Wednesday, November 10, 1999
Jews say Baptists' recruiting deceptive
Letter outlines leaders' objections
BY JULIE IRWIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman of Cincinnati's Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, sent a letter to the leader of the Southern Baptist Convention Monday condemning the denomination's support for “deceptive” attempts to convert Jews.
The letter is the latest in a series of exchanges between
Southern Baptists and Jews over the issue of messianic Judaism — Christians, some of Jewish heritage, who use traditionally Jewish practices to worship Jesus. There is one messianic Jewish congregation in the Tristate and another ministry that promotes the movement among churches, college students and individual Jews.
“Our quarrel with the Southern Baptist Convention is not over its right to proselytize. Rather, the Jewish community is deeply offended that the SBC has formally embraced a strategy that attempts to deceive Jews into believing that one can be both a Jew and a Christian,” reads the letter to the Rev. Dr. Paige Patterson.
“... When symbols and rituals, sacred exclusively to Judaism, are expropriated for use as props for the sake of converting Jews to a distinctly different religion, to us that behavior is deceptive.”
The letter was signed by the heads of the country's Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Reconstructionist seminaries and other Jewish leaders. Rabbi Zimmerman was traveling Tuesday and unavailable for comment.
The Cincinnati Baptist Association does not financially support any messianic Jewish activities, but members have discussed the possibility.
“God loves everybody, so for us to be consistent we have to love everybody and try to reach them with the good news of Christ,” said Dr. Dino Sinesi, director of missions for the local association.
The Rev. Dr. Patterson issued a response late Tuesday denying any deception and challenging the leaders to debate the issue on its merits.
“If Judaism, as you conceive it, is correct, and Jesus is not the Messiah, present the merits of your case in the marketplace and to the Jewish people,” he wrote. “Unless God is no longer Sovereign or else has no concern any longer for the cause of truth, then you need not fear the future — unless you are wrong.”
Pipe bomb, threat rattle high schools
Tug of war over a 'holy place'
Warm temperatures stay with us
Lawmaker to urge employee-gift ban
Prosecutor allegations need outside investigation
Hustler store faces new charges
Jews say Baptists' recruiting deceptive
Senate OKs tobacco money plan
Freeways a litter sore spot
Hospital tab a ticket to freedom
Magnet programs may be reduced
NKU basks in funding news
Pilarczyk recovering after angioplasty
Racist brochures litter Anderson
Rhodes, Luebbers consider county commission run
Union Twp. voters may dump name
Voinovich says he's for Bush
Health fair targets men in the city
New tools for diabetes
Online database helps blood supply
Girl Scout alternative
'Light It Up' shines beyond familiar fare
'Pokemon' only for the truly game
Regis cured Clifton trivia addict
Butler County faces Channel 2 blackout
Accused teacher won't be charged
Bank largess leads to Internet access
Club for mentally ill offers welcome
Court for mentally ill offenders advocated
Court refuses tower case
Detective: Suspect told about killing
Environmentalists: Utilities seek shield from clear air laws
Fernald back to work after anthrax scare
Fox highway just about ready
Kenton to install new storm sirens
Mason businesses to expand
Officer resigns after pleading guilty to drunken driving
Purchase in Norwood under cloud
TRISTATE DIGEST
Waste gripes heard
