with to do that there would be Our connection with God him was a success, God had people who would stand with thus becomes the channel of another idea. God wanted us and help us be stronger. power to accomplish our true to show that He (God) was But if we are willing to ad- tasks for Him. mighty, that He could deliver 18 Israel and He was going to ity. Keep it intimate in the come to talk to them like he do it in such a way that no beginning. Work on a low was recruiting supporters. battle before or since has level and learn well. Learn to been fought. The Midianites, do whatever you will need to The Importance of Godly with their allies the Ama- require of others. Sorrow lekites, were as numerous c. Starting small helps Godly sorrow is something as the locusts. 3 One might you develop leadership and that needs to be appreci- presume that by Gideon experienced personnel. ated. Repentance acts like and his small band arming d. Avoid promotion of your a dredge to dig the sludge themselves with pitchers and ministry or project until you out of a canal. Repentance torches they were set up for have a solid demonstrable always leaves a person failure. But God’s way of vic- sphere of achievement and deeper, more sensitive, and tory is to get a lot done with make your promotion to be a more energized than they a few. big push to do more of what were before. Here are some principles you have already done well. I can say this according to of mission operation that personal experience. While were facilitated by my past 3) Keep the message I was yet a young man failures. I don’t offer these straight. in 1966 I was given a big to demonstrate any great a. The Message is not position. I had been in the wisdom. I don’t know if they about you; it’s about Jesus. outlying area of Los Angeles are wisdom but they are the Don’t accept the elevated and my work was seen as conclusions of the mean- status that people are willing being a success. So the mis- ing of my mission building to give you. sion board with which I was experience. Experience is b. Understand what is be- serving brought me to New what we call the accumula- ing said and how the people York for the biggest failure tion of our mistakes. These understand it. For example you could imagine. are what my mistakes taught the words “mission, mission- I ended up in tension with me, perhaps they will be ary, Christian and Church” those who had been good helpful to you: have a negative emotional friends on staff. My bright valence in the Jewish Com- ideas were dismissed before 1) Find out what you need to munity. You have a choice they were tried. I heard that know before you attempt to of how to proceed when you they were impractical. The do something. know how people think. It outreaches I planned and a. What has been done in this instance you can ei- worked on seemed to fall the past? ther avoid the use of those apart for lack of enthusiasm. b. Who is doing evangelism words by using more ac- The kind of training that now, and if it is being done ceptable synonyms. Or you I was giving the staff was and reasonably well at that, can undertake to help them misunderstood. I was still move on. appreciate what the words highly regarded as a speaker c. What is possible in this really mean. and effective as an evange- field? c. Avoid the use of spe- list. Then I began having self d. What do we need to be cial language and use most doubts. able do it? common terms. Distinguish Through a series of events between the way you talk I came to realize that I was 2) Start out small, do a pilot to the church and the way inadequate, and that if I project. Don’t make big an- you talk to Jewish people. were really going to follow nouncements. One of the biggest frustra- the Lord and do the work His a. If you make your mis- tions of my life was to gather way, I would have to make takes at the small stage they2 together a group of Jewish myself more visible than was are less costly. people who needed the gos- comfortable for me. Not only b. Avoid the arena mental- pel and then have a speaker that, I had to become more 19 available, but most of all life, I prayed with a mission- the way forward out of the more vulnerable. ary sister whose prayer was trench of failure is for us Why I had failed so badly “Lord let me do anything what it was to Y’shua—the was because I was told by well, but I need to know that Cross. We are each called to many that I was successful. I can do something well.” our own Calvary in our walk Sadly, I believed it. I had She had been desperate to with God and our work for become filled with myself in- win people and it led to an- Him. 4 stead of being filled with the guish for her to do anything If accepting rejection is Spirit. And I doubt if many well. the key to success, we need found my arrogance inviting. to remember that while But God used others to The Failure of Trench many were crucified, only confront me and circum- Warfare Mentality one of those crucified rose stances to convict me. I When we face failure we