Messianic Apologetics

Addressing the Theological and Spiritual Issues of the Broad Messianic Movement

Jewish Tradition

A Summarization of Jewish Shabbat Traditions

A Summarization of Jewish Shabbat Traditions

13 October, 2023 J.K. McKee

If there is any area where today’s Messianic movement tends to absolutely excel, it is with integrating a wide selection of the mainline Jewish traditions and customs for observing the Sabbath. Regardless of their background before coming to Messiah faith, religious or secular, today’s Messianic Jews tend to remember Shabbat with the common elements of lighting candles, breaking challah, drinking wine, and attending synagogue services with traditional liturgy and Torah readings. Non-Jewish Believers who have been led by the Lord into the Messianic movement, seeking to embrace more of the Hebraic and Jewish Roots of their faith, have also taken a hold of Shabbat, the opportunity for rest it offers to the people of God, and many of the significant traditions that can make the Sabbath a very holy and sanctified time.

A Summarization of Jewish Kosher Traditions

A Summarization of Jewish Kosher Traditions

12 October, 2023 J.K. McKee

Much of the Messianic community has promoted what it considers to be “Biblically kosher,” which primarily begins and ends at not eating pork and shellfish. In traditional Judaism, however, what it means to be kosher is much more involved than observant Jews not eating certain meats labeled to be “unclean.” Kashrut involves classification of unclean meats to be sure, but also involves some significant traditions regarding the butchering of animals, how meat is to be prepared, what can and cannot be eaten together, separation of utensils and cookware—as well as a variety of theological and philosophical reasons proposed for the institution of these Biblical instructions, and their subsequent interpretation and application over the centuries by Jewish religious authorities and diverse Jewish communities.

A Summarization of Purim Traditions

A Summarization of Purim Traditions

16 March, 2022 J.K. McKee

The holiday of Purim is a relatively minor festival in the Tanach (Old Testament), yet it portrays a very important story which all of God’s people need to understand. Having been dispersed into Babylonian exile in 585 B.C.E., the Jewish people found themselves under Persian rule. While many found their new Persian rulers more tolerant than the Babylonians, the Jews were still a minority and were often subject to harassment and persecution. In the Book of Esther, King Ahasuerus’ (or Xerxes’) grand vizier, the evil Haman, devised a plot to kill the Jews when he was not worshipped by Mordecai. But Ahasuerus’ new wife, the Jewess Esther, was placed in just the right position at just the right time to see that this scheme did not come to pass. Instead, Haman was executed using the very means which he intended to use against the Jews.

A Summarization of Chanukah Traditions

A Summarization of Chanukah Traditions

29 November, 2021 J.K. McKee

The holiday of Chanukah, or the Festival of Dedication, is full of many customs and traditions that give our celebration great life and depth. During this time of year, we have the awesome opportunity to commemorate the work of God from some 2,200 years ago during the time of the Maccabees. If they had not fought against the Seleucid invaders of Israel, the Jewish people would have either been destroyed through war, or would have disappeared via cultural assimilation.

Cover Image: Jaymantri via Pexels

Kosher, Torah-Based Means of Grace: Study Questions for Unit Three – Shabbat School

26 September, 2020 J.K. McKee

J.K. McKee of Messianic Apologetics goes through the six study questions for Unit Three in The Messianic Walk workbook:

1. Have you ever been taught that it is only one’s internal heart condition that is important, and that external actions or deeds do not matter? Describe some of your experiences.

2. What external areas of Torah adherence are you most familiar with? What external areas of Torah adherence will you need to study and investigate further?

3. What are some of the challenges that today’s Messianic people often have with eating a kosher style of diet? How many of them are theological, and how many of them involve deep family traditions?
4. What is some of the variance one may witness at a Messianic congregation, in terms of how the Torah’s dietary laws are honored?

5. Why can there be various controversies associated with external forms of Torah adherence? How much do they relate to an individual’s or family’s interpretation and application of various instructions?

6. What are the kinds of Torah-based practices that you think require an individual or family to consult with congregational leadership? Why do you think some people are more divisive than others, in matters of Torah keeping?