Tikkun America RESTORE Magazine Cheshvan | Nov 2024 | Page 27

One New Man Congregations
Attempts to limit Gentile participation and attendance in a Messianic congregation greatly borders on danger of erecting the same wall of partition that was torn down in Messiah . Paul ’ s inclusion and realization of the multination people of God in Messiah through his Epistles show that his aim was always for both groups coming together as one in Yeshua . However , there is a danger that is also clearly present when Gentile believers in Messiah take on aspects of a Jewish identity that is not for them to take hold of , while reminding that both Jews and Gentiles alike , and from each group is called of God to remain in their calling in which Yeshua placed them . ( 1 Cor . 7:17 )
It is from this understanding of unique , yet mutually edifying expressions of the Body of Messiah , that One New Man congregations should seek to cultivate both a strong Jewish identity as well as being a place for Gentiles where they need not feel ashamed of being a Gentile . God has created them ( right along with the natural olive Branch ) as recipients of Yeshua , the Jewish Messiah . As Gentiles , their role is of the utmost importance , in that they alone are called by God to provoke Israel to jealousy . It is not right if a Gentile believer is not fully encouraged in who God has made them to be . For a Gentile believer to feel that they must take on aspects of Jewish identity to be right with God or closer to Him , is not the Gospel or what I believe Paul would want us to do .
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