from the dead. We should knew that though my burden know that while it is our not follow the many who was to reach the Jews of nature to fail, failure is not were merely punished and New York and Jews of the inevitable. Every knock can be crucified for the honor of United States, that I could be a boost if we know where it. 5 We need to follow the not do it until I had person- and how to take it. When crucified one who rose from ally changed and that is failure is hurled at us as a the dead and thus nullified what brought me to San missile, maybe we can’t duck the crucifixion. It is how we Francisco. Subsequently this but maybe we can decide accept that rejection by the became the place were the where it will hit us. The world and the newness of Jews for Jesus movement impact will surely cause pain life given by the savior. which then became the but we might use the force Calvary was redemptive Jews for Jesus organization of impact to move us out of and if we can respond to began. the rut that we thought was rejection the way that Jesus Can I honestly say that I a trench. did, our Calvary’s will also am glad that I failed? No, Sometime we jumped be redemptive. There is a because the failure hurt too into the trench so that we holy dissatisfaction that we much. And it still hurts when would not get impacted by must allow ourselves to feel. I think about it. However, I the slings and arrows of life. We need to recognize that am glad to have had the fruit The trouble with the trench we could be more, and do of that failure—the repen- is that by its very nature it more for God if we were only tance. Yet I look out and I is a grave with both ends willing to accept the fact of see my fellow missionaries knocked out. It is a tunnel failure as a beginning point. and evangelists to the Jews that lost its top. In our battle Some of us need to get and I see a people who are that trench we jumped into desperate in order to do the oppressed by the ordinary. is a rut because it goes no right thing. Some of us will Some of our problem is place and thus while it pro- never care enough to be- an attempt to avoid the pain tects us it also keeps us from come desperate to become of confrontation. We seek advancing. No battle was effective missionaries. Some acceptance and sometime ever won by soldiers who of us will never find the our sense of tact clouds the stayed in the trenches. courage to carry our crosses truth. We need the courage to and accept the crucified life. We shrink when Jewish charge ahead at the com- Sometime we need to see people express displeasure mand of our captain and we ourselves as failures so that at us when we tell the mes- need to risk being injured in we can repent and receive sage of the Messiah, but its order to advance. the holy energy that comes alternative is to be ignored from being filled with the and we handle that even The Success of the Cross Spirit. No one can be filled worse. At a down time in her The way of our success and with the Spirit when he or 20 she is filled with themselves. in resurrection power to gain Robert Kennedy once said: We need to become empty the victories God has for us. “Only those who dare to of self and filled with the In short we succeed by fail greatly, ever achieve Spirit. For that we need a failing, we win by losing, and greatly.” personal Calvary of dying to our apparent defeat be- sin, self, the world and rising comes our victory. Moishe Rosen

1 Romans 9: 27, 28 2 Judges 7:2. 3 Judges 7:12 4 Matt 10:38 5 Pardon my sardonic humor. I think of the story told by Abraham Lincoln of a man despised by his neighbors. They decided to ride him out of town on a rail. They tarred and feathered him, sat him upright on a horizontal pole and carried him around as a spectacle to humiliate in the town where he was hooted and jeered by those he lived among. They dumped him outside the town limits and one of his tormentors mockingly said: “How do you like that, huh?” to which the man answered; “To tell the truth, I wouldn’t have liked it at all except for the honor of it.” Second Borough Park Symposium “The Deity of Yeshua and the Mystery of God” By David Sedaca, LCJE Coordinator for Latin America Three years ago, a small Israel. The question put for- group of Messianic Jewish ward wasn’t whether Yeshua leaders met to consider the is the Messiah, or questions of need to have a forum where his deity, but how we un- issues relevant to Messianic derstand it from a Messianic Judaism could be discussed. Jewish perspective, and, most This need was felt because importantly, how do we com- the growth of Messianic Juda- municate Yeshua’s messiah- ism had brought up theologi- ship and deity to the larger cal and doctrinal issues that Jewish community. needed to be openly discussed This topic revealed a great from a Messianic Jewish deal of general agreement perspective. Thus a steering among the participants, at committee was formed and it David Sedaca least concerning the core was the agreed that the first ing committee – Mitch