The Jewish Christians
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April
2015
11
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Executives Realty Ltd.
2907 - 32 St.Vernon, BC V1T 5M2
Ph: 549-2103
Fax: 549-2106
Cell: 309-1521
Enderby: 250-838-6699
Colin Fothergill
,
B.Ed.
Representative
Specializing in both commercial and
residential properties since 1987
It
is
generally
recognized that the
original
group
of
believers in Jesus as the
Messiah, who gathered
in Jerusalem after His
resurrection, were all
Jewish. In fact, most
of the New Testament
writers, including Paul
and at least three of the
gospel writers, were
Jews writing within
the Jewish religious
setting. Even after the
acceptance of Gentiles
into the Christian faith,
there was considerable
diversity
within
Christianity.
There
were Christians who
kept much or all of the
Jewish faith; those who
kept some rules but
dropped others; and
others who believed that
the entire Law had to be
rejected and discarded
by Christians. There
is no question that all
of these groups called
themselves Christians
and accepted more or
less the other groups as
part of the same faith.
In the past, many
scholars believed that
this
tolerance
and
flexibility came to an
end at an early date.
Some have said that,
after the destruction of
the Jerusalem temple in
A.D. 70, Jews were forced
to adopt more uniform
beliefs and practices
and that resulted in
a separation of the
Christian Jews from
their brothers. But recent
research has shown
that there remained
Jewish
Christians
within Judaism for a
much longer period of
time. St.Jerome, who is
considered one of the
“four doctors of the
Church” by the Roman
Church, lived from A.D.
347 to 420 and wrote
to another “doctor”,
Augustine of Hippo.
“In our own day
there exists a sect among
the Jews throughout all
the synagogues of the
East, which is called the
sect of the Minei, and is
even now condemned
by the Pharisees. The
adherents to this sect
are known commonly as
Nazarenes; they believe
in Christ, the Son of
God, born of the Virgin
Mary; and they say that
He who suffered under
Pontius Pilate and rose
again, is the same as one
in whom we believe. But
while they desire to be
both Jews andChristians,
they are neither one nor
the other.”
From
this
description, we can
see that the Jewish
Christians held identical
beliefs with the Gentile
Christians aside from
their adherence to the
Law. They would have
been quite prepared
to accept all the truths
stated in the Nicene
Creed, formulated by the
Christian leaders in A.D.
325 as the foundational
beliefs of the Christian
faith. But there was a
growing
intolerance
of
Judaism
within
Christian believers. In
fact, both the Jewish and
Christian
authorities
wanted
to
protect
their identity after the
Christian faith became
the official religion of the
Roman Empire in A.D.
318. So the wedge was
driven between the two
religions. Believers had
to be either Christian
or Jew but not both.
Ironically, today there
is a growing number of
“Messianic Jews” who
accept Jesus as Saviour
and the Son of God, and
these Jewish believers
ar welcomed by most
Gentile Christians as
the fulfillment of the
Apostle Paul’s writings
in Romans chapters 9 to
11.
by Ken Mather (Armstrong)
Pat Nelson
Manager
Bus. 546-8845
Fax: 546-8847
“WE FIX PANES”
8-5 Mon to Sat.
24 hr. Emergency 546-9611
PO Box 538, 3415 Okanagan Street
Armstrong, B.C. V0E 1B0
AutO • R E S i dEnt i A l • COMME RC i A l
LTD.
The
Lord
has
commanded his people to
care for the least of these
and to truly care for and
understand the poorest
among us, we must live
among them.
Laurence East took that message to heart and left a
secure position as a pastor in a large Okanagan church to
help the marginalized members of the society and meet
them where they are at.
“I wanted to get outside of the church walls,” said East
who is the pastor of Metro Community church and the
driving force behind Metro Central, a downtown Kelowna
facility that helps the street community. Metro Central
offers a wide range of programs for street people from
food to computer access to simply providing a place to
hang out and not be alone.
East took his leap of faith several years ago when
himself and a few others from his church would spend
Saturday evenings at the Kelowna Gospel Mission visiting
people. As their numbers grew a small, but dedicated
church began to form. Today, the church has 250
members, 60 per cent of which are either
street people or people who were once living on the
streets. The remainder of the church is made up of people
from various walks of life.
“We believe we are called to take the most vulnerable
in our community, bring them to our church and give
them the largest voice,” said East, who is known as Rev on
the street. East partners with several groups and agencies
to keep the numerous programs at Metro Central up
and running, but 50 per cent of the operating budget
comes from the congregation themselves. Metro has
four enterprises: Metro Moving, Metro Laundry as well
as operating food carts and a cafe. Most of the people
employed at these ventures are former clients of Metro
Central who have gotten off the streets and into a more
stable, safer lifestyle.
Scripture is full of God telling his people to spread the
good news of Christ and for East, Metro is the best way
to do that, by showing Christ's love in a real and practical
way. Leaving his position atWillowPark Churchwas not an
easy move tomake, but East felt strongly it was something
he had to do – he wanted
to do.
He knewmoney would be tight – it still is even after all
these years – but he also knew it was what he was called to
do, so he took a huge leap of faith and hundreds of people
are now benefiting from his strength and determination
to step off the safe path and to answer the call of the Lord.
“We are not a 'normal' church. It's risky. We are always
struggling to make ends meet,” he said. But God has his
hand on Metro and every month the bills get paid and
more people are introduced to the unwavering love of
Jesus Christ.
For more information on Metro, check out their
website at metrocommunity.ca.
Metro Church
by Darren Handschuh
