Still Waiting … Day 33 (Finally a Response!)

Well I finally heard from the Christian TV Network that is choosing to air Rabbi Eckstein’s program Journey to Zion.  Below is the VP’s response to me and then I will also post my response to him.  Let me know what you think.  God bless.  Shalom.

Dear Amy:

I am sorry to have taken so long to get back with you, but I have not forgotten my promise. I finally have been able to sit down and watch the program you wrote about. Having done this, I understand your comments and concerns. Like you, I believe that “Rabbi Eckstein’s are honorable.” I felt that the general points he made were fine. But, as you pointed out, some of the language make implications that could be problematic and perhaps misleading. As you know, there are different expectations and interpretations about being “Messianic.” One of the subjects that has become important to our ministry is trying to help Christians become more aware of some of the subjects about which he spoke: The Jewish origins of Christianity. How much Christians owe to the Jewish people, the Law, the Prophets, etc. It appears that Rabbi Eckstein can help accomplish this objective. However, I am going to monitor this program going forward and review more of these programs. There seem to be some grey areas that need to be monitored.

Thanks for bring this matter to my attention. I also will alert our programming and sales departments about this matter, and make sure they know the need to be sensitive about these issues as well. I appreciate your faithfulness and diligence. May God bless you!

Here was my response

Mr. XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for your response to my inquiries/concerns about XXXXXXXXXX including Yechiel Eckstein’s Journey to Zion on your network. I am glad that you watched the program and seem to share some of my views. In response to your response, I would like to ask just a couple of follow-up questions:

1. Is there not a Messianic ministry TV program (i.e., Jewish Voice or Zola Levitt or something else) that could fulfill the same need you are desiring to meet without introducing a program that de-emphasizes the Gospel message of Jesus for the Jewish people?

2. While you are correct about the issue that there “are different expectations and interpretations about being ‘Messianic’,” I hope you recognize that regardless of different views on the issue that Romans 1:16; Acts 4:12; and John 14:6 are the only expectations that we should consider?

The work of Jewish missions and evangelism is already difficult. The task becomes even more “impossible” when Christians allow themselves to be influenced by teachings that appear on the surface to be okay but underneath present a message of non-evangelism to God’s Chosen Ones. You yourself admit that some of Rabbi Eckstein’s comments could fit this model and I want to ask you to consider the eternal ramifications of this approach.

My soul longs for the salvation of the Jewish people. My soul aches when I am confronted by obstacles within Christendom itself that makes this job even more difficult. Thank you for hearing my concerns.

Acts 20:24,

Amy Downey