Still Waiting … Day 18 (Second Email to Network)

Mr. XXXXXXXX,

On Monday, April 14, I wrote to your network regarding the lack of wisdom being displayed via the airing of Jewish Roots by Yechiel Eckstein of the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews.  In this original letter, I encouraged the network to consider carefully my words as my heart beats for the Jewish people and this is evidenced by the last ten years of my life which has been dedicated to Jewish missions and evangelism.

I was assured by your assistant on more than one occasion that you as a representative of the network would respond to me.  However, and almost three weeks later, I am still waiting for your email.  Therefore, during the time of the original email and today I have done my own research and have watched the first two episodes of the two series as well as other episodes of the program.  Please let me report on my findings.

In the first episode Rabbi Eckstein uses the phrase “symbiotic relationship” to describe Christians and Jews.  Interesting phrase but just exactly what does it mean.  I looked up the root word “symbiosis” and the idea is two mutually exclusive organisms which work together but to borrow the term “never the twain shall meet.”  This troubles me greatly that such a concept would be broadcast on XXXXXXXXXXX due to the fact that is it not our job, especially given that we have been grafted into the root of Abraham (Rom. 11:17-24) and we are commanded to make them jealous (Rom. 11:11) so that they can be re-grafted into the root through Messiah Jesus?  How can this grafting occur if “symbiotic relationships” are taught on your network?

I could describe other troubling issues from the episodes such as the idea of Eckstein’s focus on the Messianic Days for Jewish people vs. End of Days for Christians, etc.  However, there was another phrase that was used in Episode #2 that was especially troubling.  During the commercial breaks, the announcer in promoting Eckstein’s On Wings of Eagles program encourages us to “love them as Jesus loved them.”  How is this possible without the sharing of the Gospel … something that Eckstein will not allow in his organization.

As I stated earlier I believe that Rabbi Eckstein’s intentions are honorable.  He is concerned for his people; however, his concern for their physical needs is not the same as the Christian mandate to be concerned about their physical situation but primarily (Great Commission statements – Matt. 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8) for their spiritual need to receive Jesus as Messiah.  This need must trump all other needs or we are discounting the words of Paul when he wrote that the Gospel is “to the Jew first.”

I look forward to your response.  Shalom.

(Special Note:  Shortly after this email was sent I received a response stating that he would be getting in touch me shortly.  We shall see!)