Controversial book “divisive,” “dangerous” for Messianic Judaism
TORONTO, ON—A new book written by a Messianic Jew that questions the validity of Messianic Judaism is raising the ire of leaders within that branch of the Christian community.
Some Messianic Jews Say, "Messianic Judaism Is Not Christianity": A Loving Call to Unity by Stan Telchin is being labelled "divisive," "dangerous" and "damaging" by movement leaders.
To spread word that they strongly disapprove of the book, a group of 20 prominent Messianic Jewish leaders has banded together and attached their names to a letter to the editor sent to leading Christian bookseller magazines, CBA Marketplace and Christian Retailing.
The 20 include the president of Chosen People Ministries in New York, Mitch Glaser; Joel Chernoff, president of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance and Russ Resnik, executive director of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations.
The letter claims Telchin presents a "skewed picture" of the Messianic Jewish movement, and discredits the author saying he is, "neither a spokesman nor a theologian, nor has he ever been the leader of any Messianic group."
While several leaders commented that the issues raised by the book are not new, what is new is that they are being raised outside the Messianic Jewish family. In essence, Messianic leaders are upset that Telchin is airing dirty laundry, and they are concerned about the impact the book could have on their community.
In a recent prayer letter e-mailed to some 10,000 friends of the organization Messianic Jewish Communications (a publisher and distributor of books and other resources), president Barry Rubin—also one of the 20—describes some statements made by Telchin within the book as "an aggressive attempt to separate Messianic Jews from the rest of the Body. Period!"
During a telephone interview from his office in Baltimore, Maryland, Rubin explains; "Mr. Telchin…has made some claims and statements about Messianic Judaism that are going to be widely read by Christians, [which] are not true.
"For example, he makes a statement like, 'I don't believe that God's Word supports Messianic Judaism,' yet it's clear from the reading of the New Testament that the first followers of Jesus were all followers of Messianic Judaism," he adds.
Rubin says it's important to Messianic Jews that they be recognized with their "Gentile brothers and sisters" as part of "the universal Body of the Messiah."
One of the key concerns cited by Rubin and others is that the book is published by reputable Christian book publisher, Chosen (a division of Baker Publishing Group), and thus they fear it's message will be widely read and embraced by gentile Christians.
But Rubin says that the title of the book alone is inflammatory. "It's going to cause great confusion in the body of Messiah," he says.
When contacted, an employee at Baker Publishing Group in Michigan said no one was available for official comment.
He did note, however, that much of the "confusion" surrounding the book has been as a result of the title and emphasized that the complete title of the book includes the words "Some Messianic Jews Say," words which appear in small print on the front cover, over the much larger, bolder type, "Messianic Judaism Is Not Christianity."
But as of late November when the publishing company was contacted, Chosen's own website listed the title of the book simply as, "Messianic Judaism Is Not Christianity: A Loving Call to Unity."
In Canada, The Messianic Times publisher Ben Volman observes that Christians may not read the book, but "they certainly read covers. And long after they have forgotten the content of the book, they remember its title.
"In this sense, I feel a great disservice has been done," Volman adds. "Many people who are enemies of our movement will now use the title of this book to promote misimpressions among the uninformed."
One of the possible "misimpressions" is that the book appears with the apparent sanction of the Messianic Jewish organization Jews for Jesus.
Jews for Jesus founder and former president Moishe Rosen wrote the forward to the book, and the book indicates that Telchin can be contacted through the organization.
But Andrew Barron, director of Jews for Jesus Canada, says that even though Telchin is part of the Jews for Jesus staff, this is not an organizational book and they don't carry it in their bookstore because, "it's not irenic enough."
However, Barron adds, Telchin, "raises many issues that many of us in the Messianic community feel need to be addressed. What he's saying can be helpful and instructive."
Barron balances his comment saying, "Many of us in Jews for Jesus attend Messianic congregations. And we believe in them."
The Canadian director of Chosen People Ministries, Larry Rich, describes Telchin's perspective as "myopic."
"I feel that he [does not have] a good grasp on all that's going on among Jewish believers who meet in congregations that are distinctively Messianic," Rich says.
Volman says his publication initially gave the book a "balanced" review. But, he adds, "as the book has become more visible the tenor of discussion has become more urgent."
The current issue (November/December 2004) of The Messianic Times features a front page story about the stir the book is causing, and Volman has written an editorial called "Straight talk on Telchin" that calls all Jewish believers in Jesus to "unity rooted in respect for one another's calling."
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