On occasion, I tell people that I prefer to be called a "Messianic believer" and not a "Christian." At that, I often get a quizzical look, particularly from strong believers in "Jesus."
Though most politely say nothing, my statement begs, even demands the question, "Why? What's wrong with being called a Christian when you are an ardent follower of Christ" It is to answer that question that this article is written.
So, why would I prefer to be called a "Messianic believer" instead of a "Christian?"
Before I go on: First and Foremost, I wish to make it clear that it isn't because of the people themselves that I separate myself from that term. I find most Christians to be kind, loving and wonderful people. They give generously to those who are in need. Many are involved in some sort of Christian service and ministry of the Word to a lost and desparate world. It is through this kind of Christian service that many people come to know the Lord.
No, it isn't the individual Christian that separates me from the term in reference to myself.
It isn't even a rejection of "Christian theology" (when it is aligned with the Word)! I confess, I use much of what I was taught in Bible College to bring light to the Bible! There is alot that is right in what I learned!
But, it is here that I note a major distinctive that causes me to separate myself from the term "Christian!"
And so, here's where I begin:
The Hebraic World-View vs the Greek World-View
First (and most important), it is because the term "Messianic" speaks to the world-view by which I seek to understand the Word of God. "Messianic" is derived from The Hebrew word Mashiach (or Moshiach) means anointed one - as the Messiah is the anointed descendant of David who will reign and rule over Israel forever.
The Bible is written by the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit through Hebrews (with the possible exception of Luke) and is best viewed through Hebrew "eyes."
Dr. Marvin Wilson in his book, Our Father Abraham writes, "...to some people it comes as a surprise that the roots of Christianity run so very deep into the soil of Judaism. It seems they believe the Church was invented out of whole cloth. No, it was born in a Jewish cradle in Jerusalem, on a Jewish holiday, and the forebears of our faith were Jews.
"Our debt as Christians to the Jewish people is immense. Seventy-seven percent of the Bible is the Jewish Scriptures or the Hebrew Bible, and the remaining 23 percent, the New Testament, essentially consists of Hebraic theological concepts in Greek dress. So the theology of the New Testament is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Bible. Indeed Christianity is very, very Jewish." "Christ," from whence is derived the word "Christian" is the English term for the Greek "Khristos" meaning "the anointed". In the (Greek) Septuagint version of the Old Testament, Khristos was used to translate the Hebrew Moshiach, meaning "[one who is] anointed."
Though both the Hebrews and the Greeks could find words from their own cultures to express the same terminology, the orientations of the world-views between the Hebrew and the Greeks is quite dis-similar. Both cultures have a term that expresses "anointed one," yet the terminology of each culture comes laden with its own cultural distinctives.
Too numerous to express in this short article, it would behoove the reader to obtain a copy of Dr. Wilson's book, Our Father Abraham and study out the many distinctives between the two cultures.
With such major distinctives between Greek and Hebrew terminology and thought, we should be careful about formulating our theological doctrines from the Greek perspective - that is, if we truly want to understand what the Hebrew writers were trying to tell us.
Thus, the first reason why I call myself "Messianic" instead of "Christian" is because I believe I shall arrive at a more accurate understanding of the Bible and of what the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, my God, is telling me.
I believe that Hebraic words, thoughts, idioms, and philosophy more accurately reflect Biblical concepts than does the Greek. Though the Bible has been translated into hundreds of different languages, I believe it is most accurately understood in its original language and from its original culture.
Thus, because my orientation toward the Scriptures is Hebraic, I prefer to be called "Messianic."
What the "Church" has become through Non-Biblical Practice
Second, I prefer NOT to be called a "Christian" because of what the Church has become over the centuries.
As reflected in my book, What IF???, I clearly demonstrate how the "Church" as it has become is NOT the "church" of the First Century.
In brief, the "church" of the First Century did not observe Christmas, Easter, Sun-day, All-Saints Day, or any of the other pagan-originated feast days. It didn't have doctrines such as "Replacement-Theology" doctrines, where the "Church has replaced Israel" and is now, "Spiritual Israel." It didn't have doctrines such as "trans-substantiation," or celibacy of priests.
The "Church" of the First Century observed a Hebraic world-view. It was Torah zealous (Acts 21:20). It observed the Biblical Feasts and holy-days. It observed a Biblical kashruit (kosher), it observed Jewish concepts and did so with the Hebraic world-view. Today's Church is overall anti-Torah (anti-Law): it doesn't observe the Biblical Feasts, the Biblical dietary laws, the Biblical Sabbath.
Furthermore, the "Church" wasn't even called the "Church" in the First Century! In James 2:2, James calls the assembly of believers, "synagogue" - a Jewish term!
Thus, because my practice is Hebraic, I prefer to be called "Messianic."
The Negative Connotation of "Christianity"
Unfortunately, those who have called themselves "Christian" have not behaved themselves well over the centuries as followers of "Christ." We needn't go too far back in history to see the Inquisitions, the Crusades, the pogroms, the holocausts, the persecutions of those who didn't agree with the "Church" to support this position.
Particularly heinous is the treatment of the Jewish people by the Church over the centuries. In my book, The Lie, the Satanic Origins of Anti-Semitism, I cite hundreds of examples of the persecution of Jews by Christians.
Sadly, most Christians today are totally unaware of this shameful history. Yet, that doesn't erase the negative stigmas associated with the term "Christian" in the minds of many.
"Messianic" (which are really Hebraic terms) terms do not carry the same negative "baggage" as do the Christian terms. For instance, the Christian term "baptize" from the Greek "baptizo" which means "to immerse" carries negative terms to Jewish people. The equavalent Hebrew word "mikvah" does not.
Why? Because the "Church" used to force "convert" Jews to become "Christians" by "baptizing" them - often to drowning! Jews were also forced to listen to "conversion" sermons by priests during the Easter season.
Thus, the words "Church," "baptize," "convert," and "Christian" hold negative connotations to Jewish people. The equivalent Hebrew words, "kehilat" or "synagogue," or "assembly," "mikvah," "come to faith," and "Messianic believer" do not.
Words carry a lot of power. They generate action, to the good or to the bad. They express life or death (according to the writer of the book of Proverbs (18:21)).
Thus, because I do not want to carry a negative term in reflecting my beliefs and world-view, I don't prefer to use the tem "Christian" in regards to myself.
Conclusion
In short, I am not against believers in "Jesus" calling themselves what they want - I am also a believer in Him - though I address Him by the Hebrew Name His mother and Father gave Him: "Yeshua."
Yeshua was Torah observant: Yeshua was Hebraic in world-view and orientation, Yeshua was observant of the Biblical feasts, festivals, holy days, dietary laws, Temple laws, Moral laws, and civil laws expressed in the Hebrew Scriptures.
He was a supporter of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17-19). He didn't come to do away with it, He came to fulfill it.
And He calls all those who are His Disciples to follow Him and walk as He walked (1 John 2:1-6).
By whatever a believer should call him or herself, he or she should desire to walk as He did: in Torah observance - as He did.