Glaser, doctrine. The objective was topic that needed discussion Russ Resnick, David Sedaca, not dialogue over the theology was “Salvation and the Jewish Jason Sobel, Barry Rubin, Da- of this mystery itself, as much People.” This first Borough vid Rosenberg, Akiva Cohen, as about how we discuss, Park Symposium, named after Darrell Bock, and Michael Wolf understand, and communicate the Jewish neighborhood – convened a Second Bor- this mystery as Jews. The that has become the center ough Park Symposium. The format was highly dialogical, of world Jewish Orthodoxy topic chosen was “The Deity that is, it was the intent to and, coincidently, where this of Yeshua and the Mystery of honor diversity of expression organizing committee met, God.” Messianic Jewish theolo- to get to unity of theology. A was a tremendous success. gians and leaders representing goal here was not to move too Afterwards, the almost 100 different perspectives were quickly to resolution but first participants agreed that an- invited to New York City April to understand (1) if we really other symposium was needed. 12–14 for this event. The differ; and (2) if so, why. The symposium was by invitation key here was not only what Understanding and Com- only, and those who attended we believe but why and what munication represented different currents motivates that belief, as well Responding to this request, within Messianic Judaism in as having a sense of corporate the members of the organiz- the U.S., Canada, Europe, and responsibility to each other 21 and to others who embrace faith in Yeshua. It was the hope that the surfacing of these concerns would help Messianic Jews to understand each other and/or craft a deeper understanding of the teaching and each other. Par- ticipants gave room to differ because the Bible gives some room to differ in understand- ing this mystery and in how to articulate this teaching, Session at the Second Borough Park Symposium and it is through respectfully exploring these differences line between Judaism and the monotheistic understanding that it is possible to arrive at a Church. On this point neither of God among first century deeper understanding of truth. can afford to compromise.” Jews? How were the early dis- This does not mean that the Mark Kinzer opened the first ciples able to respond to this organizers were not interested section, dealing with subject issue? How do the historical in biblical limits, but it was rec- of “The Significance of the interpretations of the deity of ognized that some variety of Deity of Yeshua,” and he Yeshua that divide Christians expression may well be within said that “. . . for most who and Jews be resolved today as biblical limits. identify themselves as Chris- we try to present Yeshua to a tians the results of the early modern generation of Juda- The Significance of the De- church councils define the ism? ity of Yeshua substance of their faith, on Rich Robinson and Barry The deliberations were in the the other hand, the denial of Leventhal responded to these form of papers presented, fol- such affirmation has been the questions, and in Robinson’s lowed by responses and then central point of all forms of paper he says “. . . let me discussion from the floor. Due Judaism.” Mitch Glaser added speak about a few trends in to the nature of this report it in his paper on the same Judaism past and present that would be impossible to give a subject that “. . . the issues make the ideas of deity/Tri- full description of every paper that we face are multilay- unity/incarnation less foreign presented, but a few quotes ered and deeply personal, as than they may appear to be at from some of them will suffice the way we understand and first sight. They may even find to describe the depth and express our understanding of a place in our apologetic in nature of the symposium. the deity of Yeshua and the days to come.” The question is not new, as mystery of God is critical to Darrell Bock, Jeff Feinberg, Richard Harvey reminded us our own relationship with Ye- and Seth Postell treated in his paper; 50 years ago shua.” Jen Rosener and Jason the issue of “The Cannon Jacob Jocz, leader in the Sobel, representing a younger of Scripture and the De- Hebrew-Christian movement, generation of Messianic Jew- ity of Yeshua,” and Dr. Bock forerunner of the present day ish theologians, closed this discussed the question “Is it Messianic Jewish movement, first session with two brilliant ‘Kosher’ to Substitute Jesus said, “At the centre of the papers. into God’s Place?” by analyz- controversy between Church ing various biblical passages. and Synagogue stands the Jewish History and the De- Jeff Feinberg and Seth Postell Christological question. This is ity of Yeshua added their response papers not a question whether Jesus The next session dealt with on the subject of the deity of is the Messiah, but whether the subject “Jewish History Yeshua in Scripture in a highly the Christian understanding and the Deity of Yeshua.” academic yet comprehensible of the Messiah is