Sometimes You Just Have to Stand Up and Say, “STOP!”

The burden of Jewish missions on my soul has been an almost lifelong passion.  The actual task of doing the work of Jewish evangelism is approaching its 10th anniversary.  And over the last ten years the task has not grown easier but more difficult.  Anyone associated with Jewish mission work is confronted on one side with those who claim to be Christian but are basically anti-Semitic in their heart and in their actions.  Another side will be interested in Jewish missions but afraid of the cost involved.  Still another side will talk a good talk but their end resulting walk is lousy.  And finally there is a side that confuses me because their “Christian” actions are so antithetical to the Great Commission task that we have been given in Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; and Romans 1:16 … “to the Jew FIRST.”

One of those confusing moments came for me last night while channel surfing.  I came across a Christian network that had as one of its program a show entitled Jewish Roots and hosted by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.  Now on the surface this could look like a good thing but let me explain a few reasons why it is not:

• Yechiel Eckstein is not about Jewish evangelism and missions.  He is about bringing Jewish people to Israel from such places as Russia and Ethiopia.  He runs a number of infomercials on this subject that I am sure you have seen.
• Yechiel Eckstein does not allow for Christians to share their faith in Messiah Jesus with the people they assist as he is an advocate of dual covenantalism — belief that there is one way to God for the Jewish people (Moses) and another for the rest of the world (Jesus).

After watching the program last night, I decided to write this network and explain to them why the program should not be aired on a Christian network.  Here is an edited excerpt:

Last night as I was channel surfing I came across an apparently new TV program for XXXXXX entitled Jewish Roots and hosted by Yechiel Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews (IFCJ). To say that I was taken aback by this program is an understatement. I wept at the thought that a Christian TV network could air such a program that is antithetical to your stated mission - “Our mission is impacting lives for Christ worldwide through media. XXXXXX exists to provide Biblically-based programs which attempt to make a positive difference in people’s values, behavior and their relationship to God and their fellow man.”

And before you dismiss this email as something other than it is, please know that I have dedicated the last 10 years of my life to Jewish evangelism and missions. I have friends who are Holocaust survivors and the children of survivors. I have been described by more than one as a person with a Jewish soul (nefesh). My heart bleeds and my soul aches for the eternal condition of the Jewish people and that is why I had to write this letter to your network.

Yechiel Eckstein is a well-meaning rabbi who longs to see world Jewry come home (make aliyah) to Israel. However, he is not a conduit through which to reach the Jewish people with the Gospel message. He does not allow for Christians to share their faith, and their belief in the exclusivity of Messiah Jesus, to the Jewish people that are brought to Israel through the IFCJ.

I believe his program is designed to focus Christians on the task of aliyah and to explain away the need for Jewish missions. He is an advocate of dual covenantalism which teaches that there is one way for the world and another way for the Jews to reach God. This is completely contrary to John 14:6; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16; Romans 9:3; Romans 10:1; and Romans 11:11.

This program is heartbreaking as it confuses Christians on the work of Jewish evangelism. This program brings an anguish to my nefesh as it diminishes the importance of the Gospel message for God’s Chosen Ones. This program takes away the priority of Jewish evangelism (Romans 1:16) and creates a dichotomous approach to God which is forbidden by Scriptures. And ultimately this program in its own way negates the sacrificial gift of Yeshua haMeshiach who came in the words of John the Baptist to take away the sins of the world … a gift that was first and foremost for the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel. 

I will let you know in a future post if they respond.  I hope they do.  And I hope I am prepared for what they will write to me.  However, and regardless of their response, it is time for those who are burdened with the task of Jewish missions to say, “STOP!”, to such programs that diminish the need to reach God’s Chosen Ones with their Gospel message.