Jewish doctrinal defense against heresy.
This section of LearnEmunah.com is intended only for Jewish education and defense.

I have heard many Christians say that Christianity is Judaism plus Jesus, that belief in Jesus makes one a "completed Jew." This incorrect belief has sadly led some Jews to embrace this heretical doctrine. Heretical? Isn't that a bit strong? Yes, heretical; for Jews belief in Jesus is avodah zara, forbidden foreign worship. I am not addressing my many Christian friends, may G-d be with them, I am addressing my fellow Jews and our Noahide associates. For us the fundamental teachings of Christianity is forbidden. In this study we look at a few examples of how modern Christianity is an entirely foreign religious belief system, a system at odds with the fundamental teachings of Torah and our sages.

The example that screams out the loudest is that Christianity worships three gods, a father god, a son god and holy ghost god. They call these gods collective the Trinity. Some Christians argue that they worship one god in three "persons," however this is not what the Church Creeds say and besides, this idea contradicts the Shema just as clearly. Judaism worships the One G-d and forbids worshipping anyone or anything else as demanded in Torah (Exodus 20:3):

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל חשם אֱלֹהֵינוּ חשם אֶחָד
Sh'ma Y'israel HaShem Eloheinu HaShem Echad
"Hear Y'israel, HaShem is God, HaShem is ONE" (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Christianity worships a human being -- Jesus is said to be "fully man and fully god," which of course makes no logical sense. In either case, they are worshipping a man which is forbidden by Torah.
Judaism worships only G-d as demanded in Torah:

"You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. "You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you (Deuteronomy 6:13, 14)

Christianity claims its god-man is our Jewish Messiah.
Judaism correctly notes that Jesus met none of the major messianic requirements.

Note: Had he actually been god incarnate he could not be the Messiah anyway, since Messiah must be a fully human Jewish male and met all of the requirements.

Christianity claims Jesus forgives sins.
Judaism and Torah says only G-d can forgive sins.

Behold, all souls are Mine. Like the soul of the father, like the soul of the son they are Mine; the soul that sins, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:4)
See now that it is I! I am the One, and there is no god like Me! I cause death and grant life. I strike, but I heal, and no one can rescue from My Hand! (Deuteronomy 32:39)

.

Christianity exists outside of and opposed to the eternal Sinai Covenant established between the One G-d and the Jewish people.
Judaism was and remains the Sinai Covenant.

And I will establish My covenant between Me and between you and between your seed after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be to you for a God and to your seed after you. And I will give you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings, the entire land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be to them for a God." (Genesis 17:17, 18).

Christianity claims that Jesus is the "only way" to G-d
Judaism, which rejects Jesus, rejects this claim. Therefore Christianity condemns all Jews (Genesis 12:3).

See now that it is I! I am the One, and there is no god like Me! I cause death and grant life. I strike, but I heal, and no one can rescue from My Hand! (Deuteronomy 32:39)

Christianity embraces a human sacrifice.
Judaism rejects human sacrifices.

You shall not do so to the Lord, your God; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates, they did to their gods, for also their sons and their daughters they would burn in fire to their gods. (Deuteronomy 12:31)

Christianity claims that all authority was given to Jesus in Heaven and on Earth.
Judaism and Torah maintain that no authority was given to Jesus and that HaShem alone holds all authority.

"Ho! O Lord God, behold, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and Your outstretched arm, and nothing is hidden from You, Who exercises loving- kindness to thousands and requites the iniquity of the fathers in the bosom of the children who follow them, O Great and Mighty God, the Lord of Hosts is His Name. (Jeremiah 32:17,18)

Christianity claims that Jews and all others who reject Jesus go to Hell.
Judaism notes that ALL Israel will be redeemed without Jesus and that the Holy One does not torture people.

And the strength of Your awesome deeds they will tell, and Your greatness I shall sing. Of the remembrance of Your abundant goodness they will speak, and of Your righteousness they will sing. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and of great kindness. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are on all His works. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are on all His works. (Psalms 145:6-10).