admissible Elliot Klayman raised the manner. in view of the Jewish concept following questions as a way of God. Here lies the dividing to respond: What was the 22 Jewish Tradition and the shipped, how do we witness municating the deity of Yesh- Deity of Yeshua to our people that we have ua to our postmodern Jewish Perhaps one of the most con- not abandoned the central community. God can and does troversial and thought provok- tenet of Judaism, the oneness, use, as he sees fit, any and ing sessions was introduced uniqueness and indivisibility of every means at his disposal to by Joseph Shulam, from God?” reveal Yeshua to the sincere Jerusalem, followed by Stuart Daniel Nessim, also from and seeking heart.” Dauermann and Mike Brown: the UK, asked, “Are we bound Jhan Moskowitz ended his “Jewish Tradition and the De- to the creeds [of the church]? complementary paper on this ity of Yeshua.” While Shulam Kinzer correctly pointed to the subject saying, “In the last advocates for a totally Mes- deity of Yeshua as an issue analysis, communicating the sianic Jewish interpretation of that defines a boundary of the deity of Messiah to postmod- the deity of Yeshua, divorced Christian church . . . I think ern Jewish people is going to from Christian tradition, that this is correct , but I also be imbedded in the commu- both Dauermann and Brown think we must develop a way nication of the whole of our advocate for a more moderate of living with understanding story and redeemed lives. The platform that, although highly with Jewish people who con- truth of the gospel and the nurtured in Jewish tradi- fess Yeshua as the Messiah person of Jesus has passed tions, does not necessitate a but have controversial or even through many periods of time total separation from church negative views concerning and impacted our people in doctrine. his deity. The boundary is each age. His Spirit will not One evening session was certainly one that demarcates fail to make inroads into this totally dedicated to worship correct doctrine, but should current age.” and praise. This event was not prevent us from remaining Mark Surrey, Scott Nassau, opened by David Sedaca, the in dialogue or even fellowship and Ruth Fleischer responded organizing committee coordi- with ‘heretical’ Jewish believ- eloquently to the challenges nator, who gave a history of ers. To disallow this would presented in this last topic. the genesis of the symposium keep us from the very task we This last session ended with and who introduced the main are about – communicating four panelists, Joel Liberman, event of the night, a concert the deity of Yeshua among the Matt Rosenberg, and Gregg by renowned Messianic Jewish Jewish people.” Zhelezny, leading a discussion singer and songwriter Marty on “The Future of the Messi- Goetz. At the end of the con- Communicating the Deity anic Movement and the Deity cert, Michael Wolf brought an of Yeshua to the Postmod- of Yeshua.” inspiring devotional, followed ern Jewish Community The depth of the discus- by additional songs by Goetz. The final session addressed sion and the passion with Closing the evening was a the issue of “Communicating which different opinions were time of prayer and worship, the Deity of Yeshua to the expressed demonstrated the which highlighted the unity Postmodern Jewish Commu- level of maturity that the mod- in spirit experienced at this nity.” ern Messianic Jewish move- symposium. Akiva Cohen introduced ment has achieved. Again, as some writings from post- people filled out a question- Communicating the Deity modern Jewish theologians, naire evaluating this sympo- of Yeshua to the Jewish quoting from Daniel Breslauer, sium, there was unanimous People Martin Buber, Mordechai consensus on the value of this On the last day, the first Kaplan, and Stephen Kepnes. event, which, as a side effect, subject for discussion was These postmodern Jewish is bringing together Messianic “Communicating the Deity of theologians advocate for Juda- Jewish leaders from around Yeshua to the Jewish People.” ism to move beyond religion. the world in bonds of theo- The first paper was present- After giving some practical logical discussion, service, and ed by Richard Harvey from the guidelines, Cohen finished by renewed fellowship. United Kingdom, who said that saying, “I truly do not think “. . . if we worship Yeshua as that there are any formulae David Sedaca only God deserves to be wor- that we can employ in com- [email protected] 23 Paper delivered at the North American LCJE conference, Atlanta, March 2010. Available with notes at www.LCJE.net

