Jews for Jesus
Jews for Jesus is a controversial group. Obviously any group that derives its name from two major religious groups can cause tension in a variety of ways and that is true for Jews for Jesus. Like other groups in the same vein Jews for Jesus is an evangelical Christian mission organization. Because of its distinct mission to proselytize Jews it is part of a small but zealous group of Christians who think their primary mission is to reach the Jewish people first and foremost. Unlike Messianic Jews who still hold onto most of their Judaism while embracing Jesus as the Messiah, Jews for Jesus repudiates all of the Judaism and calls for Jews to repent of their religion and become evangelical Christians.
For the Christians who hold to this view and support Jews Jesus with their money and efforts any criticism is considered almost heretical. They earnestly believe that the mission statement of the Jews for Jesus comes directly from God through his son. They believe that they are the true children of God and that they have the only way to God through an evangelical conversion. So in their heart of hearts they are trying to please God and obey what he wants from them.
For practicing and non-practicing Jews the idea of a whole group devoted to “rescuing” them from their heritage is reprehensible. Most Jews are offended by this effort, however there have obviously been some responses to the Jews for Jesus effort and are now counted as “converts”.
So for the Jews Jesus is an offence because of the history of Christianity and its treatment of the Jews, but also for the devout mission to recruit them to repent from their beliefs. For Christians either they are opposed to the mission or they would defend to great lengths. The Jews for Jesus program is difficult to write about without deeply offending someone or many.