Christianity says Jesus will one day return in a "Second Coming" and that he will met the requirements then.
Judaism notes correctly that the Messiah has not yet come the first time and that when he does he will complete his task in one lifetime according to the biblical prophets. The Prophets say nothing of a Second Coming. These yet un-met requirements include:

• The Ingathering of the Jewish Exiles
Deuteronomy 30:3
Isaiah 11:11,12
Jeremiah 30:3, 32:37
Ezekiel 11:17, 36:24

• Gentiles will embrace Seven Laws and worship at Rebuilt Temple
Isaiah 2:2,3, 56:7

• Messiah Rules as King of Israel
Isaiah 2:4

• Rebuilding of the Holy Jerusalem Temple
Isaiah 2:2,3, 56:6,7, 66:20
Isaiah 2:5,6
Ezekiel 37:26,27
Malachi 3:4
Zechariah 14:20,21

• Global Peace
Micah 4:1-4
Hosea 2L20
Isaiah 2:1-4, 60:18

• All Jews will become Torah Observant
Ezekiel 37:24
\Deuteronomy 30:8, 10
Jeremiah 31:32
Ezekiel 11:19,20, 36:26,27

• Global Knowledge of God
Zechariah 3:9, 8:23, 14:9, 16
Isaiah 45:23, 66:23
Jeremiah 31:33
Ezekiel 38:23
Psalm 86:9
Zephaniah 3:9

• No More Idolatry
Isaiah 2:18

• Rises from House of David, descendant of King David and Solomon
Genesis 49:10
II Samuel 7:12-14
I Chronicles 22:9-10 (genealogy in the Bible is always patrilineal: Numbers 1:1-8)

For more unfulfilled requirements see my study Here

Christianity teaches that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is a "person" unto himself, part of a trinity
Judaism correctly notes that the Ruach HaKodesh is G-d's Active Presence with the material manifestation and is non-different from the One G-d, not a being nor a god in its own right. HaShem is echad: One.

I could go on and on but you hopefully get the point. Our G-d is One and the promised Messiah has not yet come. We continue to wait.

Christianity, like Islam, is a wholly separate religion from Judaism that was invented by human beings seeking to usurp our Sacred Covenant. Its simply a fact, but the Tanach is clear that the Covenant resides eternally with the Jewish people (Malachi 3:6). If you were born of a Jewish mother or have been to Torah take heart! Am Y'israel Chai! The People who are Israel yet live! We will continue forward and will one day arise and greet our King, Mashiach ben David. Hold tight to Torah and allow no alien philosophy to lead you astray. As the Scripture says:

"Everything I command you that you shall be careful to do it. You shall neither add to it, nor subtract from it.
If there will arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of a dream, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
and the sign or the wonder of which he spoke to you happens, [and he] says, "Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us worship them,"
you shall not heed the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of a dream; for the Lord, your God, is testing you, to know whether you really love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul.
You shall follow the Lord, your God, fear Him, keep His commandments, heed His voice, worship Him, and cleave to Him.
And that prophet, or that dreamer of a dream shall be put to death; because he spoke falsehood about the Lord, your God Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and Who redeemed you from the house of bondage, to lead you astray from the way in which the Lord, your God, commanded you to go; so shall you clear away the evil from your midst" -- Deuteronomy 13.

We love our Christians friends and wish them all the best, but they worship a god unknown to our fathers. Stand firm with our people and our G-d!

Most religiously observant Christians today are good, sincere people and I respect their zeal. In many cases they are more zealous for G-d than the majority of Jews! However that zeal is not according to accurate knowledge nor history and can not possibly replace the Jews as the eternally Covenanted people of HaShem, the G-d of Israel. Their core beliefs contradict Torah and traditional biblical teaching on many critical points. Don't be deceived.

HaShem knows the heart, the intention, of all flesh and rewards all who approach Him in sincerity and emunah (active faith). For this reason our sages have consistently taught that people do not need to convert to Judaism in order to have a good standing before HaShem. Hence Judaism is not a missionary religion. As Rabbi Hillel taught, those things which you find deplorable to yourself do not do to another. With this principle, move forward in your emunah because on this truth the entire Torah resides. Do not judge these people harshly for HaShem conceals what He conceals and He reveals what He reveals as He desires.

If you have questions about the Torah and Judaism I invite you to contact me. If you are interested in learning biblical religion for non-Jews consider the Noahide Way. I'm here to assist those who are sincerely seeking.