What Is the Missing Component in World Evangelization? The “First” Mission Field (Rom. 1:16) By Amy Karen Downey, Director of Tzedakah Ministries, Waxahachie, Texas As a trembling non-algebraic this presenter first elucidated edition of In Defense of Israel thinker, this presenter was the case at a meeting of the with a revised edition in 2009; terrified at even the thought Evangelical Theological Society however, he only resorted to of the words “College Alge- in 2001. For even in a bastion an “underground” tactic which bra.” However, the professor of evangelical scholarship such advocated the original position stated he would give credit, as an ETS meeting or in evan- he took in 2007. up to the point of an error, gelical churches/seminaries These representative exam- to students who followed all across America, the reality of ples of a trend against Jewish the problem-solving steps. A the “firstness” of Jewish evan- evangelism for the mission- valuable lesson was imparted gelism is often overwhelmed minded “church” are contrary by Mr. Teltschik – never skip a by the cacophony of voices to the scriptural evidence of step in solving the problem for that either decry or suppress “to the Jew first.” James Leo it may make a difference be- the need for Jewish evange- Garrett Jr. noted the primary tween an A and a C. However, lism. In The God of Israel and role of Jewish evangelism for many missionary endeavors Christian Theology, R. Kendall Paul, the missionary to the and agencies are “skipping” Soulen effectively negated the Gentiles, who went first to his the decisive component, the error of supersessionism but own people and only upon X factor in the world evan- fell prey to the ambivalence or after rejection extended gelization equation, found in of dual covenantalism. The the gospel to the non-Jewish Romans 1:16 – “to the Jew pastor of Crescent Hills Baptist population. In fact, Garrett’s first.” in Louisville, Kentucky (once observation is validated by This statement can be af- home to 20th century Jewish the textual clues found in Acts firmed when one considers evangelist Jacob Gartenhaus), 9:20–22; 13:13–52; 14:1–5; that the Jewish people, the remarked to a 1999 forum on 18:7–11; and 19:8–10. Barry ethnic descendants of Jesus, Baptist/Jewish relations, “I Horner in Future Israel takes are listed as an unreached certainly don’t believe that any Garrett’s and others’ argu- people group by various one tradition has an exclu- ments further when he ob- missiological studies. This sive corner on God. I would serves that Paul’s “first” love presentation, therefore, seeks never limit God’s salvation for Israel continued until and to accomplish two goals: first, to those who share my own beyond Paul’s arrival in Rome to remind the mission world of perspective or my own under- (Acts 28:17–22, esp. v. 20). “to the Jew first”; and second, standing.” Controversial but So why is the component of to illustrate that world evan- influential televangelist John “to the Jew first” missing from gelization is not possible if the Hagee preaches to a world- the mission equation of so gospel message is not focused wide audience that Jewish many dedicated and faithful upon the people to whom it people are not in need of Je- mission-minded individuals, was first intended. sus because he never claimed churches, and mission agen- to be their Messiah. Hagee did cies? “To the Jew First” attempt to rectify or pacify, Arthur Glasser considers this The struggle to voice the depending upon your view of question in his brief biogra- preeminent component of “to Hagee’s theology, the contro- phy of Jacob Jocz, where he the Jew first” has existed since versy stirred up by the 2007 wrote, “It is the acid test 24 of the church’s submission tion of their priority continues they were the original recipi- to Christ’s lordship that it with a Lutheran commentary ents of the Word of God; (3) continues in efforts to call the arguing in 1905 that the time priority due to the fact that Jewish people to Jesus Christ.” of Jewish priority has passed Jesus “came first as a Jew to Therefore, the answer for this because of the original rejec- the Jews”; (4) priority given confusion, ambivalence or tion of Messiah Jesus during the fact “that salvation is from disobedience lies in the two- his earthly ministry. Variants the Jews”; (5) priority illus- fold answer of an inadequate of this 1905 position continue trated through the fact that theological understanding across the Christian spectrum Paul preached the gospel first of Romans 1:16 and in the from Karl Barth to Donald in the synagogues; (6) priority growing mindset of “Christian Grey Barnhouse, with little at- “in final judgment and final Utilitarianism.” tention paid to what Roy Har- blessing.” risville sees as understanding Ultimately, the word “first” Inadequate Theological the phrase as “not a matter of itself answers the argument. Understanding of Romans ‘being’ nice to Jews, but of ac- “First” (πρωτον) in the ac- 1:16 knowledging the ‘firstness’ of cusative case has been viewed Franklin Segler in a 1966 book this enigmatic and empirically from a sense of manner, review for the Southwestern undefinable community as [a] reference/respect, or time Journal of Theology perhaps sign of the Godhead of God.” with the view of this presenter stated best the argument for Missiologists have also been being that, even though rare, a Romans 1:16 component to guilty of this “overlook” of the it should be considered as an world evangelization when he Jewish people. Thomas Schir- adverb of respect or reference wrote, “Orthodox Christian- rmacher, albeit a speaker for due to the fact that the usage ity does not believe a Jew is the World Evangelical Alliance, helps one to understand “with lost because he is a Jew but was able in 1993 to write an reference to what the verbal because he rejects God’s fuller entire article entitled “Romans action is represented as true.” revelation in Jesus Christ.” as a Charter for World Mis- The accusative of measure, The X factor component for sions” and never once men- though being the most com- world evangelization clearly tion 1:16 and/or the Jewish mon and recognized under- states “to the Jew first”; people. Schirrmacher even standing of case in regards however, the concept of “first” agreed with Stendahl’s argu- to the “first” in Romans 1:16, has been lost in a myriad of ment that the theme of Ro- does not negate the eternal inaccurate interpretations and mans is how Paul’s outreach truth that “how long” is for all theological inconsistencies as to the Gentile nations fits into time. Regardless, and what- it pertains to the Jewish world. God’s world evangelization ever one’s personal interpreta- F. F. Bruce wrote that plan. Conservative missiologist tion, this accusative adverb Romans 1:16–17 is the focal Enoch Wan falls prey to this should always be defined as point of the gospel because in confusion in the Winter 2010 “in the first place, above all, these verses we find “the righ- edition of Occasional Bulletin especially.” Therefore, “first” teousness of God revealed”; when he uses the innocuous means “first” regardless of the however, Bruce himself is but damaging preposition of comfort level for Christians, guilty, at least in this com- “then” even while acknowl- churches, and mission agen- mentary, of covering the first edging the missionary se- cies. So why is Jewish evan- part of verse 16 but omitting quence of Romans 1:16. gelism so low or even non-ex- the X component of “to the Therefore, the question istent on the priority chain of Jew first.” While omission is needs to be asked, “How most mission organizations? the modus operandi of Bruce exactly should the ‘first’ of in this commentary series, the Romans 1:16 be understood?” Growing Mindset of “Chris- concept of excluding the prior- John Piper preached to his tian Utilitarianism” ity of the Jewish people from congregation at Bethlehem Following a particularly frus- the world evangelization equa- Baptist that the priority of trating day of seeking to bring tion is something that can be “first” should be understood awareness to the urgency of traced back to the earliest of six ways: (1) priority as God’s Jewish missions, this present- church fathers. This nega- chosen ones; (2) priority as er put a name to an attitude 25 she often finds within Ameri- sionaries Z. C. Taylor and W. Jew first” on both a national can Christianity: “Christian B. Bagby with the end result and international level. For Utilitarianism.” The term was being the salvation testimo- example, the Southern Baptist defined as “establishing the nies of untold thousands of Messianic Fellowship strives basis for missions/outreach Brazilians. Today, however, to maintain a voice for Jewish based upon the return of in- aside from two Jews for Jesus missions in the United States vestment involved and not the missionaries and small Mes- and beyond; however, they biblical commands of prior- sianic congregations, there is often struggle in even being ity” with “Jewish evangelism/ no other missionary outreach allowed a booth display during missions often” coming “dead in Brazil to the 150,000 of his the annual convention meet- last in the priority spectrum of own Jewish people. ings. missions/evangelism.” Jacob Jacob Gartenhaus, born Jocz provided the end result into a religiously observant Rediscovering the Miss- of such a Christian Utilitarian- Austrian Jewish family but ing Component in World istic approach that excludes who became a believer in Evangelization or suppresses the Jewish Messiah Jesus at a relatively The 19th century German component of world missions: young age, was educated at theologian Franz Delitzsch “We must, however, remem- Moody Bible Institute and the summarized the importance of ber that if it [the church] has Southern Baptist Theologi- the X factor of Jewish evan- no Gospel for the Jews, it cal Seminary. He became in gelism for world evangeliza- has no Gospel for the world.” the 1920s the first and only tion when he wrote, “For the Jocz wrote those words over Southern Baptist home mis- church to evangelize the world forty years ago, but they are sionary to the Jewish people, without thinking of the Jews, still a component in the world but ultimately was able to is like a bird trying to fly with evangelization equation that is grow the Jewish Department one broken wing.” Delitzsch of at best skipped and at worst to a stable of more than the 19th century and Jewish omitted. twenty missionaries during the missionaries of the 21st centu- Two Southern Baptist mis- 1930s. Gartenhaus served in ry are not calling for the evan- sionary examples – Solomon this position until 1949 when gelization of the Jewish people Ginsburg and Jacob Garten- he left the Home Mission at the expense of the rest of haus – provide credence to Board (HMB) after a period the world. Such an action or Jocz’s argument as well as of controversy regarding the direction is completely con- illustrating the reality that lack of involvement or con- trary to the rest of the mes- world evangelization is fully cern of the Southern Baptist sage of Romans 1:16, “and realized when the “to the Jew Convention in regards to the also to the Greek (Gentile).” first” component is not forgot- destruction of European Jewry However, the completion ten. Solomon Ginsburg was during World War II. After his of the world evangelization born to a Polish Jewish rabbi departure from the HMB, the equation is impossible without in 1867. At fifteen he escaped Jewish Department struggled the Jewish X factor, not only from a pre-arranged marriage to continue and eventually because of the component of to a twelve year girl. He soon became lost in a maze of bu- Romans 1:16 but also because found himself living with rela- reaucracy, “religious correct- of the multi-layered promise tives in England and was ex- ness,” and the fruitless action of Romans 11:11–24. The posed for the first time to the of interfaith dialogues. Today, command to make them [the gospel message of Messiah and aside from a brief period Jewish people] jealous and Jesus through the Mildmay in which Jim Sibley served as the bountiful reward of their Mission to the Jews. Through the sole missionary for the ultimate fulfillment told the a series of God-ordained North American Mission Board Gentile Christians in Rome circumstances, Ginsburg in the late 1990s through the that if they wanted to experi- developed a passion for the mid-portion of the first decade ence the true abundance of salvation necessity of Portu- of the 21st century, the God (esp. 11:11–12), the guese and Brazilian Catholics Southern Baptist Convention component of Romans 1:16 (“and also to the Greek”). He has again returned to a limited must be realized. This undeni- soon began working with mis- missionary practice of “to the able truth is still true today. 26 However, this truth is not sion agencies. It requires an step of the world evangeliza- realized by simply follow- active movement of non-Jew- tion equation is to be guilty of ing a three step process of ish believers and traditional what Joseph Gudel describes loving, praying, and giving Christian churches that sees as “the quintessential form of to Jewish-centered mission a need for a reaffirmation of anti-Semitism.” agencies. The realization of the Pauline words “to the Jew the first component of the first” and a commitment to do Amy Karen Downey world evangelization equation something about the salva- [email protected] is not a passive activity for tion of the Jewish people. churches and non-Jewish mis- Failure to return to the first

Mishkan is a quarterly journal dedicated to biblical and theological thinking on issues related to Jewish evangelism, Messianic-Jewish identity and Jewish-Christian relations. Mishkan is published by Pasche Institute in cooperation with Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies and CJF Ministries. Annual subscriptions available at www.mishkanstore.org.

LCJE Meetings

LCJE South Africa LCJE Australasia 15 October 2010, in Cape Town, 8-11 February 2011, in Toolangi VIC, South Africa Australia Contact Cecilia Burger Contact Bob Mendelsohn [email protected] [email protected]

LCJE North America Lausanne III 1-3 March 2010, in Atlanta, 16-25 October 2010, North America in Cape Town, South Africa 28-30 March 2011, in St. Louis 5-7 March 2012, in San Diego Contact Jim Sibley LCJE Europe [email protected] 15–18/19 November 2010, in Krakow, Poland LCJE International 19 November after lunch: Optional tour to 7-12 August 2011, at High Leigh Confer- Auschwitz and Schindler’s Fabrik and extra ence Centre, Hoddesdon, night in Krakow (18–19 November) Hertfordshire (North of London, UK). Contact Jean-Paul Rempp Contact [email protected] [email protected]

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27 Networking Jewish Evangelism

LCJELausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism

President Tuvya Zaretsky [email protected] International Coordinator Kai Kjær-Hansen [email protected] International Committee Members Ann Hilsden [email protected] Mitch Glaser [email protected]

Area Coordinators AustralAsia Bob Mendelsohn [email protected] Europe Jean-Paul Rempp [email protected] Israel David Zadok [email protected] Japan Teiichiro Kuroda [email protected] Latin America David Sedaca [email protected] North America Jim Sibley [email protected] South Africa Cecilia Burger [email protected]

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ISSN 1016-2089